FAQ

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.

These are just a list of general questions that I have noticed many clients having, If you have any additional questions feel free to ask me, I am an open book. Afterall this is YOUR photoshoot, I am just here to capture the memories.

What if I need to reschedule? Will I lose my retainer?

We can always reschedule, I understand that things happen that might make it impossible to make it, or if the weather doesn't cooperate with us. I allow 3 reschedules per a retainer, unless agreed upon differently in writing. The only way you’ll lose your retainer off the bat is if you don’t show up at all, or if you want to reschedule and then never commit to a date in a 3 month time frame. Mini Sessions, however, are only able to be rescheduled during the event timeframe.

What should I expect?

Photo sessions are generally a hour long, plan for a bit longer for a newborn session though. I will talk, laugh, and play with your children in order to capture their personality in all the photos. Since I am photographing those intimat moments with your family, please feel more than free to bring any personal items that you would like to include in your session, it makes all of your moments that much more personable and special. This could be a quilt that grandma made, a favorite toy, or even bubbles and balls. My goal is to make you and your family relax, play, have fun, and BE YOURSELF. More than anything, don’t be afraid to play with your children during our session. They may get a little rambunctious, and that’s ok! I have a little baby tyrant at home who destroys everything in his path, but with the biggest smile on his face while it's happening. Sometimes it’s the best way to get a natural smile and not that forced cheesy grin that grandma hates.

What should I wear?

Clothing choice is always the biggest decision when planning your session. Children look great in fun, bold colors, textures or patterns, but I would say to avoid super large logos or clothing that may take the focus off of your child. It's best sometimes to keep it simple. Jeans, sweaters, hats, scarves and boots are all fun for winter and fall sessions. Sundresses and lighter clothing are suited better for the summer months. Families and groups don’t have to wear all the same color or same outfits, I do however suggest choosing from the same color family. Newborns usually are too small to fit well in any outfit, but a onsie or little tutu, or even naked make for adorable pictures. The main thing is to wear clothes that represent you and who you are. Feel free to also bring a change of clothing in sessions that are applicable. 

When will I recieve my photos?

Approximately 2-4 weeks after your session (weddings usually take about 6-8), I will have your custom gallery completed, which normally will consist of your packaged images taken the day of the session, edited, in both high resolution for personal printing and web resoultion watermarked for online sharing. I will usually post a sneak peek photo of the session on my Facebook page within a few days of your session. You will receive a signed print release for all of the photos in the gallery, unless it is a print package. This allows you the freedom to have ALL the pictures on the disk, the ability to make prints from anywhere, and to post the web sharable images where your heart desires. 

If a print only package was ordered, (ex: Boudior sessions), then the gallery will be used for you to pick the images that you want in your package. Order's will not be placed until selections are given to me in writing, whether it is in paper form or through email message.

Galleries will be open for 4 weeks to download images, afterwards they will be closed and a $25 reactivation fee will be applied. I do offer digital image preservation services, where I keep your images archived for a certain amount of time that can be purchased as a back up plan to make sure your memories are never lost.

 

Where will the session take place?

​The location of the photo session is up to you, with both local and destination packages. Ideally, I prefer to use natural, available light, but for some weddings and indoor sessions I do use an external flash and artifical light sources. Once your photo shoot date is booked, we will discuss what type of feel you are looking for in your photographs, and we can then work together to come up with the perfect location. If you have a location special to you and your family I do not mind traveling, but I may charge a bit extra based on travel distance. Newborn photo sessions are almost always held within the comfort of your own home and grounds, but I am more than happy to travel for those as well.

 

When is my payment due?

Payment is due in two parts. One at the time of scheduling an appointment, which is a non-refundable retainer of $100.00 for sessions and is required to save the date. The remainder is due a minimum of two weeks before the scheduled session, unless agreed upon otherwise in writing. I do offer payment plans for qualifying packages, but Mini Sessions must be paid in full upon scheduling. Prices depend on location and how big the group is, and what type of session/package it is, but all will be discussed personally. The price quoted does however include the photo shoot and your personalized gallery containing all of your package images with the print release for you to share and print the photos from anywhere and keep forever.

Weddings are paid in 3 parts, $400 non-refundable retainer due at the booking, 1/3 due at the engagement session, 1/3 due 3 months before the wedding, and the rest due 2 weeks before the wedding. If the date is booked less than 3 months before the wedding, 1/3 will be required as a retainer to book, with the remaining due at engagement session and two weeks before the wedding.

I do offer payment plans for all qualifying packages as well, just ask about it when booking your session.

If your question isn't on this post, feel free to ask. I am more than happy to answer any and all questions you might have.

 

Specials and Discounts

I have had the opportunity to work with so many great and wonderful people through the years. As a thanks to all of my loyal and awesome clients. I want to extend a few offers to save some money on your up and coming sessions. 

I have two different programs available...

The first is for leaving a review on my social media page. Tell me all about your experience! I love feedback as I continue to grow and expand not only my business, but my skills and knowledge in the photography world. 

For doing so, you automatically get $10 off your next session or purchase.

www.facebook.com/photobyamarie 

The second, is by referring new clientele to me! 

I grow basically from word of mouth and why not be apart of that growth. For each person that you refer to me, and they book a session, you will recieve a percentage off of your next regular session based on what they book. 

Regular session referals get you 10% off, wedding referals get you 50% off. Mix and match and acculmate to get a free portrait session. It's as easy as that!

I love what I do, and I am so blessed to have such an amazing suport system from my friends, family, and all of my lovely clients. So again, Thank You for EVERYTHING!! 

-Alex

Value In Your Market

Every day we grow up hearing about what should be important to us: our family, friends, brushing your teeth- you get the gist. But why is it that when it comes to business practices, the “important” practices associated with said industry become nonexistent? Your guess is as good as mine.

When working in an industry that is strictly customer service based, and word of mouth is your main form of advertisement, it’s important to remember to value your market, your fellow photographers, and the art itself. Sure we all love busy season and having new clients, but there are correct measures to go about when working in an industry that is solely based on clientele.

1. Respect Your Fellow Photogs

Sure, this seems like common sense, but so many times we find ourselves looking at others work thinking, “Why are they still in business?” “How can they have so many clients?” and “I can do this so much better.” It’s these observances that can add fuel to the “little green monster” fire that so many in this industry find themselves having. Which, it’s okay to have, it’s okay to feel a little jealous, and it’s okay to admire someone else’s business; But there are times when that green monster gets the best of us.

That’s when it’s important to remember to respect your fellow photographers. This industry is super competitive and sure we all love constructive criticism, when asked for, but it’s how we each carry ourselves professionally that truly makes a name for us. I can admit, as well as many of my colleagues, that we have at one time or another done the following: talked about another’s work behind their back, passive aggressively posted about someone else’s business, and disrespected another mid conversation.

I understand that we’re all human, we all make mistakes, but there is a fine line when conducting business that we need to try to remember not to cross. Who knows, you may need that person that you just posted about next month, the world does work in mysterious ways. I’m not perfect, I done a few of these before and it turned out to be a learning experience in the end. We live in a social media driven world, so it is easy to think that the other person will never find out you said something about them. Though it may be true in some circumstances, most of the time they find out and having a photog WW3 is not what you want for business.

So, stay humble. Appreciate each other for their positives. Instead of saying, “OMG! Did you see so and so’s newest work? It’s awful, a 2 year old can photograph better than that!” say, “It looks like so and so has started to get the hang of composition, I remember when I had the hardest time with that.” Instead of telling someone that you would never pay a penny for their work (Yes, I have witnessed a conversation like that), tell them what they have improved on. Be the bigger person, and it will make your business look so much better in the long run. Plus, you won’t be known as that awful arrogant photographer that thinks they know everything. That is not an award you want to carry around with you.

2. Value Your Market

I know when we start out we want to get everyone to be our client and choose us to capture their photography needs, to build up that portfolio. I mean I know I was that way when I started out, I offered free shoots to everyone to build up my portfolio. Which is a good way to start out until you are happy with where your portfolio is, then you charge for session.

On the other hand, you have Joe Smo (random name) who starts charging right off the bat, messaging clients off of other photographer’s pages, offering them $50 sessions to choose him over their current photographer. For the average individual who knows nothing about photography, this seems like a great deal for family pictures. Those that do, which is a very small percentage, won’t budge on their selection.

What Joe Smo is doing we call “poaching clients” in our industry, and it is the easiest way to make enemies of every other photographer in your area. With undercutting value and quality of photography in your area, it makes it harder for those who do depend on their business as their sole income for providing for their families. Betsie Jane (another random name) uses her session money after taxes, to pay for her daughters dance lessons, to put her son in school, and to put food on their table. When you undervalue the market, you are taking away from those that work hard to support themselves and their families. You, sir/mam are a jerk. (There was no other way to say it, sorry!)

I know not everyone is that way, majority of us work hard to build up our businesses in a professional manner. To each and every one of you, thank you! With that being said I will get back on track.

When you get past that portfolio building stage (also, please let your clients know that you are portfolio building so they aren’t thrown off when you start charging) look into your market, see what others are charging. There is normally a broad range, for example, $200-$300 for a regular session. See where you feel your work is on that range compared to other people in your area, and then charge accordingly based on that range. Please, please, please do not be that a****le that looks at prices then charges half of what everyone else does to be a prick. This is just letting others think it is okay to devalue their work and others.

With looking into your own geographical area, you are keeping the value of your industry where it should be and not taking away from those who have worked hard to make it where it is. Respecting each other is the key to photography, and we are a tight knit group of people that you want to be a part of.

3. Be Creative and Love Art!

This one is kind of self-explanatory, love your artwork. Sure we get inspired by others, but making things our own is what makes our photography truly special. With Pinterest and social media it is super easy to see what others are doing; this can be a good or a bad thing. Good, because it lets us look at things that inspire us, that really make us what to go out and produce artwork. Bad, because it can let people just copy what you do and claim it to be theirs. But today, is there really anything that is truly “original”?

Inspiration is something that really drives my work, but I love being able to put my own creative twist onto it. I have people come to me with Pinterest ideas all of the time, I just make them my own. There is nothing wrong with liking others work and wanting to do something like it, just put your own style and flavor into it. It’s like a recipe that’s been handed down for generations: Everyone has it, yet no one makes it the exact same. Art is no different.

Through everything I have listed, make sure you are true to yourself. Respect yourself and your worth; do not let anyone else tell you what your value is for your work. Don’t be threatened by “poachers” because eventually clients will see through that rose window. As hard as it may be, stay humble, respect others, and stay professional. Until next time.

-Alex

AJ | Cake Smash

It's that time of year when the tears come out for mommas across the world, well some I guess, others might be bad a**es and stand stronger than us wee people. I'm talking about your baby's first birthday. Oh how the year flew by so fast and now we officially have a toddler running around the house, destroying everything in sight I might add. 

So why not celebrate the mess! 

Not that I am saying to give them a high five for knocking over your lamp, or even for jumping on your laptop (yes, it happened). But for their first major milestone in their life, why not let them smash, something not breakable and valuable. Something that you won't cry about to sleep that night because it was a family heirloom 

That's where the cake comes in.

I’ve done many cake smashes as a photographer, helped other children celebrate such amazing milestones, so I was more than excited when it was time for my son to have his turn. Plus, who doesn’t like eating the frosting and breaking their current diet. To be a crafty mom, I decided to make his cake.

That was my first mistake…

Who knew that decorating a cake was so hard, and by hard I mean I wanted to throw it out the window at least a few dozen times in a 20 minute time span alone. I don’t think it should take one person over 5 hours to decorate a cake, but it did. Add in some attention cries, dinner, and a significant other that wanted to play video games on his day off and you have the trifecta of the perfect recipe to irritate a creative mother, well at that point I was completely doubting myself. Eventually, after must frustration and a destroyed tier to the cake, I decided I was done with it. My idea of a perfect chalkboard cake with baby writing on it went up in flames with my sanity for the night, but at least the final product was “decent.”

But anyways, cake aside, the rest of the cake smash was pretty smooth sailing. It was a great way for us to celebrate our son’s first birthday and it was a way for AJ to make his wonderful, tornado like, beautiful pieces of artwork, disasters without getting i

nto trouble. Win, win!

Oh, and as a bonus I got to watch his dad dump cake on his head! WinX3

Even though it is such an emotional time for you to go through as a parent, there are also so many things to celebrate and have fun with. Create memories, capture those little toothless laughs, messy faces, and fingers while they are still in that “oh he/she made a mess, that’s sooo cute” stage. If nothing else, it creates the perfect opportunity to have a cake fight!

TMI Note:

The fun didn't end with the cake smash, we got quite the surprise afterwards with some intense teal colored diapers. (I forgot that I put food coloring in the cake) 

Emily | Trash The Dress

As many people know, I am finishing up my last year of graduate school at EMU. I have been workign hard on my thesis exhibit and I had an idea to use a destroyed weddign dress in one of my portraits for the exhibit. Instead of just ruining a dress on my own time, I thought it would make for a perfect photo op. Afterall, my camera is attached to my hip.

That is where the lovely Emily came in. 

She has modeled for me before and when she was willing to get out in the cold and help me destroy a wedding dress I recently acquired, it was game on! 

Even though she couldnt feel her toes most of the time, she was a real trooper through the entire session. It was 40 degrees out and rainy but you could never tell that from the smile on her face.

     I had so much fun with this session! So stay tuned for more and to see the after math of the dress! :)