CLIENT WELCOME GUIDE
In this guide, you'll find information on what to expect from your photoshoot, tips for preparing for your session, and a breakdown of the different types of photography services I offer. You'll also find information on my photography style and approach, as well as information on how to select the perfect images from your session. I understand that choosing a photographer can be a daunting task, and I want to make the process as easy and stress-free as possible. That's why I've included a section on what to look for in a photographer, as well as a list of frequently asked questions. Lastly, I want to thank you for considering me as your photographer. I'm passionate about my craft and I'm committed to creating beautiful, timeless images that you'll treasure for a lifetime. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to me.
-Christine
Office hours and communication policy
At this current time, I work from home with my business and do not yet have a studio or office.
To schedule a phone call, please text/message/email. Best form of contact is by Facebook Business Chat. You may also text my business line or email, however these might result in a longer response time.
If my status on Facebook shows 'Away", I am unavailable to speak. If it shows "available" you should hear from me momentarily. I do my best to have a fast response rate for my clients!
Client gallery portal
All Galleries will be delivered via:
www.christinevegaphotography.mypixieset.com
Clients will receive an email with the Gallery Link and access codes. These galleries are available for 30 days. You will be able to download your images from this Gallery, as well as order prints and wall art. If requested, your gallery can have a passcode and also be private.
Do I get all of my digitals?
Yes, all final digital images are included within the session cost. Many photographers will limit their clients to 10 - 15 final digital images and the ability to purchase the rest of the gallery. With my process, you will receive a full gallery of EDITED images and receive a code to download them all with a limited print release.
In our day and age, most digital images never get printed out, however, having these images to share with family and put in a digital frame can mean the world. I believe in being transparent with my clients and letting them know that the session cost is their only investment. You will not end up spending hundreds of dollars after the session unless you would like some canvases ;)
NOTE: Model Call Sessions will receive (2) Digital Images, with additional available for purchase.
When do outdoor sessions take place?
All of my sessions take place within 2 hours after Sunrise and 2 Hours before Sunset. When you reach out to book, I will give you an EXACT time frame for sunrise or sunset. I choose these times preferably because it is when the lightning is at its best and even. You also do not have to worry about squinting.
However, If requested, I will do sessions outside of these timeframes. Certain locations have the ability to have portraits at any point of the day!
When it comes to outdoor weddings, I work with whichever time is given to me. Most of the time if a session takes place outdoors in midday, you will have more “light & airy” images, versus my typical editing style of Deep-true to color.
Preparing for your session
Make hair, nail, and/or makeup appointments before your session. Make sure your roots are touched up and you aren’t wearing chipped nail polish to your session! These are small details but we want everything to be perfect.
Plan your outfits at least a week in advance—don’t wait ‘til the last day, trust me! You want to wake up feeling relaxed and prepared, so plan these details out early. Feel free to text me photos of your wardrobe if you’re having a hard time choosing! I’m happy to help.
Things To Do Before Your Session: Tell them you will be “hanging out with our friend Christine on Saturday!” or “going to the park to play!” and keep things fun, lighthearted, and casual. Families have shared that this tip is especially helpful if they have a particularly shy child.
Brainstorm about specific props, mementos, or special types of images you want to be captured. Some families bring heirloom quilts, a special stuffed animal, an embroidered keepsake, etc. Some families know they want a very specific type of photograph taken. If you have these preferences, be sure to brainstorm them in advance and let me know as well!
Review all the things I emailed you: links to blog posts, the Session Guide, or Wardrobe vision boards. These are all very important because they are full of tips and information that is very useful!
Distractions: Try not to book your session date during a Major Sport Game. The worse thing is having attention anywhere else but the session!
And of course, make sure everyone gets a great night’s sleep and eats a good meal beforehand.
How to dress for your session
Obviously, dress for the weather! We want everyone comfortable!
Don’t wear matching clothes— no more jeans-and-matching-shirts these days! Instead, wear colors in a complementary color palette, such as earth tones and neutrals.
No tennis shoes, T-shirts, or shirts with writing on them!
Be careful about undergarments. While I am very experienced at Photoshop, editing out bra straps or panty lines is difficult and time-consuming. Choose clothes that properly cover your undergarments, in all types of movement scenarios.
I recommend women wear medium or long dresses instead of pants because they capture movement and generally photograph more flatteringly. Short dresses will be a challenge when we do any seated photos, so keep that in mind.
Wear comfortable shoes and clothes you can move in. If your dress gets suddenly too short when you bend over, or your pants are too tight to sit down in, opt for more breathable pieces. Be prepared to move!
Do opt for accessories! Bowties, suspenders, hats, flower headbands, chunky scarves, beautiful flowing dresses, and skirts—these create visual interest and movement in your photos and really help the images stand apart.
If you have a little girl with bright or chipped nail polish on, go ahead and remove it. Neon pink and vibrant turquoise nails will almost undoubtedly clash with your beautiful wardrobe choice, and yes, it will show up in the photos.
Remind gentlemen to take bulky items like phones and car keys out of their pockets before we start snapping photos.
Style Guide Color Combinations
AVOID NEON COLORS | BRIGHTER THE COLOR, LESS THERE SHOULD BE OF IT
AVOID CLOTHING WITH THICK STRIPES AND LOGOS
BE THE BEST VERSION OF YOURSELF, DON'T WEAR SOMETHING YOU AREN'T COMFORTABLE IN
DON'T BE AFRAID TO MIX PATTERNS AND TEXTURES
What to bring to your session
Any personal appearance touchup items you might want, including things like lipstick or a hairbrush.
Snacks on snacks on snacks, and if necessary, treat to bribe kiddos with! (However, it’s best not to tell kids about the treats before the session; wait until the kids start getting fatigued before you pull out a candy card! They’ll usually perk right up then!) Also, make sure the snacks/treats won’t stain lips or fingers!
Walkable shoes. We will probably be walking short/moderate distances on unpaved trails. Walkable shoes are a must! If you just love your wedges, bring them to change into before we start shooting.
A change of clothes for the kiddos (and adults), in case anyone gets sandy, dirty, or wet. As a photographer, I love when kids interact fully with their surroundings, and I’m thrilled to photograph them playing in the water or running through the grass. As a parent, you might not be too keen to let them back into your car, covered in mud or sand. Feel free to bring a change of clothes or shoes. Maybe even a towel. You never know!!
A beer. Just kidding! (kind of!) But seriously, if a beer will loosen up hubby a bit beforehand, I totally support it :)
Maternity Session? Ensure to bring an ultrasound copy, baby shoes, and any other memento you would like used in the session!
What NOT to bring to your session
Please leave your Phone/Wallet/Sunglasses in your vehicle OR bring a bag to store all of your personal items (including your keys).
People not in the session- Quite often you may want to bring a grandparent or friend along to watch your session. For me, however, it is best if they stay behind. Those not partaking in a session are often a distraction.
Cameras of any kind - When photographing, it is best that the subjects are looking at only 1 camera during the session. Remember, I was hired to capture amazing images you can’t capture on your phone ;). If you want to snap behind the scene photos, please inform me and I will ensure to give you the opportunity to do so.
Day of Your Session
We’ll meet up at our arranged location. If you’re delayed or stuck in traffic, please message me and let me know. Once at the location, I’ll show you around and let you know where we’ll be shooting. I’ll spend some time getting to know your little ones and helping them feel comfortable with me before we start the session.
I’m very intuitive with children and have two young ones of my own! I totally understand that they may be shy, nervous, tired, or just having a bad day. I’ll do my very best to make the session fun and as relaxing as possible for you all! I will not ask your children to smile or behave in a certain way! All I ask is that you show up ready to explore together and be open to getting close, connected, and engaging with one another.
A family session is actually a beautiful time to stop and really take in what you have created and the incredible family that you are.
If you are doing a Couples session, I will guide you and your partner through poses/movements to create natural, candid images. I will also give you prompts and suggestions to help bring out your personalities and unique connection. I will take a mix of posed and candid shots to capture your emotions and connection.
How to Pose
No need to ‘Cheese’! I’m chasing natural interactions and unposed moments. I strive to capture and encourage authentic expressions. No need to coax your children into fake smiles!
On a related note, children around the ages of 5-10 will sometimes try to “cheese” in the photos, because that’s what they’ve been conditioned to do when they see a camera! Help me create more candid shots by interacting playfully with your children.
Laugh, play, tickle, and snuggle. This is how we’ll capture the REAL moments.
Not everyone has to be looking at the camera. Actually, I usually encourage my gentlemen to NOT look at the camera. (they seem to prefer that, as well!) I like to especially encourage my dads to focus on their partners and their kids.
When in doubt, just smile and look at your family lovingly.
Stand close together. Actually, as close as possible :)
Relax, slow down, and don’t force anything. Don’t feel pressured to make everything perfect! Just be present with your family and I’ll do the rest. And don’t stress if any of the kids get fussy! As a mother and thoroughly experienced photographer, I’ve seen it all before, trust me. Just snuggle your kiddos and we can still capture beautiful images :)
Expect me to move you around to different spots to capture images. The more variety we get, the bigger your gallery and the more great shots we have the opportunity to create together!
What happens after your session
Only the best part! Photo reveal through an online gallery
After your session, I will get to work on culling your images down to the very best of the best, then editing those images and getting them up into your gallery. I have set a 4-week editing window, with an additional 1-week cushion depending on my workload. Please be assured that your galleries will be edited in the order they were taken, with weddings being accommodated in between.
When you get your gallery link, I encourage you to make an event of it! Queue it up on your tv or a large computer screen and gather the whole family around… the first time you see your photos is always the best.
FAQS
What if it's raining on the session day?
In the event of light rain, we will proceed with the session as planned. However, if the rain is heavy or persistent, we will reschedule the session for a later date.
If the forecast predicts a high chance of rain, I will contact my clients 24 hours before the scheduled session to discuss options for rescheduling. I will make every effort to reschedule the session at the earliest convenient time for both parties.
If the session has already begun and it starts raining heavily, we will pause the session and wait for the rain to pass. If the rain persists, we will reschedule the session for a later date.
If the client requests to reschedule the session due to rainy weather, we will reschedule the session for a later date without any additional fees. However the retainer will remain not refundable. Beach Sessions must be rescheduled 4 hours before the session start time.
AHHHHH…It’s Windy!! What now?
In the event of light to moderate winds, we will proceed with the session as planned. However, I will take extra precautions to ensure that the clients are safe and comfortable during the session.
If the wind speeds are high, I will contact our clients 24 hours before the scheduled session to discuss options for rescheduling. We will make every effort to reschedule the session at the earliest convenient time for both parties.
If the session has already begun and the wind becomes too strong, we will pause the session and wait for the wind to pass. If the wind persists, we will reschedule the session for a later date.
If the client requests to reschedule the session due to windy weather, we will reschedule the session for a later date without any additional fees. However the retainer will remain not refundable. Beach Sessions must be rescheduled 4 hours before the session start time.
I'm worried my child won't behave or handle a late afternoon session?
Don’t worry I totally get it! Late afternoons can be tricky but here are some great ways to help the session go smoothly for your little ones. Bring snacks - anything not too messy or hard to eat. Comfort toys - something your child loves and will help calm them, these are also really special to photograph.
A quiet day or a late nap - adjust your child’s routine for the day so they are feeling a little more rested and full of energy for the session. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself or the session - I want you to feel relaxed and just enjoy time together as a family at a fun location that is special to you all. Pitch it to your kids as a fun day out and maybe you can make a night of it with a special dinner or treat afterward.
Will you retouch my images / make me thinner / smooth out skin etc?
The quick answer is no. I spend hours editing your images to achieve the look and feel that I love and which is cohesive with my portfolio of images. I remove small blemishes, such as pimples, scratches, or prominent bruises but I do not offer any heavy photoshopping or image manipulation.
What happens if we get sick?
If you or your little ones are sick on the day of the session, I will happily reschedule for another day. The same goes for me, if I’m not well I’ll let you know asap and we will find another date. I’ll never turn up to a session unwell especially if you have a newborn baby. There is no fee to reschedule your session due to illness, however, the retainer remains non-refundable if the session must be canceled due to CLIENT illness.
Why is your retainer non-refundable?
A non-refundable retainer fee is required to secure a booking with our photography services. This fee is typically a percentage of the total session fee and is due at the time of booking. The non-refundable retainer fee guarantees that we will hold the agreed-upon date and time for the session and turn down any other potential clients for that time slot. If the client cancels the session, the non-refundable retainer fee is forfeited. This is because the photographer has already invested time, resources, and preparation for the scheduled session. If the photographer cancels the session, the non-refundable retainer fee will be refunded to the client in full. In the event of a rescheduled session, the non-refundable retainer fee will be applied towards the rescheduled session, provided that the rescheduled session occurs within a specified period, typically within 6 months of the original session date. There will be absolutely no exception for this policy and by signing the contract, you as the client agree to this policy.
Copyrights (and wrongs)
Once you’ve got your digital files in hand, you are free to print them when, where, and as often as you wish – you can use them to make holiday cards, share on your social media pages or personal blog, etc. The only things you can’t do are related to the resale of your photos or use for commercial/business purposes. 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. Otherwise, you’ve got free reign.
Printing your images
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 and shutterfly for online printing. Be sure to de-select any color correction options, and be sure to upload the original files you downloaded, not copies. If you choose a cheaper mass-market printing lab, such as Walmart or similar, you will likely find that the images print poorly and the image colors may be very different.
