- Where is your studio located? Do you travel?
- How long will my session take?
- What do I need to do to book my session?
- What should I do to prepare for the session?
- How quickly do we get to see our photographs after the session?
- Do you touch-up the images?
- Do I get the digital files from my session?
- How are my images printed? Are they archival?
- What forms of payment do you accept?
- Is there sales tax?
Answers
- Q: Where is your studio located? Do you travel?
A: We have a full studio in both Land Park Sacramento (coming December 2011) and the Mission District of San Francisco close to both the 101 and 280 freeways. We offer no travel charge sessions from Tahoe to Monterey and Santa Rosa to Fresno. Worldwide sessions are available with travel fees. - Q: How long will my session take?
A: Most sessions take about an hour. Large groups take more time both to organize and to photograph sub groupings. Newborns through 4 month olds we allot 2 hours to give time for feeding and breaks. Headshots are usually no more than 30 minutes. - Q: What do I need to do to book my session?
A: For most sessions we require a pre-session consultation. This is at either our studio or your home, except mini sessions and headshots which are over the phone. We will sit down with you to discuss all the aspects of your portraits from location to clothing to posing and where the final portraits will be displayed. During that session we will book your actual portrait date and have you sign a contract and pay a retainer to reserve your time slot. It’s a good idea to also book your viewing appointment at the same time as our schedule does fill up sometimes months in advance. - Q: What should I do to prepare for the session?
A: We will go over most of this in the pre-session consultation. However there’s also a lot of information provided on the Portrait Planning page on our website. - Q: How quickly do we get to see our photographs after the session?
A: Images are normally ready within one week. We offer in studio viewing sessions in our special projection screening room. There you can see the full breadth of our products from prints to frames to albums and more. Our special software allows us to show you your portrait scaled to size and with a supplied image*, we can even show you your portrait on your own wall.
*Ask us for details on how this works. - Q: Do you touch-up the images?
A: We retouch all of the images we sell. We usually take a few years off, remove blemishes, tone down wrinkles and otherwise enhance the photograph. We also commonly swap heads between alternate versions of an image so that everyone can have the best smile. We also take special requests and can go light or heavy on the retouching if desired. We steer towards natural rather than plastic skin. We artistically enhance as well. - Q: Do I get the digital files from my session?
A: We do have options for purchasing digital files, however we only sell retouched images as finished prints. - Q: How are my images printed? Are they archival?
A: All our images are printed on real photographic paper called a C-print, using the traditional, time-tested photographic chemical process that is known for its archival quality and found in museums around the world. Many inkjet brands claim 100+ year longevity for their prints, but the reality is that many factors will drastically shorten this longevity, from the quality of the paper or ink to chemical interactions with common environmental factors such as Freon (found in most refrigerators). However, it is best to store any photograph (whether it be a digital or photographic print) in a cool, dry environment away from direct sunlight. All my photographs are guaranteed for life, no questions asked.
For especially discerning clients, we are also able to print our images on black and white Fiber paper or color Cibachrome paper. These are the ultimate in image quality and archival quality. There is only one lab in the United States that we know of that is currently printing digital files onto these premium papers. Please inquire if you’d like your images printed in one of these mediums. - Q: What forms of payment do you accept?
A: We accept cash, check, Visa, Master Card, American Express, Discover and Paypal. - Q: Is there sales tax?
A: Yes. Sales tax is currently 7,75% in Sacramento and 8.5% in San Francisco and all photography is considered taxable.