We believe there is. A portrait can be a photograph, but a photograph isn’t always a portrait.

A portrait conveys a likeness or representation of someone through a photograph or other artistic medium. A photograph can be an image of anything.

Portraiture is a refined skill that takes years to master.

When photographing an individual our goal is to create a portrait that tells a story of who they are, captures their personality and true self. We use a variety of techniques to capture their authentic likeness and expression. When you look at a portrait you should be drawn to the subjects face and feel the emotion that is depicted in the image. A portrait is meant to pull you into a moment in time, not just capture it. Becoming a Portrait Artist takes years of practice learning the proper lighting techniques and how to coach your subject to portray their best self.

When we photograph a family our goal is to create a portrait that shows their relationships with one another, the love they share, and solidifies a moment in time in that family's story. Family portraits are a legacy that is left behind for future generations.

You may not be around to see your great-grandchildren, but they will see you.

We work with you from start to finish to create a portrait to hang in your home for years to come. This is why we don’t photograph you, give you a CD, and send you on your way.

It’s more than just a photo. It’s a memory frozen in time to last forever.

We understand that we are not the photographer for everyone. However, the time and effort put into your portrait sitting will always be worth it. Once you see your portrait hanging in your home, the only thing you'll say is 'I wish I had done this sooner'.

You’ve never had a portrait experience like this before.

Photography tells the story of our lives. We are so lucky to live in a time where a camera is always at our finger tips. We can capture those special day to day moments that just 20 years ago would have been simply memories. Throughout time however, celebrating milestones through portraiture has remained a priceless and important part of our lives. From the birth of our children, their first birthday, high school graduation, wedding day and all the moments in between; these are all part of our family story that we leave behind for future generations.

In a world where a camera is at our fingertips it is more important now than ever to capture the big milestones through professional portraiture. Think about all the photos you have on your phone right now. Photos of moments you will cherish for the rest of your life. Candid photos from the trip you took last summer to the kids playing in the backyard. Those photos live exclusively on your phone and will most likely remain there to be pulled out from time to time. However, what's missing are those milestone portraits that are hand-crafted to capture a time in a family or child's life. Something you hang in your home to see every single day.

This is where professional portraiture remains a steadfast medium to showcase these milestones throughout our homes. It integrates our family history into our day to day life, not hidden away on our phones or our computers. It allows us to meaningfully capture our family and children in a way that is special. It's also why we as professionals recommend photographing your children and your family every 5 years to truly keep a record of your ever changing family.

Last Spring, Colin created an Artist Project called Lasting Legacy. He photographed children between the ages of 3 and 16 to create a "Lasting Legacy Portrait" artistically finished on watercolor paper with textured overlays. This project captured the innocence and beauty of childhood and reiterated the importance of portraiture in today's modern society. These portraits are soft and inviting, capturing the uniqueness of each child. To see the images from this special project please click here.

We hope you keep taking hundreds of snapshots of your every day life as a family. But we also hope you choose to take the time to create something special that will last generations. A true piece of art that reflects your family and your love for one another.

Everyone deserves to hang a Strauss Peyton Portrait in their home. You've never had a portrait experience like this before.

A photographer according to the Miriam Webster Dictionary is "one who practices photography". However, there are many different types of photographers. Photography can be done for the fun of it, as a hobby or as a profession. It can be practical or artistic. Photographs can be of still life, landscapes or people and each photographer whether amateur or professional has their own signature or style that is reflected in their work. A professional however, stands out from the rest as their job is more than taking a nice picture.

A professional photographer is professionally trained. Photography is a learned skill. A professional photographer understands exposure, masters lighting, depth of field, and understands how to use perspectives and composition. The technical side of photography can be taught but when photographing people there is much more to it.

When photographing individuals or families you are responsible for recording an event or telling a story. You are archiving a moment in a family's life that will be looked back on for generations. You are capturing the relationships of those in the portrait and the uniqueness of each individual. This takes more than technical skill. There is a human touch that's needed to evoke the personalities and emotions of everyone involved. The ability to connect with someone and put them at ease is an important part of a portrait photographers job. Their natural raw talent is what separates a good portrait photographer from a great portrait photographer. This skill is just as important if not more important than getting the right aperture and shutter speed.

After training in photography for over half of his life, Colin is a natural when it comes to photographing people. He has his Masters of Photography from Professional Photographers of America and has an innate talent and an eye for image composition. Anyone who has a Strauss Peyton portrait has seen his ability to connect with people and make a sitting fun and enjoyable for even the most stubborn bunch. (Dogs love him too!)

We invite you to create a special portrait with Strauss Peyton. You might have thousands of family photos on your iPhone, which is great, but what you don't have on your iPhone is a portrait, created by a professional that will mean more to you ten years from now than it does today.

We are in the business of creating a beautiful piece of art for your home to display what means the most - your family.

You've never had a portrait experience like this before.

One year ago our lives were collectively turned upside down. Parents were sent home from work and kids were sent home from school. We were told to wash our groceries and to start wearing a mask in public and to leave the house for essential trips only. Communities were challenged to meet the needs of those who had lost their jobs and those who had lost loved ones. We were inundated with everyone talking about our "new normal" and "unprecedented times". Brick and mortar businesses suddenly had to re-imagine how to do business online and teachers had to figure out how to engage with students through a computer screen.

One year later here we are. So much has changed but we are slowly getting back to our old sense of "normal". Vaccines are being distributed and businesses are back open. We are still wearing masks but are able to do more than just the essential trips. We've all collectively grown through having to adapt to such challenges. Our communities have created amazing ways to reach those in need which will last well into the future even when we can all be together again. Brick and mortar stores can now utilize their online presence they created last Spring to continue expanding their businesses.

We know that although our community is slowly returning to 'normal', some have lost loved ones and will never return to that 'normal'. Our hearts and thoughts are with those families who were directly impacted by this virus.

One year later we hope we have all learned valuable lessons in gratitude, hope and the resilience of our community.

Photographing families for over 30 years we have been able to see and appreciate the bond families share with one another. This year has shown us all how important those bonds can be in keeping us safe in times of turmoil. We look forward to continue capturing the importance of family in 2021 and beyond.

Below are some of the inspirational quotes we shared last year as a way to keep spirits up during the initial lock-down. Now that we can see the light at the end of the tunnel they take on new meaning.

Here's to a better 2021 for everyone!

Over the years Colin has had the honor of photographing some of the most famous faces around the world. Below are some of the official portraits he has taken:

(Click on each image to learn more about each person)

Strauss Peyton has long been recognized as one of the best portrait studios in the nation. Even in the early days of Benjamin Strauss and Homer Peyton they were photographing famous faces.

Below are some of the historic images:

(Click on each image to learn more about each person)

For over 125 years Strauss Peyton has been creating beautiful portraits of the most famous faces and the wonderful families around Saint Louis and the country. To learn more about the long history of Strauss Peyton please click here.

ANNOUNCEMENT

To be a part of the legacy that is Strauss Peyton you can join Colin's 3 year Artist Project that will be starting at the beginning of 2021. Colin will be photographing individuals in-studio with a film camera just like they used in the beginning days of Strauss Peyton. These images will combine the technology of yesterday and today to create stunning pieces of art. All images from this project will be displayed on our website.