At Crafty Eye, our goal is to create high quality portraits that you and your friends will love. We understand the importance of making pictures that are fun and will be enjoyed for years to come. Your friends want contemporary portraits that show you for who you are. Your family wants a nice picture to put on the mantle. We can help you get both. Crafty Eye welcomes your ideas for whatever you want your portrait to be.

We know some people are less comfortable than others when having their picture taken. Our laid-back atmosphere will make your time with us more enjoyable. At Crafty Eye, we'll do anything we can to create a warm and inviting environment where you'll feel relaxed so we can have some fun with your portrait session.

If you're unhappy with your portraits, we'll stand behind our work and either remake them, reshoot them, or refund your money. Your satisfaction is our first priority.

All portrait prices include negative retouch for one subject (additional subjects $10.00 each). Corrections on hair, clothing, braces removal, tan lines, or severe complexion problems will be made by quotation.

The day of your scheduled session, you will be given an appointment for approximately 2 weeks to come back to the studio to pick up your previews. When you pick them up, you will be required to pay a $150 (nonrefundable) advance to take them out of the studio. This will be credited toward your order. You will then be given an appointment for approximately 1 week to come back to the studio to plan your order. If you have chosen to do video preview, then you will be given an appointment approximately 1 week after your session to come back to the studio to view our images on the video monitor and order. At the time of placing your order, a minimum of 50% deposit is required. Your order will take between 4 and 6 weeks to be completed. Once your order is in production, it is nearly impossible to change it. You will be notified when your order is ready either by phone or by postcard. When picking up your completed order, the entire balance is due. An appointment is NOT necessary for picking up an order. All order not picked up within 30 days are subject to $10 fee. The studio is not responsible for storage on orders over 90 days.

All poses, backgrounds, and props are at the discretion of the photographer. However, if you have any special requests, now is the time to share your ideas with the photographers. They will do everything they can to achieve the look you desire.

The photographer will greet you and discuss what you will be wearing and any special requests you would like for your portrait. They will determine which session is needed for you. If you have a preference, please share it with them before the session.

Would you like to meet with your photographer in advance to discuss such things as clothing, location, style, purpose, and special considerations?

We encourage you to take advantage of our free Portrait Planning Consultation service.

Creative Sessions - are based on your special personality, needs, and desires. You may prefer to take advantage of the consultation session or give us information over the phone. You may give us specific requests, let the photographer use his own ideas, or share in the creative process.

Half Hour Session - Up to three outfits* $50

One Hour Session - Up to six outfits* $75

Hour and a Half Session - Up to eight outfits* $100

On Location Special - Where would you like to be photographed? You pick the spot or leave it to us. Includes drive time - First hour $100, additional hours $50 each.

All session fees are required to be prepaid at the time your appointment is made. Please have your credit card handy when you call. You may also stop by the studio to make your appointment and pay by check or cash.

No appointment will be made or held without full payment.

*This is the maximum number of outfits that can be done provided you are a fast changer. Sometimes adding a hat or jacket or changing a top can give the effect of an outfit change.

You'll need to arrive at the studio at least 15 minutes prior to your appointment time. During this time, you'll fill out some necessary paperwork and get information as to how and when the previews from your sessions will be ready. You'll also have the chance to look through sample albums and guide us to any preferences you may have.

It is very important to show up early. If not, you may feel rushed and as a result, may not be as happy with your portraits as you should be.

Late arrivals will be rescheduled at the discretion of the photographer. I'm sure that you can understand that we won't inconvenience other appointments we have because you're late. If you're typically a late person, come extra early. If you don't know where the studio is, come out a few days prior to your session and scout out the trip and gauge the amount of time it will take to get there. But please don't be late.

Our schedule get very busy, and if you have to reschedule, you need to realize that we'll get you in as soon as we can. However, from May through October, that may be up to 8 weeks down the road. Once you've rescheduled, your reservation fee or session fee is nonrefundable in order to cover the lost studio time. It will still be applied to your portrait session. If you reschedule twice, it's then forfeited.

If you cancel your first appointment with a minimum of 8 work days notice, any advance you've made will be returned. Less than 8 work days notice and any advance you've made will be forfeited.

Every day we see great looking people who are photogenic and who should have outstanding portraits.

Instead, They blow it with the clothing they select to be photographed in.

We would hate for that to happen to you. So we're providing you with this checklist which has been designed especially for the portrait session that you've chosen. Please take our advice when we are specific about a particular type of outfit. This comes from years of experience.

We've been careful to make suggestions that will encourage and enable you to be yourself, while still wearing clothing that will allow us to photograph you in the best possible way. Certain clothing types, as well as colors and patterns, can be restrictive as to the poses we may be able to use for you. Poses should be chosen to best compliment you, not your clothing. Bold patterns are very bad choices as they compete for attention in the portrait with your face, which is of course what we want to highlight. Choose colors that best compliment you.

Something to keep in mind when having your senior portrait taken is that this portrait will be around forever. So regardless of what the current styles may be, keep trendy outfits to a minimum (we recommend not more than one).

Not everyone likes to wear the same type of clothes, and that's a good thing. We do have some suggestions for you to consider though, which will help you decide what you want to bring. If you're doing an hour session, we suggest you choose three types, two for a half-hour, and four or five for an hour and a half session. Wear the first style you're choosing from the list into the studio as your first outfit.

1. Formal or traditional outfit: These outfits will be for formal or traditional poses and will be important to you not only this year, but in the years to come as well.

   Your outfit should be quite conservative in style and of a solid color, not a bold print. It should have long sleeves, never short sleeves.

   Guys traditionally wear a jacket and tie, but that's not necessary. A nice sweater will do. We don't recommend only a shirt and tie. For ladies, a V-neckline is an excellent choice, as it will help draw attention to your face. Shoulder pads are acceptable but not desirable.

2. Tuxedo, with or without the jacket, or prom dress: This is another good choice for an outfit. We can do traditional and creative poses, color, black & white, ect. It's all up to you.

3. Sweater or long sleeve denim-type shirt: This outfit will contain some of the most popular types of poses, from very close up, to full length. Ladies do not wear anything sleeveless or you'll be looking at armpit when you see the previews (usually not attractive!). Short sleeves are not advisable either. Wear long sleeves! Also, gals should not wear shoulder pads for this outfit.

4. Special interest or creative outfit: Actually, we encourage you to do anything you want! If you're into sports, you'll probably want to include some jerseys, varsity jacket, trophies, and other sports stuff. Be sure to bring any ball you'd like to include in your pictures. Also, helmets make a great prop. If you're into music, bring an instrument. If you have a hobby, bring something along those lines. Or if you just want to have an outfit that's trendy, or wild, or doesn't fit into any of the other outfits we've talked about so far, wear that one also! If you've found something cool in a magazine or CD cover or something, we can try that on this outfit. Be yourself!

5. Your last outfit for the session will be for the outdoor poses. Our recommendation is that you go casual: shorts, jeans, summer dress, things like that work well. For color selection, stay with earth tones for best results, avoid bright colors and bold patterns as always.

Remember also, that with Crafty Eye's extensive outdoor areas, you're welcome to do more than one outfit outdoors, or whatever percentage of indoors to outdoors you choose, weather and lighting permitting.

Follow this outline when choosing your clothing and your portraits are sure to be great!

If you wear glasses, you'll want to wear them in your portraits. Lenses not only cause glass glare which will make it impossible to light you correctly and see your eyes, but can also cause distortion. So in order to light you for you, not for your glasses, you'll need to get an empty pair of frames from your optometrist, or remove your lenses from your frames.

If you choose to simply not wear your glasses (which we don't recommend), it'll be best that you don't wear them for an hour or so prior to arriving to the studio. This way you'll avoid having a mark across your nose from the glasses.
IMPORTANT: Don't drive without your glasses. Either wear an old pair, or have someone drive you.
Contact lenses are no problem.

For guys with short hair, don't get a haircut too close to your portrait session. We recommend about 3 days prior.

For the gals hair, we recommend that you do your hair yourself as opposed to having it done by your stylist the day of your session. Don't try a new style a day or two before your appointment. Bring your brand of hair spray with you to your session. If you normally have a very straight, parted in the middle type hairstyle, you should consider at least curling the ends under for best results.

For the gals, makeup should be applied. Even if you never wear makeup, we strongly recommend that you do for your portraits. The fashion models who try so hard for the "natural look" spend hours in makeup before they ever see the camera! If you usually do wear makeup, we recommend that you apply a little more than usual, especially around the eyes. Bring your makeup with you for touch-ups.

If you get a dreaded zit right before your scheduled appointment, remain calm. The first step is to go and get a cover-up stick that is as close to your skin color as possible. Guys may want to look to Mom, Sister, or your girlfriend for help here. Whatever we can hide up front is going to make your previews look great later. You finished prints will be carefully retouched and blended to remove any trace of the pimple. No problem.

What about jewelry and accessories? They are very important. Choose things that will not overpower the portrait, but add a touch of class to your outfit. We find that a flat style necklace reflects a large amount of light and is distracting. It's best to stick with a chain style necklace. Also be sure to bring any rings you like, and of course your class ring.

Always be prepared from head to toe for each outfit; socks, shoes, belts are all important items to have.

Family and friends are always welcome at Crafty Eye. However, the person having their portrait made must decide whether or not they are comfortable with their parent or friend in the camera room with them. If you choose not to have anyone else in the room with you, they may wait for you in the waiting room.

We recommend no more than two other people be with you during your session.

If you'd like to have a pose or two made with a friend, that's no problem. There's no charge for this service. Realize however that we'll make that pose in an outfit you'll already be wearing in your session. so you may want your friend to plan their outfit accordingly. We don't recommend using more than a few poses from your portrait session on anything other than yourself.

We will be happy to accommodate pets in your portraits. We have a few rules that must be adhered to however.

Only clean, well behaved pets will be allowed in the studio.

Another person must be with you to help maintain the animal.

If the portrait of you and your pet will be taken inside the studio, you must realize that the pet will be allowed inside only for the time necessary to make those poses.

Pets must be either in pet carriers, or on a short leash. No loose pets will be allowed on premises.

If your pet relieves itself outside the studio, you are responsible for cleaning it up. If it relieves itself inside the studio, you will be billed for cleaning expenses.

• Read an follow this entire guide (especially the clothing suggestions).
• Bring a favorite tape or CD with you to your session.
• Get some rest! Don't stay out late the night before your portrait session, it'll show in your eyes.
• Arrive at least 15 minutes early, in your first outfit!
• Please don't hesitate to call us with any questions you may have.
• Keep from getting too much sun at least a week prior to your session. There's not much we can do for peeling skin.
• Relax. There's nothing to worry about. We're here to help you.
• If you have any concerns or have had problems with portraits in the past, please let us know.
• As with most anything, the planning that you do before can make all the difference later.

Tuesday - Friday 10:00 - 5:00
Saturday 10:00 - 2:00

Evenings by appointment only.
We accept all major credit cards.

From St. Louis
Route I-64 to I-255 South. 4 miles to IL Route 15 East. Approximately 9 miles to IL Route 159 Exit.

From Intersection of IL Route 15 and IL Route 159
South on 159 (Illinois St) 1/2 mile to stoplight (Ross Lane / West Haven School Rd). Turn right onto Ross Lane to Crafty Eye Photography at 204 Ross Lane.