Frequently Asked Questions:

Why is photography SO expensive?

Here’s an example that will help you understand the value of hiring a professional photographer and what you can expect!

Let’s say you book a 2 hour shoot at a location in Boston for $200.  I hear you, it does sound expensive until you hear what you’re getting:

It all starts with planning the vision of the shoot. It’s best to meet in person for a consultation to make sure that the client gets everything they hope for. Discussing how two people will create a piece of art can be tough to convey in writing.

After hearing what my client is looking for I like to prepare a mood board with colors, poses, backgrounds, textures etc. Once we agree on a vision, we both sign a contract to make sure both parties can look back to check on what we agreed upon.

Once we have signed the contract a deposit is made in order to block the chosen time and date. I’ll start working right away!
I then pick a day to scout the location (not every time, but usually). This helps avoid problems that can arise during a shoot, for example, sometimes the location is a popular place which can make it challenging to get the shots exactly where we want without people in the background or walking in front of the camera.

Or maybe it’s really really windy there. With some planning, I can make sure to waste no time by having proper tools, options and having an idea of what to expect. I can make note of where the most flattering light is, decide exactly where to be and when- with back up plans just in case.

On the day of the shoot, I prepare all of my equipment which includes a professional cleaning, packing whichever light modifiers I decide to use to get the look we chose, backdrops, stands, sandbags, back up items that can malfunction like SD cards and batteries, props, flash, my camera of course along with multiple lenses and other tools that help me create a professional quality photo.

I always plan to arrive at the location early, I take some test shots, get my camera settings ready and try to keep the first location clear from other people setting up picnics etc.
I take hundreds of photos for the 2 hours, taking the time to make sure I have the correct exposure, no blinks, check for distracting elements and direct poses.

Once we finish on location, the work has only just begun!

These files are BIG. And for good reason. I shoot in a mode called RAW. This helps to get you a professional amount of detail that cell phones and other cameras cannot compete with. Why is this so important? for a few reasons! It allows me GREAT flexibility with editing. If there’s something I find later that is a tiny flaw, I can remove it with professional quality. If the sky is too bright and we can’t see the sunset? I can fix that! Photo too dark? I can very specifically target just that area and make it brighter.

But in my opinion the biggest perk of these giant files is enlarging photos. This is where you REALLY see the quality of professional photography. When you want to make your favorite images larger for a website, print or an album you will see the texture of fabrics, the deep rich colors, the vibrant elements and the true character of what we set out to capture.

This takes some time, effort and a LOT of disk space. To get a product you want to hold on to for a lifetime, your photographer needs to upload to a professional photo catalog to organize, rate, and tweak photos. I can add custom presets (very different from phone “filters”), and can send the best images off to Photoshop for an extra adjustment and retouching if I think it would improve the photo.
This is what takes the most time for many photographers. It’s fun- and it is HARD WORK. We need breaks to make sure we can rest our eyes and look again with what we call “fresh eyes”. If we are not pressured to rush through this process you will get the BEST quality possible from your photographer. Photographers know you are excited to get your photos, but frequently checking in to see if photos are done can cause a photographer to feel rushed and yes you could potentially get your photos faster, but we can’t spend the same amount of time and attention to detail.

Once done with all the edits, photographers usually have to compress these huge files before they are sent to you or printed.  Now that the hard work is done, there’s no need to put those enormous files onto YOUR computer! The quality of the image will remain while making files smaller so that they don’t bog down your computer. This also allows you to post them on websites that might tell you “this file is too large”.

Last but not least, I safely store your photos for a minimum of 1 year, backed up in multiple, encrypted places. So many things can go wrong with digital files. Corrupted data, busted lap tops or external hard drives, losing the files etc. I keep them safe as long as I can just in case you lose them somehow

I often spend about 10 hours per photoshoot editing, let’s not even talk about overhead costs- lots of those too! - In this example I’d make about $10 per hour of work for this example and that’s only IF everything goes smoothly. 

This is just an example and prices are subject to change.

If you love a photographer’s photos they probably put a lot of learning, practice, thought, and TLC into their work and it’s up to you to decide if their work is worth the price.

What is  your style?

My edit style mostly depends on the goal of the client. I strive for accurate colors, white balance, minimal distortion sharp images and genuine expressions. I love to add lens flares, bokeh (blurry background), bright colored backgrounds, greenery, fabrics with texture, and complimentary colors.

I enjoy candid shots the most. Most candid shots are actually not candid at all, so I do my best to direct clients to create them. During my shoots there is usually a lot of communication and laughing which makes for some excellent real smiles.

Composition is one of my favorite things to experiment with. The way you crop an image can change the entire feeling, meaning, mood etc.

I strongly suggest meeting in person and discuss the goals of the shoot before. Making a mood board is also a great help, and fun!

Can I send you what I saw on Pinterest?

Absolutely!  It’s a great place to get inspired.  I do ,however, only use it as inspiration because 1, it will never look exactly the same no matter how hard we try 2, that would be copying someone’s idea 3, we can make it more personal and creative!

What equipment do you use?

I use a professional grade, full frame Canon along with my favorite lenses, I love using flash when it’s suitable as well with appropriate light modifiers. I use professional tools to get an accurate white balance

What services do you offer?

Pet portraits

Personal branding

Equestrian portraits

Engagement

Small weddings with less than 50 people

Headshots

Maternity

Newborn

Product photography

Creative portraiture

If what you are looking for is not listed I encourage you to ask anyway and I hope that I can accommodate or refer you to someone who can.

How far are you willing to travel?

Any photoshoot outside of my home studio will be an additional fee of $25 to pay for time packing up and moving heavy equipment. Locations farther than 10 miles will require an additional travel fee based on distance.

My photoshoot is outdoors, I’m worried about the weather, what if it rains or snows?

Most outdoor photoshoots can still be done in the rain or snow and can even add a really stunning element!  If this is at an event, be prepared, bring umbrellas for people, rent a tent etc.  I have one clear umbrella that I can bring as a beautiful prop. If the weather is dangerous to be out we will reschedule with no additional fee

What can I expect the day of the shoot?

Please show up 15 minutes early and we will be able to get comfortable. The more comfortable we can be the better the photos!

We will go over a few posing basics to help prepare.

It takes a little bit to warm up! It’s normal, after a handful of shots, you will feel more comfortable. This happens even with professional models. Be patient with yourself

How long until my photos are done?

Photos will be available within 90 days while sneak peaks will be available within a week
If photos are needed sooner there will be a an additional rush fee

Can I get the raw photos?

Many photographers including myself have their own technique, plan and vision for a shoot.  To give the raw files away would be akin to requesting an unfinished painting from a painter to finish it yourself.  The final product doesn’t really represent the original artist’s work or the person who finished it.  The other issue is that the files are HUGE and you need software to open and edit raw photos

How do digital images work?

If you purchase digital files, while you will be able to do almost anything you want with a digital image you have purchased, the copyright remains with the photographer.  That means that you may not make a profit or publish without written permission from the photographer.  Other than that, you can make as many prints, calendars, mugs, anything with the digital images. That’s also why they can be more valuable and priced accordingly.

Watermarks will be removed from all purchased images

How can I print my photos if I purchase the digital files?

I hear people suggesting CVS for prints and while that is an option I HIGHLY recommend that you go to a professional printing company, they really aren’t much more expensive and the quality will be significantly better.  Printing itself is an art and the professionals will really take pride in their work and take care of you

Why are weddings treated so differently in the photography world?

Weddings are a lot of work. Oftentimes a second shooter is hired to make sure no special moment is missed, there are a lot more photos taken, different equipment is used. We usually spend the whole day with you and will likely carry your shoes, wipe away tears or help you in whatever way we can on your big day

I don’t want to have a photographer come for an entire event, can you do just part of it?

Absolutely! For events I offer a minimum of 3 hours of coverage. A timeline of your event can be a big help to make sure you have enough hours of coverage so no special moments are missed. If you do only book for a certain amount of time but decide you would like more time, that can definitely be discussed!

My shoot is this week and I need to cancel, what now?

No one wants to cancel a shoot they were looking forward to. Sometimes things come up, life happens. I understand and I hope that you can understand that the non refundable deposit paid for me to block off time. That means I had to tell potential clients I wasn’t available for that date and missed out on those jobs.

What if I’m running late?

It happens to us all. If the shoot is outdoors, we may lose a lot of valuable time for the shoot since the light will be changing - fast. This will most likely reduce the quality of the shoot overall. Unfortunately, due to clients being late frequently, I will be charging a late fee of $25 after waiting for 15 minutes. I can’t tell you how much I don’t want to charge it, but it’s become such a big problem!
After 15 minutes we will be require to reschedule.

I am a learning photographer, can I assist you?

I would love to hear from you, send me an email with your experience and availability and we can talk!