Are Digital Files Included? Yes. You get the digital files from the session. I can’t tell you how many as that depends on the family. Some want quicker sessions, some families want longer sessions. I do a combination of posed portraits and candid family moments. A single family will have more individual attention which could be different lighting techniques, posing, and more varied backgrounds. You can get them printed yourself or order prints through the gallery.
Will You Come to our Location? Yes. We can have the session where you are staying or I can recommend a natural looking area. I want to give you the best possible experience and backgrounds for your portraits. The location is an important ingredient. Some locations will be limited by crowded beaches, tents on the beach, and tall condos in the background. This can be important depending on the wind direction at the time. However, sometimes it will be a very large family that would need multiple cars to get to a location. I can make it work where you are staying, just be aware of the limitations.
Are the Digital Files Large Resolution? Yes. They are formatted to 4000 x 6000. The files are large enough for a every large canvas prints but small enough for easy downloads. If you need them for a very large print I can supply an even larger file for the portrait.
What Time Will the Session Start? About an hour before sunset. Typically during the summer this is around 7pm. The weather at the time determines the time. If it’s a bright day and you feel like wearing sunglasses, we will start later once the sun isn’t as bright. Your portraits will not look good if people are squinting. Other times vary throughout the year. If you want a general time, just google the sunset time and date for Gulf Shores.
My Child Goes to Sleep at Sunset, Can We Start Earlier? From time to time I get requests to have the session earlier than the golden hour because they have a child that likes to sleep at that time. During the summer it can be hot, humid and bright. If you want everyone to be miserable and sweating, starting earlier than the hour before sunset is the best way to have a memorable photo session, but not the way you envision.
Can We do a Quick and Easy Session? If you only want a few minutes during the sunset session that is up to you. However, you will miss the ever changing situations during the last hour of light. The sessions usually start off with a bright sunny look and end with hopefully a dramatic, sunset look.
What is Your Photography Style? As you can see from my portfolio samples I use a combination of natural light and portable studio lights. This ensures I am prepared for just about every condition on the beach. Some days natural light is great, other days it is not. You may have only one day where everyone is together so I want to give you the best outcome possible for whatever lighting conditions we have at the time of your session.
What is the turn Around Time for the Gallery? I give myself a 2 day turn around but I strive to get them quicker. It is rare my turn around is longer than 2 days.
Are the Photos Edited? Yes. Each photo gets a basic edit for exposure, white balance, and portrait edits. I will also look over the final edits and make touch ups like removing people in the background, replacing faces in group shots etc., for the photos I think are the strongest in the set. If you order a large print photo or tell me your favorite 10 photos I can do additional touchups for your favorites. It is rare clients ask for additional editing. Sometimes additional editing may be beyond my skillset so I may have to hire a graphic artist to finish the phot. There may be additional charges for more extensive edits.
What to Wear. I recommend just about anything. Off white is good but pure white will be the brightest part of the picture so that draws attention away from faces. If it’s a bright day, then it can be overwhelming. If it’s a dull overcast day then white just blends in with the sky. Pastel colors are great and will add some color and pop to your photos in case the conditions at the time are not ideal. Khaki pants blend in with the sea oats and other natural colors on the beach. Pastel colors are complementary to the natural colors of the beach. Khaki and white together on an overcast day can make for a bland and dull picture so plan accordingly.
Please don't bribe your children! Telling them they will get something after their picture is taken is counter productive. In a child's mind once I take ONE picture they think the session is over and they are done for the evening.
Mobility Issues: If you have family members that will have trouble moving around in sand, please let me know. I can make recommendations for locations near you if beach access is the top priority. There are locations that have a view of the beach from a boardwalk that has a drop-off area.
Prints: Large Prints over 8x10, canvas wraps and other home decor products will have extensive edits like removing people out of the background, and switching faces in group shots if there is an available option.
Digital Files: You will get an online gallery for viewing, downloading and ordering prints. I don't put a number of how many pictures you get as this depends on your family. Each Hi-Resolution file will get basic editing for exposure, color balance, and minor skin touchups made available in a downloadable online gallery usually in 2 days. You can take the digital files and get printed wherever you want. I HIGHLY recommend getting prints of your files. Digital files will need to be archived every couple years as media degrades or there are new formats that makes old media storage obsolete. I do not offer print support once you take the digital files to another lab. Minor touchups such as removing people from the background, fixing fly away hair etc. on your favorite 10 images included. More extensive edits may have additional charges.
Additional Editing: Editing such as body slimming, removing condos, and people in the background might be extra in some cases. Depending on the extent of editing you want it can be up to $15 extra per image. There are some images I deliver that may not be technically perfect but it may be a fun moment from the session. As such it will sometimes take a graphic artist to get it technically correct. This could be a candid moment and there's a huge condo in the background. It would be cheaper to pay the park fees and get a natural looking setting than pay to remove condos and beach furniture after the fact.
Deluxe Album: You can order a deluxe album through the gallery. The print lab will handle the design process, choosing photos and printing of a specialty album. You will be able to proof the album and add or subtract photos from the album. When you get the link to your proof gallery you will see a tab with this option. There is a DIY option for those that want to design their own photo books and is subject to the minimum order discount.
Helpful Tips: Relax and go with the flow. We can shoot ideas you see on online. However it needs to be limited to your favorite 4 ideas. The ideas may look great on Pinterest but the reality is some of those may have taken hours to pull off or the conditions were perfect for the idea. It is good to have expectations but overthinking can cause stress on children and missed opportunities. Light can change minute to minute so the time spent trying to force a shot could be spent taking advantage of the conditions given to us.
If there is a shot you just need to have please tell me upfront so we can make sure to get that shot. I spend a few moments getting group shots done them move on to other shots. If the group shot is THE shot you want, then lets spend some time on it. If the posed shots are less important and you want candid shots, then we will do quick group shots and move on to the candid portraits.
Beach Hair and Wind: The beach will have wind and will blow your hair all over the place if it is strong. The beach is not a controlled environment like a studio so beach hair is part of the process. I can minimize the wind by picking less windy areas.
Sunburn,Uneven Tan Lines: Editing for tan lines and sunburns is extra. So, if ladies wear strapped swimsuits during their stay and decide to wear strapless tops during the shoot, the tan lines are extra to remove. Same with editing out undergarments like bra straps that may show. Guys that wear ball caps or sunglasses while on a fishing charter will have light colored foreheads or racoon eyes. Make sure to spend some time in the sun without caps or glasses.
Bad Weather: Unless there is a region wide front moving through I do not cancel. If weather does cancel a session, the deposit will be refunded. Scattered thunderstorms are always a possibility during the summer so we are always under the chance of rain during the summer. They move in and move out quickly providing great backgrounds. Also I am not dependent on natural light. I schedule one family for a sunrise or sunset unless it is a mini-session. This allows us to move the session up or down during the day depending on the weather situation. Take a look at this page Weather Conditions for an idea of how typical weather situations look. In case weather does create a challenge for us, there are a few options. We can schedule another day if I have a time slot. We can schedule a sunrise session. If the day we have scheduled is the only time the family will be together and just getting the photographs is the top priority we can shoot inside the condo, find a protected area, or improvise on the spot.