Reno Family Photography FAQ | Frequently Asked Questions
FIFTH AND CHESTNUT PHOTO CO. RENO FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY FAQ | FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
I put this Reno family photography FAQ together to prepare my clients and clients-to-be for a family portrait session with me. Here, I answer the common questions I receive (and some not-so-common). I know that choosing me as your Reno family photographer isn’t a decision you take lightly. If you are reading this, I know that you are looking for the best of the best and you love my work. That’s why I want to educate my clients and potential clients about the Fifth and Chestnut Photo Co. experience.
Session Information
My portrait sessions are made up of two parts:
1) A session fee that covers my time booking your session and getting ready for it. This fee also guarantees that I will spend a considerable amount of time photographing you at our session, along with culling, editing, preparing your images for viewing. Plus ALL the other behind-the-scenes stuff I do for your session. No images, prints or products are included in your session fee.
2) A minimum product order (pre-tax) at an in-person Image Premiere where you’ll view your images and place a print/product order with me.
Contact me for CURRENT detailed pricing information.
THE PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION
Most of the questions I receive are regarding our photo session, so this section will probably be especially helpful in this Reno family photography FAQ:
How would you describe your style?
My style is described as authentic, bright, timeless and heartfelt. I don’t use trendy filters in my editing process. I also don’t fall into the hype of other trends (like using objects to blur/obscure your images) because your photos should stand up to the test of time. Over the years, I have developed my own unique editing process to give my images the look and feel that they have.
Will you travel for my session?
I am happy to travel around northern Nevada & northern California for an additional fee. Contact me for rates.
Can we book you for more than 1 hour?
Yes, and in fact, I recommend that family groups of more than 6 people book a 2 hour shoot. I also recommend more time if you want more than one outfit. I typically shoot for 1-2 hours for a portrait session. Special circumstances might require more time. Just ask me if you have questions!
What if our session is going over time?
I will check-in with the clock to see how we’re doing so that our session ends on time. That’s partly because don’t want to keep my clients from the rest of their day’s plans by shooting past what has been agreed upon. And I often have other commitments to attend to as well. Plus, all kids have a “time limit” so to speak, and I always want to keep sessions enjoyable for them, too. If you ask me to stay past our allotted time, I do have to invoice you for the extra time, so it is best to plan out our exact time in advance.
Can we wear more than one outfit?
In a 1-hour session, I recommend one outfit for families. Individual subjects can safely get away with two outfits in one hour (high school seniors, one year sessions etc). Outfit changes (especially for an entire family) take a considerable amount of time away from shooting time. This seriously impacts your photo results. If you would like more than one outfit for your family, I’m happy to schedule more time to accommodate that! If you’d like to change into your clothes once you arrive at the location (rather than wrinkle them during the car ride), plan accordingly and arrive 10-15 minutes early.
Speaking of outfits, what should we wear and bring to our session?
I have this whole blog post dedicated to answering this question about wardrobe and props! When you book your portraits, you’ll immediately get my Family Style Guide, followed by a link to my styling website which will further help you curate your whole wardrobe.
Can you shoot in a certain style that I want or use a certain backdrop at a location?
I trust that you have looked through my portfolio and have chosen me as your photographer because you like what you saw! I use bright (but soft), natural light and backlighting techniques to get the beautiful portraits shown in my portfolio. Clients are photographed within certain landscapes at specific directions because I am looking at the LIGHT.
I can’t control the light (sun). But I can control where I place you! Occasionally, I will take photos in the bright sun for dramatic effect, but it’s not often and I usually reserve that for candid shots or to show off a background. If you want something that you don’t see in my portfolio, please discuss what you’re looking for before selecting me as your photographer. You get the best portraits when you trust my location suggestions, poses and methods.
Can you photograph us in front of Lake Tahoe?
Yes, of course. But I want to say that with a word of caution. Everyone loves Lake Tahoe. It’s a fact! But if you’re more interested in getting that beautiful blue lake & mountainous skyline with blue sky above it in the background than you are in having soft, beautiful light on your family’s faces, that’s just not the type of photos I offer. I’m a natural light photographer and simply can’t get that gorgeous blue lake & sky in all it’s glory unless I photograph you with your face TO the sun. That means squinty/unpleasant expressions and sometimes drips of sweat running down cheeks. It’s not my style.
I will happily photograph you walking down the beach candidly and get beautiful lake scenery. However, I am not a fan of photographing people looking into the sun. It’s not even possible at every location. Some spots are just not situated appropriately to get the pristine Tahoe blue background. There may be shadows caused by mountains or trees, or we just can’t physically shoot in the proper direction due to the shoreline. Although a beautiful landscape can be PART of your family portrait (and the Tahoe examples in my portfolio ARE gorgeous the way I shoot them) – it is not the focus.
Can I give you a shot list from Pinterest? I really love some images I found there.
I don’t accept shot lists of any kind other than your specific portrait grouping requests. Pinterest is a fun tool for planning your wardrobe and props, but asking me to recreate a shot by another photographer is asking me to copy someone. Also, I can’t recreate things like the time of day in which a photo was taken, or a particular landscape that just doesn’t exist at your chosen location. If I attempt to recreate something purposely, you may be disappointed.
Rest assured that I will photograph you in a way that is true to my artistic vision and style. I enjoy working with families who completely trust me to create amazing images that are authentic to their individual family dynamic. That level of trust is paramount in our relationship.
What happens if my family is late to the session?
Sessions are simply cut short when clients are late. In cases where families are more than 20 minutes behind, the session is typically cancelled. I totally feel for families who run behind due to spills on outfits or naps running off-course (been there!!!). However, I can not extend the session time. Sessions are scheduled at the perfect time of day to achieve my style of portraiture. When the light goes away, there is no bringing it back! And of course I honor my own family’s needs and they need to know when to expect me back at home. PS. Do bring an extra set of clothes & shoes for your kids (and maybe even you) because they could come in handy.
WEATHER ISSUES
What if the forecast calls for rain/snow?
My inclement weather procedure is to wait until the day of our scheduled shoot to see how the area’s weather is doing about 3 hours before the session start time. Our weather in Northern Nevada can be unpredictable despite the forecasts. If anyone in your group is getting hair/makeup done and 3 hours notice is not enough, please let me know.
Rain will damage my equipment, so I do not shoot in the rain. In the case of snow, a light snow can be beautiful in photos. Clients have the option to go ahead with a snowy shoot (unless it’s so snowy & wet that my equipment is at risk of damage) or reschedule at a later date.
Wind can range from mild to severe in Northern Nevada, so we also touch base on windy days to see how you feel about the outlook. I can always shoot in heavy wind, but you may not want to. Weather questions are another huge reason I put this Reno family photography FAQ together. Please contact me if you book a session and are unclear on this subject!
THE PHOTOS
When will our photos be ready?
Portrait photos are typically ready to view at your Image Premiere 3 weeks after your session. I typically don’t post “sneak peeks” prior to your Image Premiere.
Can you rush my images?
Since I am a mom of four with busy schedules, I can NOT rush images at this time. To do so, I would have to miss events or other things that are important to me and my family.
Can we have your RAW images?
I don’t transfer my RAW files under any circumstances. Any outtakes, out of focus images (or images I just decide not to include in your collection) hit the cutting room floor and are deleted prior to your Image Premier & Ordering Appointment.
ORDERING PRINTS/IMAGES
What kind of investment should we be prepared for?
I offer several product collections for family portraits and have an extensive a la carte menu and special pricing for families who purchase a collection. A minimum purchase is required. Most families invest $2799 or more in their photo products and display items. Very few families invest the minimum required.
Ordering Appointment
If you live in the Reno/Sparks area, your Image Premiere & Ordering Appointment is a required part of the photography process. My goal is for you to display your portraits in your home via wall displays, albums or other photo products. The purpose is to show off your family so that your children feel valued, loved and adored. This ordering appointment is pivotal in achieving that goal.
Digital Images
My goal is always to create heirloom-quality photographic products for you. Although I love digital images for sharing with friends and family, they most often get stuck on a hard drive or lost when you get a new computer. Therefore, forgotten. I am very passionate about providing physical photographic display items so that these memories don’t disappear into a digital void! Hi-res images are available for purchase, of course. However, web-sized digital images are provided to match every print/product purchased. That way, you can share those precious images on social media like you want to!
THE BUSINESS
Do you have proper business credentials and insurance?
You bet I do! Fifth and Chestnut Photo Co is a Limited Liability Company, and I am insured and carry state and city business licenses. I also pay taxes – including the state sales sax that I collect when you make your product purchase. In addition, I carry a Washoe County Parks Permit which gives me permission to photograph you in our lovely local city parks.
Tell us more about you, the woman behind the scenes!
Although I breathe, sweat and bleed (mostly because I’m clumsy and will do almost anything for the perfect shot) for my photography business, I also do all of those things for my beautiful family. My devotion to my family has helped me shape my business into something that brings a work-life-balance to our lives. It offers me flexibility to be with my family at important times, and to spend precious time with my kids…helping them grow and learn. It keeps me passionate about what I do.
My photography business is such a personal part of myself that it’s sometimes hard to separate. But I am always striving for the perfect balance between being an artist/entrepreneur and being a great wife and mommy. To that end, my availability is limited. When you book with me, you have a LOT of my attention because I am not working on 30 other jobs simultaneously. I have four kids and my husband works for the magnificent City of Sparks, where we also live!
I also have graphic design and illustration skills. As such, one of my dreams is to write and illustrate a children’s book. My work experience has taken me from political marketing, to advertising, to graphic design in the entertainment industry, to the corporate world – and now my passion for photography has taken over my life!
Did you find this Reno Family Photography FAQ helpful?
I really hope you found this Reno family photography FAQ helpful. If you have any questions about me or how I can provide an amazing Reno family portrait photography experience for you, please get in touch. I want to know you, and I want to create portraits you’ll treasure your whole lifetime!
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