Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance should I book a session with you?
You should attempt to contact me at least two weeks before the date you have in mind for your session. I can typically accommodate most people within this timeframe, though the farther in advance you book your session, the more an opportunity you’ll have to have your date and time of choice. Weekends are the fastest to fill up and there are several busy times through the year with limited availability. The weeks before Mother’s day, the peak time for the cherry blossoms(last week of march to the first week of April), the peak time for autumn leaves ( around mid-October), and Christmas time often book a month or more in advance. Around the holidays (from mid-November through December), the quicker you reserve a date the better. The holidays are a very busy time of year and the calendar fills up super quickly.
Cake Smash Sessions
Cake smash sessions should be booked at least 3 weeks in advance. This gives me time to prep the studio for carnage as well as order any props necessary to make your baby's portraits a "smashing" success! See what I did there? :)
Portrait sessions
Portrait sessions such as senior portraits, engagement shoots, headshots, family portraits, etc should be booked at least 2 weeks in advance. If you have extended family traveling for the session, booking a few months out tends to be a safer bet. It gives plenty of time for everyone to prepare and change the session around if need be.
How should I get in touch with you to book my session?
The best way to get in touch with me right now is through text, email, or by filling out the contact form linked on my website.
Someone is sick, what do I do?
This sort of thing is bound to happen, especially living in a post covid world. If someone gets sick, please try to call as soon as possible. 12 hours in advance would be wonderful for rescheduling. I do however understand that sometimes sicknesses can come on last minute, so getting in touch as soon as you or one of the people involved in your session feels ill is much appreciated. I will reach out to you to reschedule your session within the next 48 hours.
If you cancel and we do not come up with a rescheduled date in a timely fashion or you do not show up for your session without contacting me first, your session fee will be forfeited.
So what is a timely fashion?
A timely fashion is within a week's time. This means that we will pick a new date for the session within a week's time. It doesn’t mean that the new session date needs to be within a week. If the session cannot be rescheduled within that time due to my fault ( being overbooked, or otherwise unavailable) your session fee will not be forfeited, so long as a new session is made at our earliest convenience.
What do I wear?
If you are in a group, coordinate. That doesn't mean that you need to break out an entire family's worth of matching outfits.
What I mean is, if everyone else is dressing slightly casually, don't show up in a suit. If everyone else is wearing suits and dresses, maybe flip-flops and board shorts are not the best options.
It depends entirely on what vision you have for your portrait collection and will differ for each individual's needs.
If you have an individual style then by all means be YOU!
We can create a vision board complete with outfit choices and coordinating backgrounds to make sure that your portraits come out exactly like you want them to.
Should I bring anything?
You can bring anything you would like to include in your photo session. The goal is to make the portraits uniquely yours. Props are definitely a fun way of accomplishing that. I've taken portraits of people with pets, racecars, model planes, game consoles, musical instruments, and various other things. If there's something you're thinking of bringing to incorporate into portraits, please let me know. I'd love to help you brainstorm ideas.
In addition to props, It’s often a good idea to bring a change of clothes. If you’re getting formal portraits done, bring an additional top/suit jacket/tie so we can get a more diverse set of images for you. It’s also a good idea to bring something casual to change into when the session is over. Makeup/hairspray are also a plus.
For those bringing babies- The diaper bag is a must! Make sure to have an extra outfit for after the cake smash or in case they get something on their main outfit, some food in case your little one gets hungry, wet wipes, and of course diaper essentials. It’s also a good idea to bring a few toys to help direct their attention toward me. It’s also a great idea to bring an extra set of clothes for you! Babies seem to love to be held when they are covered head to toe in cake!
Where do we shoot?
There are so many options to list! We, of course, have the option of having your session at my studio in Kingston. This is typically the best option for doing cake smashes, portraits for yearbooks, and headshots. We have a large selection of backdrops, photo props, and a changing room for you to set all of your things as you prepare for your session. If the studio isn't your style, we can pick just about any location you'd like. Your backyard, a park, near a stream, in your home are all options. Our only limitations are getting permission from the property owner if we will be traveling to places that aren't typically open to the public. If we get permission and there is a fee for professional photography, it is your responsibility to pay the fee. If you can’t think of a location right off the bat, I have several locations that I frequently photograph that might work for your vision. If we are doing an On-Location session, traveling is complementary in the Wilkes-Barre Scranton area.
WEATHER
It's not sunny out…
That's ok. Overcast days are wonderful for taking photos! It helps to even out lighting, make colors pop, and reduces harsh shadows (like the ones you often see under people's eyes that make them look like raccoons.) Cloudy days also help limit the number of squinty faces in portraits, which is always a plus.
Tut Tut, Looks like rain…
Not to worry, we can reschedule for an upcoming date. I tend to keep my eye on the forecast several days before our session and will reach out to you if it looks like we’ll be having inclement weather.
Severe Weather Warning...
I really hope this one goes without saying, but if there is a severe weather warning, such as a tornado, hurricane, or blizzard, we will reschedule the session. I'd much rather we stay safe :)
After Your Session
After your session has come to a close, I will start processing and perfecting your images. Before you leave after your session has concluded, we will schedule your portrait reveal.
This will typically be around 10-14 days after your portrait session. On the day of your portrait reveal you will come into my studio and I will show you a slideshow with the best images from your session in our presentation room.
From there, I'll help you narrow it down to your favorites and we will start the ordering process. Payment is due for prints at the time of the reveal and this is also when you will use any of your print credits.
*Turnaround times don't account for holidays.
How long does it take for my portrait order to arrive?
Print turnaround times vary based on the product, but typically they arrive within 8-14 business days from the day the order is received by the lab.
Certain items such as albums may have a slightly longer turnaround time, both because they require design and proofing on my end, as well as more time for the lab to assemble. They typically take 3-4 weeks from the proofing date. The proofing date is the day you approve the album layout for me to go ahead and order for you.
*Turnaround times don't account for holidays or lab closures due to inclement weather.
What's the difference between ordering prints from you or through someone else?
All my prints are retouched, and the color and saturation are corrected. The photos are printed on professional paper that has been tested for integrity.
My screens are also calibrated to the specifications of the labs I order from to assure proper contrast and exposure on each print. I can't guarantee what other photo labs will do with your prints. Some labs will auto-adjust the color balance, contrast, and even aspect ratio of your prints. This means your image may not come out the same color or contrast as the image looked when you viewed them.
I received digitals in a gallery on your website. Can other people see my pictures?
No. All pictures get uploaded into a unique private gallery that requires password protection to access. Other people can only see the photos if they have the link to the gallery and the password. I only give the passwords out to you.
You may send it to friends and family as you see fit.
But I can see some other galleries up on your site…
This is true. In order for people to see the kind of work I do it is necessary for me to showcase some of it to the public. The galleries that are made visible are done so only with the strict written permission of the people being photographed.
If you would like other people to be able to see your photos, it does help potential clients see the work I do, but if you don't want your pictures to appear for everyone to see, no hard feelings.
How long will my gallery be available?
Your gallery will be available for 30 days. After that, your gallery will expire. If you would like to view your images after the 30-day period, a $50 re-listing fee will be charged.
Some information on Photo Editing
“I have stray hairs, my face is too oily, my teeth are yellowed, etc…”
The joy of digital photography is the ability to have a certain level of manipulation of the image. Small flaws can be touched up such as minor facial imperfections, yellowed teeth, redness in the eyes, a small distraction in the corner of the image, etc.
Please understand however that not all things can be photoshopped out of a picture, and I do not specialize in dramatic photo manipulation. I do smooth out skin tones and take away small imperfections before posting the pictures in your gallery.
If I have missed something, or you would like something slightly different, some additional retouching can be done at your request within reason.
If you request dramatic changes to the image or multiple images, retouching fees may apply.
If you have any questions that I haven't answered here, please feel free to contact me.