"There are two sides to every photograph, the image and the memory behind it, we insure both are pleasant."
“Your image is your representation of you and should be impeccable!"
We are storytellers and visual artists, we visually communicate in a universal language stories of; joy, love, quality, happiness, accomplishment, family, beauty, strength, teamwork, professionalism, elegance, fun & serenity. If a picture is worth a thousand words, it is our goal to make a picture for you that is worth 3,000! Professional photography is an Art, a Science and a Business. Sharing just the visual Art is only a part of our professional story. We have created this website not only to share thousands of our images (Art) but also to explore and share our philosophy, personality and beliefs as it relates to the Science and Business of photography. Sit back, relax and enjoy (no need to fasten your seatbelts)... and let us know if you have any questions or we can help you with anything.
Current Exhibitions:
UNEXPECTED BRILLIANCE
The Colors & Hues Under the Thorn Trees of Ndonyo Wasin
262 Court Street, Brooklyn, New York
Photography by: Elizabeth Brown Eagle & Liz Titone ~ Limited edition prints by: Dan Harris PhotoArt, LLC
Photography Exhibit and Benefit in Support of the ThornTreeProject.org and OrphansOfRwanda.org
Collages By Louise Freshman Brown Fairfax Gallery
4216 Herschel St.
Jacksonville, FL 32210
Ph. 904-384-7724
Limited Edition Fine-Art Giclees by: Dan Harris PhotoArt, LLC
Whitney Oldenberg
Lab Gallery at MOCA JAX 333 North Laura Street
Jacksonville, FL, 32202
Phone: (904) 366-6911
Photography of artwork by: Dan Harris PhotoArt, LLC
Science Content: There is a quality difference between Professional Medium-Format and Full-Frame DSLR and Consumer Half-Frame Digital Cameras; Check it out:
The quality is in the details. Hire the BEST, don't settle for less! Click on the images above to learn more.
Business Content: A quick note to the ORPHANED bride: If your photographer left you out in the cold with only a CD of your high-resolution images (or negatives) and you don't know where to turn or who to trust for professional help, we can provide complete design, editing, retouching, printing and album services. We can make the photos the best they can be (maybe not as good as if we took the pictures ourself, but we will try). Our complete album design & binding services range in price from $250-$6,000 depending on the size, style, number of pages and quantity. E-mail us for more information.
~ "Capturing the distinctive moment . . . for a lifetime of memories" ~
"Everything we do is customized for YOU! -- Your Day, Your Way!"
"You won't find better quality for a lower price! You Deserve The Best!"
"Nobody tells your story better!"
A statement from Dan regarding recent wedding photography news events:
"I'm saddened to hear about the recent photography studio closings and pending bankruptcies. Artistic talent doesn't automatically come with good business sense. My heart goes out to the brides and their families who have not only lost good money but will never be able to replace their professional images from their once-in-a-lifetime event. (If by chance you do get your images, we will be happy to help you create a heirloom album of the highest quality.) Have you noticed the recent pattern nationwide? The lesser expensive photographers who include lots of cheap products and are making offers that are 'too good to be true' are the ones that are going out of business. To the future brides who don't want to lose everything: check your potential photographer's Better Business Bureau report, talk to other vendors, don't let yourself be deceived by an offer that is 'too good to be true' and don't hire the cheapest --pay more for better quality."
The Assistant Photographers of Dan Harris PhotoArt are now available for hire!
Dan Harris PhotoArt has 5 good assistant photographers on staff but Dan usually only uses 1 or 2 of them per week. (Most of them have full-time weekday jobs and only shoot weddings part-time in the evening or on weekends.) Many of the images on this website were taken by Dan's assistants then edited and retouched by Dan. If you are on a tight budget, Dan's assistants have agreed to help you out by shooting your wedding for almost half of Dan's price. Dan and his staff will still provide all the pre- and post-wedding consultations, retouching, album design, etc.
Call or e-mail to set an appointment to go over all the details.
Deep Thoughts: Shiny, self-absorbed fluorescence all too soon turns into annoying, obnoxious hideousness.
We provide enduring heirloom ART of a contemporary style, not fleeting fashions that fade!
"EVERYONE'S A PHOTOGRAPHER"
Isn't photography fun! Taking and sharing photos of your family and friends, with the internet and modern digital technology, has become faster and easier than ever before. The new age of instant gratification! Just about everyone today is a photographer, some for fun, some for hire, we are all just on different levels!
To the consumer: Don't make the mistake of thinking your friend the 'picture taker' is a 'professional photographer'! Picture takers are a dime-a-dozen. A professional photographer brings a lot more to the table than just the ability to take a picture. A true professional has the best experience, training, equipment, skill and talent to bring it all together!When you pay a professional you aren't just paying for someone to 'snap a picture', you are paying for expert consultation, valuable advice and creative input based on years of experience (including the best image selection, digital re-mastering and image retouching) to insure your images are the best possible representation of you, your event, your family, your product or your company.
The hobby of taking pictures isn't the same as the business of photography. One of the most difficult photography assignments (when done properly) is wedding photography, yet it seems to be where many inexperienced amateurs want to start, I guess that's why so many brides are dissatisfied with the photos from their wedding. A smart but inexperienced apprentice will work their first 3-5 years in photography under the protective wing of an experienced pro to 'learn the ropes' and insure career success with limited failures prior to breaking out on their own and then will 'break out' on easier photography assignments, not once-in-a-lifetime events. A professional doesn't meet you at the local cafe or coffee shop, doesn't get prints at the grocery/drug store and will know how to archivally store, preserve and reproduce your images so they last multiple generations. Your image should be the best, don't settle for less!
Consider this: The Bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten! The best photographer for your job is never the cheapest one!
Cool Science: We now offer High-Definition Large Format Digital Architectural photography
with full Tilt, Shift, Rise, Fall and Swing capabilities insuring your building stands tall
and doesn't have that distorted, leaning or 'falling-over' look!
Executive Photographer's Summary
Dan Harris and staff are talented and honest visual artists using the best equipment, processes and proven technology to achieve superior-quality results at a fair price. Dan and his staff have a gift for seeing your vision and the talent to give you more than you expected in an experience that will be enjoyable for all while meeting your timetable at the price quoted! Why settle for less when you can have the best?
Top Quality - Only the Best!
As an independent full-time Jacksonville Florida portrait, commerical and event photographer working out of a home studio location (since 1997), we offer unique top-quality customized photography services personalized to fit your exact photography needs. We never compromise on quality or service, We give only the best! --No matter the budget! We are exclusively unique and not the photographer for the masses. If our artistic flair meshes with your vision, we can have some fun making great images that you will want to enjoy and share for a lifetime.
We are up front, straight-forward and realistic about our photographic capabilities, our customers expectations and our pricing, insuring an enjoyable and satisfying experience for all. All products are 100% guaranteed! If you don't like your photos, we re-do them!
(Please note: all the images on all of our websites are from actual client photography sessions ~the real deal~ , not from hired models, instructional photography classes or seminars.)
We design and maintain this website ourself --it's 100% 'home-grown!' Here's the wedding info site map. Unlike many websites that are only 'flashy billboards' on the information super highway, this site is designed to give you plenty of information and assist you in your photographic decisions. It's not as pretty as the ones the big designers get paid the big bucks to fabricate but it contains 98% less hype! ~enjoy! If you have a suggestion or find a problem with it, let us know and we will fix it pronto! For internet history buffs some pages are 'preserved time capsules' unchanged from when the internet first started, if you find them you know you have gone too far!
Fair and Honest Pricing
We are not your 'traditional' photographers and don't believe in the 'loss leader' or 'bait & switch' tactics some photography studios use where they lure you in with a cheap price up front and then gouge you on the reprint costs and 'extras' later. At the time you commission us for our services you will not only know what you are getting for your money but will also know the price of any additional items. We won't brow-beat you for additional orders or add-on extras. We are not 'pushy salesmen' nor do we have the time to hound you for an order because we are kept very busy with our next client project.
As the old saying goes: "you get what you pay for." In today's market too many companies are trying to charge a lot of money for very little. (not our style) We don't skimp on quality or service! We insure our customers always get the BEST for their money. We are not 'cheap', because we know what our top-of-the-line quality products and expertise are worth, we insure our customers get their monies worth!
High Definition Digital Photography (HDSP or HDDP)
In 2007 we upgraded all our equipment to be able to provide professional HDSP (High Definition Still Photography). The images we capture today have greater depth, definition, dynamic range, color and clarity than those created just a couple years ago. See the difference High Definition Photography can make compared to Standard or Consumer grade Digital Cameras. We combine HDRI (High Dynamic Range Imaging) with the principles that make HDTV (High Definition Television) to produce the ultimate in digital still photography ~ HDSP (High Definition Still Photography). The difference is similar to viewing regular TV versus HDTV.
When quality, color accuracy and superior detail are important, we use our best Medium or Large Format commercial digital camera (32, 64 or 96 megapixels) which can capture up to 65,536 possible tonal values per pixel with true 48-bit to 96-bit output. Most 'professional' DSLR cameras have a maximum range of only 4,096 (94% less) and the standard 'consumer' camera only captures 256 possible color tones (99.6% less).
Our images look very detailed and three-dimensional while still maintaining flattering skin tones. With recent advancements in archival output, our current professional photographic products will last for many more generations than the industry standard processes used just five years ago. Our prints are archival and have been tested to not fade for over 200 years.
Professional Quality with Personalized Informal Service
Corporate customers can get top-quality waterproof images printed on-site / on-demand with our portable photo lab. (these are NOT inkjet prints).
We are willing to travel and offer Free photographic consultation by appointment. Although we have extremely high standards of professionalism and quality, our mode of operation is informal. You can call our office between 9 am and 6 pm (eastern time) daily. (If we are out of the office or with a client just leave us a message and we will get back to you) We have covered weddings as far away as Alaska!
Our personalized service, professionalism, eye for quality and attention to details extends well beyond our photographic skills and manifests itself in the finished products. Taking the photos is only half of our service, we assist our clients along every step of the artistic process including choosing, editing, croping and designing their finished artwork, albums and frames --this enhances the final outcome and insures total satisfaction on your unique 'one-of-a-kind' project.
Although we specialize in a realistic photojournalistic style of photography at events, we have the flexability to offer an extensive repertoire of photographic styles that blends technical details with creativity and photographic artistry to insure you get just what you want.
Amateur & Consumer Photography
With cameras changing from film to digital photography you can hear consumers everywhere, every day getting very excited about the picture they just took as they look at the little screen on the back of their new digital camera! They are amazed as they have never taken photos that look so good and of course the instant gratification of seeing them in seconds is enough to make one scream in a strange foreign accent while pinching themselves, "I'm as happy as a little girl!" The problem is most every picture looks good displayed on a 3" backlit LCD screen! Too often what looked like an 'awesome' photo on the back of the camera ultimately doesn't look as good when viewed on a full- sized computer screen or printed and is totally unusable in a commercial or professional application. That's when it is time to call a full-time, experienced professional!
Reality Check
There are many occasions where consumer digital (or even a camera phone) does a great job, easier, quicker and more convenient than ever before. But advanced computerized technical wizardry doesn't a professional photographer make! Anyone who has played extensively with their digital camera and had their work printed, published or enlarged realizes there is more to it than just pushing a button on a sophisticated box of electronics. If the photography is important, don't skimp or do-it-yourself, hire a professional!
In the days of film you could recognize a professional by their professional equipment, today too many 'self-proclaimed professional photographers' are attempting to produce 'professional' images while using consumer-grade equipment. Image quality has dramatically improved both on the low-end and high-end of the spectrum. Rather than striving for the best, too many people are accepting mediocre for 'good enough'. Taking magazine-quality images for publication is a whole different animal than just taking 'family' photos on the beach to display on the internet.
In critical situations it pays to hire a true professional with the right equipment and the years of experience, know- how, education, training and proficiency in lighting, composition and many other techniques (including computer wizardry) to get the job done right. We really shine in those difficult situations and requirements, try us and you will see. (Future customers and would-be photographers; follow this link to learn more about the businesses of photography)
2009 Industry Outlook - Technology is only a tool
As photographic digital technology improves most consumers have a false belief that the $1,000 camera they just bought is 'professional' quality. (film cameras never cost so much) Granted it is a marked improvement over anything they have owned before and mimics many of the settings contained on a $8,000+ professional camera but doesn't come close to the capability of a $65,000 Medium or Large Format Digital camera. What they don't realize is while there have been vast improvements in the consumer side of the business, there have also been major improvements on the professional side. Set an appointment with us and we will show you the difference between 'consumer/prosumer' and true professional photography. Not referring to the Art or Business side of photography, just the science side: the best tools in the hands of an experienced, well-trained professional still make the best photographs. Better equipment in the hands of an amateur still only makes better amateur photographs.
Photography has similarities to professional singing... just because everyone has a voice, doesn't mean they can or should sing (even if they say or think they can! --just watch American Idol for proof of that! --or listen to Dan in the shower -but not in the same room) and very few photographers really make it as full-time professionals! (just talk to your co-worker) Just because a person can buy an expensive camera, likes taking pictures and takes some photography classes doesn't mean they are professional.
Prosumer Photographers
Today's new Digital technology has helped to 'blur' the lines between consumers and professionals. In fact, manufacturers have created a whole new class of equipment for the buyers they call 'prosumers'. These are the people who 'think' they are a professional and spend more on camera equipment than typical consumers but in reality are only 'advanced amateurs' or part-timers. The industry has created equipment, marketing, classes, etc. specifically designed for this group.
The problem with this new group of 'prosumers' is they often 'don't know what they don't know' and some misrepresent their capabilities. A professional photographer will make decisions and equipment choices based on producing the best quality for their clients project needs and will be honest about their capabilities and expertise. (We would rather be honest upfront and lose the job than lie to get it and disappoint you later or risk damaging our reputation.)
Too often the prosumer, 'aspiring photographer' will think more like a consumer and will make decisions based on their own needs (rather than the clients) --thus compromising the overall quality of their clients projects. Prosumers want ONE camera and lens that 'does it all', lightweight, automatic, easy to use. This is physically and scientifically impossible. Too often their choice of equipment is based on ease of use, convenience and their limited budget, none of which translates into any benefit for their clients. Some cameras are better at low-light situations, some have better wide-angle optics, some are superior in speed and agility while others have incredible levels of accuracy, tonal range and clarity, anyone who says their 'one' camera can do it all is mislead and ultimately only produces mediocre quality on most everything!
Camera Hobbyists
Serious hobbyists toying with becoming a 'professional photographer' and experimenting with photography will eventually raise their own education level and develop a true appreciation for the experienced professionals. It still takes 4-6 years of 'practice' to become proficient at photography. Too often the 'semi-pro', practicing to become a professional, can only deliver under certain circumstances (when the camera is set on automatic?)...some of the time. Photography is an Art, a Science and a Business... not many aspiring photographers are proficient at all three.
An experienced professional is able to draw upon their knowledge and experience to make the best decisions regarding how to use the latest technology to achieve the best end result. Technology is only a tool. As more technology options are developed in photography there will be more confusion in the marketplace requiring even greater knowledge and experience to know how best to apply that technology to get the best possible results.
Professional Tools in the hands of the Artist
Dan has worked for several newspapers over the years. Journalism was his college major. As an experienced photojournalist, he is well prepared to cover your events in both black & white and color, film or digital.
We own some of the finest professional cameras ever made (both film and digital) along with the best top-quality lenses - from10.5mm fisheye to 1680mm zoom. Digital and Film Medium Format (6 x4.5) and Full-Frame 35mm formats and Large 4x5 Format. We are able to handle most any situation. We choose the appropriate equipment / film / lighting based on your final output requirements.
References are available. We are pleased to refer many of the professionals we have worked with in the past. Call today to set an appointment to discuss your exact needs.
"Dan, The photos you took for us are by far the best photos we have of our fans or our customers anywhere! That is a genuine compliment as we have hired photographers from all over the country and our library of images is quite extensive. . ."
~ Heather, Big Ass Fans Company, Kentucky
Attn: Event Clients from 1997-2007 we have run out of room and are selling our old negatives
contact us immediately if you are interested in purchasing your negatives. (before we send them to the recycler)
History: Dan Harris PhotoArt started as a sideline business of selling archival Fine-Art photography (PhotoArt) to supplement Dan's journalism income.
PhotoArt evolved into Photography of art for artists (PhotoArtSlides.com) and grew to include portraits, modeling and corporate photography.
Although Dan continues to offer these services, he has become best known for his unique International Award Winning wedding and event coverage.
Now in its eleventh year, Dan Harris PhotoArt, LLC continues to grow and improve to create the best possible 'PhotoArt' for both your business and personal needs.
New for 2006 and beyond, all images archivally stored in a fireproof safe on:
Our archival 4x6 reprints are printed on genuine, Professional Photographic (RA4) Kodak Portra Endura Papers for 100 - 200 years of lasting quality.
Member of: BBB- Better Business Bureau PPA- Professional Photographers of America WPPI- Wedding and Portrait Photographers International PPSNF -Professional Photographers Society of North Florida
Recent publications include: Southern Living Magazine, Bridal & Reception Services Magazine, Premier Bride, The Knot Wedding Pages, The Water's Edge, Worksource, The Iron Horse, Out in the City and The Locator magazine.
Professional Quality with Personalized Informal Service
manifests itself in the finished products. Taking the photos is only half of our service, we assist our clients along every step of the artistic process including choosing, editing, croping and designing their finished artwork, albums and frames --this enhances the final outcome and insures total satisfaction on your unique 'one-of-a-kind' project.
