Thomas Gartman, Photographer

Business Description

Carefully crafted portraits and spontaneous candids snatched from the midst of celebration are the hallmarks of Thomas Gartman?s photography. Shot on medium format film, mixing traditional portraiture with modern photojournalism, his images commemorate your Outer Banks vacation or wedding with the distinctive flair achieved only by Thomas?s experienced, intuitive approach to family and wedding photography.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

Do you have a customer satisfaction or refund policy?

Portrait Photographers

What are your qualifications? Have you been professionally trained or certified?
What are your rates?
Do you require a deposit?
What packages do you offer?
How many pictures do you take?
Can I keep the negatives?
What is your photographic style?
Do you provide black and white photography?
Do you use digital or film?
Can I see examples of your work?
How far are you willing to travel?
How quickly will I receive my prints?
What makes you different from other photographers?

Destination Weddings

What services do you offer?
What location(s) do you represent?

Wedding Photographers

What are your qualifications? Have you been professionally trained or certified?
What packages do you offer? What are your rates?
Do you require a deposit?
How many pictures do you take?
Can I keep the negatives?
How many weddings have you photographed?
What is your photographic style?
Do you provide black and white photography?
Do you use digital or film?
Can I see examples of your work?
How far are you willing to travel?
How quickly will I receive my prints?
What makes you different from other photographers?

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• Do you have a customer satisfaction or refund policy?
  If you are dissatisfied with the quality of the proofs you receive from Thomas Gartman, Photographer, return the proofs within ten days of receiving them and your money will be refunded.
• What are your qualifications? Have you been professionally trained or certified?
  My training started in 1989 with an Internship at Jim?s Camera House, a studio in Kill Devil Hills NC. I received two years of hands-on training as a studio and location assistant. Along with posing and composition, I learned color, light and optical theory. For seven years I photographed about 75 to 100 portraits and 30 to 45 weddings a year, followed by thorough critiquing by my teachers.
• What are your rates?
  One or two people: $150 Three to fourteen people: $200 Fifteen to thirty people: $250 Thirty-one to fifty people: $300 Fifty to seventy-five people: $400 More than seventy-five people: $500.00 A complete price list is available on my web site.
• Do you require a deposit?
  No deposit is required for portraits, but I do need a VISA, Master Card, or Discover number to secure the date. Nothing is billed to the card until after the shoot. If you prefer to pay with cash or a check you can do that on the day of the shoot and I will destroy my copy of the credit card number.
• What packages do you offer?
  My portrait prices include one set of 4x5 inch photographs, which you keep. They don?t have my logo on the front or ?PROOF? stamped across your faces; they are ready for the family album or for framing. Reprints and enlargements are sold a la' Carte. You can upgrade the proof size to 5x7, get multiple sets and/or have them posted to the Internet for an extra fee.
• How many pictures do you take?
  I take as many pictures as may be necessary. I start with several shots of the big group, followed with shots of Grandparents and Grandchildren, individual families, couples, kids, pets, in-laws, individual portraits, and whatever other groups you want to see. I try to do several shots of each pose, more with large groups; it adds up quickly. You get everything I shoot, not just my favorites.
• Can I keep the negatives?
  Normally, I keep the negatives. They may be purchased at an additional charge of twice the price of the sitting.
• What is your photographic style?
  I mix Traditional Portraiture with a more modern, casual approach. I like to apply the lighting techniques of the Old Masters with a more relaxed way of posing and arranging people. I will have my own ideas of what I think will look best, but I always want to hear your input to get a better feel for what you want.
• Do you provide black and white photography?
  There are three options for Black & White. For a little extra, I can bring two cameras and shoot both Black & White and Color film and provide two sets of photos; I can shoot everything in Black & White at no extra charge and provide a set of Black & White photos; or I can shoot everything in Color and you can order Black & White photos from the Color pictures later, at no extra charge.
• Do you use digital or film?
  I use strictly medium format film for portraits.
• Can I see examples of your work?
  There are over 900 samples of my portrait and wedding photography on my web site. If you want to view my portfolio in person, free consultations are available at my studio or anywhere on the Outer Banks and Elizabeth City you may prefer to meet.
• How far are you willing to travel?
  I will travel anywhere in the United States with sufficient notice and a travel & lodging fee. I cover the Outer Banks of North Carolina from Ocracoke Island up to Carova Beach; the Albemarle area as far west as Edenton, and the Tidewater and Hampton Roads area in Southeastern Virginia with no travel fee.
• How quickly will I receive my prints?
  Prints are usually delivered to the customer within four to six weeks of the shoot.
• What makes you different from other photographers?
  I have a grasp of the technical aspects of photography that many other photographers don?t. My experience-based intuition and careful timing give me an edge in catching those fleeting moments that others often miss. I want to see art and science work together in a photo. Good composition is ineffective if the picture is badly exposed. Good exposure is pointless if the picture is boring.
• What services do you offer?
  I offer on-site and studio photography, reprints and enlargements, and albums in a variety of sizes and styles.
• What location(s) do you represent?
  I cover a long list of locations. I cover the Outer Banks of North Carolina from Carova Beach to Ocracoke Island; I cover all of Currituck County, Elizabeth City, Hertford and Edenton; and I cover the Tidewater and Hampton Roads areas in Southeastern Virginia without a travel fee. I will travel anywhere in the United States for a fee.
• What are your qualifications? Have you been professionally trained or certified?
  My training started in 1989 with an Internship at Jim?s Camera House, a studio in Kill Devil Hills NC. I received two years of hands-on training as a studio and location assistant. Along with posing and composition, I learned color, light and optical theory. For seven years I photographed about 75 to 100 portraits and 30 to 45 weddings a year, followed by thorough critiquing by my teachers.
• What packages do you offer? What are your rates?
  Hourly: $500 for one hr, $200 per extra hr or Package 1: 4 hrs of service 150 4x5?s in an album 16x20 24-page 8x10 album $2100 Package 2: Engagement portrait w/15 4x5?s 96 wallets Bridal Portrait w/30 4x5?s 16x20 2 hours of service at the rehearsal w/50 4x5?s 5 hrs of service at the wedding and reception w/3 sets of 175 4x5?s in an album 16x20 30-page 8x10 album $3200
• Do you require a deposit?
  I require a deposit of $300.00 for weddings.
• How many pictures do you take?
  I average about 50 to 80 shots an hour. Most four-hour weddings result in about 200 to 260 proofs. It all depends on the pace and style of your wedding and reception. A beach wedding generally lets me take more pictures during the ceremony than a church wedding. A sit-down dinner gets fewer pictures than a busy party. You get everything I shoot, even if it doesn?t all fit into the album.
• Can I keep the negatives?
  Normally, I keep the negatives. They may be purchased at an additional charge of twice the price of the service.
• How many weddings have you photographed?
  As of Fall of 2004, somewhere between 450 and 500.
• What is your photographic style?
  I mix Traditional Portraiture with Photojournalism, often with a twist of Fine Art. I like to shoot what happens when it?s happening. I treat my medium format camera like it?s a 35mm, and get the real thing in rich detail. You get an album containing the real moments from your wedding, rather than pretend moments, carefully arranged for commercial appeal. Relax, have fun, and ignore me.
• Do you provide black and white photography?
  There are three options for Black & White. For a little extra, I can bring two cameras and shoot both Black & White and Color film and provide two sets of photos; I can shoot everything in Black & White at no extra charge and provide a set of Black & White photos; or I can shoot everything in Color and you can order Black & White photos from the Color pictures later, at no extra charge.
• Do you use digital or film?
  I always shoot weddings on medium format film.
• Can I see examples of your work?
  There are over 900 samples of my portrait and wedding photography on my web site. If you want to view my portfolio in person, free consultations are available at my studio or anywhere on the Outer Banks and Elizabeth City you may prefer to meet.
• How far are you willing to travel?
  I will travel anywhere in the United States with sufficient notice and a travel & lodging fee. I cover the Outer Banks of North Carolina from Ocracoke Island up to Carova Beach; the Albemarle area as far west as Edenton, and the Tidewater and Hampton Roads area in Southeastern Virginia with no travel fee.
• How quickly will I receive my prints?
  Prints are usually delivered to the customer within four to six weeks of the shoot.
• What makes you different from other photographers?
  I have a grasp of the technical aspects of photography that many other photographers don?t. My experience-based intuition and careful timing give me an edge in catching those fleeting moments that others often miss. I want to see art and science work together in a photo. Good composition is ineffective if the picture is badly exposed. Good exposure is pointless if the picture is boring.

Work Samples