Frequently asked questions
I know that choosing a photographer for your family’s special moments can be a big decision, and i want to make the process as easy and stress-free as possible. Here you’ll find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about lifestyle family photography I receive from clients, including details about my services, pricing, and policies. If you don’t find the answer you’re looking for, please contact me directly. I’m always here to help!
Before you Book
What type of sessions do you offer & how would you describe your style?
I offer lifestyle photography services for family and motherhood portraits (this includes maternity and newborn sessions). I like to take a relaxed, and natural approach during my sessions. I’ll guide you into poses that feel authentic and not too forced. When it comes to editing, I love creating bright, well-lit photographs full of color, with a soft, dreamlike quality that adds a timeless and gentle feel to every image.
How do I book a session? Do you offer payment plans?
To start booking, fill out the contact form on my website. I’ll get back to you within 1-2 business days with pricing info and a link to book. Your booking isn’t official until the contract is signed and the invoice is paid.
To finish booking, you need to pay a nonrefundable session fee to hold your spot. This fee covers my overall time, expertise, and session prep. After your session, you can choose your favorite images. Collections start at $350 and are bought separately.
The collection cost includes:
• Professionally edited, high-resolution images
• Careful photo editing and color corrections
• Files that work great for printing or online use
• A secure online gallery for viewing and downloading your photos
• A print license so you can make prints of your images
Note: The session fee doesn’t count toward the cost of your collection.
As a fellow parent working to support and provide opportunities for her family, I understand the need for flexible payment options like Afterpay and payment plans to make it easier to create and hold onto these special moments. Just let me know if you’re interested, and I can share more details.
When should I book a session?
As soon as possible! As a busy mom along with being a small business owner, that means my schedule often fills fast. Ideally, to allow time for thorough planning, no less than 2 months before your ideal session date!
For maternity sessions, I recommend scheduling when you’ll be between 29-34 weeks along. For newborn sessions, schedule for around your due date, and we’ll adjust once baby arrives.
Where will my session take place? Are there travel fees involved?
I am located in Bowie, MD, and serve families from throughout the DMV area, offering outdoor, studio, and in-home sessions.
For outdoor sessions: During the booking process, you can view my location guide, which includes my favorite spots in the area, such as Kinder Farm Park, Patapsco State Park, and Beverly Triton Nature Park.
Locations not listed in my location guide; or beyond 30 miles from my location, will incur additional travel fees of $1/mile starting at 31 miles from the 20715 zip code. If you are wanting to use a location not listed in my guide, a $100 scouting fee may apply. You’ll also be responsible for any location-specific fees, such as access, parking, or other expenses necessary to fulfill our agreement.
*I AM NOT CURRENTLY OFFERING SESSIONS AT MEMORIAL/MONUMENT PARKS IN DC/VIRGINIA
Studio sessions take place at The Annapolis Studio, located in Edgewater, MD.
What time will my session take place?
I schedule my outdoor sessions for sunset (and occasionally sunrise) because that’s when the light is most beautiful. I don’t shoot midday since it doesn’t align with my artistic style.
I know in the spring and summer, this can be past kids’ bedtimes. But don’t worry—I’ve found that with a few small adjustments, young kids do just fine, even with the later time. Do not let this concern stop you from booking
Studio and in-home sessions are scheduled for around 9/10 am.
Can I reschedule if it’s cloudy or rains? If someone is sick?
Yes, sunset light is beautiful. But overcast skies provide lovely even light and can add a layer of emotion, too. What’s most important to me is that I highlight your family’s loving connections; I want that to be the focus in your images. I will of course prioritize the best weather for your session, as my schedule allows. I will not reschedule for humidity, cloudy skies, wind, or light rain earlier in the day. I will reschedule if it is actively raining/storming during your session.
You can find my weather rescheduling policy, here.
Please reach out to me to reschedule if you or your kids are sick. As a mom as well, I want to prioritize my family’s health and protect my children from sickness too. Plus, we don’t want to document you or your children looking sick in your pictures. Take time to get better, and we will absolutely make up your session.
What if my kids refuse to smile or cooperate?
I have a few tricks up my sleeve to make the most of the time we have. A few proactive tips: be sure you’ve tried on clothing before the day of your session; do your best to ensure your kiddo gets enough sleep and is fed beforehand; and offer a special incentive once the shoot is over (go out for ice cream together!). I also highly recommend that you do your best to clear your schedule for the entire day; make your photoshoot the star!
However, don’t stress if your kiddos are a little shy or acting a little wild at the session. As a mom and former preschool teacher I have worked with so many children over the years and I have seen it ALL. We’ll follow their lead. So perhaps a shy kiddo gets extra snuggles, whereas the wild one gets more time to be active and explore. It’s all about who your family is in this very moment. I want you to embrace that.
Reschedule requests due to uncooperative participants will be honored at the discretion of the photographer. A reschedule fee may apply.
Do you ever host mini sessions?
I truly enjoy spending time with my clients and creating galleries that highlight beautiful, heartfelt family moments. This is best achieved in a full session where we have the time and space to let these moments unfold naturally. I do offer exclusive mini session events a few times a year, but they’re only available to those on my email list. Be sure to sign up to access them!
Can we bring our dog?
Sure! Dogs are always welcome as long as the location allows them. You’ll want to be sure they are groomed for the session, well behaved, and on a leash. Bring plenty of treats and a few chew toys, to be safe. *Consider if there is a way to safely tether them while we take different photo groupings.
Before you Book: Newborn
How are newborn sessions scheduled?
When you book, we’ll set the date around your due date to reserve your spot on my calendar. Once your baby arrives and you’re settled at home, please reach out to me right away. We’ll adjust the session date, aiming for 2-3 weeks after birth. I only accept 4 newborn sessions a month, typically scheduled around 9/10 am and lasting about 3 hours.
*Why do I book your newborn session 2-3 weeks after birth?
- Family Comfort: Parents (and older siblings) are more relaxed and comfortable with their new routine.
- Better Complexion: Babies have improved skin tones and fewer blemishes.
- Established Feeding: Feeding routines are more stable, whether breastfeeding or bottle-feeding.
- Flexible and Sleepy: Babies are still flexible and sleepy enough for beautiful poses.
Based on my experience booking 2-3 weeks after birth still makes for a smooth session and beautiful, serene images.
How do I book a session? Do you offer payment plans?
To start booking, fill out the contact form on my website. I’ll get back to you within 1-2 business days with pricing info and a link to book. Your booking isn’t official until the contract is signed and the invoice is paid.
To finish booking, you need to pay a nonrefundable session fee to hold your spot. This fee covers my overall time, expertise, and session prep. After your session, you can choose your favorite images. Collections start at $350 and are bought separately.
The collection cost includes:
• Professionally edited, high-resolution images
• Careful photo editing and color corrections
• Files that work great for printing or online use
• A secure online gallery for viewing and downloading your photos
• A print license so you can make prints of your images
Note: The session fee doesn’t count toward the cost of your collection.
As a fellow parent working to support and provide opportunities for her family, I understand the need for flexible payment options like Afterpay and payment plans to make it easier to create and hold onto these special moments. Just let me know if you’re interested, and I can share more details.
My baby is over a month old, is that too late?
Not at all! That’s the great thing about lifestyle sessions; it’s about documenting you and your newborn while you hold and cuddle with them. We can still use wraps and get some minimally posed images; we may just have to modify a bit; as older babies are transitioning away from that more sleepy stage.
Do you offer in-home newborn?
Yes, I offer both in-home and studio newborn sessions! Studio sessions are held at a beautiful lifestyle studio in Annapolis, which I rent hourly. This space allows me greater control over lighting, ensuring consistent and high-quality images for every client. It’s perfect if you want a polished, relaxed session without the added stress of preparing your home.
For in-home sessions, I rely primarily on natural light to create the soft, natural look I’m known for (though I bring supplemental lighting when necessary). If you choose an in-home session, it’s essential that your home has plenty of natural light, as it’s a key factor in achieving the style you’ll see in my work.
I understand how overwhelming the postpartum period can feel. That’s why I love providing the option of studio sessions—they give you the chance to step out, take a break, and enjoy a change of scenery without worrying about tidying up or rearranging furniture. But if staying home feels more comfortable for you, I’m happy to bring the session to you. My approach is always flexible, so we’ll plan your session when you feel ready and at ease.
Where is the studio located?
I rent the Annapolis Studio; located in Annapolis, Maryland. You can find more information on their website.
What precautions do you take?
Having had the experience of having my own twin preemies; safety is always my number one concern. Along with working towards my safety certification from APNPI; I’ve also completed an in-person mentorship focused on safe handling; along with pursuing additional newborn safety courses from industry experts. I am up to date on flu, TDAP, and Covid-19 vaccinations. I wash hands and will wear a mask, if requested, during sessions. All items are sanitized after sessions. While I work hard to consider and take every precaution I can, as their parent you remain ultimately responsible for your baby’s safety. I encourage you to ask questions, and feel comfortable enough to communicate with me regarding working with you and your baby during our session.
What expectations do you have for siblings in studio?
I have a few tricks up my sleeve to make the most of the time we have. A few proactive tips: be sure you’ve tried on clothing before the day of your session; do your best to ensure your kiddo gets enough sleep and is fed beforehand; bring an small activity to play with during down time (i.e. color wonder drawing or a tablet…save the tablet for the end); and offer a special incentive once the shoot is over (go out for ice cream together!). I also highly recommend that you do your best to clear your schedule for the entire day; make your photo session the star!
session prep
What should I wear?
Check out this blog post I wrote to help answer this very important question!
How does your styling process work?
I am building a client closet; currently featuring women’s gowns and accessories. After booking, fill out your styling questionnaire, and I will begin building styling boards for you. Then we’ll chat online so I can help you finalize your outfit choice and fill in styling for your children and partner based upon their preferences. Clients who trust me to style them always love their photos and utilizing my assistance takes the stress off of trying to tackle the task all on your own.
With my client closet, I offer a dress try-on process where clients can pay a security deposit, pick up two dresses, and try them on before their session. If you choose a dress from my closet and aren’t local, no worries! I also bring a portable changing tent to your session location, making it easy to switch outfits right on the spot.
This way, you can arrive in comfortable clothing and avoid any potential wrinkles or stains from a long car ride. It’s all about making the experience as stress-free as possible!
What can I expect during the session?
Bottom line, to love on your family and have fun!! We’ll start with the “cheese” and get those shots out of the way – then move on to poses that are full of snuggles, laughs, and connection. I want to document YOUR family’s unique story through my artistic photography style. This is why I incorporate a thorough questionnaire in my pre-session process…so I can plan my prompts and suggestions to your family to document moments that are most meaningful to you.
The best thing you can do to prepare; is to communicate with each member of your family the expectations – that we’re coming together to enjoy one another, appreciate the beauty of the natural environment, and showcase family connections…NOT trying to get that perfect looking at the camera image; but a perfect representation of the love you and your family share BETWEEN one another (not between you and my camera 😉). I want to show you how beautiful you are as a parent/partner and that requires letting your guard down and just being in the moment with your family. Trust me though, I know the feeling of being in front of the camera too – so I wont leave ya hanging! As the “creative director” of the session, I’ll be sure to set the “scene” so to speak- and keep your mind focused on the fun.
post session
Do you do sneak peeks?
I know from my own experience as a photography client how excited you are after your session and how motivated you are to see the images we got. I prioritize delivering the full gallery over sneak peeks for a few reasons. First, I prefer to focus on editing one gallery at a time. If I have to stop my editing process for one family and jump to edit photos for a sneak peek and then come back; this disrupts the flow and slows me down. I find that fully focusing on one gallery from start to finish actually accelerates the editing process and allows for more editing consistency within your gallery. Another reason comes down to perspective. Images that you prioritize that you love from your perspective; might be a little different than mine. I don’t want to deliver sneak peeks you feel just ok about; when I’ve got plenty of amazing images that you’ll love!
I like to think of it a little bit like your birthday….one thing that enhances the excitement and joy of your birthday is that all the aspects of that experience are jam packed into one day. If you got a present here, and there, and did a little thing to celebrate here, and there….it’s not that there isn’t still excitement involved, but it’s not nearly as exciting as when it happens; all together on that one day. This is exactly why I love waiting to share all your images all together when I deliver your gallery…it really just enhances the WOW factor, and I think leads to a better experience, overall.
When will we see our images?
I deliver final images within 1 month (21 business days) (but always prioritize sooner). The 21 business day countdown begins the 1st business day after your session. View my editing calendar.
Do you edit in Black & White?
I include a complimentary set of black and white images with my final galleries.
What type of retouching do you do?
I edit out most non-permanent marks I find; such as minor bruises, scratches, blemishes, acne, etc. I do a touch of skin smoothing to enhance softness. I also minimize the appearance of under-eye circles but do try to keep facial retouching to a minimum so as not to erase the natural features of your face (lines, freckles, etc.) For newborns I will do the same with non-permanent marks, but I will not edit out anything related to the umbilical cord; and can only do so much about peeling on newborn hands/feet.
Anything that is preventable by the client; including, but not limited to, sunburn/suntan lines, extensive bruising, untidy hair/makeup, chipped or brightly colored nail polish, unclean face, dirty/creased/ill-fitting clothing, tattoos/henna, etc. will incur an additional processing fee if the adjustment is possible. I occasionally do some body-shaping if needed due to posing or lens distortion; but strictly cosmetic body contouring requests will not be honored.
What can I expect in terms how I’ll receive my images?
After your photo session, you’ll receive a soft proof gallery featuring around 5-10 fully edited, watermarked examples to give you an idea of what your final images will look like. (Don’t worry—watermarks will be removed in your final downloadable gallery.) The rest of the proofing gallery will be in black-and-white and is designed to help you preview and select the images you’d like to purchase. Comprehensive editing, such as cropping and skin smoothing, will be completed after you choose your images.
The soft proof gallery will be available for 1 week for you to make your final selection. Once you’ve purchased your collection, your chosen images will undergo thorough editing and retouching. Your final gallery will then be fully available for download.
How can I access my gallery and download my images?
Once your images are ready, I’ll be in touch with the link to your final gallery. Your gallery and print credit will be available for 30 days.
Once you’ve accessed your gallery, I encourage you to download your images right away. The process is simple: select the images and use the down arrow in the upper right corner of your gallery – click on that and the system will walk you through the download process. The images will download as a zip file, which you can double-click on to expand. I suggest you make a second copy of the expanded files, then save the two copies to two different locations – I generally recommend that one copy be saved to an easily accessible drive (either on your computer or on an external hard drive), and that the other get saved to the cloud (Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.).
How does my print credit work? Can I print photos on my own?
Your print credit is complementary; and a THANK YOU gift for choosing to work with me. It is available to use for 30 days after you purchase your collection. There is no requirement to utilize it OR purchase anything from my online store. While everything that I offer in my store is printed in professional labs and guaranteed to be beautiful, I also recognize that you may want to print your images yourself, and thanks to those digital files, you absolutely can! I recommend MPix for online prints and Artifact Uprising and Small Woods Home for things like books and wall art. Be sure to de-select any color correction options, and be sure to upload the original files you downloaded, not copies or screenshots. The files you receive from me should allow you to print up to 20×30″ at minimum.
With our Print License Agreement, you are free to print your digital images when, where, and as often as you wish – you can use them to make holiday cards, share on your social media pages, etc. The only things you can’t do are related to the resale of your photos, using images for commercial/business purposes, and editing or altering your images. For instance, if you authored a book, you’d need additional permission to use one of the photos on the dust jacket, and you wouldn’t be able to enter one of the photos into a contest and win prize money for it. If uploading to social media, ensure no filters or modifications like Facetune are applied. Otherwise, you’ve got free reign to do with them what you wish.
Have a Question I Didn’t Cover?
I’m just a message away – reach out anytime and I’ll walk you through it.
