FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS – FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY
BEFORE YOUR FAMILY SHOOT
click on + for answer
WHAT PROVISIONS WITH COVID - 19 HAVE YOU PUT IN PLACE?
With restrictions now lifted both my Lifestyle at Home and Portraits in the Park sessions can take place. I am careful and keep a minimum of a 1 metre distance. I do not wear a mask as I find that people react naturally to my expressions and I have had what is COVID-19 back in March 2020 and have been double vaccinated.
WHAT IS YOUR RISK ASSESSMENT?
I am only shooting once a day and that takes place first thing in the morning. I do not stop on my way to the shoot and make sure that shoes and clothes are clean and not previously worn the previous day. My clients use to rely on me to bring a picnic blanket but now clients have to bring their own. Shoots take place outside and see above for further information.
WHAT IS A SESSION FEE AND WHAT DOES IT INCLUDE?
The session fee simply covers my time including admin around your shoot e.g. sending and answering emails, pre-shoot Zoom consultation. My time on the shoot in travel, photography session, downloading and backing up the images, editing them down and initial tweaks in the look and feel of the shoot. Time in uploading to your password protected, personally created online gallery and finally the time spent on your Zoom call going over your order. Eight hours would have spent up to the point where you order your products/digital files. The session fee is paid in advance of the shoot to secure my time in the diary.
HOW MUCH DOES A SESSION AND PRODUCTS COST?
A session fee starts for an outside shoot local to me in Kingston upon Thames, a weekday Portraits in the Park £245 and the session fees goes up to £295 for a Family at Home session in your home within SW London, and down as far as Guildford, Surrey. Simple framing starts from £160 but as my service is bespoke, client’s sales are never the same. Most clients spend a minimum of £650 up to £3500+. There is never any pressure to buy and I pride myself that every client has a premium experience. Please CONTACT me for more details.
DO YOU HAVE INSURANCE?
Yes I have public liability and also my photography equipment is fully insured.
DO YOU GIVE GUIDANCE ON WHAT TO WEAR?
Yes, once a session fee is paid I will send you a form to fill out for my notes and I also send you a link “How to prepare for your Photography Session”. I will also schedule a Zoom call a few days before the shoot to go through everything and answer any qustions you might have.
HOW DO I BOOK A SHOOT WITH YOU?
Click on the BLUE button below “Book Your Session” and it will take you to my Contact page and you can decide whether you want to email, fill out the website form or just give me a call. I would love to hear from you!
WHAT DAYS / TIMES DO YOU WORK?
I usually allocate up to 3 days a week which are shoot days and these are Tuesday – Thursday. All my shoots take place on mornings as I find that not only the children are at their best – Mums and Dads are too – and Me!
DO YOU HAVE SPECIAL OFFERS ON SESSION FEES?
Yes I do, usually once at year at local Christmas fairs for the shoot to take place the following year just as a wedding photographer would book weddings for the following year. I do make contact with people on my Pen Pal list every two months and I usually have special offers then too. To be added to my list, see the subscriber form at the bottom of this page.
THE PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION ITSELF
I HATE HAVING MY PHOTO TAKEN - HOW CAN YOU HELP ME?
You are not alone! 95% of my adult clients hate having their photo taken. As an expereinced photographer with 13 years in the business I know how to make you feel comfortable and at ease. I will photograph you in a flattering way as well as showing you the back of the camera from time to time to give you confidence – which from experience that always helps and I see my client’s shoulders relax when they realise that they do “look ok”. Random iPhone photos of you that have been taken by friends are far removed from the beautiful images that I can take of you.
WHAT HAPPENS IF IT RAINS ON THE DAY?
I would have kept an eye on all my weather apps in addition we would have reserved a back up day “just in case”. For a weekday session we have another day booked as a back up and as Sundays are my day off that is always a back up solution if the shoot had been scheduled for a Saturday morning. I want to get the best out of all of you and soggy children aren’t usually happy ones!
WHAT HAPPENS IF MY CHILD IS ILL?
Of course I will schedule! Please let me know as soon as you can on the morning of the shoot. Even if you think that your child is under the weather please do not bring them on the shoot. I have had clients do this in the past and we ended up rescheduling anyway. In these present times of COVID-19 I wouldn’t want to go ahead if you are feeling unwell, even if you couldn’t put your finger on it while you are feeling under par. Because I only take on around 25 family shoots a year I will have space to fit you in.
CAN I JUST HAVE THE CHILDREN PHOTOGRAPHED?
As my sessions are completely bespoke, I can do exactly what you want. From experience though, parents who have just had the children photographed have regretted not being on the shoot themselves when they see how lovely the end results are.
HOW LONG DOES A SHOOT TAKE?
Portraits in the Park sessions take anything from 60-90 minutes and my Family at Home sessions take 90-120 minutes. It all varies on how many people on the shoot, age of children, tantrums!? and how much there is to photograph on a at home session.
WHERE DO YOU GO ON LOCATION FOR THE SHOOT?
A Portraits in the Park session takes place near to me in an open space in Kingston upon Thames or if you want me to go to an location near to you it would be classed as “Family at home” shoot due to the time involved for me to travel.
MY HUSBAND DOESN'T WANT TO BE ON THE SHOOT
I know some men are shy and think that they wouldn’t be missed but they are. What you have to remember is that the pictures aren’t for you or your husband but ultimately, they are for the children. It is important that the family has a record of you all being together and the children love to see pictures of them with their Daddy. I can assure you in 10 years time you will look back and see how young and fresh you both looked!
WHAT DO I BRING WITH ME ON A SHOOT?
The Family at Home sessions – you have everything to hand and on my Portraits in the Park sessions I ask that you bring a picnic blanket, snacks and water for the children, wipes for smaller ones, insect spray, children’s favourite toys. All this is covered in the Preparation Guide.
HOW MANY PHOTOS DO YOU TAKE?
It really depends on how members there are in a family and how fast the children are! Generally, for a family of 4 I will take approximately 750 on a Portraits in the Park session and edit them down to approximately 80 for you to view.
WHAT HAPPENS IF MY CHILD HAS A TANTRUM?
Tots and Teens – I have much experience with both having tantrums! I think the worst tantrum I experienced lasted 30 minutes and the little girl had worked herself up so much we did have to abandon the shoot and reschedule for another day. I always do the group shots first and usually if there is going to be tantrum that there is no return from, the only shots to do would be of the child itself and siblings together. Saying this, generally, it is all about being patient which I am, and we will get there in the end! So please do not worry. Shooting in the morning always helps and make sure that you have snacks and water with you, that the children have eaten breakfast and bring bribery with you too! Just the word “chocolate” can help enormously!
CAN I BRING A CHANGE OF OUTFIT?
On my short session and the Portraits in the Park there would be no time to change but certainly on the Family at Home session there would be. We can discuss clothing at your pre-shoot consultation on Zoom.
ARE DOGS ALLOWED ON YOUR SHOOTS?
I LOVE DOGS! I have two very naughty border terriers and I understand how important our Fur Babies are. Please bring dog treats with you and make sure that you have them on the lead.
ARE YOUR SHOOTS DIRECTED?
As part of the pre-shoot consultation on Zoom we do talk about what is to be expected. I will get you in the right light, initially position you for the group shots but then I will just go with the flow and capture the interaction of your family being together. The children will have to listen to me at times but trust me – when you see the images they will show you natural, simple images of you having fun, and in addition, beautiful portraits of your children.
AFTER YOUR FAMILY SESSION
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE SESSION? HOW SOON DO WE SEE THE PICTURES?
Within a week you will see your images on a password protected gallery which is online for 7 days. I would have scheduled a Zoom call to take your order and go through any questions on day 4 of the gallery going live in which time you would have been able to create a favourites list due to the clever software, that we can go through. In my email to you with login instructions I would have given examples of wall art, book design and my offers at the time. Sometimes the Zoom call doesn’t take place as the client likes whatever I have suggested and has placed an order accordingly.
I LOVE BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOS - DO YOU SHOW THEM IN BOTH COLOUR AND BLACK AND WHITE?
From experience I find it beneficial to show both colour and black and white versions of each image as you can then compare.
HOW CAN I SEE THE PRODUCTS?
I can initially show you at the pre-shoot consultation and also I will have samples in my car at the shoot. I will show you them right at the end of our session so you can have a look to see what I can create for you. If instead of a Zoom call to discuss your order in person, I can come over to your home (COVID-19 restrictions permitting). Just let me know what you like me to do.
HOW MANY IMAGES DO YOU SHOW?
The 30 minutes shoot I show 25-30 images, Portraits in the Park, 80-100 and Family at Home, 100-120. Please trust me that I am showing the best images. The ones that I have taken out in editing are usually blinks, odd expressions, duplicates etc.
CAN I BUY JUST THE DIGITAL IMAGES?
Yes you can purchase the digital images and these can be printed up A4 and used for social media too. My prices start at £995 for 30 images as they are regarded as a premium product. However, I do have a scheme called Client Rewards which means the more you spend on beautiful bespoke products that I have created for you, I will give you digital images according to your level of spend. The reward scheme has been very popular with my clients because it means that they have both fabulous time pieces and their favourite digital images.
WHAT IS THE LEAD TIME ON MY PRODUCT ORDER?
Lead time after final decisions and payment has been made is 4-6 weeks – digital images can be sent to you via Wetransfer.com 2 weeks after payment has been made in advance of your USB stick.
DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIAL OFFERS AT ALL?
I do have an incentive of 10% off the final product order as long as I have a prompt order made and paid for within 5 days of the images going online.
DO YOU TAKE CREDIT CARDS?
Yes, I take all major credit cards but prefer BACS transfer.
DO YOU PERSONALLY DELIVER?
If you live in SW London or as far as Cobham, Surrey from Kingston upon Thames, I will personally deliver otherwise I will have my supplier courier your order directly to you.