Because you have questions...

I assume you clicked on this page because you have questions and want to know more, so...here we go

About Me. My name is Kiel Skager (pronounced "Kyle" but spelled uniquely.) I am a family man living in Mandan, ND, with my lovely bride of 40 years and we have two grown children and three cats. I am retired after 40 years in the Army National Guard. In our house, we are huge Disney fans and make regular pilgrimages to either Walt Disney World or Disneyland. I'm also believer in giving back to my community through my photography. Proud supporter of Central Dakota Humane Society, Bismarck-Mandan's No-Kill Shelter. www.cdhs.net

My Photography. My first camera was a high school graduation gift (a long time ago!) and I have been learning the craft of photography ever since. I grew up in the traditional darkroom and nothing was more thrilling than to shoot a roll of film, put an exposed piece of film in the enlarger, project that image onto a piece of paper, put that paper in the developing solution and watch - in absolute awe - as an image magically appeared right before my eyes. Today, I get that same thrill every time I shoot images with my digital camera and upload them to my computer with eager anticipation of the endless possibilities developing before my eyes again. To say I am passionate about taking pictures would be an understatement! I spend all of my spare time reading and learning and practicing photography. Over time, I have learned that photography is all about light and expression. My favorite thing to shoot is stylized portraits and, if I had to describe my style, I would have to say I shoot very simple, clean photos without a lot of distractions.

What's In It For You? Let's be honest. There are dozens - if not hundreds - of photographers in every community around the globe today. Many are very talented and I would never discredit them in any way. And then there are some who will charge you money for photos but who would, in truth, be lost if you took their camera off Auto mode and put it in Manual. Anyone can take an acceptable photo outdoors with plenty of light, but not everyone knows how to get a flattering, proper exposure when the lighting conditions are less than perfect. A true photographer:

- knows how to fully operate a camera in manual mode

- understands how to achieve a proper exposure regardless of the lighting conditions

- understands lighting patterns for various facial features and body shapes

- knows how to properly pose a subject for a flattering composition

- is educated in post-processing/retouching software and techniques

- continues to evolve and educate themselves through conferences, workshops and training

- is a legitimate business operation

- possesses the passion of photography as art

These are all things that apply to me. But it goes beyond those things too. Yes, I understand all of the technical stuff that goes on behind the camera and in the studio, but I am also sensitive to what it feels like to be in front of the camera. Having your photo taken can be a frightening and stressful test of ego and self-esteem for most people. It is my job, as the photographer, to ensure a session is fun and relaxed. I want to have a relationship with my clients and make sure we have mutual trust and understanding before we ever shoot a single image. I care about successful photo sessions and capturing amazing images. The goal is for my client to walk away with images that blow both of us away! Why would any artist or business want to produce less-than-their-best work? I am all about quality and fun. When those two things stop being important to me, I will sell my camera.

How Much Will You Need To Invest? A sensitive and important question. I consider myself a professional, custom photographer. Those words usually come with big, fat dollar signs attached. I understand that you have many, many local photographers to choose from in all price ranges, experience levels and artistic vision. It’s very important that you choose a photographer you are comfortable with and who is going to deliver the quality of images you want. I walked into this business knowing that I would never make tons of money and I will never be famous. That said, my time and experience is worth something and I do have to pay for my camera equipment, studio lighting and backdrops, this web site, training, etc. The bottom line is that I have business expenses and, therefore, I can’t afford to shoot for free. Before we take a photographic journey together, we will definitely have a mutually-beneficial investment agreement, and probably much less expensive than you might think.