I know just how daunting it can be not only searching for the right photographer, but also knowing what questions to ask. Have no fear! Here are some FAQs, broken down into sections based on what kind of service you are looking for.
GENERAL
"HOW DOES BOOKING WORK?"
Booking is super easy! Use the contact form to get a hold of me with as many details about your shoot as possible. I'll be in touch shortly to go over any details I may need + to chat about what exactly it is you are looking for out of the shoot. I will then draw up a proposal and sent it your way via email. Once you get the proposal, you will be able to sign the agreement AND pay the non-refundable deposit in order to hold your spot. Once those two things are received, you will OFFICIALLY be on my calendar. ***NO DATES ARE HELD WITHOUT A SIGNATURE AND DEPOSIT.***
"HOW FAR IN ADVANCE SHOULD WE BOOK A SESSION?"
Ideally as early as you can! From May through October, you might want to consider reaching out 6-8 weeks before you want a photo session. These are our busiest times and they book up fast! Also consider that from May through October Saturdays and some Sundays are booked out for wedding + elopement clients, so reaching out a head of time will be your best strategy in getting your spot!
"WHAT IF I NEED TO RESCHEDULE?"
We get it. Life can happen + sometimes you need to reschedule*. We allow one reschedule per photo session, but we do need some notice: 48 hour for portrait shoots + three months for weddings.
If you give us notice that you won't be able to make the shoot within the given parameters, we can move your photo session to a new date, no problem!
If you fail to give us notice within the given parameters, you forfeit your deposit and we will start the booking process over from scratch.
If you have to reschedule for a second time, you forfeit your deposit and we will start the booking process over from scratch.
No reschedules allowed for Mini Sessions
*Rescheduling fees may apply
"WHAT IF IT RAINS?"
This is a great question and one I always address when booking your session. We live in a rainy place and sometimes you can't call the weather until the day before the shoot. When we are in the booking process, I will ask you two block away two consecutive dates so we have some play in case it rains. If it's overcast or drizzling, WE WILL HAVE YOUR SESSION. Clouds are actually amazing when it comes to portraiture and even some soft rain can create some really cool effects. I will make sure to reach out to you the day before your session so we can take a look at the weather and determine which day will be better for the shoot.
"WHAT DO I WEAR?"
We know not everyone is a fashionista, so we wrote this blog to help you decide what to wear! In short, coordinate colors, don't match! Make sure you are comfortable and be prepared to wear some shoes you can change out of because I like to take my clients into the woods to get to those incredible places!
"HOW DO WE ORDER PRINTS?"
Ordering prints is SO EASY! And the best part is, you can order prints directly from the final gallery we sent you. Next to each image, there is a little shopping cart icon where you can choose a size and quantity for whichever images you'd want to order. The prints are of professional museum quality printed with archival inks that will not fade, 100+ year promise.
"IS TRAVEL INCLUDED? "
If you are here to book a wedding, then yes!
If you are here to book any other photo session in Chittenden Co., then yes!
If you are here to book any other photo session outside of Chittenden CO., we do charge a gas mileage fee based on the current IRS mileage rate.*
*For photoshoots over 2 hours round trip outside of Burlington, an hourly travel fee will be included in your quote.
"DO I GET THE RAW FILES?"
In short, no. RAW files are what photographers use to process your final images. For one, the file sizes are HUGE and would clog up most home computers quickly. They are also, simply put, unfinished pieces of art. They are sketches to the final masterpiece. And what’s more is that you wouldn’t want half of them! So many of the shots from your shoot are testing out lighting, finding the perfect composition, testing off-camera flashes, + discovering a unique view specifically for your shoot. Not to mention a lot of half-opened eyes caught mid-blink! And here’s another way to look at it in a photographic way; you wouldn’t ask your photographer for the negatives, would you?
"DO I GET TO CHOOSE MY OWN IMAGES?"
For most of our sessions, we do the image choosing. If you absolutely want to pick your own images, this can be arranged for an additional fee.
Sessions that offers choosing your own images: Headshots, Subscription + Full Day Branding Sessions
WEDDINGS + ELOPEMENTS
"TO HAVE A SECOND SHOOTER, OR TO NOT HAVE A SECOND SHOOTER?"
It is really up to you! I will say that with weddings with over 130/135 guests, it can be nice to have a second shooter so we capture more faces more often. No matter which package is chosen, I always have my assistant with me, and they always do some light shooting. It wouldn't be the same amount of coverage with two shooters, but there would always be two shooters during the ceremony, first look should you choose to do one, as well as having one of us present with each of you during those “getting ready” moments! (*For smaller weddings/elopements it will just be me and my BIG ENERGY!)
"TO FIRST LOOK, OR TO NOT FIRST LOOK?"
PHOTOGRAPHERS LOVE FIRST LOOKS! First looks are a great way to give yourself extra time for the posed/group portion of photography on your wedding day. I will always recommend doing a first look if you have the time for it. It's a great way to have a pause in the day; one with just you and your partner in the midst of the craziest part of the day. But what it really boils down to is your and your honey. Do you want to have a magical moment alone before the ceremony? Or do you want that excitement and anticipation of seeing each other for the first time as you walk down the aisle and you’re standing by the altar? There is no wrong answer, do whatever feels right for the two of you. After all, this is YOUR special day!
"IS AN ENGAGEMENT SESSION INCLUDED IF WE BOOK YOU FOR OUR WEDDING?"
My answer to this is YES!! A complimentary engagement comes along when you book with me, so you can use it or lose it! That being said, I 1000% encourage an engagement shoot. It’s a great way to have fun, get loose and see how we all work together before your big wedding day! Maybe one of your blinks a lot, and that’s a great piece of information to know before shooting your wedding (we’ll shoot a bi tmore). It also helps break the ice and gets you more comfortable in front of the camera.
Let me put it this way. You’d feel more comfortable walking down the aisle after your wedding rehearsal, right? So think of your engagement session as a fun and casual get together with a friend who happens to have the most badass photography skills.
COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Intellectual Property + Copyright
"WHY DO YOU NEED TO KNOW HOW I AM GOING TO USE THE PHOTOGRAPHS?"
Photographs are intellectual property, and licensing their use is how photographers generate income. The fees for a specific project are based on the use of the photographs because the more the images are used, the greater value they have. Since they’re worth more, they cost more. For example, if I was a musician and made an album and a car dealership wanted to use it, of course they would be expected to pay for the song based on how often it would be used and by the scope of it’s reach.
"YOU MEAN I PAY YOU AND I DON’T OWN IT?"
You wouldn’t buy a book and then claim to be the author, right? Or purchase a song off iTunes and say you wrote it. The same goes for photography. Photographs are the intellectual property of the creator. I own the rights to my photographs, but I can write a license that will let you do whatever you need to do. My price will reflect the value of that license.
"WHAT DOES NO THIRD PARTY USAGE MEAN?"
Our licensing agreement is between no one other than the parties involved (you and me only). If someone, a third party, approaches you and asks to use the image(s), you must refer them to me so I can license the image based on their usage needs. You own a license, not the image.
This arrangement benefits you, too. For example, if you’re an interior designer who hired me to photograph your hard work and then you give an image to, say, the cabinet maker, they essentially get that image for free that you paid good money for. That being said, we offer price-sharing for such situations. If you and other contractors want to go into the price together, we create a price-sharing arrangement that lowers the price for you and the other contractors involved. It really is a win-win-win!
I am happy to provide you a price for exclusive use of images as well, but because this type of license prohibits me from generating any additional income, it will significantly increase the cost of the project. Limited exclusivity is also an option we can talk about. We could start with limited exclusivity for — say, six months. This gives you premiere use of the photos, but it doesn’t restrict my ability to earn potential income forever.
"CAN A THIRD PARTY USE MY IMAGES?"
The short answer is yes, but they will require an additional license to use the images.
Our licensing agreement is between no one other than the parties involved (you and me only).
If you know prior to the photoshoot that a third party (anyone other than you and me) may want to use the images, please let me know. I am more than happy to accommodate a split fee cost-sharing arrangement. This can be done for any number of parties involved: for example the designer, the stylist, and the architect might all want to license images from the photoshoot. This will end up being more affordable for both you and the third party (or parties) but must be done ahead of the session.
If a third party wants to use the images after the session date, please send them my way so I can assist them. A third party usage agreement will have to be drawn up and either you or the third party will cover the cost of these additional third party licenses. We will always include you, the original client, in the scope of the third party license and allowances.
WHO PAYS FOR THE LICENSING FEE, THEN?
When you hire me for a photoshoot, we agree to a fixed upon price that includes you, the client, image usage to whichever we agree upon. Most of the time this means non-exclusive and non-transferable rights for social media. If that clothing brand you’re promoting wants to post my photographs on their social media, they will need to obtain a photo license through me, and they will foot the bill. If you’d rather get things said and done early, we can have you, the client, pay the licensing fee and then you would pass along that bill to said clothing company. Either way is totally doable, but leaving the third party to be billed by me will save you time and a potential headache!