Reno Senior Photography FAQ
FIFTH AND CHESTNUT PHOTO CO. RENO SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHY FAQ | FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
I put this Reno Senior photography FAQ together to prepare my clients and clients-to-be for a senior 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 senior 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 retainer that covers my time booking your session and getting ready for it. The retainer 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.
2) A minimum product order at your 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 senior photography FAQ:
How would you describe your style?
My style is described as authentic, bright, editorial, timeless and heartfelt. I don’t use trendy filters in my editing process. I also don’t fall into the hype of other trends 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. With me, you will find CONSISTENCY.
Will you travel for my session?
I am happy to travel outside of the Reno/Sparks area around northern Nevada & northern California. One of my session options includes travel. It’s a great way to make sure your senior portraits are even more unique! Contact me for details.
Can we book you for more than 1 hour?
Yes, and in fact, I recommend that seniors book at least a 2-hour shoot so that you can wear more outfits and make the most out of our chosen location(s). 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. It’s best to plan out our exact time in advance!
Can we wear more than one outfit?
My sessions all include unlimited outfit changes. However, you may not want to fit 20 outfits into a 1-hour session. Seniors can totally get away with wearing two to three outfits in one hour. I do have session options with more time for more outfits! 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 get my quick Senior Style Guide (to give you a head start on picking outfits) and my amazing in-depth What to Wear Guide that helps you curate wardrobe based on your vibe, skin tone and more!
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. 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 me in front of Lake Tahoe?
Everyone loves Lake Tahoe. It’s a fact! So YES, I loooove Lake Tahoe senior sessions!
Can I give you a shot list from Pinterest? I really love some images I found there.
Pinterest is a fun tool for planning your wardrobe and props, but there’s no need to write out a shot list for me. We’ll work together to create amazing images that you LOVE! I always encourage my clients to share their Pinterest boards with me in advance of our photoshoot! Also rest assured that I will photograph you in a way that is true to my artistic vision and style.
What happens if I’m late to the session?
I totally feel for seniors who run behind due to spills on outfits or things running off-course (been there!!!). However, 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. Rest assured that I’m also a master at what I do and will still take amazing portraits of you, but definitely be on time!
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 4-5 hours before the session start time. Our weather in Northern Nevada can be unpredictable despite the forecasts. Sometimes we have to make the call at the LAST minute.
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. We typically move forward on windy days because it tends to die down as we get closer to sunset.
Weather questions are another huge reason I put this Reno senior photography FAQ together. Please contact me if you book a session and are unclear on this subject!
THE PHOTOS
When will my senior photos be ready?
Your senior photos are typically ready to view at your Image Premiere 3 weeks after your session.
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. But rest assured that you’ll LOVE your images when you see them at your Image Premiere!
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 Premiere.
ORDERING PRINTS/IMAGES
What kind of investment should we be prepared for?
I offer several product collections for senior portraits and have an extensive a la carte menu and special pricing for parents who purchase a collection. Please contact me for super detailed information about pricing. I always give my clients my FULL prices for sessions and products prior to booking. I know how important it is to plan and budget for the investment in senior portraits.
Image Premiere
If you live in the Reno/Sparks/Tahoe area, your in-person Image Premiere 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 senior portraits! This ordering appointment is pivotal in achieving that goal. If you live outside of the Reno/Tahoe area (I do have clients that travel into Reno for their senior photos), we set up a virtual Image Premiere.
Digital Images
My goal is always to create heirloom-quality photographic products for you. I love digital images for sharing with friends and family (which is absolutely why I provide the opportunity to purchase them), but they sadly 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!
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 tax 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. I also purchase appropriate permits to photograph in special locations as well!
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 with 30 other clients simultaneously. I have four kids and my husband works for the magnificent City of Sparks, where we also live!
I also have professional graphic design and illustration skills (since I literally used to be a graphic designer & illustrator). 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 Senior Photography FAQ helpful?
I really hope you found this Reno senior photography FAQ helpful. If you have any questions about me or how I can provide an amazing Reno senior photography experience for you, please get in touch. I want to get to know you, and I want to create portraits you’ll treasure your whole lifetime!
Leave a Reply