Frequently Asked Questions
From the back room
I love to see the excitement on people’s faces when they learn that I’m a professional photographer. But behind that excitement, I can also see their fear: “What do I do if the camera starts flashing at me? What should I wear? How long will it take to get my photos back?” There are many questions that come up when you’re about to have your portrait taken by someone you don’t know very well. That’s why I’ve put together this list of frequently asked questions before the photo session starts. Hopefully, this will help reassure you—and give you an idea of what to expect during our time together!
What do I do when I feel nervous or uncomfortable in front of the camera?
You’re not alone. Everyone is nervous before a photo session, including me! Before every shoot I get butterflies in my stomach and feel like I’m going to throw up. But don’t worry—this is totally normal, and it won’t last long once we start shooting.
Your photographer will help you relax by talking to you about what you want out of your photo session and how they can help make that happen. They’ll also make sure they’re asking questions so they know exactly what kinds of photos you want, which will help put your mind at ease as well. If there’s anything specifically causing anxiety for you (for example: “I hate having my picture taken”), then address it directly with the photographer so that she/he knows what may be contributing to this feeling and can take steps accordingly.
What kind of photographs should I expect from a portrait session?
As you can see, we offer a wide variety of styles. In order to achieve the best look for your photo session, we will work with you to find out what kind of photographs would be most comfortable and appealing.
There are some general guidelines that apply across all our portrait sessions:
You will receive a variety of poses and angles. We’ll make sure there are plenty of options so that you can choose which ones work best for each person in your family or group.
You will receive different clothing options (for seniors, this includes hats, ties/bow ties, etc.). We want everyone looking their best! We have an extensive wardrobe available if needed as well as professional makeup artists on staff who can do any necessary touch-ups during the shoot itself.
You will get a range of backgrounds from simple white walls to elaborate landscapes painted by local artists specifically for our clients’ needs; these are typically done as custom orders so they won’t be available from other vendors at this time unfortunately – sorry about that! 😉
Our lighting options vary by season (or even day!) depending on where we’re shooting: during summer months it might mean using natural light coming through windows while winter months call for more creative indoor setups using studio strobes and hot lights (aka large lamps). Either way though I promise it’ll look awesome!
How long does it take for my photographs to come back?
How long it takes to get your photos depends on how many you want, and how long it takes to edit them. There are a lot of factors that can affect the time frame in which you receive your photographs. If, for example, you only want one print and a digital file, then this will be much quicker than if you were ordering twenty prints and an album.
If the session is being held during business hours or over lunchtime then I generally have everything edited by mid-evening. If we’re shooting outside of these times then it may take longer for me to process all of the images plus I need more time with my family before going back out into the dark evenings!
Once I have finished editing all of your images and am happy with them (which usually doesn’t take too long), then any printing can begin. This varies depending on what sort of printing process(es) are required for each individual job but typically takes from 1-3 days; however some weddings can require up to 5 days due its complexity (i.e., large numbers of guests present at once etc.).
How long does the photo session last?
The photo session will last between 30 minutes and 1 hour. This time is spread out over a longer period of time than you might expect, as the photographer takes many shots during the session. The photographer will start by getting to know you and your family before shooting in order to get a better feel for what makes each of you unique. This means that once you arrive at your shoot location, which could be anywhere from a beautiful park to your living room, we will spend some time chatting about who you are as individuals and how that would translate into photos together as a family.
Do you edit your images?
Yes! We use a variety of editing tools to help you achieve the best look for your images. Here are some examples:
Adjustments like brightness and contrast
Color correction
Sharpening and blurring
Cropping, straightening, etc.
Capture Your Best Moments
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