YOUR FAMILY & PORTRAIT
QUESTIONS
I’m sure that you have lots of questions. I’ve tried to answer some of the common ones here, but if there’s something else please contact me
I CAN’T DECIDE WHETHER TO GO FOR A LOCATION SESSION OR A STUDIO. CAN YOU TELL ME THE DIFFERENCE?
I want you to get the right session for your family, so I offer both. Location sessions can be at your home, garden, local park, woodland, by the beach, somewhere that you love to go as a family is always best. It gives the little ones a chance to run around and be children. Of course, you can bring the fur babies too to outdoor sessions.
A studio session can be great if you want something a little more traditional, or if you have elderly relatives that you want to include. The sessions will still be fun, but it is a more controlled environment.
WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO PREPARE BEFORE THE PHOTO SESSION?
I have guides on ‘What to Wear’ and there is my ‘What to Expect’ page on my website that you can read here. We can chat on the phone and discuss ideas and plan the shoot together too.
DO YOU DO NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY?
Yes, I do! I have a section on my website dedication to Newborn up to One. Click to find out more.
If you want to have more of a family session at home with your newborn, then I would love to do that too. Not everyone likes beanbag photos of a baby, so these can be more relaxed and natural moments with you all.
I’D TO INCLUDE MY HUSBAND IN THE SESSION BUT HE WORKS ALL WEEK – ARE WEEKENDS AVAILABLE?
Of course, we need to include everyone in a family session. I can do weekends, but these are very limited. I do Wedding Photography too, so my weekends get booked up a long way in advance. I still have some weekends and Sundays free so let’s check the diary. Don’t forget that the Summer evenings are often the perfect light for photos.
I REALLY DON’T LIKE HAVING MY PHOTO TAKEN AND I WORRY ABOUT HOW I’LL LOOK
Oh, we all say this, even me. I’ve recently had some photos taken of just me. How scary is that when it’s just you in the photo. It’s a totally natural feeling for people to feel a little insecure about how we look, but it’s so important that we all exist in photographs.
My sessions should be fun and relaxed and most of the time you won’t be aware of photos being taken.
DO I HAVE TO PLACE AN ORDER WITH YOU BEFORE THE SESSION?
No, some people have an idea that they may want several images, particularly if family groups come together for a session. The best is to wait until you have seen your gallery of images at your viewing session before you decide what products you want to go for. The session fee is payable in advance to confirm your booking, then at the viewing appointment, I am on hand to help you with your decision on which Collection is the best one for you.
WHAT SERVICE CAN WE EXPECT FROM YOU?
I offer you a service that I would expect if I was booking a photography session. I want you to enjoy the whole experience and not just ‘pleased’ with the final result and tell all of your friends how much you loved everything! I would love for you to come back to me year after year as your family grows and become your family photographer. You can read some of the wonderful words previous clients have said about me and the experience here
HOW DO I BOOK A PHOTO SESSION WITH YOU?
You will need to fill out a Booking Form so initially fill in the contact form or email me on liz@lizgreenhalgh.co.uk. If you are looking for a particular date or time of year, then please book well in advance! How exciting! I’m looking forward to getting to know your family, working with you and producing some beautiful images of your family
Before Booking
At Your Session
WHAT IF MY KIDS MISBEHAVE?
Kids are kids and to begin with may be a little shy around me. So we take our time and get to know each other first. The great thing about a location session is that it takes place outside or at your home. So instead of your children feeling under pressure in a strange place and bright studio, they can run around and play.
I will try and find out about your little ones before the session, so we have something to talk about. Feel free to bring their favourite toy with you too. Props are great for photos with children. So if your little one decides to throw a mega wobbly half way through the session, it’s no problem. I’ll just start shooting again once they’ve cheered up!
WHAT IF IT RAINS ON THE DAY?
Well, this is England and we are used to
WHERE WILL THE PHOTO SESSION TAKE PLACE?
As I mentioned earlier, the most important thing is finding a location or place where you and your family feel happy, relaxed and comfortable. For children, I think location shoots are best…. I have some favourite local places to shoot but always welcome new ideas!
If you have babies that aren’t walking yet and don’t like to sit on the ground (I see this quite often) perhaps a studio session might be better, but let’s chat.
Sessions generally take place first thing in the morning or later in the evening. Rule of thumb in the summer the earlier or the later the better to take advantage of the best light!
HOW LONG WILL THE SESSION BE?
Usually sessions last around 45-90 minutes. Children and babies have limited attention spans and it’s not long before they get bored and want to do something else, so I try to work quickly! This is why it can be good to bring along a favourite toy. But if your little one wants a snack or break, that’s fine. I keep shooting until I have everything I need.
HOW MANY PHOTOGRAPHS DO YOU TAKE?
During all my session I take loads but when I look through them on the computer, I will select the best 30-40 photographs. I will carefully edit each one for you to see in your viewing appointment and online gallery.
WHAT IF ONE OF US IS ILL ON THE DAY OF THE SHOOT? CAN WE RESCHEDULE THE SESSION?
Yes of course. We can reschedule your session to another date at no extra cost, please try and give me as much notice as possible. Please note, if you reschedule the session a second time due to illness, there will be a 50% re-booking fee charged. This applies to studio sessions also.
If you cancel the session completely then the booking fee is non-refundable.
CAN WE BRING OUR DOG TO OUR SESSION?
Yes of course!
HOW DO I GET TO SEE MY PHOTOGRAPHS?
The final images (around 30-40 from a location family shoot) will be ready to view as a slideshow at your viewing appointment. We can then go through them individually. I am on hand to answer any questions about prints, products and frames. Do think about the colour of your home not only before the session with what to wear but what products and frames will look best.
You will then be able to select a Collection, details of these will have been sent to you on email. After you have chosen a Collection you can add to it from the A la Carte product guide.
Your finished photographs will also be uploaded to a secure web gallery after your viewing appointment. This is live for 5 days for you to share with friends and family, so they can choose which products they would like to order
WILL THE PHOTOS BE IN COLOUR OR BLACK AND WHITE?
There will be a mixture of both colour and black and white images in your gallery. I edit each picture individually and how I think it works best, so you may find that if it’s a wonderful colour session there are fewer black and white images. You can order a colour image in black and white if you would like to.
DO I HAVE TO SPEND A FORTUNE AFTER THE SESSION?
No, I don’t give you the hard sell, I don’t enjoy it myself. I love my images to sell themselves and I am on hand to help you choose the right product for you!
It’s really important, however, that you ensure you have an idea of your budget to purchase products from your gallery. There really is nothing as sad as seeing your beautiful images of your family and you aren’t able to buy!
CAN WE BUY DIGITAL IMAGES FROM YOU?
Yes absolutely. I can understand that you may want to have your photographs in digital format so you can print them yourselves at a later date or enjoy them on your mobile devices. Digital images are a premium product as you have complete freedom to do as you wish with them.
Individual digital images are only available after you have purchased a Collection. You can also purchase the whole gallery of processed, print-ready images on a USB. Digital images are included in my Collections which also include wonderful prints. Please get in touch to get a copy of my full price list.
You may find this blog post on Print v’s Digital informative when making decisions about what you want to purchase and why.
WHEN DO WE RECEIVE THE PHOTOS?
Your online gallery will be live for 7 days after your viewing appointment. Your order will be ready within 3-5 weeks of payment being received. All orders must be paid for before ordering and there are no refunds on digital images or bespoke products.
Your products may be posted or courier delivery to your door.
After Your Session