When do we pay?
I require payment of my photographer fee at the time of our session. For portrait orders, I require 50% of the total at ordering, then the other 50% upon delivery.
Do you do studio portraits?
I do not currently have a studio space therefore all of my sessions are shot outdoors using a combination of natural and artificial lighting.
How about locations? Where DO we go?
I am willing to shoot at a location of your choosing or I can suggest places if you desire.
What about details of our session? What do we wear, how long will it take, etc?
Sessions will last anywhere from 1-3 hours so that we are not rushed. If you have children it is preferable to work around their schedule. As a parent myself, I understand that a child can be unpredictable so bringing snacks or a comfortable toy to keep them happy is perfectly fine.
I prefer you wear clothing that truly describe you to help me capture your true essence. If you would like to have a clothing change, that is acceptable as long as we can find a safe place for you to change in private.
What happens when our session is over?
Once our session ends, I will begin work on processing your proofs which takes about 2 weeks. Generally, I'm so thrilled with the images that I will post a sneak peek of your session on my blog. ;) I will call you to set up a time that works for you to show you a proof book of 20-40 proofs and make an order. I am currently looking into an online proofing/ordering system to make the process easier on you so that you can decide at your leisure what you would like to order. So stay tuned!
How about weather conditions?
With the 100+ degree days here lately, I've learned a few things about shooting in the dog days of summer. I prefer to work very quickly with small children as they will tire quicker. It is a great idea to bring bottles of water or gatorade to stay hydrated.
For winter sessions, because I shoot outdoors with natural light, this brings up the issue of cold. I do love doing winter sessions! Because of the drabness of the winter sky, it is fun to perhaps wear long sleeves with a thermal vest, or even your winter jacket. A great way to contrast the winter sky is to wear a fun, colorful scarf or hat or both! Use your imagination and again, in the extreme cold, I would do my best to get the session done in a timely manner so that no one turns into a popsicle!
In the event of rain and/or lightning, I will reschedule your session for a later date that works for you due to safety concerns.
Do we have to purchase portraits? Can't you just give us a CD to take to Walmart to print?
At this time I do not offer photos on CD/DVD. I keep all client sessions on a secured hard drive and a backup copy as well. I will keep your session for 1 full year so if you need additional prints, you can call me at any time and I will be happy to order any additional prints for you! The print prices paid at the time of your session will apply to reorders-so if you were booked in under a special promotion, all photos from that session will fall under the promotion.
I use a high quality professional lab for all my printing needs. All of my prints have a high gloss metallic sheen that is not available with discount photo printers. For prints 10x13 and larger, these will be mounted on a double weight matboard for longevity of your prints.
So why go to a professional vs. a chain studio in the mall?
It all goes back to the "you get what you pay for" mantra. And when you book with a professional such as myself, you get a true one of a kind session suited to you and your family. You get the time needed to get the desired images you would like and you get input to your session. After the session ends, you also get custom image editing to bring out the true beauty in your portraits.
You do not get hurried along for the next clients as I do not overbook myself. I have a limited amount of session per month that I know I can do and not take away from my clients experience, I will not step over that number. For me, it's all about quality, not quantity. I would rather shoot 10 high quality sessions a month than 100 really mediocre ones.
As for my pricing, I am still building my professional portfolio therefore I am offering discounted prices to my customers with the exchange of using your images in my promotional materials. I have done extensive market research on the cost to run a successful starting out photography business and reduced my prices to reflect my learning curve. I continue to push myself to grow and learn to provide each client with a truly amazing portrait session! I do not believe in the practice of offering an average portrait up front for a cheap price, then marking up the *better* portraits to an exorbitant price and not allowing the customer to choose their favorite images to purchase.
I appreciate you considering me to capture truly one of a kind portraits for your family!
