Do you have a session retainer?
For my sessions I do require a 50% retainer to hold your preferred time and date. The session retainer is due at the time of your booking. The remainder is due by two days before we meet. This way we don't have to think about the remainder anymore and can fully concentrate on your session. The session retainer ensures that you are purchasing our time together and no one else can book me at for your session date/time.
How do you take payment?
For easy payment of your deposit and package I offer a comfortable online payment option. All major credit and debit cards are accepted.
If I cancel my session do I get my retainer back?
If you cancel your session once it is retained, you will not receive your retainer back. This covers any loss in the form of lost bookings and eventual cost already arisen before the actual session in the form of intellectual property etc. However, I understand that unforeseen events can happen, so I do try to work on alternatives if possible - e.g. find a new date for a session.
Do you have travel fees?
I want to keep it simple for you, so for most sessions there are no travel fees. All travel fees are for any locations outside a 10 mile radius from 60516, and are calculated by the total round trip mileage total times 1.2 from 60516.
I will make sure that in case there would be costs due to traveling, that I point it out as soon as I know so you consider it in your budgeting.
Do you have a studio?
I do but as you can see I am not a posed studio photographer and only use my in home space for maternity, newborn and baby milestone sessions during the week. Beyond that I shoot in your home or out on location to get all the nostalgic shots and a lot of connection and movement. If you are looking for a formal, posed, perfection {in hair and clothes that you feel you need to stop and keep adjusting} session, we may not be the right fit, so be sure to look through my work first.
Are there any other additional costs I need to know about?
My packages come with digital files in your gallery via digital download, so in this case there is no additional cost after the payment of the package. If you choose to do so, you can select from high quality prints and products afterward in your custom gallery store and the final cost will depend on your selections.
Do you carry the appropriate permits to shoot in DuPage County Forest Preserves?
OF COURSE! Yes I do! If your location requires special permits I am happy to provide any details they need to them, liability insurance etc. Just let me know. Note that I do not cover the expense of any other permits other than DuPage County Forest Preserves.
How would you describe your shooting style?
I love real editorial candid moments and real emotions between the wonderful people I get to photograph. In my sessions I focus on your interactions and try to give you as much space as possible, but of course also guide you if necessary. Standing in front of the camera is not an everyday occurrence, so I want you to be as comfortable as possible.
Can you give me the RAW images?
You will be provided with edited images only. This is not even up for debate. Each picture is carefully handled and will be a representation of my work. Be sure to look at my portfolio and that my work and style is a good match for you. It's so important to me that you only receive beautifully-toned, print-ready photographs! For this reason, I never release RAW files. Every photograph you receive is a finished product, ready for display!
Can I see the rest of the images you took? Are there any other shots you can add?
I thoroughly go through all the images I take during a session and will take out the obviously unusable ones in a first step. I also reduce the amount of duplicates so you can enjoy only the best of the best images. That being said, once the final gallery is delivered, I do not keep all the additional images. With each package I guarantee a certain amount of images, but in the end you will get all the images which are able to make it into the final collection to choose from.
What does it mean that I receive a certain number of digital files from my session with a print release? What can I do with these?
Your selected package includes a certain amount of digital files sent to you via digital download from your gallery that you will choose your favorites from all the images from your session that are frame worthy and no duplicates. You will receive reproduction rights to your images you choose. This gives you the right to reproduce the images for personal use, so you can use them for prints, sharing them on your social media, etc. Commercial use is not allowed if not separately agreed on. The copyright of the images will always stay with the photographer.
What do I need to prepare for my session?
Good mood is the most important thing! No one can change a bad mood if it shows up for a session. Make sure you have enough time to prepare beforehand so you are not stressed. Comfortable clothing fitting the season. Be open to venturing outside, {maybe even getting a LITTLE dirty!} We will go through specific questions before your session so we can ensure you are well prepared.
What locations do you shoot at?
I do outdoor photography sessions, indoor sessions, I love to explore cities, go on hikes with you and can shoot (almost) anywhere you might come up with. The best places are where you feel most comfortable so you enjoy the session as much as possible. I love to talk about your ideas and get into the details for the perfect location for your style once your session is retained. After your session is retained, I will also share a list of location options to choose from.
Can you do this thing I saw on Pinterest?
I would never try to copy another artist's work, but thank you so much for sharing your inspiration! I will take all of your input into account as I approach your session but will make this a unique experience tailored to you!
What if I am worried my kids won't behave?
It's okay if your kiddos are wiggly and wild. Laugh and smile and snuggle them close! Your favorite photographs will always be moments of joy and connection. No one likes photos of themselves scolding their kids, so just forget about making everything 'perfect', and enjoy the experience!
What if I am late?
It is my practice to arrive early to my shoots, as I like to scope out the surroundings and get my creative mind going. If a client is late I will do my best in the time that is remaining to get everything we need, but I do not extend the session time due to other client obligations. My sessions are long enough in duration with cushion to get the appropriate amount of images in the time frame available. I do this so people can be relaxed and happy during the session and don't need to be stressed about the time. So please, out of respect for myself, my other clients and your time with me, give yourself the time you need that day to arrive at our location on time or be ready once I arrive at your home and not be frazzled.
What if it is wet, snowing, cold or hot?
In the case of things being a little wet or cold we will try to improvise! Sometimes that means finding shelter or finding another creative way to capture the moment. If the weather is potentially damaging to my equipment, rain or heavy snow or very bad, under 20 degrees, we will try our best to find alternate arrangement - e.g. find an indoor location is the first step. Reschedule your session to a mutually agreed upon date within same calendar year is the next step.
What if I am not happy with how I look in my photos?
My post-production can be seen on the images in my portfolio - beautiful skin tones, modest body reshaping and print-ready exposures. Please remember, a lot of times we are meeting for the first time. That being said, I am learning your personality and body language. I am photographing you to the best of my abilities as to what you bring to the session, yourself, with complimentary posing and guidance. Know I do my best to make every client feel and look their best when I am taking their pictures. So be kind to yourself and relax. No heavy filters are or will be used at any time and I will not contort images to where these will end up not looking like the real you {just better}. If you'd like more extensive retouching (for scars, more extreme skin blemishes, minimal body reshaping), this can be discussed on a per-image basis at my discretion, and is billed at rates beginning at $25 per image.
