Add-ons

• Off-season (December-March and July/August): 2-3 weeks is usually enough lead time for weekdays, more for weekends
• High season (April-June and September-November): 2-3 months at least – ALL fall dates usually sell out by the end of August!

I always keep a waitlist and may be able to fit in last-minute bookings occasionally, too!

I’m typically available to shoot any day of the week, including Sundays!  I only take a maximum of five sessions per week though and only one per weekend, so slots fill up fast.  I take off most major holidays and am out of town on many summer weekends.

The best time of day to schedule a portrait session is when the sun is low on the horizon, typically an hour or two before sunset (or a sunrise session if need be, but it’s often quite a bit chillier, and yawning + shivering isn’t ideal for photos!). Afternoon sessions aren’t completely out of the question, but when the sun is directly overhead, we end up making a beeline for shaded areas, which limits our options.

Yes!  Love is love, all are welcome!

Yes!  Clear as much space as you can in whatever room(s) of your house you want to use, and I’ll bring professional lights to make your house look bright and beautiful.  Home sessions are more flexible as far as time of day, although if you plan to do any photos outside too, we’ll try to schedule for when the sun is low on the horizon for best results.

That’s completely up to you – wear whatever makes you feel confident but comfortable!  For best results, try to stick to a color theme without being too matchy-matchy: you don’t want to look like you’re all in uniform.  For a classic look, go with something simple like jeans and a black or white shirt for everyone.  If you like a more colorful style, pick a palette such as all earth tones, modern hues that go well together like burgundy/mustard yellow/olive green, or pick a nice bright accent color like red or teal and have a few family members wear accessories such as a scarf, hat, cardigan, leg warmers, etc. in that color.

What not to wear:
Avoid busy patterns – you don’t want to blend in with the scenery!  Avoid transition lenses if you wear glasses, since they go dark very quickly outdoors and never look totally clear even after editing.

You’re welcome to bring a change of clothes (or multiple changes for smaller groups / kiddo portraits), but try to keep it simple! Some folks are fine with ducking behind a few trees to change outfits whereas others would rather return to their cars to switch gears, so factor in comfort levels and the complexity of the outfit change. It’s rare to have bathrooms nearby to use as changing rooms, so consider bringing a large blanket as a privacy shield!

Yes!!  I love furry friends.  If you bring a corgi, I’ll love you forever!  Consider allowing a little extra time for your pets to adjust to new surroundings and settle down, though. Fur babies are like small kiddos: they never want to cooperate on picture day!

Don’t sweat it!  Seriously: an hour or so is a long time to ask the littles to pay attention, so we take what we can get.  We’ll try to get our traditional smiling looking-at-the-camera shots, but let them have a little fun and run around for some candids and everyone will be way happier!  If we force them to sit still too long, everyone gets cranky–parents included–and it shows in photos.

One of the downsides to on-location photoshoots is that we do end up being a slave to the conditions…sigh! Overcast skies or a few drops aren’t a problem, but if the forecast is calling for heavier rain/snow or unusually high winds, I’ll rebook you (no charge). I keep a close eye on the forecast leading up to sessions and will let you know as far in advance if possible if the odds aren’t in our favor!

These things happen! Just give me as much notice as you can and we’ll reschedule, no charge.

No deposit needed to reserve your date, but please give me at least 72 hours’ notice if plans change! I do require a 50% deposit at the time of your session, with the rest due only after you receive your finished photos.

I can accept checks, cash, Venmo, or Zelle.  I can only accept credit cards via PayPal with a 3.75% processing fee.

I charge an additional $30 session fee for groups of 7+ but that’s it!

My typical turnaround time is one week, although it may take up to a week and a half during busier times of year. If you have hard deadlines to meet, let me know and I’ll try to expedite things. Look for previews from your session on Instagram and Facebook a day or two after your photoshoot!

I get it – when our 21st-century selves are used to snapping dozens of photos a day for free, it can seem unfair and unwarranted to pay someone else $$$ for the same thing…but it’s not the same thing! Portrait photographers invest thousands of dollars in camera bodies, lenses, lighting equipment, and editing software that far exceeds even the most sophisticated smartphone camera. Behind every click of the shutter is thousands of hours of practice and study in gear, lighting, and posing; after every click of the shutter comes many more hours of editing, editing, and more editing. It’s much more than the simple push of a button!