What is "Classic Portraiture"?

I have been creating portraits for over forty years. They have not always been great portraits. Well, maybe the subjects have always been great, but the technical quality may not have the best in early years. Photography, like any other art form, takes practice. What's involved in quality portraiture?

Posing - proper posing is only mastered by learning from other teaching professionals. Over the past 40 years, I have attended thousands of hours of seminars and schools that have taught me the correct rules of posing. There is a difference in posing a woman and a man. There are feminine poses as well as masculine poses. There are rules for both.

Lighting - this is where a true professional shines through. Proper light techniques take years to perfect.

The correct pose plus proper lighting techniques are the two most important components of the classic portrait. A "Classic Portrait" shows the best and most flattering pose of the subject and NOT the background. Look at the portraits of the "Old Masters" such as Rembrandt and DaVinci.  Your eyes are drawn to Mona Lisa's face and not the background. As a matter of fact, do you know what the background was in the Mona Lisa?

This is "Classic Portraiture".  This is what I do.

Blow, Snip, Curl 1991 David Savarino

I just received a request to revisit a project that I did in 1991. This image was created as a personal project and a gift to my very dear friend Gail Amoroso who cut my hair. There is only one print of this image which hangs in Gail Amoroso's Beauty Shop on Chess St., Monongahela still today. My friend Gail passed away years ago and this framed print is my memorial to her and also Sylvia who also passed away after Gail. Connie still cuts my hair to this day.

The son of Gail's high school friend asked me to create a duplicate framed print to hang in house in Las Vegas, NV.

This is a reproduction of that image as it has been converted to a digital image. The original image was created on b&w film and hand colored with oil paint.

Title - Blow, Snip, Curl 1991 Dave Savarino

Photo Restorations by Savarino Studio

Visit the Savarino Studio Web Page for free samples.

The original print that was scanned was approximately 16 x 20. I had to scan it in 4 sections and merge them together to get the entire image. I have scanned originals as large as 24 x 30 inches. Some scans are made up of as many as 8 scans merged together.

The NEW Savarino Seniors Web Page

While we were working on Savarino Studio, my computer guy said that he could make Savarino Seniors look better too. He presented me with his idea. We then incorporated his ideas into mine and after many revisions, we came up with the NEW www.savarinoseniors.com. Here's what it looks like. It is awesome. It is unique.

Please visit www.savarinoseniors.com .

Savarino Studio Webpage - savarino-studio.com

After two weeks of 20 hour days, my NEW web page is complete. It takes hours of developing work to come up with a unique, full purpose web page. I have been working hand in hand with a web developer every day and night into the wee hours refining the design of the NEW www.savarino-studio.com .  I was tired of being stuck inside a webpage that someone else created as a template. I had to put my information into their design and be forced to conform into their design. I was limited to the number of pictures and slideshows. I wanted my own web page, one that no one else had or could have.

So I started from scratch designing a page and putting everything I liked into it. I showed my design to my "computer guy". He said "I can do the thing you want, better". One thing led to another. We have spent hours texting back and forth. Some nights until 2 am.

Well, I am very proud of savarino-studio.com. You can get to it by typing in www.savarino-studio.com or www.savarinostudio.com. It takes you to the same place.

I encourage you to look at it. It is meant to be an honest representation of my work over the years. I specifically included images from years back up to today, demonstrating that fine portraits are timeless.

www.savarino-studio.com

Senior Models 2014 until March 31 only ! ! !

Dave's Bored - NEW

Here's a new photo for being bored. Do I look bored? Probably not but I am. This is a "no brainer".

DAVE'S BORED ! ! !

Dave's still bored!

I have received one call already to schedule an appointment for February 18, 19, 20 and 21. Don't miss this opportunity to have your portrait created FREE while I'm bored. I especially would like to do black and white portraits. Relationships, character studies or glamor. Call me to discuss your ideas. I'm open to just about anything.

Dave's Bored !!!

I've always said that I love what I do so much I'd do it for free if I could afford to! Well. . . . .February is such a slow time around the studio, that I get bored.

So to help keep me from being too bored, I decided to do just that. . . . . make portraits for FREE! ! ! !

So for 4 days, February 18, 19, 20 and 21, I will make your portrait for FREE . . . . NO SESSION FEE ! ! ! !  You get a full 30 minute custom session.

If you don't want to order anything. . . . that's OK! Or if you do . . . that's OK too. Either way, I get to do what I love which is photograph people.

So. . . . call today and schedule an appointment. . . . . it'll be fun ! !

DAVE


OK . . . . I know that you're probably thinking  "What's the catch?"
Well . . . . There's not one ! ! !
No obligation, no minimum order.

MAY SENIOR $20.14 BLOWOUT !

NEW for the Class of 2014. Every May we have a special promotion to kick off the new Senior Portrait season. This year I will be doing a really different May SPECIAL BLOWOUT SALE to kick off the senior season. Check out my NEW SENIOR web page Savarino Seniors to see all the session styles that are available. Believe me, I have something for everybody. Choices, choices, choices ! ! ! 

First, I have to announce that my senior portrait prices are lower this year. The Senior Basic was $119 for a yearbook session and package. NOW $99 additional gift selections are $39 each. 8x10's were $85 NOW $65. Additional from the same pose $39.

Check out my NEW $99 single pose packages. These packages are $99 for three gift selections from the same pose. Add a second clothing change for $99 and three more gift selections. Add a third clothing change for $99 and three more gift selections. . . and on and on.  BUT these are immediate viewing only. Minutes after your session, you will view your images and pick your poses. Your finished order will be ready in no more than three days. This replaces our old "Senior Express" session. You can also include outdoor portraits!

BACK TO THE MAY SPECIAL. . . select any three of our session styles and pay only $20.14

The THREE POSE Package from the regular price list is $399 in MAY $299  SAVE $100

This year I will only accept one session per day. I will do evenings and Saturday as well. Studio Hours are by Appointment ONLY.

SENIOR MODELS 2014

This year our Senior Model program has had a major facelift. The benefits are really BIG! There is a hitch. So that we can be sure that you will be committed to the Savarino Studio there is a small "commitment fee" to demonstrate your genuine interest.

So here's the deal. . .

• There is a $100 "Commitment" fee. This payment is due immediately and will be used to pay for your Rep Cards. This fee will be credited to your portrait order if you follow through with the program.
• All of your portrait sessions are FREE. They include every session style that the Savarino Studio offers plus various "Photo Safari's" to special locations.
• You will receive $50 credit for each Rep card that is returned to the studio by a referred senior client.
• When 5 Rep cards are received you will get a bonus credit for a 16x24 Canvas Gallery wrap.
• When 10 Rep cards are received you will get an additional $500 bonus towards your senior portrait order.

I would love to have models in Ringgold, Charleroi, Belle Vernon, Elizabeth Forward, Monessen, actually almost any district. If you're interested email me to info@savarino-studio.com or call 724.258.6206 or message me on facebook.

Here's an excellent example of the timeless images that I will create for the "Be My Valentine" February promotion. Call me to reserve your session. $99 for 3  8x10 units that we call "Gift Selections". ONLY AT Savarino Studio.