About the Photographer Frequently Asked Questions Preparing for your Portrait

(Tina Ernstrom:: Self Portrait) I am Tina Ernstrom, the Owner and Photographer of Pristine Photo. Raised as the oldest of seven and daughter of a man that always had a camera within arms reach I've developed a love/hate relationship with the camera. My father was the kind that would often 'kidnap' the family during an outting or after church and drive us to a park or mountain side when fall colors were in bloom. Without warning, and regradless of what we were wearing or whether or not our makeup and hair was done we would get our picture taken. I love my dad, but needless to say the older we got the more we hated these spontaneous family portraits. As a result, over the years I have gained an appreciation for photography. A balance between capturing the true candid nature of a person, and technique and style of a carefully crafted portrait. During my High School and College years my interest for photography blossomed into a love for the art. I never really got into the dark room developing portion of it. Though it was interesting to learn, I found passion in posing and composition. After a few years of taking pictures for friends and friends of friends my interest bordered on addiction. I had mostly been self taught, taking only a few classes on photography, when I decided to add a new element to my new addiction... Editing. Applications like Photoshop quickly became my friend, and I learned that I could make the computer work for me. And I loved it! (Still Do) And that is how the name "Pristine Photo" came to be. When I decided to start this business officially, I needed a name that described what I do and what I love. The word 'Pristine' is synomous with words like perfect, clean, and unblemished. The name seemed to completely agree with my philosophy in portrait photography. As a photographer I strive to capture 'the perfect YOU' during each session. I believe that a portrait should preserve you at your best. Editing is mild in most cases, it provides a wonderful balance between the rich candid emotion and perfectly preserved 'you.' When I take your portaits I strive not to change who you are but enhance your beauty or manly ruggedness. Since beginning this business, my advertising has been primarily word of mouth. A referral from a client, pleased with their portraits or wedding album speaks volumes more to me than any other form of advertising. New products and offerings are added regularly to cater to the needs of clients. In 2005, we began offering Bags By Babycakes, High-end leather purses and bags, and this year we also added a Jewelry line from Heart To Heart Studio. Also in early 2006, I was accepted into the American Child Photographer's Charity Guild (ACPCG) allowing me to give back to my community in an area I love. I look forward to continuing to expand and develop my clientele and offerings. Please enjoy browsing the images and information on this website and let me know how I can best serve your portrait needs. You can also visit my blog for examples of recent work I've done!