FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Where are you based?
I’m based in The Woodlands, just to the north of Houston, Texas. Houston Downtown, Museum District, Houston Arboretum, The Woodlands Waterway, Spring, Magnolia, Tomball, Lake Conroe are just a short drive away from me.
What is your photographic style?
My go-to styles are elegantly natural portraits, as if you were caught in a moment looking stylish and beautiful. My images can be joyful and colorful or we can mute and tone down the colors to convey a different message with your photograph. My clients’s feedback about my shooting style is that they feel comfortable from the beginning and confident that I am making them look beautiful in every shot. I will show the most flattering poses for you and your group and will come up with creative ideas and direct you into a beautiful composition and then help you relax, feel natural and happy and enjoy your photo session. Your gallery will be a good mixture of beautifully composed photos and candid moments with genuine emotions! I photograph beautiful business headshots and high school senior portraits, actors for auditions or family portraits, engagements, extended family gatherings and small weddings, I shoot with color and black and white images in mind and can supply a mixture of both. Just ask.
Do you have a studio?
If you are looking for a business headshot, a formal or informal couple or family portrait or an ID or passport photo where you look great, you have come to the right place. Before booking your session, we will discuss in detail what look we would be going for and you’re welcome to get change outfits as much as you want within the session timeline. During the session, you will see your portraits immediately on the screen, so that we could make adjustments to the pose, lighting, etc. on the spot.
What happens after you book me?
You have decided to book me? Amazing! So what's next?
We will arrange for a phone call to get to know each other. I would like to hear about you and your family or company. Who are you? What are your values and interests? What are your favorite daytime activities and hobbies? Do you have a favorite local park or a meaningful location? Maybe your home is your favorite place to be in the whole world? Those spots will evoke happy memories in the years to come and this is what matters for me as your photographer. I’d like to create images unique to you and to your personality.
After we’ve agreed on the time and date, I will send you a personalized contract and terms & conditions for reading and signing. This is all done electronically on your computer, tablet or phone. I will also send you the invoice. No advance commitment needed, you can pay me the day of the shoot. I accept Zelle, cash, checks and debit or credit card payments that can be done online.
Can I bring a pet?
I love animals, do bring them for the outdoor or studio photo sessions! Pets are excellent ice breakers and provoke genuine smiles and natural poses. Consider bringing someone to look after your pet while you are doing the rest of your shots. Please let me know in advance if you’re bringing a pet so that we could select the location where pets are welcome and at the same time will not be too distracted by other pets.
Should I bring props?
Consider bringing props, as they will help with natural posing and will give your hands something to do. Think of props as a part of who you are (i.e. sports equipment, uniforms, trophies/medals, musical instruments, ballet shoes, sunglasses, books, etc.). Vehicles (i.e. cars, bikes. scooters) are welcome - be sure they're clean, inside and out. Please try to let me know in advance if you will be bringing props so that I can come up with some really creative ideas on how to showcase you with them!
Bring blankets, pacifiers and favorite toys - anything that makes your child happy and confident.
I am not into posing. Can you help me look good in the photos?
I agree that posed shots may look awkward and unnatural. However, if you are aware that someone is taking photos of you, you are already posing, so why not make the best of it? During the photoshoot I will help you achieve the look you want and showcase your best parts and hide some parts you don’t like. You will look beautiful and elegant and have good memories from your photo shoot.
It is always beneficial if you do your own research in advance and find the best angles and poses for you. Pinterest is a great resource for inspiration. Look up poses that make a model slimmer, or taller, or help you showcase your beautiful eyes or hide the acne on your right cheek. Practice before a mirror. Try different facial expressions, i.e. serious, laughing, smiling with teeth and without teeth. Turn your face sideways - see which side you prefer. Try standing up, leaning on a wall or chair, sitting, lying down, etc. See what you like and what you don’t.
What to wear? How to prepare? Do’s and Don’ts
Your face is what’s most important in the photos. Do not distract attention from your face.
Wear sleeves, long dresses, full length pants, closed-toe shoes. The skin on our arms, legs and feet is usually lighter than our faces and will attract attention.
Avoid loose clothes as they will make you visually larger, hats and caps as they cast shadows on the eyes (unless we are doing a creative shoot and then a headdress is a must!), anything that shows underwear, and all white or all black outfits.
Wear neutral, color coordinated clothes. We want them to accent you; not the other way around. Mix colors that go well together but are not the same. Decide whether the basic tone of the clothing for the whole group will be warm-toned (beige, brown, etc.) or cool-toned (blue, gray, black, etc.). Smaller patterns like plaids, stripes, and florals can be mixed, matched, and layered with solid colors and denims.
Even if you are a planning to get just headshots or half-length portraits, do still meticulously plan your outfit head to toe. This will give us more options with poses and angles during the session and you will feel more confident and look gorgeous.
Lay all your/family’s clothing onto a surface. Include shoes, socks, accessories, etc. Then take a careful look. If your eyes stop on any particular item, the same will happen in a photograph. Try replacing the item and repeat the exercise.
Do a wardrobe test run to see if the outfit doesn't cause discomfort. Change items if necessary and repeat the exercise.
Practice make up with your selected outfit. Wear what you usually wear, but slightly darker than normal. Please use care while applying eye makeup (eye liner, mascara), as your eyes will be the focal point of many of your photos.
Refresh your haircut. Apply light hair products to reduce flyaway hair in your photos.
Manicure your nails. Hands are as important as your face in expressing emotion in the photograph.
How to reduce the retouching costs
Make sure each piece of clothing is clean and wrinkle-free.
Bring the whole outfit (head to toe) even if you just need headshots - this will give you an option to get a sitter half-length shot.
Apply a concealer/foundation and other products that make your skin tones look smooth and natural. Don't worry about having a few blemishes. These will be removed during editing. Severe acne may require additional retouching services.
Check for unwanted body hair with a magnifying mirror as all tiniest details will show on the photos (i.e. chin, upper lip, ears, nose, back of the neck, underarms, upper and lower legs, arms, fingers, etc.).
If you wear glasses, please see your optometrist about loaning you a pair without lenses, or consider having some shots without glasses to avoid eyeglass glare. Eyeglass glare is sometimes impossible to remove in image post-processing, so if you have to have glasses on, you may want to consider booking extra session time as choosing the right posing and lighting takes longer to minimize eyeglass glare.
Avoid anything with logos and graphics as they will distract attention from your face and you will eventually want them to be edited out.
Avoid stark or neon colors. These can leave you looking pale or add a color cast to your skin. You can wear black or white, but add a different color layer or accent piece to break it up a little.
Choose longer dresses and shirts so they don’t ride up, especially with younger children wearing diapers.
Can’t decide which outfit to choose - send me photos and I’ll help you choose the right one with the our shoot’s location / background color in mind.
How to get my home / office photo-ready?
Think of your favorite spots in your home, and make them photogenic. Replace missing or broken light bulbs. Open blinds and drapes. Remove fridge magnets and stickers. Remove kitchen towels. Clean counter tops and the stove. Minimize accessories on tables. Remove trash cans. Remove magazines, comforters, toys, etc. Tidy up and straighten furniture. Remove pet bowls, bedding, crates, etc. Close the garage doors. No cars in the driveway or in front of the house. Put trash cans, bicycles, the hose, garden tools, etc. out of sight. Arrange outdoor furniture neatly.
Before the session
Check you have all clothes and props ready.
Sleep. Try to get a lot of rest the night before your shoot. We’re going to have a great time together! If you are getting a sunrise photo session, I suggest applying cold compresses to your eye area for a few minutes before applying your makeup to reduce puffiness.
Make sure you eat before your session as this will make you more confident and happy.
Trust me, our session will go great! You will look and feel beautiful and this will be reflected in your photographs that we will create together!
When will I get my photos?
We will spend time together during the photo session and your job is done!
It will take mea few days to do initial processing and color-correction. All good digital photos (usually 40+ after a 30-minute session) will be uploaded for your review to an online proofing gallery.
We'll set up your viewing & ordering appointment at the studio or via a video call. There I'll show you all the color-corrected images, and you'll pick which ones you'd like to have retouched and to order as prints. I can also walk you through different frame options, gallery layouts, and album designs. You will select your favorite photos to be further prepared for print and retouched where necessary.
The edited photos will be delivered within four weeks (usually 7-14 days), downloadable from your private online gallery, sharable with your family and friends. The digital files will be optimized for social media sharing.
The printed products can be picked up from the studio or delivered to your doorstep.
Model release
You may choose to grant me, your photographer, permission to use your photos on my website, social media and other promotion materials. What’s in it for you? I will keep your session images forever, as this becomes part of my portfolio too. If you happen to lose your digital files, you can always call me and I’ll reopen your online gallery. I will be as invested in safekeeping your images as you are.
If you’d prefer to opt out from the model release, this is perfectly understandable and an additional privacy fee will be added to your invoice. Please remember to download your digital files as soon as you receive a prompt to do so and store your photos in a safe place. Your online gallery will be available for one more week after the final products delivery and the session may be deleted soon after the gallery expires.