Art With a Purpose

Throughout the year, Castelo Portrait Art creates a limited collection of special portrait projects celebrating the people, relationships, stories, and experiences that inspire us.

Some projects celebrate children, pets, couples and families. Others are inspired by personal journeys, talents, individuality or meaningful chapters of life.

Each project gives our artists the opportunity to create something beyond an everyday portrait session — a body of artwork centered around a particular story, theme or community.

Because each project is intentionally limited, not everyone who applies will be selected.

If You Are Selected

Selected participants are personally contacted by a member of the Castelo team to learn more about the project, discuss the experience and reserve an appointment.

Your project experience includes:

• A complimentary portrait session

• A complimentary Artist’s Choice finished portrait

• A personally guided viewing of the artwork created for you

• The opportunity to commission additional artwork you love

Additional artwork is entirely optional and is not required to participate in the project or receive the complimentary elements included with your selection.

Your Artist’s Choice Portrait

Every selected participant receives an Artist’s Choice finished portrait as our gift.

Following your session, our artists select a portrait that we feel beautifully represents both you and the artistic vision of the project.

The Artist’s Choice is typically a beautiful 6" finished portrait, perfect for displaying in a gorgeous frame in your home.

Additional portraits, digital images, collections, albums, wall art and paintings are not included in the complimentary project experience, but are available should you wish to commission additional artwork.

Your Portrait Experience

Your time at Castelo is designed to be personal, artistic and beautifully guided from beginning to end.

Many of our clients travel 2–4 hours to visit Castelo, so your portrait session and artwork viewing take place during the same visit.

Following your session, you will be personally guided through the portraits created for you. This is your opportunity to experience your images for the first time and, if you wish, select any additional pieces you would love to own.

We do not require an additional artwork purchase. Your selection includes the complimentary experience and Artist’s Choice portrait described to you when you reserve your appointment.

Additional Artwork

Many of our project participants fall in love with more than their Artist’s Choice portrait and choose to commission additional artwork for their homes and families.

Our artwork ranges from individual finished portraits to custom wall art, portrait collections, albums, paintings and digital portrait options.

Because Castelo is a fine art portrait studio, our artwork is professionally created, finished and priced accordingly. We believe you should understand our pricing before your visit, which is why pricing information is provided before your appointment and is also available on our website.

There is no required additional artwork purchase.

Reservation Retainers

Because our artists and studio time are reserved specifically for each participant, some projects require a refundable reservation retainer.

If a retainer applies to your project, the amount and refund requirements will be clearly explained before your appointment is reserved and confirmed in your booking information.

Your reservation retainer is not a required artwork purchase.

When the terms of your reservation have been met, your eligible retainer may either be refunded following your appointment or applied toward an artwork purchase you choose to make.

Viewing & Ordering Your Portraits

Your portrait viewing takes place immediately following your session so you can experience everything our artist created while you are still at Castelo.

If you love additional portraits, you will have the opportunity to commission them during your viewing. If you choose not to purchase additional artwork, we will simply honor the complimentary portion of your project.

If your project included a refundable reservation retainer, it will also be resolved during your appointment — either refunded when eligible or applied toward an order you choose to place.

Because we do not schedule separate ordering appointments, we recommend that anyone involved in making artwork decisions attend the experience with you.

Can I Order Later?

We cannot guarantee how long unpurchased portraits will remain available following your appointment.

As a working portrait studio creating thousands of images, our systems are routinely cleared of unpurchased portrait files. For that reason, we encourage you to make any selections that are important to you during your artwork viewing.

This allows you to experience the complete collection, choose the pieces you love and know that your favorites have been preserved for you.

Are Digital Images Included?

Your project includes the specific complimentary artwork described when you are selected; the complete collection of digital images is not included.

At Castelo, we believe portraits are created to become meaningful artwork — pieces that live in your home, tell your story and become part of your family's legacy.

For clients who would also like digital portraits, digital options may be available for purchase as part of our artwork offerings.

How Do Magazine Projects Work?

Our magazine projects begin with a special theme and a limited number of participants selected to be photographed.

Each selected participant receives the complimentary portrait experience and Artist’s Choice portrait associated with that project.

After the project is complete, Castelo Portrait Art self-publishes a beautiful magazine featuring selected portraits and stories from the project. The finished publication is shared with our client community and mailed to our client database as a celebration of the people who helped bring the project to life.

Participation in a magazine project does not automatically include a complimentary copy of the magazine. Copies may be available for purchase or included with qualifying portrait orders, depending upon the project.

Purchasing & Payment Options

Should you choose to commission additional artwork, our team will guide you through the available pieces, collections and payment options during your portrait viewing.

We accept major forms of payment and offer financing or payment-plan options for qualifying purchases.

Specific options and terms can be discussed with our team before or during your visit.

Still Have Questions?

We want you to arrive at Castelo feeling excited, informed and completely comfortable with your experience.

Before reserving your appointment, we welcome any questions about your project, Artist’s Choice portrait, reservation retainer, artwork pricing or what to expect during your visit.

Our team will be happy to personally guide you through the details.

Beautiful art. Meaningful experiences. Stories worth preserving.

Our Artistic Approach

 

1. Unmatched artistry – Our portraits are more than photos. They are deeply considered, hand-finished works designed to endure.
   
   

2. Rigorous attention to detail – We obsess over every nuance—from lighting and pose to texture and composition—to ensure each piece is flawless
   
   

3. Unique portraits every time – No templates here. Every family's story deserves its own visual voice and style
   
   

4. Flexible creative vision – Whether you want classical elegance, modern whimsy, or custom themes, our studio accommodates your dreams
   
   

5. Fully refundable deposits when you attend your appt – We invest our time without charging a session fee. Deposits are fully refundable when you attend your appt or you can choose to apply it when you fall in love with more artwork, as most of our clients do. Project appts cannot be cancelled for a refund.
   
   

6. Meaningful studio experience – From consultation to session to reveal, your experience is crafted to feel comforting, celebratory, and genuine
   
   

Legacy-focused art – Our goal is to help families “pause time” and preserve memory through portraits you and generations to come will treasure.

Why It Matters to Us

We’re honored to serve families in this way—whether you commission additional artwork or cherish your gifted portrait alone. Our mission is to offer an experience rooted in care, artistry, and memory. Whether your session ends in one framed piece or a full collection, we hope the experience becomes a meaningful chapter in your family’s visual story.

 

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Location & Contact

Castelo Portrait Art
10573 Highway 78, Summerville, SC 29483
For project inquiries email:  info@casteloportraitart.com or call 843‑350‑9783 

We would be privileged to create something meaningful for your family.