Q:        What’s the process like?

A:         From start to finish, the process varies for each session, but here’s a general idea:

~ 2 weeks to several months, depending on the type and complexity of your session – booking and consultation to help you get ready for the session.

~ 1 hour or more – session itself

~ 2 – 6 weeks after the session for creative editing before you receive you images

~ 1-4 weeks after that to design any custom Art pieces and place the order

~ 1-6 weeks after order is placed you will receive shipment of your custom Art piece(s)

Q:        It’s great that digital negatives are part of your package, but I’m nervous about dealing with them. How should I print them?

A:         I’m happy to provide recommendations for local printers, as well as online services that I trust to print accurately. We can also discuss me handling your print order for you at an additional cost.

Q:        What size can I print my pictures?

A:         The images I provide are high resolution and can easily be printed in most standard sizes and even as wall art. I can only guarantee the quality of the final prints if you work through me to order prints. These days though, most print labs do a great job.

Q:        What does it mean when you say “creative editing”?

A:         That varies between photographers, when I say “creative editing”, I’m referring to my post session process. I shoot in RAW, which means without getting too technical, that I don’t let my camera do all the work and make creative decisions for me. By shooting RAW images, I make all the decisions while editing very similarly to how I would in a darkroom with film. During my creative editing, I can also remove blemishes, crop out unwanted background disruptions, enhance color, convert to black and white, or other creative touches and effects.

Q:        Do you offer holiday cards, announcements, etc?

A:         Yes! I include items like cards, announcements, photo books, posters, and all sorts of wall art as Custom Art. Since I provide your images digitally, this is usually most appealing to those who don’t have the time to create these items themselves and trust that I will do a great job! Pricing for Custom Art is separate and we can talk through your specifics in detail.

Q:        How do I schedule a newborn photo session when I don’t know when the baby will be born?

A:         When you reserve your session, I block off several dates around your estimated due date. When your baby arrives, contact me as soon as possible so that we can then pick the specific date from those we reserved. I recommend newborn sessions be held within the first two weeks of birth, but can stretch it to three weeks. The reason for this is that we’re going to get the most cooperation from your precious newbie for poses and to capture details that they will all too quickly grow out of. The most important thing to remember is to book your session with me while you’re still pregnant. Please don’t wait until after your baby is born because my schedule can fill up quickly.

Q:        Do you offer a “Baby’s First Year” Package?

A:         Yes! Contact me for more specifics because I try to tailor packages to your needs and what you’d like included as part of your “Baby’s First Year”.

Q:        Do you offer event photography for things like a birthday party, family reunion, or weddings?

A:         Most of my focus is on couples, families, and children, but as a part of that, I do accept a limited number of events per year. For more information, availability or pricing, please contact me.

Q:        Do you offer classes or can show me how to use my camera?

A:         I am developing a workshop for anyone who wants to be able to document their family’s day to day activities with better success. So stay tuned for more.  These are not open to local professional photographers.

Q:        What if my family just won’t cooperate the day of the session?

A:         This rarely happens. When we schedule your session, I take into consideration the ages of your family members and your vision. I work around and with nap schedules, if your child needs a snack break, potty break, or just woke up cranky; I work around and with all of that. Remember, this is your real life, not necessarily the perfect fairy tale. I’ve had plenty of mom’s who tell me how much they loved the picture of their child’s little melt down because it was “so them” at that age.

Q:        Why choose a custom photography session  as opposed to a studio like those in the mall or department stores?

A:         There really isn’t an apples-to-apples comparison between what I offer versus chain studios. I offer a custom creative one-on-one experience. We work together to personalize your shoot and because I shoot on location, the options for backgrounds are only limited by our imagination. Another thing I offer that chain studios and even most private or freelance photographers don’t, is your images digitally with a personal use and print release. And even though some chain studios may release the images as well, they are more than likely unedited. All of the images I provide to you are edited as part of your session fee.