FAQ's
Do you have any locations you can recommend?
All sessions are shot with natural light. We can shoot in your own home or at an agreed upon outdoor location. I have several locations that I love to use in the Geneva, St. Charles, Wheaton and Naperville areas, but if you have any recommendations, I’d be happy to consider them! While it is important to choose a time of the day that your child is the happiest, for an outdoor session early morning or late afternoon/early evening light is ideal. If we are shooting indoors, we will choose a room in your home with lots of sunlight streaming in. Porches are also a great place to shoot because they offer soft shade.
How do I prepare for my session?
To ensure that you get the most out of our time together, it is important to come prepared for your session. This is about you and your family, so have fun! If you’re prepared, you will feel more relaxed and comfortable the day of the shoot. My tips for a happy day are …
Rest well before your shoot.
Eat before your shoot. Smiling and posing, for any length of time, can be draining. You’ll need your energy!
If your child/ren are being photographed, bring a snack and a water bottle for them. You can bring one for yourself, as well!
Arrive on time.
Suggestions and ideas are always welcome but take advice from the expert.
If you have any concerns, let me know in advance if possible. This will help the shoot run smoothly. Our pre-consultation is a great time for questions and to let me know how you’d like your shoot captured!
Do you have styling or clothing tips?
Simple and organic textures are always beautiful! I highly encourage clients to choose natural shades. Coordinate your outfits for a family photo. Layers and textures are always a good choice and accessorizing with hats and scarves can add interest. Dress for the season!
Hair and makeup are important for a photo shoot. Makeup for photographs should be slightly heavier than normal. A loose powder is helpful in eliminating shine. Bring a brush and extra makeup for touchups. If you need to get your hair trimmed, try to do so a couple of weeks in advance. Nails should be manicured or left clean and natural. Keep your toes looking good for barefoot shots in nice weather or indoor sessions. Check your children’s nails and take off the chipped polish. Try to clean temporary tattoos off before the session. Blemishes, scars and scrapes can usually be retouched. Pamper yourself so that you feel beautiful on the day of the shoot. The best accessory you can have is confidence!
The internet, magazines and Pinterest are great sources for inspiration but if you need further recommendations let me know. I am always happy to help style your session!
When is the best time to book a newborn session?
The best time to contact me is during your pregnancy. We will make a tentative booking based on your due date and then I will wait to hear from you when you arrive home from the hospital with your new baby. We can arrange a suitable time and date for your session at that time. The ideal time to photograph newborns is between 6-12 days of age.
I like to allow plenty of time for feeding and cuddling during the session, so please plan on 2-4 hours of your time. I have props for you to choose from but if you have a special item that you would like to incorporate, that’s great!
Neutral colors and tones always photograph well. In case there are small accidents, it’s a good idea to have an extra outfit for your baby, as well as yourself.
How did you choose your pricing?
My pricing is based on many things. There are lots of costs associated with running a photography business, including education, licensing, research, software, equipment, insurance, marketing, and a great deal of time. For each client, I spend many hours. I speak with the client before their session to answer any questions, help choose locations and/or wardrobe. I travel to the agreed upon location and if I haven’t been to the location prior to the session I go to the site to check where the best light is and at what time of day. After the session, I download the images, put all the images on a backup drive and carefully select the best images to correct. After ensuring proper color corrections, I do a custom edit on each file, choosing the exact actions and modifications that will make each image shine. I then download all the corrected images to a gallery for viewing. I consult with my clients on the images they choose and if they have additional corrections, I do that, as well. I also order prints if a client wishes to use my lab. There is so much more!
Do you deliver every image that you shoot?
No, we do not. We eliminate duplicate images, test shots, shots (not intentionally) out of focus, shots with bad expressions and other images that may not enhance the overall product delivered.
When can we see our gallery after the session?
Images will be available to view within 30 days of your session and will be presented to you in an on-line, password protected gallery. The number of images in your gallery will depend on which session you’ve chosen (see INVESTMENT & RESERVE SESSION). Your proofing gallery will be active for 90 days. A $30 non-refundable, re-posting fee will apply to expired galleries after the 90 days. Following the receipt of payment, your gallery will be active for an additional 30 days.
What is the difference between "lifestyle”" and "posed" newborn photography?
A “lifestyle” newborn session is un-posed and natural light. It focuses on the relationship between the family members (mom, dad, baby, siblings, pet(s)) and does not require everyone to be looking at the camera, smiling. Typically, these images would be shot in the baby’s nursery, the family room and/or the master bedroom (lighting in these rooms will be a big factor as to which location(s) are best). Lifestyle sessions are relaxed so they do not require that the baby be in a deep sleep. This session could also be done with an older newborn, therefore. Most of the pictures are taken of the baby being held. A “posed” newborn session is typically done between 6-12 days. Babies are still very sleepy and curled up in the first days which allows for those beautiful poses we all love! This session takes much longer than the lifestyle sessions because the photographer must set up for the shots and pose the baby. There are many things needed for this type of session, such as, props, blankets, wraps, bonnets/headbands, a bean bag poser, backdrops etc. The photographs are mostly taken on the bean bag poser with layers of blankets for texture or in a “prop” (such as a basket, wooden crate, bowl, nest, baby bed, etc.). The baby needs to be in a deep sleep to move tiny hands, feet and head in just the right position(s). Because of the amount of time it takes for posing, the baby will also need to feed and cuddle at some point. This type of session allows mom and dad some free time to sit back and relax. Mom and dad can still be included in images (as well as siblings, if they’d like) but most of the pictures are of the baby alone. I will also capture the “detail” shots…tiny fingers & toes, eyelashes, a little button nose, etc.
Can I reschedule my session once I’ve paid?
The session fee covers the cost of holding your session date and preparing for the photo session. The time and date reserved for you cannot be reserved for any other client. I am happy to reschedule should an urgent situation arise such as illness or a medical emergency. I appreciate your cooperation. If you are sick, please call or email as soon as possible. If the forecast calls for more than a 50% chance of rain the day before your outdoor session or wind above 15%, I will be in touch to discuss the possibility of rescheduling your session on my end. Wind can create unflattering hair and outfit issues that are beyond retouching.
Can I bring other people to the session?
Please only bring the people that will be photographed to the session. If you have a special request, ask in advance. Do not bring (or use) your own camera, camcorder, or any other recording device to the session, as well. This includes the use of your cell phone camera.
Do you offer a "Baby’s First Year" package?
Typically, my clients will book mini sessions to supplement milestones as their baby grows into a toddler. These mini sessions are ONLY available once you book your newborn session with me. Most clients will book a full maternity session (around 7 months of pregnancy), a full newborn session when their baby is 6-12 days old, a mini session at around 4 months…when the baby has good head control (they are, also, very giggly at this age which is great for photos), a mini-session at around 7 months…when the baby can sit up unassisted but not yet crawl (it’s ok to be a little wobbly) and a mini session at around 1 year (when the baby is starting to walk). This allows full representation of the first year. You also have the option to purchase a beautiful, custom “Baby’s First Year” album featuring your favorite images from throughout the year. Additional milestones are at 18 months, 2 years old, and then yearly (often around the holidays for awesome family photos and Holiday cards).
Should I be concerned about stretch marks and the extra weight I’ve gained after giving birth?
I can remove stretch marks in post so no need to worry. This is complimentary as part of your session. We can also work with different poses and camera angles for a more slimming look. Let me know, in advance, of any concerns and I’ll take care of it for you!
What is the difference between advanced and custom retouching?
Advanced postproduction includes touch-ups such as removal of blemishes, small scars, fly away hairs, lint, etc. Custom postproduction is anything that requires extensive, custom work in Photoshop such as removing entire objects from the photo, changing body parts, adding objects or backgrounds to the photo or turning the photo into a Fine Art look by adding several layers of textured backgrounds. We charge $50/hour, with a 1 hour minimum, for custom retouching.
Do you shoot in JPEG, Small Raw, or Large Raw?
I shoot in Large Raw.
What camera and lenses do you use?
Canon 5D Mark iv
Canon EOS R6 Mark ll
Canon 70-200 mm F/2.8 IS USM Telephoto Lens
Canon EF 24-70 mm F/2.8L USM Standard Zoom Lens
Canon 35mm f/1.4 USM Lens
Canon EF 85 mm f/1.2 L ll USM Lens
Canon RF 28-70 mm F2 L USM
What software and equipment do you use to edit photographs?
Adobe Photoshop CC and Lightroom
Anthropics PortraitPro & PortraitPro Body
Wacom Intous Pro small pen tablet
IMac (Retina 5K, 27 inch)
Alien Skin
Imagenomic Noiseware
Nik Collection