Frequently Asked Questions
Where will our session take place?
Will you help us with posing?
What if my kids have a tough time?
Do I get digital images with my session?
Do I have to order prints through you?
How far out do I need to book?
What would make client a bad fit for your work style?
Why is price range of photographers so varied?
Frequently Asked Questions
Where will our session take place?
I have curated a collection of wonderful locations that I hold permits and insurance with in our area! You'll be asked on your booking questionnaire to choose which style of venue your prefer, and I will match you to spot that will be good for your date of session. If you have a specific area you are hoping for, feel free to ask!
Wooded Forest
Evergreen Foothills
Tree Covered Trails
Front Range Vista View
Flatirons Meadow
Creekside Bridge Trail
Small Town Main Street
Lohi Eclectic
Colorful Urban Graffiti Art
Modern Downtown Bridge
... and more!
Will you help us with posing?
Absolutely! I will guide you on where to stand, how to sit, and even what to do with your hands. The majority of the session I will be instructing you on who to look at and fun little ways to interact and play. All you need to do is get dressed and get everyone to the session, I've got the rest!
What if my kids have a tough time?
Kids are kids! I have 3 children of my own and photograph hundreds more! Melt-downs or grumpy moods sometimes just happen. I have a few tricks up my sleeve that can usually get everyone giggling. You can bring a hidden emergency snack for little ones (just in case). Don't let kiddos nap in the car all the way up to the session start because they can wake up groggy and disorientated. The best thing you can do is to keep trying to have fun and smile! That said, it's okay if every moment of your session isn't the perfection you imagined. I'm there to capture your family as they are, and years from now, you'll be able to cherish the full spectrum of their personality!
Do I get digital images with my session?
Yes! Every session includes a specific number of digital downloads that you will choose from your fully-edited online gallery. Most sessions include 10, and additional images are available for purchase.
One (1) additional digital image | $
10 additional digital images | $
20 additional digital images | $
*Lab-ordered prints and canvases 8x10 or larger INCLUDE the corresponding digital image.
Do I have to order prints through you?
No. You receive a print release for any personal use of your images, so you are free to print them wherever you like.
That being said, I have a fantastic pricing relationship with my professional lab, and I promise that the quality is just superb!!! As and incentive to do justice to your wall prints, remember that ANY lab- printed product 8x10 or larger receives its corresponding digital image for FREE!
You can view all the options for prints, canvas, floats, and more in the shopping cart feature within your gallery.
How far out do I need to book?
It really depends on your flexibility. If you are in a rush, you can typically find a spot on my schedule within a week or two, but it may not be on a weekend or at your preferred time.
September through mid-November is the highest demand and Fall Mini-Sessions always sell out quickly.
I have a limited number of newborns I can accommodate each month, so I encourage you to book a session near your due date during your pregnancy. I am able to reschedule clients who are booked on my calendar depending on baby's arrival and momma's recovery. Just delivered or adopted? No problem, I try to leave a few openings on the schedule to accommodate last-minute newborn sessions.
What would make client a bad fit for your work style?
My style is editorial (with the exception of studio newborns & babies which is natural-light portraiture). Editorial means that the images I create support a story. That story is uniquely yours! My mission is to draw out interactions, personality, quirks, love, and connection in each and every session.
This means that I am not a good fit for someone is looking for pure documentary with ZERO interaction or instruction ... but where's the fun in that? Haha!
At the other end of the spectrum, there is the client that is highly self-critical. They want all images to be of their most flattering angle and request heavy photoshop work on appearance or skin. They likely wouldn't be completely delighted with my work. While I do make constant adjustments in posing angles, body positions, adjusting how clothing and hair are laying, and editing blemishes or marks ... my mind's priority is always the technical lighting, composition work, and orchestrating the emotional connections.
I will capture you and your family just as you are because that is where I find beauty, goodness, love, and memories!
Why is price range of photographers so varied?
I can admit that when I began charging for my photography, I'd just outgrown my hobbyist status. Many photographers at this juncture simply charge for their time or what they think clients are willing to pay. Commute, session time, and editing time is the compensation they strive for. It makes sense to charge a nominal cost when you are being asking to hone one's beloved interest.
As I grew in skill and experience, I found the same truths that all professional photographers do. The costs of providing a professional (and legal) business are not insignificant. Equipment, computers, further education, website, marketing, accounting, insurance, licenses, permits, and taxes play a vital role in running a stable business. Add to that a living wage and you'll understand why a family portrait session can be $100 for one photographer and $2,000 or more for another.
My advice is to:
- consider your financial ability and limitations
- heed the old adage that you usually "get what you pay for"
- know that you are unlikely to hear anyone say that they regret the money spent on photographic memories of their children or family... good photography has a way of gaining value over time!
