Family, Maternity, and Newborn Photography in Richmond, VA
Frequently Asked Questions
I create a genuine, fun and creative experience as we capture lifelong memories! I’m with you every step of the way, from helping you decide on your finished product goal, to the session details and ordering session two weeks later, to delivering your finished product – I make sure you’re left feeling cared for and excited about the photos we create together.
What precautions are you taking for COVID-19?
- I'm wearing a mask to every indoor session, and any outdoor session where clients are closer than 6 feet. - I'm looking for more remote locations where we're less likely to encounter other Richmonders. - I'm staying at least 6 feet from clients as much as possible. Shooting outside helps. Newborn sessions are still held in the client's home, however, and in those cases I wear a mask and gloves. I'm also washing my hands at each in-home session, before I do anything else. - I'm wiping down my gear with antibacterial wipes before and after each session. - For local clients, I'm utilizing contactless delivery for prints, canvases, and albums - i.e. delivering to your front porch in a weather-proof container. - I'm expanding my 3-day reschedule policy. If you or your family are sick the day of your session, we can reschedule for no extra charge. - All ordering sessions are online for the time being, instead of in-person. I'm still available to walk you through the process, and will help you make decisions that work for you and meet your needs. - All samples that I bring to our session are wiped with an anti-bacterial wipe and/or kept in a wiped plastic sleeve for clients to touch.
Do you have a studio?
I find studios to be dreadfully stiff and boring (but that's simply my opinion). I prefer to use the world as our backdrop! I'll come to you, either to your home or to a location of your choice, and spend time with you and your family in an environment where you feel comfortable and can be yourselves.
Do you travel outside of the Richmond area, and is there an extra charge?
I do travel! I love traveling, and am more than willing to come to you (or a destination of your choosing - Family portraits at the Grand Canyon?) for your session or event. I do have a charge for travel - contact me and we can discuss specifics and create a custom travel quote.
When should I schedule my maternity session?
Maternity photos are ideally shot while you are 28-34 weeks along. This gives us the optimal baby bump, while giving some cushion in case your baby comes early, and before you become too uncomfortable. If you're pregnant, contact me today to schedule a session - I typically book a month or two in advance, and we want to make sure we're picking the location and feel that capture your personality.
How do payments work?
The signed Photographer/Client Agreement (contract) and the session fee are due at the time of booking as a spot holder to secure your appointment. Full payment for any products ordered (prints, canvases, albums, etc) is due at the ordering session, typically scheduled two weeks after your photo shoot. I accept credit cards, Bitcoin, cash, and personal checks. Payment plans are available if you need to pay in installments; but the full payment must be received before your session, and before prints or products are delivered.
What do you recommend we wear to our session?
A safe way to dress yourself and your family is to dress in something that makes you feel comfortable and confident. If you don't feel comfortable and confident, it will be reflected in your photos. If you're looking for something more specific, try this blog post about dressing yourself and your family for your session: http://www.allisonpatelphoto.com/tutorial-tuesday-portrait-wardrobe-101/
How many photos will we take during the session?
The number of images will vary, and while I don't guarantee a certain number of photos, I typically end up with 30-50 images for a 30 minute session, and 100-150 or so for a 90 minute session. I try not to end up with too many images at the end, as too many can be overwhelming to pick through instead of enjoyable, but I won't delete images just to reach a certain number either.
Do you pose everything during a shoot?
I actually prefer to allow sessions to unfold naturally. I'll start with some suggestions and then step back to see how it progresses. I'll then redirect as needed, to get us the best images for your family.
How long will it take to get my photos?
We'll do an online or in-person ordering session about 2 weeks after our photo session, where you can order prints, canvases, or albums. Prints and canvases then take about a week for delivery, and albums can take 2-3 weeks for creation and delivery.
Do I get all the digital files from our session?
Each of the packages I offer include a select number of digital files. Additional digital files are available for purchase.
I want to share the photos from my session, how can I do that?
Each client receives a free mobile app gallery with all of your edited session photos, that you can download to your phone or iPad and share with friends and family.
If you purchase the images from your session, you'll also receive internet-ready copies that you can share on social media. They're smaller files that work great for Facebook and Instagram, and won't take forever to upload. They're also tagged with my logo in the bottom corner so I still get credit, but without distracting from the photo.
How do you back up your photos?
Client photos are stored in three different places to ensure they're safe. Other than on my hard drive, I keep client photos on a separate external drive, as well as using a cloud-based backup service.
What forms of payment do you accept?
I accept credit cards, Bitcoin, cash, and personal checks. Payment plans are available if you need to pay in installments; just let me know and we'll work out the details.
What is your cancellation policy?
Things happen that are out of our control. Kids get sick, emergencies happen. If you need to back out of a session beforehand, let me know and we can reschedule for a date and time that works for both of us. If I have to cancel due to an emergency and we can't agree on a reschedule date, your session payment will be refunded.
