Bio
70s: Born & raised in France, mainly in Brittany.
80s: picks up photography as a hobby.
90s: Business School in London and Reims. Book with Sebastiao Salgado and the Magnum agency in Paris. Move to the US, marriage, kids, corporate jobs.
2000's: Buys a D70. Starts shooting to pay for the equipment. Shoots more and more. Day job gets in the way of shooting. Quits day job to become a full time photographer.
Loïc: what kind of a name is that anyway?
Loïc: pronounced "low - eek". Yes, there are 2 dots on the ï
Meaning: "good with a camera"
Origin: Breton (as in Brittany, the country invaded by those darn French in the 1200's)
What kind of camera do you use, and do you have backups?
I use professional grade Nikon digital SLRs, and a range of fixed length and zoom lenses. I have a backup for every major piece of equipment, from cameras & flashes to cars.
What is the file format and resolution of the pictures? How large can I print?
My standard file format is JPG in full resolution (10 or 12 mega pixels). The recommended printing sizes vary picture by picture, but I have seen very nice poster size enlargements from my pictures.
What about black and white?
All the pictures are taken in color, and can later be transformed at will into black and white (scroll down for examples)..
Are digital pictures as good as film pictures?
Yes! The only people who will tell you otherwise are photographers who have not upgraded to digital yet. The other advantages of digital are immediate viewing of the pictures, and a much lower cost.
How soon can I see my pictures?
Right away! In the studio I have a large monitor on which your headshot will appear larger than life-size. On location I can use a laptop or the LCD at the rear of the camera. That means you can see the results of your photoshoot as we go, and we can make adjustments to ensure that you like the final result.
What about the copyright on the pictures? What can I do with the digital negatives that you give me?
They are yours to play with: print, email and publish to your heart's content. For print and web usage a credit line is required: "Photo by Loic Nicolas". Unless otherwise agreed upon in writing, I keep the right to use them for advertising purposes, and to sell them to a tabloid if you become a superstar or a serial killer. Please refer to your individual contract.
Where do you recommend printing the pictures?
Shutterfly.com and Costco do surprisingly good jobs for most common applications. If you want a really polished print then I recommend PhotoworksSF or BayPhoto.
Important: if I touched-up the picture for you, please make sure you turn the printing lab's "Auto-correct" feature OFF. If you are printing from the untouched negatives you can leave the "Auto-correct" feature ON (that is usually the default).
What about sales tax?
Internet deliveries (emails & downloads), PC to PC file transfers or out of state deliveries of physical items are not taxable.
California deliveries of physical items (CD, prints, albums etc) make the entire package taxable. The tax rate is 8.5% for San Francisco deliveries and 7.25% in the rest of the state.
What should I wear to my photoshoot?
Call me, I will be happy to give you a recommendation based on your skin tone, hair color and intended usage.
Avoid fabrics with tight patterns & weaves, as they may cause moiré.
In general: dark solid colors (with no print or texture) work best. Bring as many changes as you can.
Families and couples: try matching outfits to create a feeling of togetherness.
Women: bring hair accessories. Do NOT wear glittery makeup. Tank-tops are a great way to add glamour by showing off your shoulders.
Pregnancy portraits: tube tops are a great way to bear your belly while preserving your modesty.
Makeup and hairstyling
I will be happy to schedule someone for your photoshoot. You pay the Stylist directly, and their cost vary typically between $75 and $125.
Where is your studio located?
1345 Cole Street (@ 17th Street), San Francisco - 5 minutes from Haight & Ashbury
What do I need to do to book you?
Step 1- We agree on cost, location, date & time, services to perform etc. and I email you a formal contract.
Step 2- You then send me your 50% deposit and fax me your signed contract.
What forms of payment do you accept? What is the payment schedule?
Credit cards (via Paypal), Paypal, checks, cash.
50% to reserve the photoshoot, the rest at the start of the photoshoot.
What can photoshop do for me? What are the different types of picture enhancements?
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Raw file |
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Straight out of the camera; also called "digital negative"
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Enhanced picture |
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Included in most packages; picture is resized & cropped to your specs, color tuning and contrast are applied. Black and white or sepia are applied if requested.
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Touched-up picture |
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Cost: $25 to $50 per picture, depending on the complexity. The picture is first enhanced (see above), then the skin is manipulated to give a smooth complexion and stray hair and other gremlins are removed. This can be tuned up & down per your specs. |
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Monitor Calibration
You should be able to see a difference between all the shaded squares below. If not, try playing with the contrast and brightness settings of your monitor. If that does not work, it is time to buy a new monitor.
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