Where are you located?
I am located in northern New Jersey. I am a lifestyle photographer, and our photoshoot will take place at a location of our choosing, (a park, your home, your business, etc.) not in a studio. More about location here!
How soon can I expect my pictures?
Editing Turnaround Times:
Headshots, 2 weeks
Family Shoots, Portrait Sessions, Small Events, and Product Photography, 3 weeks
Weddings, and Larger Commercial Jobs, 6 weeks
If you need your photos done sooner than my estimated turn around time, your photoshoot can be expedited, for a fee.
I pride myself on delivering the finished product to all of my clients, in a timely manner. This means often working on holidays, wake up early and stay up late, to get the job done. I wish I could snap my fingers, and boom, send you your gallery link! The truth is, the editing process is a long one. Countless decisions are made on each photo, to be sure the final product is up to my standards.
Are the pictures you send us, Photoshopped?
I happen to be a wizard in photoshop! However the standard editing that is included in all of my packages is not Photoshop. (I explain this in detail, with examples, here.) If you are interested in any retouching and photo touch ups, you can let me know at anytime!
Will you be the person taking the pictures?
Yup!! :) In the case that our schedules cannot match up, and I myself can’t be there, I will point you to one of the lovely and talented artists in my photo-tribe. (For weddings see more info down below.)
Who owns the copyright of the photos?
I own the copyright in all of my photos, however I grant my clients permission to use their photos for personal use. This includes use on social media, sharing directly with friends and family, and making prints.
I ask that you tag @somewheregrounded when posting on any social media platform. (As of 2021 my watermark is no longer mandatory while posting publicly.)
Limitations include selling or granting permission to any third party, or posting publicly without giving photo credit.
Do you provide props or backdrops?
Sometimes simple props can add playfulness, storytelling, and variety to our session. For example, picture a family gathered around while their parent plays the guitar, or an engagement shoot with a bottle of champagne. We will discuss these things while we curate your photoshoot. :) There’s more info about props and newborn sessions below.
I do own backdrops and studio lighting, however this is not a product that I offer at this time. I find that people look best and most natural in real life. I work on location, at your home, venue, business, or a local park. (This is corny so I wont say it… but, what I am thinking is, “The world is our backdrop!”) I do offer a backdrop and studio lighting for corporate headshots for groups of 10 or larger.
How many photos can I expect?
The final number of photos will vary from job to job. Location, clothing changes, family size, and cooperation of small children will have an impact.
Estimated Photo Count:
1 hr Portrait Sessions, Roughly 75-150 Photos
Weddings, Roughly 700-1200 Photos
Engagement Session, Roughly 250 Photos
Headshots, Roughly 40 Photos
What if it rains on our scheduled session?
If our session has to be postponed due to weather, you will not lose your deposit, we will simply reschedule. In the very rare case the weather causes us to reschedule and there is no dates available for us to reschedule, I will refund your deposit.
If weather conditions are workable, but not ideal, we are still on. Much of my work is done outside, and weather is always a factor, but we work with nature, and make the best of it. If it looks a little gloomy outside, don’t fret, cloud coverage is a photographer’s dream! And your pictures will not come out dark or grey.
Do you offer mini sessions?
I do not offer mini-shoots at this time. I like to work in a very individualized way. The majority of time invested in creating your final product is done before and after the actual photo session, with corresponding, planning, travel, and editing.
If you are on a budget I do offer group rates. More info on all of my packages can be found in my package brochure, just message me for more information.
WEDDING FAQ
How far do you travel?
I am always passport ready!!! :) I love to travel, so when photography and travel come together, I couldn’t be happier! I do have a small travel fee for locations over an hour from me. If you are interested in having me photograph your destination wedding we can discuss the details, as each situation is quite unique.
Who is your second shooter?
All of my second shooters are experienced wedding photographers who photograph their own weddings as a lead shooter on a regular basis. Your second shooter and I know each other well, and you can expect the same professionalism, style, and easy going attitude from them.
After the editing process, you won’t be able to tell who took what photo.
What if you are already booked on my wedding date?
If I cannot be the one to capture your day, I will reach out to my team and set you up with one of my photographers who you will fall in love with!
I will still be in charge of the planning process and editing, and you will have the opportunity to get to know your photographer.
If you have not shot a wedding at our venue, will you scope it out in advance?
I have photographed a LOT of weddings, however there are also a huge amount of places in the world to get married. So there is a good chance I have not yet had the pleasure of photographing a wedding at your location.
I do have a $150 scouting fee where we can meet at your venue or I can go exploring on my own. In MOST cases this is not at all necessary. It is the years of experience as an event photographer that gives me the skills to work with the lighting, weather, and time constraints of the moment to make fast decisions to chose the best backdrops and be sure you get a variety of photos that show of the beautiful space you two chose.
Will we get the RAW files?
Similarly to how a chef wouldn’t serve you uncooked food at a restaurant, I don’t give RAW or unedited files to my clients. Often people don’t have the programs to handle RAW files, and the high resolution files that you will receive are plenty large enough for you to blow up, and hang on your wall. :)
If you are a photographer, or graphic designer, and you do have the computer setup and know-how to work with RAW files, my process is to provide my clients with a finished product that is inline with my artistic vision. If you have further questions regarding RAW files, please don’t hesitate to ask.
Do you make wedding albums?
You can choose to have me custom design each page of your wedding album, or you can use the program that is conveniently in the store of your online gallery, and you can use the stunning templates to design your own album! Choose from a variety of cover materials and sizes.
How soon can we expect our photos?
I remember just how excited I was to see my wedding photos! The day felt like a DREAM!!! I NEEDED to see photos just so that I knew it was real! :)
You can expect your completed gallery in 6 weeks following your wedding. Be sure to follow me on instagram @somewheregrounded because I often post sneak peeks and live updates of my editing on my Instagram stories!
A lot goes into your photos after the night is over. Downloading from all of the cameras, importing into the editing program, exposing the finished files, then uploading them in chapters to your gorgeous private gallery! If your wedding is 8 hours with two photographers, this could easily mean 25 hours of editing. (And that is if my second shooter doesn’t go camera happy on the dance floor!)
Do you require a deposit?
Yes. With our singed agreement I require a $500 retainer fee to hold your wedding date. This retainer is non-refundable. This will be covered in more detail in your Wedding Photography Agreement.
How many photos can we expect?
You can expect something around 700-1200 edited photos. (Just a remember editing is different than photoshopped. Read more here!) Of course the hours of coverage, number of photographers, amount of people in your wedding party/family/guest-list will have an impact on the final count.
NEWBORN
When is the best time to take newborn photos?
There is no one “best time”, each phase of your babies development will come along with photography pros and cons. It is truly a personal choice.
In the first week or so, your sweet new baby will be soooo sleepy! This is a good thing, if you want those adorable sleeping pictures. Some parents like to wait about 2-3 weeks, when the umbilical cord scab falls off, this is nice for those newborn naked photos.
And some parents don’t feel ready in the first few weeks, and then time gets away from them, and the newborn photos don’t happen until the baby is a few months old. This comes along with some positives as well, as they will have developed some more head control, and possibly eye contact and smiles.
I understand that you might be recovering, exhausted, sleep deprived, and emotions could be running high! I recommend we pencil something in to your best estimation, and you just keep me up to date when your little one arrives. (Read more below about how to reserve a date.)
Do you supply props?
I will bring a Moses Basket, and some special pillows to put under your blankets to help position your baby. I will work with the adorable and cozy blankets and gifts that you have at your home. This will help make the shoot unique to you and your aesthetic.
Sometimes I am able to pick up some fresh flowers and greens to add texture to the photos. If this is something you are interested in, please let me know, and we will discuss further.
If you are unsure if you have the right things, or if you are trying to capture a specific look, let me know and we can come up with some fun ideas together! Keep in mind, we are telling the real story of your little baby, so less “props” is more!
Will you come to our home?
Absolutely! To me, the newborn chapter is all about being nestled in at home together. It is also where you and your baby will likely feel the most comfortable. We can talk about the lighting in your home to help choose the best time of day for our session.
If its a beautiful warm day, we can take some photos outside too!
What clothes should they wear?
I am sure you have all you need. Onesies or a swaddle is often the best look for newborn photos. You will only want 2-3 clothing options for your baby. Often at this age, less clothing is better. We don’t want them drowning in a 3 peace suit, it will only cover up their cute little rolls, and their tiny little arms and legs.
I like to stay way from clothing with words, logos, or characters on it. Just keep it natural if possible.
Do you require a security deposit when booking a newborn session? What if my baby comes sooner/later than I expected?
I require a $100 retainer to hold a date for all photoshoots. However, for newborn sessions only, I allow clients to reschedule one time without loosing their retainer fee. Due to the unpredictability of when your little one will arrive, and how you will be feeling afterwards, we can make our best guess on a good date for your shoot. (See above for recommended times to schedule your newborn shoot.)
For newborn shoots, I would only hold the retainer as a cancellation fee, if you change your mind and we don't have a photoshoot, or if you need to move the date more than once.
