Business Description

Quintessence Photographic Art, founded by award-winning photographer Gail Shoop-Lamy, blends Gail’s love of people with her unique vision and inspiration to produce exquisite portraiture and stunning wedding images.

The Quintessence Photographic Art studio is based in western El Dorado County. The studio grounds have been beautifully landscaped to create a host of settings for portraiture. Q Photo Art’s indoor studio allows for a variety of backgrounds to suit any client’s tastes, from classic to contemporary.

Q Photo Art meets many clients on location in the greater Sacramento area for portraits, typically with no travel fee for locations within 50 miles of the studio. We offer wedding photography all over the greater Sacramento area, as well as the Lake Tahoe basin, Placer, Amador and Calaveras Counties.

Gail’s meticulous attention to detail, her creativity, and her personal integrity and warm personality permeate all aspects of Q Photo Art, making your portrait session or wedding a great photography experience, from your photo shoot to your final cherished images.

Services Offered

	To request additional information please call us at (530) 903-4030 or visit our Website. To submit a request please click on the services offered below.
	Event Photographers Portrait Photographers Wedding Photographers

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions
Q.	Do you have a customer satisfaction or refund policy?

Portrait Photographers
Q.	What are your qualifications? Have you been professionally trained or certified?

Q.	What are your rates?

Q.	Do you require a deposit?

Q.	What packages do you offer?

Q.	How many pictures do you take?

Q.	Can I keep the negatives?

Q.	What is your photographic style?

Q.	Do you provide black and white photography?

Q.	Do you use digital or film?

Q.	Can I see examples of your work?

Q.	How far are you willing to travel?

Q.	How quickly will I receive my prints?

Q.	What makes you different from other photographers?

Wedding Photographers
Q.	What are your qualifications? Have you been professionally trained or certified?

Q.	What packages do you offer? What are your rates?

Q.	Do you require a deposit?

Q.	How many pictures do you take?

Q.	Can I keep the negatives?

Q.	How many weddings have you photographed?

Q.	What is your photographic style?

Q.	Do you provide black and white photography?

Q.	Do you use digital or film?

Q.	Can I see examples of your work?

Q.	How far are you willing to travel?

Q.	How quickly will I receive my prints?

Q.	What makes you different from other photographers?

Q.	Do you have a customer satisfaction or refund policy?
Althought it is rarely needed, if necessary I will reshoot or reprint images.

Q.	What are your qualifications? Have you been professionally trained or certified?
I have earned certificates in photography, portrait & wedding photography, and commercial and advertising photography from Cosumnes River College, where I won awards for my work. I also participate in photography seminars every year to ensure that my work is up to date as well as the best quality possible. I am a member of the Professional Photographers of America and of the Sacramento Valley.

Q.	What are your rates?
My portrait sitting fee is $75 for up to four people, $100 for more people. For business head shots, I charge $125 for the first person, and $50 for each additional person (this includes a high resolution file retouched on CD).

Q.	Do you require a deposit?
Not for portrait work.

Q.	What packages do you offer?
I offer senior portrait packages (most of which include an 11x14-or larger, 8x10's, 5x7's, 4x6's, and wallets.

Q.	How many pictures do you take?
At a portrait sitting, it could be 50 to 100 images, depending on the number of people. With high school seniors, I usually photograph at least 80 images in a variety of backgrounds.

Q.	Can I keep the negatives?
I now shoot digitally, so there are no negatives. The digital files are available for purchase.

Q.	What is your photographic style?
I normally shoot a variety of posed images in my portrait work, depending on the clients wishes. For a smaller child, I will often shoot in more of a photojournalistic way. I also love to show the interraction between family members.

Q.	Do you provide black and white photography?
Black and white photography is always an option, and I always include it in my wedding photography. I also use sepia and other digital effects in my work.

Q.	Do you use digital or film?
I am 99% digital. There are a few instances where film is a better option, so I still have kept my medium format film camera in order to do the best job possible for my clients.

Q.	Can I see examples of your work?
There are examples of my work on my web site. In addition, I'd be happy to meet with a potential client to show samples of my work.

Q.	How far are you willing to travel?
I will travel within about 50 miles of my home base for portrait work, which is in the foothills east of Sacramento. Farther for a location fee.

Q.	How quickly will I receive my prints?
I can usually have portrait prints to my clients within about two to three weeks from when you make your choice.

Q.	What makes you different from other photographers?
I love to work with my clients to craft their portrait session to fit their needs. From the initial consultation to final framing, I take the time to do the best work possible. I retouch every image so my clients will always look their best. I also include a variety of digital effects for them to choose from. I am passionate about photography and love working with people.

Q.	What are your qualifications? Have you been professionally trained or certified?
I have earned certificates in photography, portrait & wedding photography, and commercial and advertising photography from Cosumnes River College, where I won awards for my work. I also participate in photography seminars every year to ensure that my work is up to date as well as the best quality possible. I am a member of the Professional Photographers of America and of the Sacramento Valley.

Q.	What packages do you offer? What are your rates?
I have several wedding packages. Most of them {in addition to wedding day coverage} include an album of 80 or more images (magazine style or traditional depending on the package and the clients wishes), an engagement session, one wall size portrait, and posting on the web. The packages that include more coverage also include a bridal portrait session. My wedding packages start at $1500.

Q.	Do you require a deposit?
I require a $300 retainer to hold the date.

Q.	How many pictures do you take?
At a wedding we normally show about 600 images to the client. Depending on the coverage, it could vary from about 450 to 700.

Q.	Can I keep the negatives?
I now shoot digitally, so there are no negatives. The digital files are available for purchase and are included in the basic coverage package (not retouched, but with some digital effects).

Q.	How many weddings have you photographed?
Between my partner and I, we have probably shot about 25-30 weddings. I limit the number of weddings I shoot, as I want to be able to serve my clients as thoroughly as possible and not become a "wedding factory". Quality to me is more important than quantity.

Q.	What is your photographic style?
My wedding style is a combination of posed and photojournalistic. I love to have fun with the bride & groom and capture their special moments. I also realize that it's important to pose people both for artistic effect (you need to have those romantic shots) and to make sure the important people in the clients life are photographed in order to be forever remembered on their special day.

Q.	Do you provide black and white photography?
Black and white photography is always an option, and I always include it in my wedding photography. I also use sepia and other digital effects in my work.

Q.	Do you use digital or film?
I am 99% digital. There are a few instances where film is a better option, so I still have kept my medium format film camera in order to do the best job possible for my clients.

Q.	Can I see examples of your work?
There are examples of my work on my web site. In addition, I'd be happy to meet with a potential client to show samples of my work.

Q.	How far are you willing to travel?
For a wedding I'm willing to travel 100 to 150 miles from my home base which is in the foothills east of Sacramento.

Q.	How quickly will I receive my prints?
Wedding albums usually are 2-3 months from when you give me your choices.

Q.	What makes you different from other photographers?
I love working with couples to help plan their special day. I always use a second photographer in my weddings, as I don't want to miss any important moments. After the wedding day, I work to create an album unique and beautiful to be treasured forever. You should know upfront what you will be spending, so my packages are all inclusive. I love people and am passionate about photography.