So, you and I have a date together, and now we need to get some of the details out of the way to get ready for it! I’m excited to spend time with you and your family for a session. I know you are, too, and are ready to get busy planning! On this page, I’ll explain some of what will be happening or need to be done over the next few weeks or months on our journey together. You might want to add this page to your bookmarks, because some of these links are pretty valuable!
Getting the Details Sorted:
First, I ask all of my clients to take few minutes to fill out this simple client information form, which lets me know that I have everyone’s name and age, and that I have your address and contact information. You will definitely want to make sure to give me one or both of your cell phone numbers, so that if one of us is running late to our session, we can call and check in. My cell, if you haven’t already written it down, is 239.823.8468. There are also a couple questions to help me get ready, and finally, if you know whether you want a brag book or would rather take the print credit as part of your session, you can tell me that as well.
Have you submitted your retainer payment yet? That’s important, because it guarantees that your date and time are reserved solely for you. This retainer is nonrefundable, but trust me, I understand sick kids, Florida weather, and acts of God. For extremely extenuating circumstances, I will work my hardest to reschedule with you! If we are within one week, you may go ahead and also pay the balance of your session fee. For both of these, you can pay securely online, or by check.
All clients need to sign a contract/model release. You can print this and send a signed copy to me with your retainer; if this is not taken care of before the session, I will bring a copy which must be signed at the session. There is fine print, and I’ve tried to clarify the fine print as well. The long and short is that we have a mutual agreement to make an awesome family session happen and produce some wonderful memories and images together!
Enjoying your Custom Family Session:
All right, this link here, this one is super important! With the help of some amazing friends, I have compiled a Family Photography Session Tipsheet which will answer most, if not all of your questions, from picking outfits, to how to be on your best behavior during a session (that actually means, how to really enjoy your session!).
Whew! I know that was a lot of links–now you know why I suggested bookmarking this page!
When we get together for our session, plan to have fun! I do not have anywhere better to be than with you, and will spend as much time as we need for your kids to relax and feel comfortable. We’ll walk and talk, and hang out. I may ask you to pose for a more formal family portrait, or I may ask your kids to do something really silly (Dads, I may ask you to do something really silly, too, so be ready!). I may count 1, 2, 3, to a picture, but I’ll warn you that I cheat and take pictures before I get to 3. Also, I will usually take more than one shot of each picture, just in case someone is blinking, or (in the case of my children) if someone has a finger in their nose. Yeah, it happens.
After the Session:
Wondering what happens after your session? Great, I’m glad you asked! I love to blog about our sessions, and it gives you a chance to have a sneak peek of what your final images will look like. I try to blog sessions within two days of shooting, so keep an eye on the site and you may see someone you recognize. You can share the blog link with anyone you like. If you’re on facebook, and you okayed me sharing your pictures on facebook, it’s even easier, because as soon as I put your images on there and tag you in them, you and all your friends will see your sneak peek right away!
It usually takes me 2-3 weeks from our time together to finish culling and color correcting an entire session. Once that’s done, I’ll upload your best images to a private, password protected proofing gallery, and send you the link and password. The best part is that I will also send you a link to your very own beautiful slideshow. You can share both the slideshow and the proofing gallery links with friends and family all over the country.
I will also give you a link to download watermarked, web ready images to share online. You can email, blog, or facebook these. It is not OK to try to crop my name off of them, and they will not print well. I know that you want to share your images, and trust me, I want you to share them, too! I offer these images as a service to you.
Once you have placed your order, I revisit each image and do any final retouching work that it may need. Don’t worry, I won’t make you look like a plastic person. My artistic vision is to celebrate your real beauty, so I don’t do fake work here! The turnaround time from your order to receiving your prints is usually about two weeks. Custom canvases and books usually take a little bit longer to prepare and print.
Finally, I want you to enjoy every step of the journey that we are going to take together. If you have questions at any point, please email me, or call my cell phone (239.823.8468). My seventh grade pre-algebra teacher always said, “There is no such thing as a dumb question!” We weren’t actually convinced that she meant it, but I do mean it.
Thank you, and I’ll see you soon!