Question 1

1. What kind of photography services do you offer?

Accepted Answer

I work with all kinds of people, in all kinds of scenarios. If you can dream it up, I'm in! I love working with my clients on anything from intimate newborn sessions to huge wedding bashes. Check out my homepage to see more about the services offered, and the associated packages and pricing. If you have an idea that doesn't seem to be spelled out, please feel free to reach out and we'll make a custom plan that is perfectly suited for your needs.

Question 2

How would you describe your style?

Accepted Answer

I don't really believe in labeling myself. As an artist, I think above all it is important to be stylistically flexible to adapt to the demands of any given setting and client. However, if I had to categorize myself, I would say that I'm a true-to-tone, photojournalistic photographer. To put it in simpler terms, I strive to capture moments and memories in an authentic, documentary-style manner whenever possible. This means that I'm not interrupting authentic and candid moments to adjust your pose for the sake of the photo. However, I also understand that there is more to a gallery than candid moments, so don't worry, I'm happy to help you with posing as needed to make sure you get some print-worthy portraits as well. My true-to-tone editing style aligns with my values of capturing moments honestly. This means the colors will be represented accurately, whether we're talking about the nature behind you, your skin tone, or clothing. It is of utmost importance to me that everything is presented accurately and represents a capture of the memory, rather than a fabricated frame.

Question 3

3. Do you edit people too?

Accepted Answer

My editing style is generally flattering to all individuals, and I'll be sure to pose you in a way that makes you feel confident and comfortable. Beyond that, my policy is only to edit "problems of today" on an as-needed basis. This is my funky way of explaining that if the "issue" is something that could theoretically be fixed easily, or within a day or so, then it would likely be edited without you ever knowing. This includes things like lipstick or food on the teeth, blemishes, and stains on clothes. However, intensive and modifying editing such as resizing and reshaping parts of one's body does not align with my organic style.

Question 4

This is my first photoshoot and I'm feeling awkward and don't know how to pose. Can you help?

Accepted Answer

Yes, absolutely. And trust me, if anyone gets it, it's me. As we plan your session, we will discuss the day and put together a plan that will minimize awkwardness as much as possible. I am a huge proponent of using props and interactive settings to take the focus off the subjects and for you to have something to focus on other than the camera. If needed, I am happy to pose you down to the pinkie finger!

Question 5

5. What equipment do you use?

Accepted Answer

I have a variety of lenses and lighting accessories that will be carefully selected depending on the session details to make sure we're capturing the desired vibe perfectly. But most often, you'll find me behind my top of the line Canon R6 body with my trustee 24-70 lens. All of my camera bodies shoot on dual slots, meaning your photos are automatically recorded to two separate SD cards which is an incredibly important insurance policy, especially for important moments like weddings that cannot be recreated. On wedding days, I also always shoot on two cameras at once using two different lenses to both make sure that you're getting stylistic variety, and that I have an extra extra insurance policy with a second camera with two slots in case anything happens to my gear in the moment. Not that it should, or ever has, but being careful with your memories is super important to me!

Question 6

How far in advance do sessions need to be booked?

Accepted Answer

This depends entirely on the type of session or service you're booking, the time of year, and how important it is for it to be on a particular date as opposed to being flexible. As a rule of thumb, weddings and similar large events should be booked a minimum of 6 months in advance, but 12-24 months in advance is preferable to ensure that your ideal date is available. (Psst, just so you know, the busiest time of year for photographers' inquiries is usually around the second week of January. That's when we get flooded with messages, especially for upcoming weddings that summer and the next.) For other sessions such as engagements, branding, and family sessions, later notice is acceptable, especially if you are flexible to get together on a weekday, but expect summer weekends to be pre-booked quite far in advance with weddings. Basically, the earlier the better to guarantee you get the slot you want!

Question 7

7. What is the booking process?

Accepted Answer

Pretty simple! I am a big fan of hopping on a quick phone call just to quickly chat about the details of your vision and to get to know one another a little. Once the date, time, and location have been agreed upon, I will draft up a digital contract for you to electronically sign. This will recap everything we discussed and ensure you have a paper copy of our agreement including all the fine print and nitty gritty details, including your payment schedule. This will typically include a 50% deposit upon signing, and the remainder paid closer to the session date, but will vary depending on our agreement. Please read your contract for all such details including payment processes (typically via e-transfer).

Question 8

8. How long are your sessions?

Accepted Answer

All my sessions are fully customizable to your needs/preferences regardless of the base packages available on my website. That said, there is no "standard" session length, and it will fully depend on your goals for the deliverable. I offer anything between seasonal minis which can be 10 minutes, all the way to grand wedding events which can last 12+ hours. Typical portrait-style sessions will be either 30 or 60 minutes, but let's chat about what's best for you specifically.

Question 9

9. When and how will I receive my photos? Do you provide albums?

Accepted Answer

In most cases, a sneak peek or preview of the gallery will be sent to you within 24-48 hours of the session (subject to previously agreed upon terms, available for your reference in your contract). Typically, the remainder of the gallery will be completed within 1-2 weeks, and will be delivered to you electronically via a custom password protected link in full resolution. This link can then be shared with others simply by sharing the link and password. Anyone with the link and password will be able to download the images in full resolution, and retains personal use rights including print (see contract for more info). I no longer include albums in my packages because I found that most clients would prefer to receive a discount and skip it. Creating an album is a deeply personalized process, with so many options for layout and medium, that I find people prefer to put them together themselves, especially with the rise in accessibility in services who make the process so simple. That said, I am more than happy to assist and make suggestions if you'd like this to be handled for you!

Question 10

10. I don't know which location to request for the session. Do you have suggestions?

Accepted Answer

Yes, absolutely. I make it my job to know about all the best locations for my sessions. Not just popular parks, but top secret areas I've found that are secluded and not nearly as crowded for your privacy and comfort. This isn't just exclusive to Calgary city limits either. I'm happy to take you to parks in the mountains that have views far more impressive than the touristy favourites, and without the added pressure of crowds and operating fees!

Question 11

11. What if I have a unique idea or theme that might be different than normal?

Accepted Answer

Perfect! There is nothing I love more than thinking outside the box and making a session unique to you. I am so excited to create a unique and create concept with you.

Question 12

12. What should I wear? Can I bring multiple outfits?

Accepted Answer

There are no rules on my end of what you should wear. My biggest suggestion is that comfort is key, and should be your priority above all. If you ask me, the day of your shoot is not the time to be experimenting with new styles that you may be uncomfortable in. Having your photo taken is a vulnerable time, and staying comfortable will keep you comfortable. Consider the setting. For example, if we'll be doing much seated photography, for example a picnic setup, you may want to avoid short skirts hemlines or tight waistlines, as you may feel restrained. Generally speaking, neutrals photograph better than big busy patterns, especially in nature settings. Unless you are specifically doing a fashion shoot to show off an outfit, in which case we may want to plan to use a plain background. If you’re thinking of doing a second outfit (and we’ve agreed to this), consider the conditions in which you’d be changing. If we’re planning on shooting in a public park, try and come up with an outfit change that would simply be adding layers, rather than replacing them. For example, if you’re planning on wearing a dress, you can bring a sweater or t-shirt to put over top. Men - let the women take the lead. Once they’ve chosen their outfit, try your best to coordinate. Coordinating is not quite the same as matching. For example, if she chooses a white shirt and blue jeans, you do not have to put the exact same outfit on. I like to tell my clients to think in terms of colour palettes, rather than mirror images. So in this situation, you can wear a light blue button down with beige pants, for example. Same colour category, but not too matchy-matchy. For this kind of a flow, try to avoid any crazy standout colours, especially for family photos with more than two people. For example, if you’ve decided to stick to a white-beige-blue palette, putting hubby in black jeans will stand out. Bringing a backup outfit in the car is always a good idea, just in case you end up with a stain on the way, or halfway through.

Question 13

13. Can I bring props? What about pets?

Accepted Answer

Props are encouraged, and help tell a story and add some dynamic range to the photos. Make sure to bring it up as we plan so we can set the session up accordingly. As for pets, I am a pet lover through and through and would love to meet your furry friend! However I always encourage my clients to really envision what the session would look like if their pet(s) joined. Consider what it would look like to tether your pup - are they easily excited by passing animals and people? Do they tend to jump op on you which could stain your outfit? Will they realistically remain calm long enough to "pose" for photos? Does a trusted friend/family member need to come with us to help make this safe? Are they friendly with strangers and would they listen to you in front of me? If the answer to all of this is a resounding "YES!" then by all means, let's do it! That said, oftentimes, it's not the case, and it could interfere with the flow of the session and final product. Your call, you know your pet best.

Question 14

What if the weather is bad? What is your cancellation/rescheduling policy?

Accepted Answer

Yep, that happens sometimes. As with every aspect of my business, I strive to be human first whenever possible, meaning I get it. Cancellations and rescheduling will be handled on a case-by-case basis, depending on the circumstances and the type of session in question. For instance, rescheduling a wedding is far more complicated (not just for me, but for you too!) than a lifestyle session. And the reason for rescheduling will have an impact as well. Let's hope it doesn't come to this, and trust that both parties will do their best within the circumstances if it does.

Question 15

15. Do you travel?

Accepted Answer

Yes, I am so happy to. For smaller distances (within Alberta, but outside of Calgary city limits), a small fee will be added to your session total based on a flat $/km rate. This will be discussed and agreed upon prior to finalizing the contract. For longer distances such as destination weddings, let's chat. There are certain locations for which the photography fee would be waived in exchange for travel & accommodations.

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