CHARITY DONATION DETAILS AND FAQ

LOCATIONS

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Can you come to my city and create a portrait from a charity auction donation outside of San Antonio? I see you have other locations listed on the website. 
We are marketing our Signature Portraits across the US and around the world. We recently have developed contracts with rental studios in major cities across the country. Now, a client can commission us for significant work, and we can come to their city to save them time. Because of the cost of renting these studios, we cannot rent a studio for an in-kind donation of portraits and portrait sessions to charities unless it is part of a group of commissioned sessions. Let's discuss this, as our Ambassador Program can impact this significantly. 

We draw clients from all over the country, so for the right people, travel to get the best of the best is not a problem but an adventure.

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Do winners get a choice of any of your Signature Styles?
Yes! Kevin's work is done in black and white and in color, and either style can be chosen during the session. The lighting equipment for both styles is set up simultaneously, and one can switch back and forth and choose both styles if that is desired. 
 
How long does a session last?
Around an hour to an hour and a half for solo portraits, adding an hour or two for families with children, plus makeup time if needed. Note, for "Red Carpet" Signature portraits for women, we schedule longer session times to accommodate hair and makeup requirements.
 
Can I have my whole family photographed as a Signature Portrait?
Absolutely. Each session is unlimited, so any combination of people can be in a portrait, and unlimited portraits can be created.
 
Do I get a digital file?
Auction winners are entitled to a Web Sized (1080P tall) digital file of the portrait. 
 
What frames are available?
Yes. We offer many different frames that are museum-grade with closed corners. At the 24 x 30" size and larger, we add a frame light and custom 22ct gold leaf nameplate with our compliments. Premium custom lights are available at extra cost.
 
Why the Dress Code?

A timeless heirloom portrait will be compared to other formal portraits over the decades, and we encourage people to dress in a manner that is elegant and dignified.
 
Do you charge a session fee?
Never
 
How many portraits can we get in a session?
We will make as many portraits as you wish in a session. For instance, we can have a full family, mom and dad, kids group, and individual portraits all in the same session. The files will be kept and are available should a portrait be purchased in the future.
 
When will my portrait be finished?
We ask for four to six months to complete your portrait.
 
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AUCTION FAQ

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There were no bids. Do we need to return the auction packet/certificate? 
No. We do not need you to return the sign or packet. We will send a new sign and packet for future auctions. Let us help you figure out why it didn't sell, as we want you to be successful. Just ask.

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Does it include a complimentary stay at a hotel?

Not at present. Travel to San Antonio for a portrait at this level should be part of the adventure and the story that will arise from the trip. We tell people that the weekend getaway is a feature, not a bug.

 

We already partnered with a local photographer.

We hear this a lot and understand you want to promote local businesses. Our work is so high-end and truly competes with painters, not photography, so you can offer "photography" packages at a lower price point than our $1,200 minimum bid and satisfy all types of attendees. Our focus is the "best of the best" fine art wall portraits that will last 200 years.

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Can you extend the expiration date to 1 year after the event?

The "Expiration date" is there to entice people to call us. We can schedule out any time in the future, and in fact, we are honoring gift cards that were received prior to the pandemic when people hunkered down and dropped everything. Never worry about an expiration date. We set it at six months after the event date, and it has been successful.

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Other photographers have insisted that people buy something that is not part of the package. Do you do this? 

No. We have a phone conversation with the winner to determine their goals. Many have given all they wish to the charity and want the 11 x 14 print that they bought, with no "sales" goals whatsoever. We are happy to satisfy them, and we do charge a refundable reservation fee to ensure that the client shows up.

If they do not choose a frame or a larger size, we create the portrait, mail it to them at our expense, and refund the reservation fee at the conclusion of the portrait session.

We inform people that we are a high-end wall portrait studio, and we send them to our website with videos and extensive information regarding our process. Most of this education occurs before the session, where we invite people to look at the website and go over the concept of an unlimited session and either an 11 x 14 portrait on canvas or gelatin silver paper or a $4,000 print credit for a larger portrait.

The video studio tour outlines our process, so if people do their due diligence and actually check us out, they have a very good idea of our philosophy and processes. It is not in our best interest to make clients uncomfortable, and we go to great lengths to make them feel amazing.

What part of the proceeds of the auction does the charity keep? 
You keep 100% of the proceeds.

Why a $1,200 minimum bid? 

Good Question. Because we are high-end, we don't want to cheapen our brand. We also want to help you get the most for your charity. If someone pays $25 for a $4,000 package (It happens.) Don't hesitate to get in touch with Kevin, and he will gladly help advise you to get the best possible outcome for your auction item.

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Does KGS Studios contact the winner? 
We do if you give us the name. We have found that texting is the least intrusive, and we try to make it easy for winners to learn about what they won and how to book a session. We also educate them so the best possible outcome occurs, which makes you look good as a charity. If your charity has privacy policies, then we don't expect you to give us the name; the winner can contact us on their own. Finally, the winners have a special page here that has a registration form and a FAQ specifically for them. 

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Tell me about your Reservation Holding Fee for booking a session.

Our policy is to charge $250 as a fully refundable reservation holding fee upon booking. The winner must cancel or reschedule at least 14 days prior to the session date to be eligible for a full refund. If you cancel within the 14-day time window, you will be ineligible to receive a refund. If you reschedule within the 14-day time window, their initial fee is converted into a studio credit, and another $250 reservation holding fee will be charged to book their new session. Important: We must speak to the winner to reschedule. Email or text rescheduling is not acceptable, and the winner is subject to losing the paid holding fee unless we speak with you. 

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