Frequently Asked Client Questions
Hi Friend!
This page is a meeting place for all the questions I get asked most commonly!
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Things like weather and session length all have pretty much the same answer every time so I may have sent you here :) If I did not cover your specific needs in the below answers, please let me know and ask all the questions you need!
1. What About Bad Weather?
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2. What About Bugs?
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3. How Long Will Our Session Take?
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4. What Kind of Photos Do You Take?
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5. What If We Need to Reschedule?
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6. What If I Don't Feel Like Myself?
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7. Do You Pick Our Photos?
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8. Will You Take Photos of Us All Smiling at the Camera?
1. What About Bad Weather?
We all want the perfect weather (trust me, shooting in rain is no party!) but we can’t guarantee anything. Unless you have a hair/makeup appointment scheduled, I prefer to make the call as close to possible. Weather can change pretty quickly in the Midwest and I’ve seen days where there was torrential rain all day and perfectly clear skies right at golden hour.
If it does forecast rain, I’ll be in contact with you about next steps, whether that means rescheduling for a later date or being prepared to play in the rain.
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That being said, I can’t control the weather! If you’ve requested a shoot in a season with regularly inclement weather, please understand that you may not have perfect temperatures and wind at your session. However I’ve had “disaster sessions” that have remained my favorite of all time. READ HERE!
2. What About Bugs?
I HATE mosquitos and ticks. If you let me pick the location, I guarantee I’ll find the place with the least amount of bugs for you because I don’t want to be hanging out with them either. With that said however, I again, can’t guarantee anything. Summer in the midwest comes with mosquitos :/ But there are always places that are lower bug counts than others.
3. How Long Will Our Session Take?
About 45 minutes if you have any kids under the age of 13 and no outfit or location changes. That’s usually about the max of their attention span :)
While you do have up to 1.5 hours to shoot, that is more the max time I allow rather than the estimated time. I really try to go as quickly as possible without sacrificing quality.
4. What Kind of Photos Do You Take?
My focus is on photographing family connection and genuine emotion. Although I bring some practical props (blankets, simple stools, etc.) I do not utilize typical props (such as signs, toys, etc.) for photos and do not encourage them.
I have a game plan for every session that is tailored to your family. A typical one for a family with very young kids may start with the classic “smile at the camera” photo, move on to individuals, and then we weave our way into all the candids through fun games and lots of tickling! Kids who are more camera shy may have a game plan that starts backwards so we can warm them up to the lens.
5. What If We Need to Reschedule?
There is a $75 rescheduling fee if less than 1 month prior to the session. This fee is waived in the event of a family emergency, illness, accident, or act of God. However if there is a rescheduling for one of the above reasons more than twice, payment may be returned and session canceled. Work changes, minor sickness, or personal schedule changes do incur the rescheduling fee.
6. What If I Don't Feel like Myself?
First off, we’ve all been there! I hate and loathe getting in front of the camera, but I never regret it. I’m so thankful for the many parents who choose to be included in their family photos regardless of how they feel about themselves because it is a gift to their children for the future. If you are feeling less than fab lately, I would love for you to communicate that with me. Many of my clients do and there’s lots I can be aware of as we go along that will (hopefully) make you feel more comfortable with this whole experience.
While I want to keep sessions as genuine and natural as possible, I’m not one to shy away from reminding dads to lift their face a bit to avoid the dreaded double-chin or moms to stand up a little straighter for the best posture.
And at the end of the day, just relax and channel joy to your kids! It’s an opportunity to spend quality time with them after all. While overused, the Audrey Hepburn quote will always ring true. “Happy people are the prettiest.”
7. Do You Pick Our Photos?
You receive 25 images to keep with your package (or 35 for extended family sessions). I send you a selection gallery of anywhere from 60-100 fully edited images which you get to choose from. Those images are the best shots from your session! If it's not in there, it's because it was either unflattering for someone, blinking eyes, or it just wasn't a good photo.
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After you've made your selections, the downloadable gallery will be ready for you within a couple days and they're yours to print and share as much as you like!
8. Will You Take Photos of Us All Smiling at the Camera?
Yes! Every time. It’s a #1 priority every time. But if you’re looking around my site and social media, you may not see as many classic “smiling at the camera” shots. Why? Because I want to protect the surprise of Christmas card and family gift season! We don't say "cheese" though because that just makes for gritted teeth ;) Below you can see the classic shots of the families you've seen above!