What to Expect from a Portrait Session at Reid Studios

Updated

A portrait session at Reid Studios is a studio or on-location photo shoot for families, milestone moments, artists, or anyone who wants a portrait they genuinely like. The studio, run by Chris on Reid Street in Fitzroy North, frames portraits around character rather than stiff posing, and client testimonials repeatedly describe the experience as relaxed and well guided. To book a specific occasion or date, you need to enquire directly, since session availability and scheduling are handled case by case.

Who the portrait sessions are for

The studio names four broad reasons people book a portrait session:

  • Families — a group portrait, whether the children are small or grown.
  • Milestones — a birthday, anniversary, graduation, or another moment worth marking.
  • Artists — a portrait for a portfolio, program, or promotional use.
  • Anyone who wants a photograph they actually like — the studio's own phrasing, aimed at people who have avoided being photographed for years.

If your reason fits one of these, a portrait session is the relevant service. If you need a professional image for work — LinkedIn, a company website, a team page — the headshot service is the closer match, and it is priced and structured separately.

Studio or on location

You choose between two settings:

Setting What it means Best suited to
Studio Shot at the Reid Street studio in Fitzroy North Controlled lighting, a clean background, sessions that need to fit around work or school
On location Shot wherever suits you Families wanting their own home or a favourite outdoor spot, or a setting that says something about the subject

The studio does not publish a fixed list of approved locations or travel terms, so if you have a specific place in mind, raise it when you enquire.

The experience: guided, not posed

The strongest signal in the studio's own material is how past clients describe the process. Testimonials on the site call Chris "funny, personable" and say he "makes you feel at ease"; another says he "alleviates stress." One client notes they are "always a bit awkward in photos" and credits his "direction and professionalism" with producing the results.

In practice, that means you should expect to be directed — where to stand, how to hold yourself, when to look at the camera and when not to — rather than left to improvise. If being photographed makes you uncomfortable, say so when you enquire; that is exactly the situation the studio's approach is built around.

What the site does not tell you

Several practical details are not published, so plan to confirm them in your enquiry rather than assume:

  • Session length and price for portraits. The site lists a "from $1,590" figure for weddings only; no portrait pricing is shown.
  • Number of finished images included and how they are delivered.
  • Turnaround time. Same-day delivery is stated for headshots, not portraits.
  • What to wear or bring, and whether outfit changes are possible.
  • Availability, including weekends, and how far ahead to book.

How to enquire

  1. Decide your occasion and whether you want the studio or a location.
  2. Note any dates or deadlines you are working toward, and who will be in the photographs.
  3. Use the enquiry link on the portraits section of reidstudios.com and describe the session you have in mind.
  4. Ask directly about price, session length, image delivery, and turnaround, since these are not listed for portraits.
  5. Mention if anyone in the group is uncomfortable in front of a camera, so the session can be planned around it.

The studio has been photographing people in Melbourne since 2000, which is a reasonable signal of experience with a wide range of subjects and occasions — but the specifics of your session are best settled in a direct conversation before you book.