FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
Yes! I include a print release with your USB which gives you permission to print anywhere at any size you'd like. Many sessions come with color 5x7 prints of each chosen image. I offer additional prints and products through my professional lab if you prefer to go that route, or you can print on your own. Newborn Sessions are $650 and include your favorite 25 digital images on USB and as color 5x7 professional prints. These sessions last around 3 hours and can be done either in the studio in Salem or in the comfort of your own home. I'm happy to include parents and siblings in a few photos but the focus is all on baby! Maternity Sessions are $400 and include all images from your house session. They can be done in your home or a location of your choice. Immediate family members are also welcome to join you in your session. When you book a Maternity and Newborn Session together you save $150! Baby Milestone Sessions are $250 and are done in the studio. They are 30 minutes long and include your favorite 10 images. They are geared towards babies between 2-12 months and are great for capturing babies first year. Mini Newborn Sessions are $250 and are done in the studio and include an hour photo session and 2-3 wrapped baby setups and 10 images. Family Sessions are $500 and include your favorite 25 final images on USB and as color 5x7 professional prints. These sessions generally last around an hour and are done outdoors as a setting of your choice. Additional images and products are available for a discounted rate.
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
Once a client has contacted me I usually send them the details for the type of session they are interested in and also ask for more information from them. I need to know what their priorities are, how many people (and what ages of kids) I'll be working with, if they have a location or type of location in mind, and a time frame for when they need their session done. With newborn sessions I also ask if they know the baby's gender, if there are any particular poses or props they really want to use, and if there are any color preferences. If a client is unsure on a location I will send them some suggestions with links to past sessions so they can see how it might look. If they have a specific look in mind I will also go location scouting and do my best to find what they want. For example I've had requests for a location at the beach with tall beach grass, fields of wildflowers with easy bathroom access, wintery themed park safe for a puppy without all his vaccines yet, and an urban alleyway. After years in the business I definitely have favorite spots but am always excited to find new locations to explore! I usually try to arrive early on the day of your session, especially if it's a location I haven't used recently. I generally have a rough plan in my head for how our time together will go but I am very flexible. When there's small kids involved I will often follow their lead and will spend a lot of time talking and interacting with them in an attempt to make the session feel fun and relaxed. We might play a few simple games to make their cooperation fun. I don't look at my watch while photographing a session and will work until I'm satisfied I have plenty of images to put together your gallery. For some sessions that might take less than an hour and others it may go over. Newborn sessions generally take around 3 hours from start to finish but most other sessions average around an hour. After your session I will go through all of the images from your session and edit the final images that are selected. I always take more than I will need so that I make sure everyone looks great and eliminate any unflattering or duplicate images. Classic Sessions generally result in 15-20 images while Newborn Sessions result in 25-30 images. I don't limit myself and if I wind up with more great images then I will definitely include them in your gallery! You will receive your link to your private online gallery within two weeks of your session date and will be able to download all of the images immediately. Newborn sessions include an 8x8 photo book which will be mailed to you with a USB a few weeks after the gallery is up. Classic sessions include an 11x14 wall print which I will order and send to you with a USB as soon as you let me know your choice of image. I do have some recommended consumer labs for wall and gift prints and also offer prints through my professional lab if you prefer not to print yourself.
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have taken numerous in person and online courses regarding posing, lighting, editing, newborn safety, and more! I also have a BFA in Interior Design with a minor in Architecture which has given me a great basis for design in general. I am self taught in the mechanics of photography and have been shooting exclusively in manual since 2010.