Technology meets tradition at North Bay Portrait Design, a photography studio based in Mentor, Ohio. Ladd Scavnicky, portrait artist and master photographer, has entered the world of digital photography with force. Having mastered traditional print forms, Scavnicky has gone digital, using state of the art equipment to create timeless images almost indistinguishable from traditional film photography. His photographic eye has earned him numerous awards and honors, including the Professional Photographers of Ohio Top Ten Photographers award and numerous print exhibit awards including the PPA Loan Collection and three best-in-show awards. Scavnicky is also a PPA Certified and Master Photographer, meeting high technical and business standards.

He has a distinct eye for movement and moment, capturing a stolen kiss beneath the bride’s veil, or couples dancing in blurred swirls around the bride and groom, front and center. A pensive groom with a faraway look or a mother and daughter in an embrace, all become perfectly constructed images in Scavnicky's capable hands.

The flexibility that digital photography provides is remarkable, offering the opportunity for modification of images unavailable in traditional print forms. Decide well after the fact if you would prefer a specific image in black and white or sepia tones. And when it comes to album design the sky is the limit. Layout becomes a breeze with layout options unlimited compared with more traditional forms. With North Bay, your entire album is personally designed for you by Scavnicky, then set to music and presented to you in a large screen theater format. "The presentation takes your breath away," says Scavnicky. He chooses the images based on his years of experience, and forgoes the often tedious process of having the bride thumb through hundreds of old-fashioned proofs. With this new computerized imaging system, couples can choose from hundreds of page mats, from ovals to panoramas, squares and rectangles, with different configurations on every page. "Couples seldom make changes when they see this presentation,” says Scavnicky. “It's like heart surgery - do you want to perform the operation yourself, or do you want a professional to do it?"

Scavnicky uses an a la carte pricing method. "Couples can select from hourly or unlimited coverage for the wedding, and can decide, when they see the images, how many they want to use," says Scavnicky. This pricing structure allows for more variety in final selection as well. Pricing begins with the selection of Retainer/Design Credit options ranging from $1,900 -$4,950. This fee covers the actual day of photographic coverage and a credit towards the couples’ order. You can choose from four print finishes -Glossy, Matte, Pearl and Linen, with prices increasing with the quality of the finish. Standard size 8x10 prints range from $30-$37 per print, with two-page panoramas ranging from $145-$195. Then you choose from a range of albums, from the basic version for $475, to the top-of-the-line hand bound leather album for $850. This large price range is ideal for couples that need to work within a budget.

The Gallery Select Album is the newest, most distinctive album to be introduced to wedding couples. The Gallery Select is a North Bay exclusive and combines digital photography and artistry to create a one-of-a-kind wedding album for the couple. Images are creatively arranged in a custom digital layout, similar to fine art and coffee table books. The sleek, flush look to the album gives it a contemporary splash of uniqueness. Gallery Select Albums are available in a standard book and a fine art custom book.

When the presentation is finalized, the completed package is sent off to a custom print lab where photographic prints are made and the album is hand crafted with a selection of world-class leathers. As an added bonus, wedding images are posted online on North Bay’s website. Each couple is given a private password along with personalized invitations to include with thank you notes. Guests and family can then view the images online and order prints directly from the studio.

Marriage is a brave new world and North Bay Portrait Design will help you enter it with confidence.