Studio 656 West

Serves Plant City, FL

35244

Hired 352 times

1 employee

25 years in business

Not yet available

5.0

This pro accepts payments via Cash, Check, Venmo, and Zelle.

Next Service

Hours

Sun 10:00 am - 9:00 pm

Mon 9:00 am - 9:00 pm

Tues 9:00 am - 9:00 pm

Wed 9:00 am - 9:00 pm

Thurs 9:00 am - 9:00 pm

Fri 9:00 am - 9:00 pm

Sat 9:00 am - 9:00 pm

Credentials

Background Check

Leigh Clifton
Completed on 2/27/2022

Introduction

Hello! Thank you so much for considering Studio656West Photography for your photography needs! I am a PLATINUM TOP PRO ON THUMBTACK, the highest achievement to be reached at Thumbtack. I've been with Thumbtack since 2014 and have been a TOP PRO since 2016. I'm very proud of that! I've met the most amazing clients on this journey, and many have become repeat customers when they come in from out of town. I try and stay in touch! I truly love what I do; helping to create lasting memories for people and its always an honor to be hired, knowing that I'm entrusted with them. I am also the Editor of Gulfport Living Magazine, a monthly that features all of the places, people and things that Gulfport, Florida has to offer! I do the cover article and photo, most of the other photography as well as write features, cover local events and put the entire magazine together at deadline. I supervise a cadre of local writers as well as our expert contributors from the community. I covered high school sports for the Tampa Bay Times Newspaper as a freelance photographer for 2 years, shooting football, baseball, volleyball, track and field, basketball, swimming and soccer. I have a LOT of experience in different styles of photography! I am an on- location only photographer .. no studio since Covid. I will travel to you or if you prefer, you can travel to me. I live in Gulfport, Florida, a funky, artistic, eclectic beach town that is part of St. Petersburg. I love to photograph at the beach or a green space like a local park. We have SO many beautiful places in Tampa Bay to choose from! I'm also known for my sunset photography. I do a LOT of surprise engagements , family and couples portraits at sunset. So many people visit Florida and love our beautiful sunsets. They do make an awesome background for photos! I also have studio backgrounds and can travel to a home or office for headshots or similar requests. I use a bounce flash and try to use natural light whenever possible. It looks more natural and beautiful on the skin. I offer several different photography services, which include family portraits, surprise and staged engagements, maternity, headshots, children, pets, couples, events, (corporate or traditional), real estate, graduation/senior portraits, small beach weddings under 20 people and almost all sports. If you have something special in mind that's not listed, just ASK!! As a photojournalist, I shoot with a more critical eye than most photographers. I like to use natural texture, like trees, sea oats, old doors, anything with a tactile feel, in my photos; it adds a sense of realness that traditional style photography does not. I use natural light as much as possible! I offer a complimentary phone consultation with every prospective client and can help with location and clothing decisions if needed. I stay in touch with my clients throughout the entire process and am always available for questions or concerns. The best way to reach me is by text first as I'm often on the phone with consultations. If you text me your name and number, I'll get right back to you. You can also leave a voicemail as well. I will return your call as soon as possible. Let me help preserve your memories~ Thank you so much for considering Studio656West for your photo needs.😊

Q&A

What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?

I think I price competitively but affordably. . I try and keep my prices affordable. A lot depends on how many people will be in the photos, where and what type of photos they want etc. I'm always willing to work with pricing for my clients. I do want the potential client to understand that we, the Pros, pay for the leads that Thumbtack sends us if they, the client, express interest in our profile. That means if the client is just "shopping" for prices or different styles and clicks on our profiles, we, the Pros are charged for that interest if we match their request. Then, if the client decides NOT to contact the Pro, we are still charged. The leads can be priced anywhere from $20-$70 depending on what type of photography is requested. We still pay for the lead. My biggest pet peeve is when a client expresses interest, I contact them right away and then they never answer. I want to work with you!

What is your typical process for working with a new customer?

I email a quote-, usually with some sample photos of the kind of photography they're requesting, and let them know I'm available for any questions they might have. For a lot of clients, this is often a first-time attempt at hiring a photographer. It can be very confusing at times. So I encourage them to call or email with any questions or concerns and I will often send additional photos to them, if their particular needs are not listed on my Thumbtack portfolio.

What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?

I have a BA in Photo Journalism and Communications I also have a minor in Music/Vocal Performance. I also went back to school in 2010 at 50 and got a Commercial Photography degree; it has really helped my understanding of lighting. I interned with the Wilmington News Journal in Delaware, (where I grew up) for 6 months in college. I was honored to have worked with two Pulitzer -prize winning photographers at the Washington Post, where I freelanced for 3 years. I learned a lot!

How did you get started doing this type of work?

I started as a Music Major in college and got nodules on my vocal chords (like the singer Adele). After surgery I was never really able to recover my whole voice so I switched majors to journalism, picked up a camera somewhere along the way, became the first female Photo Editor for the AP award-winning college newspaper, The Review, and found that I liked photographing anything from sports to animals to people and everything else. I worked for several newspapers, including the Wilmington News Journal, where I was the first female intern they ever had ...(boy THAT was an eye-opener) and then freelanced for the Washington Post and the monthly Old Towne Crier when I moved to DC. I was a columnist and photographer for the Crier and covered politics, local happenings, the music scene and everything in between! I worked for the Gabber Newspaper for 5 years here in Florida as their chief photographer, education reporter and columnist. I have also been a freelancer for the TAMPA BAY TIMES newspaper, shooting mostly high school sports like football, volleyball, soccer, swimming, baseball and basketball.

What types of customers have you worked with?

I have worked with musicians, families, sports personalities, politicians, authors, Presidents, and just about everybody else. I have photos on 3 book jackets as well as the inside cover of one of the most popular children's books in Japan, written about rescue dogs. Even though I don't have children, ( I have three rescue dogs,)..I've found that I relate well to them and I think it shows in my portraits. I really love portraiture.. I love the constant changeability of a person's face. I can take 10 photos and not one will be exactly the same. I like to try and catch an expression that shows the real person... I think that comes through in my photos.

Describe a recent project you are fond of. How long did it take?

One of my favorite shoots was with Becky and London the Lab. London has cancer and Becky and her mom wanted to have some lasting memories of their much loved dog. I was shooting through tears as I had just lost my own precious girl, Shelby (she is the beautiful red dog on the beach in my portfolio) and I knew how much those photos would mean to them in the months ahead. It was very special to me and I felt honored that they trusted me with the preservation of their memories of London.

What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?

I would always look at the reviews from prior clients and then look at the photographer's portfolio. If you don't see something that is relatable to your particular photo request, ASK!! Often a photographer has a LOT of experience in other areas of photography and may not have listed an example merely because of Thumbtack portfolio space requirements.

What questions should customers think through before talking to professionals about their project?

I always ask the client what their expectations are and I encourage them to ask a lot of questions. I know that a lot of people will see something they like and ask if we can reproduce that. I am always willing to do that. Often I will do research on a particular style or pose so that I have a better understanding of what the client wants. I always offer a phone consultation and encourage the client to email me for styling tips, clothes and hair and makeup ideas. I encourage my clients to take advantage of this kind of service; it helps me better understand their expectations and I think I'm a better photographer by being a good listener to them.