If you have additional questions please contact me
What should I wear?
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Do you have a studio?
Not yet. Some day my dream would be to have a small home studio, but for now I am an on location and in home photographer. This works well for my clients who love the versatility and aesthetic of outdoor sessions as well as getting to stay home with their newborn and letting me come to them.
What time are your sessions?
Outdoor photography sessions usually take place 2.5 hours before sunset. This is the best, most beautiful light to work with as a photographer. Of course not everyone's schedule will allow for this so I can work with whatever fits your needs. For newborn sessions (inside your home) I have my own lighting setup so I just need approximately 5x5ft of space.
What happens if I forget about or miss my session?
There will be a $25 missed appointment fee as well as any travel costs incurred. This doesn't apply to a child being sick or injured or any issues with the weather. If you have a family emergency just let me know and we'll work something out. Of course I always try to send a confirmation email or give you a reminder call before your session so things like this rarely occur.
When do I pay you?
For a portrait session a signed contract and your session fee is due upon booking your appointment and needed to secure your date. If we are scheduling a newborn session contact me as soon as possible after baby's birth and we'll schedule the actual shoot.
For a wedding, a 25% (non-refundable) deposit and signed contract is necessary to secure the date, with the remainder due 30 days before the wedding. Once we have an initial consultation (via phone, email, or in person) and you have received a contract I'll hold your date for one week to give you time to send a deposit and signed contract.
What happens if the weather doesn't cooperate?
Don't worry, we can always reschedule for a better date. You of course won't be charged additionally for this and your payment will be applied to your rescheduled session.
Do you have a degree in photography or are you self taught?
Self taught. I was able to take a college course when I was in middle school for art and I chose a black and white film class. My mom (also an avid photographer and artist) gave me her Canon AE-1 film camera and some lenses and I was hooked. Later on I started working at a department store photography studio. I worked there for 9 years and won a national award my last year for one of my portraits and had my work featured regularly in national advertisements. Eventually I started to feel creatively stifled and when I felt like I could go no further in that field I finally got the courage to quit and start working for myself. Ever since I've been learning as much as I can and soaking up as much information as possible to develop my own style and unique perspective in the photography field.
Do you use studio lights or natural light?
I use natural light for the majority of sessions. I do, however, (if at all possible) like to use speed lights (flashes) for special dramatic lighting in one or two pictures. These are usually used for an amazing sunset shot, a senior sport portrait or something that requires a more dramatic effect. I use available light for the majority of events, but use flashes when needed. I also have a newborn lighting system when natural light isn't available. This mimics soft natural light and I actually am preferring it lately as it gives consistent quality of light and better skin tones for baby.
Are all the pictures in my online gallery edited?
All the pictures that you'll see in your proofing gallery have been selected and given basic edits, such as overall contrast and color adjusting. I also do light skin editing. This can be a touchy subject for some, especially high school seniors who may be suffering from acne problems. I will edit this upon request but do charge extra as this does take quite a lot of additional editing time. Please contact me for more details. Also, I never deliver my images in their raw or unedited state. To me this is like handing over an unfinished painting. Please don't ask for the raw images so you can "edit them yourself" I am the only one with permission to edit my images and this will be stated on my copyright release if purchasing digital files.
When I order prints, do they come with your logo on them? Do you offer digital images with printing rights?
Your prints will not have my logo on them. I do offer high resolution digital downloads with personal use rights for your own printing. Downloading your images directly from your online gallery is a great option for anyone who likes to do their own printing. Having your digital copies takes the worry out of losing your images and allows you to make prints as you need them. I recommend saving them to your computer and making a backup immediately. Wall portraits and large prints are recommended to be purchased through me, as you will have the highest quality image possible directly from the edited RAW files.
Can I order prints after my gallery expires?
You may, however, there may be a $50 retrieval fee for any archived galleries.