FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
Beginning January 2024 I am expanding and rebranding my photography business into several specialized photography brands. For some of these specialties I have a need to update my portfolio, so I am offering discounts on a case-by-case basis here on Thumbtack. I regualrly offer discounts for multiple bookings like maternity + newborn sessions, familiy sessions + single portraits, or combining senior portraits into a single session with friends, as well as volume pricing for things like corporate headshots or team photos. I require a retainer fee to hold your day and time in my schedule and I also offer several payment options and terms, including no-interest payment schedules. The retainer is non-refundable, but will become a credit if you need to cancel and reschedule for another date. All of my packages include a specific number of final fully-retouched photos in addition to all of your proof images with basic retouching. From your online gallery you will be able to download the large full resolution files for printing or smaller optimized files for online/social use. You'll recieve all printing rights (non-commercial clients) so that you can use your own lab service for prints if you choose to. I also offer optional print services through my professional lab, with a very large offering of products. Some of these include traditional photographic emulsion prints, fine art prints, canvases, several types of albums and books, folios and image boxes, framed and unframed wall art, wall art based on alternative materials like acrylic, wood, & metal, and cards & envelopes for holidays, weddings, graduations, etc. I've worked with my lab since 2007 and they produce very high quality work that I'm proud to offer to my clients. All of these are available to order through your online gallery if you choose, with no additional fees.
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
Typically I like to have a quick meet and greet with potential clients before we get started on the details to ensure we're a good fit to work together, although it seems that Thumback users are generally looking for photographers last-minute, so that might not be feasible if you're looking here. With that in mind, everything we need to take care of before the actual session can be done easily through my online client-portal system. All information and paperwork regarding your session is organized into a single, password-protected, private page customized just for you. If you decide to book me again in the future, all the info for your newer sessions will be added to the same client portal so that you have easy access to all the work I have done for you in one place, and your photo galleries never expire. Once I receive your inquiry and know the type of photography that you're looking for, I'll put together a proposal with what I have to offer and email it to you. From there you can choose your package and any additional offerings you may want, schedule your session, sign the contract, and make your payment. Depending on what you're booking me for, I may send you questionnaires to help me be better prepared for your specific session, and/or one of my client guides with suggestions and tips to help you prepare and look great in your photos. Before we begin your session I'll teach you some quick natural looking "base poses" (good for any time you find yourself in front of a camera!) and during the shoot I or my assistant will direct and guide you, but only as needed- outside of formal portraits I prefer to keep things looking natural and to have an organic flow to the session in order to keep you looking genuine and relaxed. I tend to be easy going and if we're in the zone and getting great photos, I'll keep photographing beyond your allotted time provided I don't have another session booked afterward. Afterward I try to send you a sneak peek or two that same night (although with a toddler at home nowadays I can't guarantee that!) but sometimes sneak-peeks get delivered within a day or two. Turnaround depends on the type and amount of work you hired me for, but generally 2 weeks is average for a full proof gallery with basic retouching, and usually I will have your online proof gallery ready before the time specified in the contract. From there you'll choose your favorites according to the number of photos from your package to be fully-retouched. Those will be delivered to you in a separate gallery in your customer portal. You'll be able to order any prints, albums, or wall art directly from your galleries, or download the full-resolution files along with your printing rights license to use with a photo lab or print service of your choosing.
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I learned photography with fully manual film cameras and developing my own film and photographic prints in the darkroom. Because of this I prefer to get the shots done "in camera" with proper technique and lighting control rather than rely on "fixing" it in Photoshop. That said, I've been using Photoshop for almost 25 years now and I was even a beta tester for the original Lightroom before it was released, so I definitely know my way around digital post-processing as well. In recent years I have furthered my education with masterclasses from renowned world-class photographers Joel Grimes, Jerry Ghionis, & Scott Robert Lim, and master retouchers Kelvin Pimont & Kristina Sherk. The knowledge I have gained from these amazing people has elevated my work tremendously.