FAQ

Where will our session take place, and how long will it take?
Sessions can take place at a location of your choice, in the comfort of your home, your neighborhood park, outdoor mall, even a nearby desert trail are all great spots for the perfect photo session.

Most sessions last about 1 – 2 hours, but newborns and seniors may take 3-4 hours or even longer. We will keep the needs of the family in mind when scheduling a time – working around naps, feedings, etc…

Remember, as an on-location, natural light photographer, I will need an ample amount of natural light to create beautiful portraits, but the harsh mid-day Arizona sun is not optimal either. Generally speaking, on a sunny day, the best times for outdoor lighting are the late afternoon to early evening hours. If we’re planning a session at your home, and you’d like some indoor shots taken, such as a newborn session, I’ll need an area that lets in plenty of light. Let me know and I will also bring along a backdrop stand with several professional backdrops for an “in-studio” look.

What to wear
Please dress your children in whatever is most comfortable for them; they do not need to be in their Sunday best for a session with me! I do prefer shirts without large logos or cartoon characters, as they draw attention away from your child in the final image. If at all possible, I prefer children to be barefoot– I hate to hide those adorable piggies in shoes or tights!

I generally prefer to photograph newborns and babies up to a year as close to the way they came into the world as possible, so please turn up your thermostat before my arrival to keep baby warm and toasty (I will of course get photographs of your newborn in special outfits at your request!) during the session.

For family photos, please dress in similar, simple, comfortable clothing– blue denim always works wonderfully. You don’t all need to be in “matching” outfits, but they all should coordinate with each other.

Try to avoid bright red, and solid blacks, as they sometimes don’t photography as nicely as other colors. Also, avoid any large logos or printed words on clothing, T-shirts, etc. We want to keep the focus on your beautiful faces, not on an ad for a recent blockbuster movie.

If you have specific wardrobe questions, shoot me an email or give me a call and we can come up with a plan together. It’s usually good to plan for a few changes of clothing during your session, so plan accordingly.

And if you’d like me to arrange for my fabulous makeup artist to treat you to a personalized session prior to our appointment, let me know!

When will I see my photos?
After a shoot I typically have hundreds of images to sort through. I go through and select the best ones (based on expressions, focus, composition, lighting, etc.) for editing.

Each of these images will be individually edited from a digital negative to produce the final product. Within 1-2 weeks following your session, you will receive an email with your password and a link to your online proofing gallery. Your gallery will be available for 14 days and orders must be made during this time. Feel free to share your password with family and friends! Prints and products will be ready in 2-3 weeks once your order is received. (canvas prints, albums, and cards may take up to 4 weeks for delivery). You may choose to pick up your order or I will ship it to you for a flat fee.

Will I receive digital images from my session?
Once you invest in a custom photography session, you’re going to want to share those images with friends and family. And the easiest way to do that is through Facebook, email, blogs, etc. I understand that, and want to encourage you to do so. So, yes, once you place a print or product order of $100 or more, I’ll include a digital cd of your gallery of images in watermarked, web-size format to share as you please with friends and family. In addition, you’re free to share your online gallery with anyone you choose by simply forwarding them the link and your password.

Usually I also post a blog entry from my sessions containing a few images from the session even before your gallery is up for viewing. You’ll be able to share that link, along with the uploaded images in my Facebook page, with anyone you want. Keep in mind, during extremely busy seasons, I may not be able to post a sneak peak for you, but if you make a special request, I’ll do my best to accommodate you.

If you want high-res digital images without my watermark, I offer several digital packages to choose from. Please see my pricing page for more information on available packages.

Why are your print prices more expensive than Walmart or Costco?
I like to think of my photography as an art form, and take pride in the quality of product I deliver. The professional photo lab I use is a highly specialized lab and my editing workstation is precisely calibrated to their equipment. Their chemicals are changed regularly and they spot check proofs throughout every day to ensure that their color and densities are consistent and true to the original files.

Additionally, all the paper and mounting boards used are museum-grade archival in quality. This means that your treasured prints will remain as true in color and appearance as possible, for decades to come. Each photo is also specially coated to help protect it from fingerprints, scratches and other mishaps. Larger prints are mounted on a protective board to prevent bending and warping

The results are head and shoulders above what you’d receive at your neighborhood drug store or quick print processing lab. Ask to see my photo comparison board to see the difference in color and quality for yourself. Trust me, you’ll be blown away.

And when you invest so much in preserving your memories through custom photography, and I invest so much time and effort in your session and editing your photos, you certainly don’t want to scrimp when it comes to the final product that everyone will see.