FAQ

I would describe my style as: real, bold, honest, moody, earthy, and eccentric. I’m always looking to find that intersection between what is beautiful and what is real. Though it is sometimes nice to have a family sit for a formal portrait, that’s not who we really are most of the time. I like to offer a mixed gallery of playful moments and more structured, posed photos. That gives a nice variety to choose from and allows space for personalities to shine through.

Of course! I will happily take a look at your list and see what is doable and even possible in the time and location we have. We probably can’t have a beach bonfire in a park, ya know?

I usually send proofs within 1 week, and once you have selected your favorites for me to edit, it takes me a max of four weeks to finish them.

I have chosen a world-class gallery provider to support your image gallery. In order to access your account, you must login with the email address you used when booking your session. That is the email I will use when inviting you to your galleries.

Absolutely! I would just ask that you don’t edit the image in any way. Additionally, if you love your photos, please give me photo credit so friends and family know where they can go to get lovely photos!

Absolutely! Every single one of my photo packages includes a digital download of the images, so if you really want to order prints yourself, you can.

However, I do like to warn people that not all prints are created equal. So many commercial processing places will print things with strange looking colors, greenish casts, too much contrast, and just in general they won’t turn out the way they are supposed to look! You’ve hired a photographer to capture your images and edit them beautifully. A bad print can reverse all of that work. I always recommend that you order prints through me if you want to make sure they come out perfectly. I send everyone an online gallery with their images, and you can order prints in any size, on archival paper or canvas, and they all come with a satisfaction guarantee or your money back!

I’ll delete any shots that are technically imperfect for some reason, where one of the subjects blinked, the photo is unflattering because of harsh lighting, or motion blur. Those aren’t going to be any use to you. It’s part of my service to you to select the images from the session and not make you do “my job” of tossing the sub-par shots.

I also remove images that are close duplicates, so you don’t have to wade through hundreds of images to make your final choices for prints or your album. I will leave some duplicate images in where there are different expressions, since you might prefer one to another.

Absolutely. I carry insurance on my gear, my car, and even errors & omissions. I also carry liability insurance.

In creative industries, retainers are a standard way to manage client relationships and business operations. It’s a sign of professionalism and protects both the photographer and the client.

While the retainer is typically non-refundable, it may go toward the total session fee, so it’s not an additional cost but part of the overall package.

Paying a 50% retainer upfront to a photographer is standard practice for several reasons:

• Photographers often work on a schedule, booking clients in advance. A retainer ensures that your session date is reserved specifically for you, preventing others from booking that same time.
• A retainer helps protect the photographer’s business against losses from cancellations, ensuring their time and effort are not wasted if a client backs out or reschedules at the last minute.
• An upfront payment ensures mutual commitment to the session, fostering accountability on both sides.
• Photographers invest time and resources even before your session begins. This can include consultations, location scouting, equipment preparation, and sometimes even permits or props.

A contract ensures that both parties are on the same page from the start. It outlines the scope of services, including:

• The date, time, and location of the shoot.
• The type of photography (e.g., wedding, portrait, product).
• What deliverables (e.g., number of photos, albums) you will receive and when.

Contracts protect both you and the photographer in case of misunderstandings or disputes. For example:

• For you: Ensures you get the agreed-upon services and deliverables.
• For the photographer: Prevents cancellations without compensation for time and resources already committed.

Photographers retain the copyright to their work unless stated otherwise. The contract typically addresses:

• How you can use the photos (e.g., personal use, social media).
• Whether the photographer can use the images for their portfolio or marketing.
• This ensures compliance with copyright laws and avoids unauthorized use.

A good contract addresses “what if” scenarios, such as:

• Rescheduling or cancellations due to weather, illness, or emergencies.
• Equipment failures or unforeseen events.
• Backup plans (e.g., second photographer or alternate dates).
• This prepares both parties for unexpected situations.

I don’t usually give out the unedited photos without an extra fee. If you want to chat about that, let me know and we can discuss more!

The photos you purchased with your package are for your private use only. If you’d like to use the photo for a business website, please contact me for a commercial print release. Ditto if a magazine or company reaches out to you for a photo. Please have them speak to me directly about a purchasing a license for the image and to sign a print release.