Studio Welcome Guide
Your portrait session is a custom experience designed around the people and animals you love. From wardrobe to preparation, every detail is considered with the finished artwork in mind. Come prepared. Come present. I’ll take care of the rest.
What to Wear
Choose clothing with a polished, elevated feel—something you might wear to a beautiful dinner or celebration. The focus should remain on you, your family, and the connection between you.
Colour Choice
Choose two or three coordinating colours rather than dressing everyone alike. Soft neutrals, earthy tones, charcoal, cream, black, burgundy, emerald, and cobalt all photograph beautifully.
Texture
Knits, wool, linen, velvet, suede, denim, and tailored cotton add dimension without competing with the people in the portrait. A jacket or cardigan gives us another elegant look.
The Details
Consider the complete outfit: shoes, socks, belts, jewelry, and nails. Choose pieces that feel intentional but understated, so nothing pulls attention away from your portrait.
For Women
A simple dress, tailored blouse with trousers, or sweater with a long skirt creates a sophisticated portrait. Favor solid colours, clean silhouettes, polished natural hair, and understated jewelry.
For Men
A well-fitted jacket, sweater, coat, or button-down creates an effortless polish. Dark denim, trousers, textured knits, and tailored layers all photograph beautifully when they feel comfortable and well-fitted.
For Children
Children do not need to dress exactly like their parents, but their clothing should sit within the same colour palette. Choose comfortable textured sweaters, dresses, tailored pieces, and classic shoes they can move in.
Before Your Session
Give yourself more time than you think you will need for hair, makeup, dressing, travel, and last-minute details. Everyone should arrive rested, hydrated, and having eaten. Haircuts and trims are best done several days before your session.
Including Your Dog
Give your dog some exercise before the session, arrive with a fresh brush and tidy nails, and let us know about any anxieties, mobility needs, or sensitivities. We’ll give them time to settle in and photograph them in ways that suit their personality.
Your Experience
01
Arrive Ready
Please arrive on time and ready to begin. There is no need to worry about minor clothing wrinkles—we can refine those in your finished artwork.
02
Portrait Session
We begin once your dog has settled into the studio, then create a thoughtful range of portraits that suit every person’s and pet’s abilities.
03
Artwork Design
After your session, we’ll review the portraits and thoughtfully select the framing, size, and artwork that belongs in your home. Please ensure decision-makers are present.
Portraits NW specializes in finished printed artwork on museum-quality art paper and handwoven cotton canvas. Gift prints begin at $500; framed artwork begins at $1,500. Most clients invest between $1,500 and $4,000, depending on the size and finish that best serves their home.
Studio Policies
We strive to fulfill your needs and meet your expectations. To achieve this, it is essential that you are aware of how our studio works and our policies.
PLEASE ARRIVE ON TIME — We have appointments throughout the day, and we try very hard not to run behind on sessions.
ORDERING — If you are visiting our Oregon City Studio, you will view your portraits on the same day as your portrait session. This is when you are able to design and order your artwork. Please ensure that all decision-makers are present, as studio promotional offers are only available at this time. If you are attending a session that is not held at our Oregon City studio, we will schedule a separate time for either a virtual meeting or a visit to the studio for your ordering appointment. The studio does not send online galleries. STUDIO SPECIALS OR PROMOTIONS — Specials only apply on the day of the appointment. You will have an opportunity to order immediately following your session, after an approximately 10-minute wait while we prepare your slideshow. Payment is due at the time of ordering, and payment plans are available.
CANCELLATION & RESCHEDULING — If you have a sick family member on the day of the session, please call to reschedule. We are happy to reschedule your appointment if needed. Please let us know as soon as possible, as we are reserving two hours in the studio for you and your pet. We have a firm one-week rescheduling policy. Cancellations within one week of your appointment can be rescheduled with an additional booking deposit.
COPYRIGHT — All images, original and processed, remain the sole property of Kolu Westcott. It is illegal to copy or reproduce any photographs, physically or digitally, without Kolu Westcott’s permission. Violators of this federal law will be subject to civil and criminal penalties. The client may not download or take screenshots of any digital image produced by Kolu Westcott without express permission. The client will not receive RAW files and may not edit the work, remove watermarks, or submit photos taken by Kolu Westcott for contests. All images, whether physical or digital, purchased or provided to the client, are intended for personal use only. No commercial use by the client is permitted, including resale, promotion of a personal business, contests, or exhibitions.
DIGITAL FILES — The client may share social media files from our social media accounts. The client does not have permission to apply filters, copy, download, screenshot, or capture photographs in any other fashion. We do not sell disks or high-resolution digital images, as we specialize in heirloom-quality printed products.
PARTIAL FAMILY — We do not photograph families when a family member is not able to attend the portrait session. We are more than happy to reschedule a new appointment for you when your entire family can be together.
INVESTMENT — Our clients invest from $800 to $8,000 and beyond for portraits. Most clients spend between $1,500 and $4,000 because they want something prestigious. Our museum-quality wall portraits are our most popular items and what we are best known for producing. If you have a gift certificate, no purchase is required, though you are welcome to upgrade your certificate to a larger-sized wall portrait.
SAFETY — We always thoroughly disinfect the studio for you and your pets. We also ask that pets be fully vaccinated. We have dogs who are in hospice care come to our studio, and we need to ensure that all our clients and dogs are safe during their sessions.
GIFT CERTIFICATES — Gift certificates are valid for studio portraits only and are redeemable for the recipient, their pet, and family. A family includes parents and/or grandparents, along with their children of any age and their pets. The certificate is valid only if used by the named recipient; it is non-transferable, not redeemable for cash, and cannot be used to pay outstanding order balances for the recipient or any other client.
PAYMENT — Payments are due at the time of the ordering appointment and can be made by cash, check, or credit card. Payment plans are available by arrangement.
CUSTOM ORDERS — Due to the custom nature of our work, payment for your order must be made in full before we proceed. Once an order is sent out for production, it is deemed non-refundable. Please allow 8–12 weeks for delivery of your product, since each piece is an artistically handcrafted work of art.
RETOUCHING AND CONVERSIONS — Standard retouching for albums and small prints includes light blemishes at no additional cost.
MODEL RELEASE — Clients give permission to publish and use photographs on the studio’s website and for social media sharing, which might be for advertising, promotion, trade, exhibition, and distribution. Clients may apply restrictions on use.