Hi there, Warren here. The answers to the most commonly asked questions by families just like you are below. Before your photography session you will receive numerous emails from me that will help guide you through the process. I will also have several phone conversations with you where I can answer any questions that you still may have.
In the meantime this FAQ sheet should cover most things. If not let me know. Part of my job is to make this a fun, stress free process for you and your family.
For your benefit the following questions and answers are listed in order of your journey through booking up until delivery of your art work.
Questions About What Is Included
What’s included in my session fee?
Your $150 session fee includes:
– Several pre-consultation phone calls with me, so that we can tailor your photography to suit your family’s personality.
– A 60-90 minute photo session at our studio
– A Design Appointment after your session at our studio where you will view a slideshow of your images, select your favourites and place your order
What’s included in my portrait package or gift voucher?
Your portrait package fee or gift voucher includes:
– The inclusions mentioned above in the session fee
– A $ credit amount (depending on the voucher/package) to be used on your order
– A gift print(s) (size and quantity depends on the voucher/package)
What can I use my credit on?
Your credit value can be put towards any wall art purchase. Wall art is considered any finished product that you can hang on the wall.
Loose matted prints and portrait boxes are not considered wall art.
Do I receive a digital copy of my complimentary print(s)?
Yes, you will receive a digital copy of any complimentary print offered to you on your gift voucher or in your portrait package. The digital file will be resized to match the same size as the complimentary print.
What are your rescheduling policies?
At least 48 hours is required if you need to change your appointment for either your photography session or Design Appointment. Failure to do so may result in loss of any deposit, special offers or promotions.
What Happens After I Book
1/ I will send you a pre-session design survey. This survey will help me tailor your session to your needs. It covers things like what your family is like, clothing and what products you are interested in.
2/ I will post you out our studio info pack. It contains more information about the whole process and a price guide summary of our products.
3/ I will schedule a Discovery Call with you a few weeks out from your photography session. This is where we talk about your family, go through the answers of your survey and cover all the other aspects of your photography session.
4/ Prior to your photography session you will receive several informational videos from me via email. These are all designed to keep you informed about the process. I hate awkward surprises and I guess you do to, so the more information you have the better.
Your Photography Session
What do I bring and what do we wear?
Don’t stress we will have plenty of time to discuss this prior to your session. I’m always available to you by phone. You can even text me examples of clothing/prop ideas you have.
How long does the session take?
A typical family session will take between 60-90 minutes depending on the number of family members, wardrobe changes and combinations we do.
A newborn session takes a minimum of 2 hours and may go for 3 hours depending on how restless your baby is.
What are your prices?
By the time you come in for your session we would have spoken about pricing over the phone plus you would have also received a price guide summary in the post.
On the day of your photography session you will also receive our full price list and our Product Guide. I will go through each with you and show you the options that we have on display in the studio.
When do we get to view and select our images?
We try to have you back in within 1-2 weeks after your photography session. We call this the Design Appointment.
What facilities does the studio have?
The studio has heating and cooling. A bathroom/change room for makeup, a toilet and shower.
Your Design Appointment
What happens at the Design Appointment?
At the Design Appointment we will play a slideshow of your images on the ‘big screen’. You can sit back and enjoy your family in all their glory. Afterwards you can select your favourite images and together we can design products that match your home and budget.
How long does the Design Appointment take?
Allow for 60 minutes.
Who should attend?
All decision makers should be present at the Design Appointment. We recommend finding a baby sitter for your kids if they are going to distract you.
What should I do before the Design Appointment?
You should have a discussion with your partner about what products you are interested in and where you would like to display them.
Prior to your Design Appointment I will send you an email with videos that cover the Product Guide (which you will receive at your session) and a video about how to take photos of the walls in your home. This second video will allow me to project your favourite images onto the walls of your home. You can now be confident that the size and style of your wall art will match the room of your home that they will be hung in.
Do we need to make a decision on the day?
Yes. In addition any gift prints, credit or special promotions are only redeemable at your first Design Appointment.
What products do you have?
Please refer to our Product Guide (given to you), product video (emailed to you) and our Products and Pricing page on our website.
In summary we sell loose prints that are matted and come individually or in portrait boxes. Wall art comes in finishes of canvas, acrylic, framed prints and wooden prints.
How much does a typical client spend on their art work?
On average families spend between $740 and several thousand dollars on their art work.
Do you have payment plans?
Yes. Warren will discuss these with you on request. The first is a monthly instalment plan through the studio (deposit plus two monthly payments). The second is a take home interest free option through Payright. This option allows you to spread your payments over more than two months and take your artwork home when it is ready.
Do we receive digital files?
Yes. You will receive a digital copy of any photograph that you ordered. The digital file will be resized to match the same size as the ordered photo.
For orders over $2,495 you will receive all your images presented to you at your Design Appointment. These will be full resolution images so you can print them at any size you desire.
Why can’t we buy the digital files only?
We are a full service studio. That means we are here for you from the moment you book with us until you hang your artwork up at home.
From experience when we have only delivered digital files the following scenarios happen:
– Families do nothing with the images. They are stored on a computer out of sight and out of mind.
– The images are printed at cheap retail stores and the frames/canvases are bought at places like Officeworks. Your beautiful images that you invested a lot of time and money for, now look crap. The colours are not right on your prints, the workmanship on products like canvases is poor (they sag and rip over time).
We want you to have the best and that means having us finish your artwork for you. We only use professional printers and suppliers that service professional photography businesses and not consumers. For example our canvases are guaranteed for 75 years (which includes accidental damage). Compare that to a canvas from Officeworks that may last 5 years if you’re lucky (less if hung in a room in direct sunlight).
Miscellaneous Questions
What are your thoughts on Newborn Photography sessions?
There was a time when I thought that posing newborns in baskets, unusual props and hanging swags was cool. Since then my tastes have changed and I have stopped doing these types of photos with newborns.
Is it a fad? I’m not sure. Is it going to look tacky when you look back at your photos in 20 years’ time? Again, I’m not sure.
All I know is I now like to pose newborns in very basic curled up positions with minimal props. These props may include cute bows and ribbons and wraps.
Do I really need to have newborn photographs before the baby is 2 weeks old?
Ideally Yes. After this time your baby is more aware of their surroundings and is harder to settle and place into newborn posing positions.
If your baby is older than 2 weeks we can still try but there is no guarantees. In this case we can focus the session on more photos with you and the baby or siblings and the baby.
What do I need to do before a dog photography session?
– Your photographs will be so much better if you can control your dog with some basic obedience. So start to practice obedience training with your dog several weeks before you come in. The main commands to focus on are sit, drop and stay.
I have created a dog training video series for my clients. If you would like to watch it please let me know.
– If you have a hyper active dog make sure you exercise them a few hours before your session. If it’s wet outside please don’t let them get wet or muddy.
– Groom them the day before, especially if they have long hair and are shedding, and also just before you come to the studio. You want them to look their best and you don’t want photos of you with dog hair all over your clothes.
– Bring along their collars and leads, favourite treats and squeaky toys.