What does the portrait session fee cover?

What does the portrait session fee cover?

Our session fees are set-up to cover just the expenses of photographing our clients. Most sessions run about 1-2 hours. Newborn sessions for instance are higher priced because they can run up to 3-4 hours depending on how well the baby is doing because we include time for nursing breaks, diaper changes, etc. This price also covers our travel to and from a location within a 60 mile radius of Denver and all of the editing of the images after the session. We will also include online proofing and 10 free low resolution (website ready with watermark/ not suitable for printing) photos for you to share online via your social media accounts from each session.

We can suggest areas that do not require a photo permit or areas that we hold a yearly permit for and if one of those spots are chosen there is no additional permit charges. If you choose a location that requires a permit and we do not already purchase a yearly permit for that area then the additional permit charge will be added on to the session fee. Please research the area that you would like to take photos at as many locations in Colorado do now require a permit to be filed by the photographer that also requires the photographer to provide proof of liability insurance.

How do we view our edited images?

How do we view our edited images?

We can schedule a date for an in home consultation on the day of your portrait session after editing. At the consultation we will go through your photos with you and help you make decisions on what to order for the walls of your home or to go in an album. Out of state guests will have access to their photo gallery and a phone/FaceTime/Skype consultation. After the initial print order we can also display your images online to share with friends and family.

Do you include the digital images?

Do you include the digital images?

Yes, we include the digital images from every session if our client spends $500 or more in a print or album order. Or you may purchase specific digital images individually and the price varies depending on how large of an image you would like to purchase.

I just want to print my own images, why do I need to spend a specific amount of money on prints?

I just want to print my own images, why do I need to spend a specific amount of money on prints?

One thing I constantly heard from clients was how they had spent so much time and money on getting their family's professional images taken, but then the images just sit on a disk or on their computer for years or at worse they lose the disk before they ever do anything with them. I've been working hard over the past years to really take the services that I provide my clients to the next level. Part of doing that now is providing prints for my clients to put on their walls. You will still get the digital images if you spend $500 or more with us, but now you will also get beautiful high end art prints that will really showcase your images in the most beautiful way. I've been working with one of the best labs in the country for years to provide you with the best product that I can at a reasonable price. Every print sized 11x14 or larger will come mounted, so you won't have any bending or creasing. And printed on the highest quality photographic paper with vivid, bright, high quality colors.

We are ready to have our portraits taken, now what?

We are ready to have our portraits taken, now what?

After you have decided that we are the right studio to take your portrait either give us a call or an email to set a time and place. Consider if you want more of a formal studio session or a relaxed outdoor session. Where are you thinking about hanging your wall prints? We'll discuss different location options for you and what would work best for displaying images in your home. If you have young children you will want to schedule the session around the time that they are the most rested, fed and likely to be the most cooperative. If you are doing outdoor portraits you may want to consider the best time of day for lighting which is usually early morning near sunrise or late afternoon right before sunset. If those options do not work for you we'll discuss places with good open shade to make sure you are not squinting in your photos or have dark shadows on your faces. If you prefer to go the studio route we have a studio space located in Arvada for indoor sessions.

Session is booked what do we do to prepare for it?

Session is booked what do we do to prepare for it?

In the days leading up to your session this is a great time to get ready for it. Email me for some tips and ideas on what to wear and how to get the most from your portrait session.

Once a date and time is reserved for you on our calendar with a contract and the session fee paid we expect you to show up on time or early for the scheduled time slot at the confirmed location. We take into consideration weather conditions for outside sessions that are booked with our company and will reach out 1-2 hours before your session time if we think predicted unfavorable weather will effect our ability to do our job. At that time we will give you the option to reschedule your session on dates still open on our calendar or go forward with the photo session as planned. If we travel to the location for the photo-shoot after this discussion, but are unable to do the session due to the weather and/or time restraints the client will not be entitled to a refund. Clients that are late cut into the time-frame given for their session. This means if they are 30 minutes late they will get 30 minutes less time to do photos unless they reach out with extenuating circumstances. Clients who "no show" do not get a refund.

All events booked with us weddings, corporate or otherwise are considered a "rain or shine" event and we will show up to do the job no matter what unless we receive a written cancellation request. Clients booking us for events forfeit their deposits if they cancel for any reason unless something is worked out between the client and the photographer at the photographer's discretion.

Do you include retouch?

Do you include retouch?

Retouching is included on all of the final prints that are ordered through our company. I'm not a huge fan of the overly retouched look that makes a person look plastic, so with that being said I include light retouch that would remove blemishes on the face, dark circles under the eyes and slight fading of lines and wrinkles. We will remove items out of the background if they were missed during the photography session and they are distracting on the final image.

Retouching that we do not include is body manipulation (making someone skinny), photo-shopping a person into the photo who missed the session, etc. Those types of image manipulation are very time consuming and often times the photo looks weird and out of place when it has been altered in that fashion. So please consider that if someone isn't going to be able to make the scheduled session.

Deposits and re-scheduling appointments...

Deposits and re-scheduling appointments...

All portrait sessions are now only booked with a signing of our online portrait contract and payment of the session fee up front. Weekday bookings can be booked anytime. Weekend portrait session bookings can only be made 1-2 months out with what is open on our calendar. All weekends dates Fri-Sun are reserved for event bookings only until 1-2 months out. If you are planning something like a family reunion and would like us to pencil you in for 3 months or more before the session is due to take place then we can do that and try to work your session in with our busy event schedule, but your date will not be confirmed with a contract and payment until 2 months out and is not guaranteed until the contract is available.

Unfortunately, for our portrait clients event coverage is what keeps us in business and most weddings and events take place during the weekends so we have to keep those open for last minute events that book with us.