THE PORTRAIT SESSION
ST YLE GUIDE for a stress-free experience
THE PORTRAIT SESSION
ST YLE GUIDE table of contents 4
WHAT EVERY CLIENT NEEDS TO KNOW
6
HOW TO CHO OSE A DATE & TIME
8
ST YLING YOUR SESSION
10 SELECTING THE RIGHT LO CATION 12 DESTINATION SESSIONS 14 ST YLE TIPS: FOR HER 22 CHO OSING COLORS 24 FLAT TERING YOUR FEATURES 26 MAKE A STATEMENT 28 HAIR & MAKEUP 30 FASHION TIPS: FOR HIM 34 LAYERED LO OKS 36 IT ’S ALL IN THE DETAILS 37 HOW TO PREP YOUR MAN 38 PREPPING YOUR FAMILY 40 CO ORDINATING THE CREW 42 MIXING UP THE PIECES 43 PREPPING YOUR LIT TLE ONES 44 PHOTO DELIVERY TIMELINE 45 ONE FINAL NOTE 46 PORTRAIT SESSION CHECKLIST
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what every client
N EE DS TO KNOW I A M S O E XC I T E D F OR YOU R P ORT R A I T SE S SION ! I C R E AT E D t h is gu ide to help you get t he most out of your photos, and by t h e t i m e you’ve re a d t h rou g h t h i s e m ai l , you ' l l h ave a l l you r que st ions ans we re d and fe el more t han re a dy and prep are d for your s e ssion . T he n I’ l l t a ke c are of t he rest! Your on ly j ob is to be yourself, laugh a lot and let me create photos you’ ll love forever. I c an’t wait to ge t you i n f ront of my c amera !
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how to choose a
DAT E A N D T I M E I B E G I N A L L P O RT R A I T S E S S I O N S 1 - 1 . 5 H O U R S B E F O R E T H E S C H E D U L E D s u ns e t du r i ng “t h e gol d e n h ou r,” w h e n t h e l i g ht i s t h e d re am i e s t . Us e a s u ns e t c a l c u l ator on line to de te r mine t he s che du le d suns et for t he d ate and lo c at ion you’d li ke to do your s ession. Then, just subt rac t 1 hour-ish to f igure out your st ar t t ime. Rememb er, t he sun s ets much e arlier dur ing t he colder mont hs of t he ye ar and much l ater dur ing t he war mer mont hs, s o ma ke sure to fac tor t hat in w hen cho osing your p or t r ait s e ss i on d ate, e sp e c i a l ly i f you’re t a k i ng of f work or h ave e ve n i ng pl ans af te r w ard. To ge t t he most out of your s ession, ple as e pl an a buf fer w hen gett i ng re a dy s o you c an ar r ive a fe w minutes e arly to your s ession and b e re a dy to st ar t on t ime. We’re on ly able to sho ot w he n natura l lig ht is st i l l in t he sky, s o we’ l l w ant to t a k e a d v a nt a g e o f e v e r y m i nu t e w e h av e t o g e t h e r b e f o r e t h e s u n g o e s d ow n . QUICK TIP: Our weekends fill up fast and far in advance, as does our fall season. You can get a Fast Pass to the front of the line by scheduling mid-week or off-season. THURSTON | 7
ST Y L I NG your session
WA N T YOU R P HO T O S T O L O O K M O R E E D I T O R IA L ? B R I N G a litt le e x t ra s ome t h ing w it h you! Fresh f lowers br ing an ext ra “wow” f ac tor to just ab out e ver y t hing , esp e ci a l ly w hen t he y ’re att ache d to s ome t h ing els e, li ke a bic ycle b asket, t re e sw ing , te nt , pic n ic b aske t , b a l lo ons or c ar bump er. Whet her you w ant to i nc or p orate l arge r ite ms li ke cl assic c ars or bi kes, or sma l ler ones l i ke bl an ke t s or hat s , e ven pl anning for just one ext ra st y le d item c ou ld b e a f un way to ma ke your s ession more unique.
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selecting the right
LO C AT ION I SU G G E S T T HAT YOU D E C I D E F I R ST I F YOU ’ R E I N T H E M O O D for a more urb an lo c at ion , w it h a dow ntow n fe el, or more w it hin natu re. Af te r t hat de c is ion is ma de, t he st y ling de cisions are e asier. T he re are g re at opt ions a l l around t he st ate, s o e ven if you've ne ver s e e n me photog raph in a sp e cif ic sp ot b efore, I’m a lw ay s up for e x pl or i ng a ne w sp ot toge t her!
think
OU T SIDE THE B OX T H I S I S T H E T I M E TO T H I NK O U T SI D E T H E B OX ! W E E N C O U R AG E YO U T O br ai nstor m u n i qu e l o c at i ons t hat you m i g ht have sp e ci a l access to t hat mo st p e opl e don’t. For example, may b e you, or s omeone in your p ers onal or professional network, can secure p ermission to a lo cation that would other wise b e of f-limits, like a b eautiful pr ivate est ate, cou nt r y club or res or t . May b e it’s a fam i ly r anch , up s c a l e hotel or e ven a b o at , ai r pl ane hang ar or a ro of top v i e w. T he sky is l iter a l ly t he l i m it! Sp e nd a fe w minutes t hin k ing ab out it and che ck ing around. You’ l l b e sur pr is e d w it h w hat you come up w it h. Plus , i f s omet hi ng s e ems out of re ach, just reme mb e r : you ne ve r k now u nt i l you ask ! O u r cl i ent s have s e c u re d p er m iss i on to s ome pre tt y ama z i ng pl aces i n t he p ast . If you get stu ck or ne e d i nspi r at i on , che ck out our bl o g and ke e p brows i ng t hrou g h t his g u i de. We have s ome g re at go -to l o c at i ons around tow n t hat we c an a lways hit , to o. Just l et us k now w hi ch t yp e of s ess i on you’d l ove and we’ l l go f rom t here! E as y. Pe as y. THURSTON | 11
DEST I NAT ION portrait session
YOU R P ORT R A I T SE S SION I NC LU DE S T R AV E L T I M E A N Y W H E R E i n t he Phoen i x Me t ro a re a . I f you’ d l i ke to go s omewhere out side t he c it y, I ’m up for t he advent u re! T he t r avel fe e for t wo -hou r d r ive s to plac e s l i ke S e dona , Tuc s on a nd F la gst a f f i s $ 49 9. T he Gr a nd C a nyon i s $9 9 9. I love t r avel i ng a nd a m ac t u a l ly on t he road qu ite a bit . I’ d love to ma ke it work !
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style tips
FOR HER because you always want to remember this
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FOR HER
don't be afraid to
DR ES S I T U P HAV E YO U T H O U G H T A B O U T R O C K I N G A R OM A N T I C G OW N , tu l l e sk ir t or f lowe r c row n but just ne ver ha d an o cc asion for it? This is you r chanc e to do it up! R ememb er : There is no such t hing as “to o d re ss e d up” w he n it c ome s to your p or t rait s ession, s o don’t b e af raid to have s ome f un ! If you don’t want to a dd a ne w p er manent pie ce to you r c ol l e c t i on , a l ot of ou r cl i e nt s l ove R e nt t h e Ru nw ay for t h e i r s e ss i on b e c aus e it’s such an af ford able w ay to fe el li ke a m i l lion bucks. O t her clients love having a g re at exc us e to br ing a ne w p er manent pie ce ( or t wo!) into t he ir clos e t !
There’s no such thing as too dressed up.
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FOR HER
L O N G , F U L L - L E N G T H , F L OW Y D R E S SE S A N D SK I RT S L O O K A M A Z I N G on c amer a b e c aus e t he y br i ng ex t r a movement to t he photo s. E sp e c i a l ly w he n ju x t ap o s e d w it h natu re, l i ke t he des er t , forest , pl ai ns or b e ach . C ons i d e r s of te r fabr i cs l i ke chi f fon or tu l l e w hi ch a l l ow for b e aut i f u l movement i n t he i mage s . When cons i der i ng t he l eng t h of you r dress es or sk i r t s , it’s a ls o a go o d i d e a to fac tor i n w het her or not t here w i l l b e l itt l e ones i n you r photo s . If you have s ma l l e r chi l dren , I’ l l l i kely have you s itt i ng or crou chi ng on t he g rou nd to i nte r a c t up - cl o s e w it h t hem . Cute, shor ter co ckt ai l -l eng t h dress es photo g r aph b e aut i f u l ly, but i f you have l itt l e ones i n you r photo s , a f l o or-l eng t h dress or sk i r t , or p e rhap s a c ute m i di -sk i r t , w i l l ma ke mov i ng arou nd w it h you r k i ds mu ch e as i e r, and l o ok p e r fe c t on c amer a, to o. If you’re an ex p e c t i ng mot her, I a lways re com mend f l o or-l engt h gow ns or ma x i dress es . T hes e dress es cre ate t he b est s i l hou ettes to f l atter your f i g ure and re a l ly hi g h l i g ht you r bu mp. A l ot of ou r ex p e c t i ng mot hers l ove to i nc or p or ate f l owe r crow ns or he adpi e ces as wel l.
say yes
TO T H E DR E S S DR E S SE S A N D SK I RT S LO OK MO ST ST U N N I NG BE C AU SE T H EY re a l ly f l atte r e ve r y fe ma le b o dy, esp e ci a l ly on c amera — w hich is prob ably w hy t he re d c ar p et is a lw ay s f u l l of s o many dress es and not ve r y many p ant suit s! I re com mend avoiding p ants and shor ts for you r s e ssion , and s ay ing yes to a dress inste a d. THURSTON | 19
FOR HER
one or two?
I T ' S UP TO YOU ! YOU C A N B R I N G O N E OU T F I T SE T O R T WO ! M O S T O F O U R cl i e nt s w ho cho os e t wo out f its w i l l br ing one “wow” dress, and t hen anot he r slig ht ly more c asu a l dress t hat has a “d ate nig ht” fe el. But if you want to br ing t wo “wow” dress es and forgo t he more c asu a l dress altogether, give yourself p ermission to do it! The camera loves r unwaye s qu e app arel and s o do we ! Remember, though, you don’t have to bring two looks if it’s too stressful to c o ordinate or if you’d rat her just st ick to one fabu lous lo ok. One out f it t hat you love w i l l b e s o much b etter t han one out f it you love and anot he r you’re not ve r y excite d ab out. And if you st ick w it h one out f it s e t , you won’t have to sp end any of your t ime t ime chang ing ha l f w ay t h roug h , s o we’ l l b e able to sne a k in a fe w more photos! S o, one or t wo? It’s re a l ly up to you!
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choosing
C OLORS W H E N C HO O SI N G C O L O R S F O R YO U R O U T F I T S , I T H I N K I T st ar t s w it h t he l o c at i on . If you’re goi ng for t hat u r b an , d ow ntow n l o ok , de ep s atu r ate d col ors and f u n mater i a ls l i ke l e at he r and bl i ng c an re a l ly pu l l it a l l to get her. For natu r a l l o c at i ons , I re c om me nd s el e c t i ng s of ter, l i g hter tones and more mute d shades . T he c ame r a l oves shades of s of t pi n k and mute d blu es , m i xe d w it h s oph ist i c ate d l i g ht neut r a ls l i ke he at her g r ay, cre ams , l e at her brow n and w h ite. T hat s of ter col or p a l ette f it s b e aut i f u l ly i nto a l mo st a l l natur a l outd o or env i ron ment s , and esp e ci a l ly compl i ment s t he des er t .
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F L AT T E R I NG your features
I N M Y E X P E R I E N C E , EV E RY WOM A N , R E G A R D L E S S O F H E R shap e has an are a of he r b o dy t hat she’s s elf-cons cious ab out, s o re c og n i z ing w hat are a t hat is in a dv ance is ke y. C ho osing f l atter ing s i l hou e tte s and c olors t hat complement your natura l fe atures is t he b e st w ay to e nsure you’ l l love t he way you lo ok in your photos.
T H R E E - Q UA RT E R L E N G T H S L E E V E S C R E AT E A N AW E S OM E S L I M M I N G ef fe c t on a l l ar ms, s o b e on t he lo okout for an opt ion wit h a longer lengt h sle e ve. You cou l d a ls o br i ng a c ute j acket , bl az er or c ardi g an a l ong , to o. Sk i nny st r ap s or st rapless dress es have t he opp osite ef fe c t on ar ms on c amera, s o I re commend avoi di ng t ho s e w hene ver p o ss ibl e i f you r go a l is a s et of sl i m me r- l o ok i ng ar ms .
QUICK TIP: Bring a pair of easy-to-kick-off flats to wear when moving from place to place in between photos. Your feet will thank you later!
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make a
STAT E M E N T
PA I R I N G A N AC C E S S O RY O R T WO W I T H YOU R O U T F I T C A N R E A L LY H E L P br i ng s ome ex t r a di mens i on to you r i mages , and b e a n i ce t i e - i n w he n you’re co ordi nat i ng w it h a g roup. Bi g st atement ne ck l aces br i ng a l ot of p op to t he photo s , w hi l e t he s ma l l er, del i c ate ones are not as not i ce abl e on c amer a . B elt s , br acel et s and e ar r i ng s br i ng g re at v isu a l i nterest , s o cho o s e one or t wo t hat don’t comp ete for attent i on . Fresh f l or a ls i n a crow n c an b e a re a l ly romant i c touch for you or you r g i rls as wel l.
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go pro
HAIR & MAK E UP PROFESSIONAL HAIR AND MAKEUP IS ON THE TOP OF MOST OF OUR CLIENT S’ che ck l ist s b e c aus e it l o ok s ama z i ng on c ame r a and re move s t he st re ss of ge tt i ng re ady on you r ow n . T his is t he t i me to t re at you rs el f ! Whet her it’s l ash e x te ns i ons or bl ow n - out hai r, profe ss i ona l hai r and ma ke up w i l l g ive you an e x t r a b o o st of conf idence in f ront of t he c amera, and it a lways photog raphs li ke a dre am. If you’re working with a makeup ar tist, have her apply your makeup in natural light, if p ossible, s o t hat it lo oks f resh and not to o he av y. Plus, t hat’s t he typ e of lig ht we’ ll b e sho oting i n , s o it’ l l g ive you t he b est ex p e c t at i on of how it w i l l t r ansl ate on c ame r a . Mo st of my cl i ent s fe el l i ke t hei r profess i ona l ma keup is “to o mu ch” at f i rst, s i nc e it’s more t han you wou l d we ar on a nor ma l d ay, or t hat t he y're fa ls e l ashe s l o ok to o bi g , s o i f you fe el t hat way at t he b eg i n n i ng , don’t wor r y! G o o d ma keup ar t ists k now how to get it a l l just r i g ht for t he c amer a — and my cl i ent s a lways l ove t he f i na l re su lt. If you ne e d a re c om me nd at i on for hai r and ma ke up, I work w it h t he b e st i n t he business and have a go-to te am! The y’re swe et as pie, t a lente d as he ck, unb elie vable profess i ona ls and wonder f u l p e opl e. You’ l l LOVE t hem ! Just l e t me k now and I’ l l s end you t hei r i n for mat i on . I k now t he y’ l l t a ke go o d c are of you !
ENGAGEMENT STYLE GUIDE | 5
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fashion tips
F OR H I M because dapper and debonair never go out of style
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FOR HIM
THE BEST FIT L O N G , F I T T E D PA N T S A N D C L O SE D - T O E D SHO E S A R E T H E mo st s ophist i c ate d and mas c u l i ne l o ok s for men . T he y d r aw attent i on away f rom his l eg s and fe et and pl ace it w here you w ant it : on his hands ome face. S o, for you r s ess i on , it’s b est to l e ave t he shor t s , s and a ls and j e ans at home, to o, as wel l as any p ants t hat are l o o s e or b ag g y. F itte d dress p ant s or f itte d col ore d p ants work b est on c amer a. S ol i d shades of g r ay or nav y are a st rong compl i ment to mo st women’s out f it s , w here as pi nst r ip e s or pl ai d p atter ns tend to dist r ac t t he e ye. I a ls o re com mend st ay i ng aw ay f rom g r aphi cs and l o go s .
MIX IT UP
M A N Y OF OU R GU YS L OV E TO M I X A SU I T C OAT, BL A Z E R or spor t coat w it h a d i f ferent pa nt color. It add s some ex t ra v isu a l i ntere st , a nd bre a k s up t he color tone s . L ove t h i s f re sh t a ke on a t i mele s s cla s sic .
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layered
LO OKS N E X T T I M E YO U WA L K B Y a store l i ke J. C re w, you’ l l not i ce t he ma l e manne qui ns and mo d els are a lw ay s we ar i ng s e ve r a l l aye rs at once. L aye rs on me n l o ok g re at on c ame r a , s o e ve n w hen it’s hot outs i d e, t r ust me w hen I s ay t hat it’s wor t h an hou r or t wo of d is c om for t for photo s t hat w i l l l ast you b ot h a l i fe t i me. Ad d i ng anot her l aye r w i l l br i ng ex t r a di me ns i on and v isu a l i nterest to your photo s . Bl az ers , ve sts and c o ats up t he l e vel of any l o ok . If t he temp er ature p e r m its , he cou l d e ve n c ons i d e r a d d i ng a v-ne ck s we ate r w it h a p op of col or f rom a l ong sl e e ve d c ol l are d sh i r t and t i e u nder ne at h . D on’t b e af r ai d to ge t a l itt l e c re at ive w it h l ayers !
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it's all in
how to
T H E DETA I L S
PREP YOU R M A N
B R OW N L E AT H E R D R E S S SHO E S C OM P L I M E N T A L M O ST EV E RY L O O K , w he t he r he’s we ar ing a f u l l suit or a bl a zer and colore d p ants. Ties, b ow t ies, p o cket s qu are s , c ol ore d s o cks, b elt s , t ie clips, susp enders, vests and w atches are shar p compl i me nt s to any out f it for me n and b oy s a li ke.
M O S T M E N A R E N ’ T OV E R LY E XC I T E D T O TA K E P HO T O S F O R A N HO U R O R t wo, b e c aus e t he y don’t have an ex p e c t at i on of w hat’s to come and w hy it’s s o i mp or t ant to you. Ta ke f i f te en m i nutes to e du c ate and emp ower your g uy. Tel l h i m w hy you cho s e T hu rston Photo g r aphs and my st y l e of photo g r aphy. Show h i m your t hre e favor ite s ess i ons t hat I’ve done, ex pl ai n w hy you l ove t he m and e x pre ss to hi m how mu ch it me ans to you. Tr ust me, once he k nows it’s i mp or t ant, he’ l l l i g ht up t he c amer a for you ! T he mo st com mon t hi ng I he ar f rom g uy s b e fore photo s ess i ons is t his : b e c aus e of a b ad ex p er i ence i n t he p ast , t he y d on’t l i ke t a k i ng photo s or don’t t hi n k t he y’ l l b e go o d at it . By t he t i me we’re d one, t houg h , t he y c an’t b el i e ve how fast it went and just how mu ch f u n t he y had! THURSTON | 37
prepping
YOU R FAMILY because they won’t be little forever ENGAGEMENT STYLE GUIDE | 39
AMY & JORDAN | 40 THURSTON | 39
coordinating
T HE CR EW A S YO U ’ R E C O O R D I NAT I N G YO U R O U T F I T W I T H YO U R FA M I LY, K E E P I N mind t hat your out f its w i l l lo ok t he most cohesive on c amera w hen t he color p a lette and w ard rob e pie c e s c o ordinate, but don’t a c tu a l ly “match.” In fa c t, I re com mend t h at you avoi d t h i n k i ng ab out “m at c h i ng ,” an d i ns t e a d t h i n k ab out w h at “f it s” t o g e t h e r. T h i s w i l l c re at e m ore v i s u a l i nt e re s t , a n d a l l ow e a c h p e r s on a l it y t o sh i ne t h rou g h .
AMY & JORDAN | 24 THURSTON | 41
M I X I NG UP the pieces
I F YOU HAV E M U LT I P L E C H I L D R E N , D O N ’ T F E E L L I K E YOU N E E D T O P U T t he m a l l i n t he s ame t yp e of out f it. For example, one of your d aug hters cou ld we ar a d re ss and f l at s, w h i le t he ot he r we ars a sk ir t and b o ots. One of your s ons c ou l d we ar a b ow t ie, w h i le t he ot he r one we ars susp enders. Mixing up t he w ardrob e pi e c e s w i l l br ing a g re at v isu a l interest to t he photos.
prepping your
L IT T L E ONE S I F T H EY A R E O L D E N O U G H T O U N D E R S TA N D YO U, I T ’ S A G O O D I D E A T O prep are you r k i ds for w hat’s to come b efore t he s ess i on st ar t s . E x pl ai n how much t he photo s me an to you s o t he y k now to b e on t hei r b est b ehav i or. I br i ng my ow n t re at s to hand out as a re ward for awes ome s m i l es , s o u n l ess you have s ome t h i ng sp e ci f i c to us e, don’t wor r y ab out br i ng i ng t re at s . A l ot of fam i l i e s d is c uss and pi ck s omet hi ng f u n i n advance as a t re at af ter t he s ess i on i f t he y’re go o d l iste ne rs , l i ke an i ce cre am cone, for ex ampl e. It a ls o helps i f t hei r b el l i es are f u l l and t he y ’ve has s ome go o d rest b eforehand. Once you prep are t hem phys i c a l ly and me nt a l ly, t he n fe el f re e to g ive t hem (and you ! ) g r ace! T he y’re l itt l e, and I k now t hat s ome d ay s don’t a lways go as pl an ne d. I’ve s e en it a l l, b e en t hrou g h it a l l my s el f p e rs ona l ly, and w i l l st i l l ma ke su re to get you g re at photo s , reg ard l ess of t he i r mo o ds . My go a l is to ma ke t his as f u n and st ress -f re e as it p o ss ibly c an b e for you and your f am i ly !
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photo delivery
TIMELINE 1 WEEK
2 WEEKS
30 DAYS
social media sneak
blog post with
online gallery with all
peek with one of our
some highlights of
of your final, retouched,
favorite photos
our time together
high-resolution images
one
FINAL NOTE I K N OW I J U S T G AV E YOU A L O T T O T H I N K A B OU T. I C R E AT E D T H I S G U I D E to help ma ke you r p or t r ait s ess i on ex p er i ence s omet hi ng you’ l l l o ok b a ck fond ly on for ye ars and ye ars to come. At t he end of t he d ay, t hou g h, t he l o c at i on you cho o s e and t he out f it s you s el e c t won’t matter ne arly as mu ch as t he me mor i e s you ma ke to get her. You r f utu re memor i es are t he mo st i mp or t ant t hi ng , and I w ant your s ess i on to b e a t i me for you to just b e you rs elves and enj oy it . Have f un to ge t he r. L au g h a l ot . And I’ l l t a ke c are of t he rest !
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portrait session
C HEC KL I ST SET DATE, TIME AND LOCATION WITH ELENA REVIEW GUIDE FOR STYLE TIPS SCHEDULE HAIR AND MAKEUP APPOINTMENTS CHOOSE YOUR OUTFITS PACK A BAG WITH:
Flats or flip-flops for walking between photo spots
Second outfit (if you’re doing two)
Touch-up makeup
Water bottle (for warmer sessions)
Coat or cover-up (for colder sessions)
Snacks for little ones
i can't wait to
SEE YOU S O ON Elena
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