Do you travel outside of the Fargo area?
Yes, I am more than happy to travel to wherever you’d like your photoshoot to be! If your desired photoshoot location is over 20 miles outside of the Fargo/Moorhead area, I charge 50 cents/mile for travel (both ways). Want to save some money? Have a friend book a photoshoot with me around the same area on the same day and you can split the mileage cost!
Lisbon – $40 travel fee
How will I receive my photos?
You will receive your edited photos in a password protected online gallery. You’ll have the ability to download your photos from your gallery, straight to your computer! If you wish to receive a hard copy of the digital photo files, CD’s and Flash Drives are available for purchase.
Can I purchase the “unedited” versions of my photos?
Unfortunately, no. I treat each photo I give my clients as a piece of art, so giving you the unedited photos would be equivalent to an artist giving a client an unfinished painting! I spend a lot of time editing your photos to make them as beautiful as possible and they’ll be something you’ll forever cherish!
What should I wear?
- Try and have your outfits planned at least a 1 – 2 weeks before your photoshoot. I encourage all of my clients to send me photos of their outfits prior to our photoshoot so I can brainstorm and think of great, complimentary locations for your session!
- Unless you have darker skin, I recommend you avoid wearing white shirts as white can make you appear washed-out in photos.
- Avoid wearing tank tops/sleeveless shirts.
- Need outfit ideas/inspiration? Pinterest is your best friend! Click here to view some family portrait palettes!
How should I do my makeup?
Whether or not you choose to wear makeup is totally up to you! Many like to wear makeup for photoshoots as it accentuates their best features and (usually) photographs well. Here are some makeup tips I’ve learned over the years:
- If you wear foundation try and match it as close to your skin tone as possible. Make sure to apply it to your neck as well as your face to achieve natural-looking coloring.
- Give your cheeks a little color! A swipe of blush gives your face better coloring and more dimension in photos.
- Lip color/gloss/chapstick. Dry lips can ruin a good portrait!
- If you have oily skin, I suggest you get a translucent pressed powder to dab on your face for your photo shoot… especially if it’s a hot day. You don’t want to look sweaty in your pictures! This powder absorbs all the oils and sweat off your face – it truly is magic!
What should I bring with?
Here are my suggestions:
- Bottle of water (for longer sessions)
- Candy or fruit snacks to bribe little kids with! “Smile and you’ll get a treat!” …. works every time.
- Chapstick or Lip gloss/color (dry, crusty lips can ruin a good portrait!)
- Bug spray
- Baby wipes
- Hair brush
- Hair accessories (in case of windy day)
- Translucent pressed powder – great for touching up shiny, sweaty skin during hot photoshoots (I carry one in my purse all the time!)
- Props!
What time should I schedule my photoshoot for?
I can do photos anytime of the day, but I prefer to shoot an hour or two before sunset. During the summer I usually lik to start photos around 7 pm or later! I know that sounds late, but that’s the best time to capture the warm, dramatic, softly lit photos I strive for.
Too late for you? Past the little one’s bedtime? No problem! If you’d like to have photos taken earlier in the day there are a couple things we can do to help avoid the harsh mid-day lighting.
- Look for shade! A park is a great place for bright days as the trees provide a lot of shade. The shadow-side of a building can make a great backdrop as well.
- Try an indoor, natural-light studio such as the Plains Art Museum, White House Co. photography studio, or Ivy & Rose Warehouse.
- Editing! I’ll do my best to enhance, recolor, and relight your photos to make them as beautiful as possible. However I can’t promise the photos will look as good as they would have in the evening.
What if the weather doesn’t cooperate?
Mother Nature can be a major b**** sometimes! I will do my best to keep an eye on the forecast in the days/hours prior to your photoshoot. If the forecast shows rain or high winds prior to your shoot, I will reach out and suggest we either move to an indoor location or reschedule.
What type of camera do you use?
A Nikon D810 – I’ve had it for a few years and I love it!