Page 9 - Better Business Bureau

SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION
Dave Koster
Portraits in the Sand
Dave Koster has done what millions of people would love to do—he’s turned a passion into a profession.
Koster is owner of Portraits in the Sand, a photography business located in Rehoboth Beach. He specializes in family and individual portraits and, of course, many of them are tak- en at the beach.
Koster, who grew up north of Baltimore, was bitten by the photo bug when he was in high school and later got a job work- ing in the dark room of a photographer in Ocean City, Md. He started taking more and more pictures and eventually decided to go into business for himself, even though he knew the odds were against him. Koster slowly built his business and even went to photography seminars and classes to learn his craft, as well as the business side of the business.
And, like so many businesses, Koster’s has been greatly impacted by the internet and other modern technology. His brother-in-law, a web designer, gave him a unique Christmas present in 2000—a web site. That’s also when Koster changed his business’ name to Portraits in the Sand because he wanted to stand out from the crowd. After those changes were made, his business doubled within a year.
And, like all photographers, Koster’s world has changed be- cause he now lives in a digital world. He says the best part of
that is that he can digitally alter photographs if necessary, and it often is when he takes portraits of large groups, especially if that group includes young children.
“It can be impossible to get everybody looking their best,” he says. “There’s always somebody with their eyes closed or look- ing in the wrong direction and, of course, kids can get real antsy and it’s hard to get them to pose for more than a few seconds.
"So, I can take multiple pictures and digitally move somebody’s head or face or eyes from one to another. I can also adjust lighting and the background to bring out the best in everybody.
“The real thrill comes when my clients see their portrait and a big smile comes over their faces,” he adds. “I know that I’ve created something that will become a family treasure, and that’s a great feeling to have.”
Koster says his affiliation with BBB Serving Delaware helps him to reach customers he might not otherwise reach.
“The BBB helps show the trust and commitment we have to our clients, and that we’re a reputable business," he says. "We also get traffic and referrals to our BBB profile on their website, so that’s especially helped for out-of-town visitors.”
For more information, call (888) 841-9266 or visit www.portraitsinthesand.com.
APRIL 2017 I www.DelawareToday.com I B9