Frequently Asked Questions

I get a lot of questions from Clients and from other Photographers so I thought it would be a great idea to address some of them here.

Q. What exactly is an “Anytime” or “Lifestyle Session”?

Because we’re all about “Celebrating who you are” we want to celebrate you and all that makes you ‘you’.  Our ‘Lifestyle’ sessions celebrate families, pregnancy, newborns, kids, couples, seniors & graduates – whatever stage of life you are at.  Our ‘Anytime’ sessions are just that … anytime is a good time to celebrate you – you don’t need a reason or excuse, just celebrate!

Q. What exactly is Custom Portraiture?

Custom Portraiture is more than your usual shopping centre photography experience, it is the investment in individually created fine art created by a visual artist.  This type of Portrait Photography is individually tailored to each client and each image, from the location chosen, to the selection of clothing and the intensive handcrafting of digital images into fine art that you will be proud to hang on your walls for generations to come.  The Custom Portraiture Photographer spends a lot of time on each and every client unlike your shopping centre photographer and gives the client an experience to treasure.

Q. Why are Custom Portraiture Prints more expensive?

The process that each image goes through before being printed can take hours, and is very skilled work, so we charge accordingly for this service.  This is why there is such a big price difference between taking a digital negative to your local neighborhood photo lab and a professional lab.  The professional lab that our studio uses has processing that is carefully matched to our workflow and guarantees archival quality & longevity that local labs can’t.  You are paying for whatever time it takes us to carefully tweak and retouch the image so that it is a piece of art that you will be proud to display in your home and will stand the test of time.  Our professional lab can guarantee the longevity & protection of images by providing quality archival prints specially treated & mounted so they won’t perish or fade like inferior prints you’ll get from your local kiosk.  This requires expensive computer software and hardware, as well as time & commitment to detail.  For large prints we also have a special process that allows us to enlarge the image to any size without loss of quality.  This is something that you just can’t get at your local supermarket chain kiosk.

Q. Do you have a studio?

Our motto of ‘Celebrating You’ is all about celebrating you and that happens best in your own environment – the place you feel most comfortable, is where we will capture the real essence of you.  Maybe your a beachy kinda person, or your favourite place is the park.  Perhaps you like a grungy, urban feel or maybe you feel most comfortable being at home … whatever location suits you best.

Q. Can we choose a location outside of Adelaide?

Yes you can.  I am happy to travel to new locations that will suit the mood that you are after from your session.  An additional travel fee is applicable for areas outside of the Adelaide Metropolitan area.

Q. How soon should I get my Newborn photographed?

This is one of the best questions for people interested in having the Newborn Baby photographed.  I suggest that parents book in before their baby is 10 days old.  I know that the first few weeks of parenthood can be stressful and a bit of a blur, but honestly this is the best time to get your baby photographed.  Babies are at their sleepiest in the first 10 days, this makes it easy to move them and mould them to get those adorable sleepy photos.  Babies lose the sleepy state quite quickly and start to become quite restless if you leave it too long.  Honestly, I don’t care if your house is a mess and you haven’t showered for a week, I have 3 children of my own so I completely understand.  I just want to get the best possible photos for you so if you can do it at this time you won’t regret it later!

Q. Do you bring your own props to Newborn Sessions?

Absolutely!  I have some props that I have collected especially for Newborn Sessions.  My Cocoons are a great back up for those babies who don’t like being naked as they keep them nice and snug so I always bring a selection of those.  I never know what a shoot will entail until I have arrived at your home as I do like to use the items that you have already in your house.  This makes the session special to you and gives your photos a unique look.  But don’t worry if you don’t have a lot of props, I will still bring some of mine.

Q. How long does a Session last?

Portrait Sessions last up to 2 hours, during this time we will get a number of different looks for your portraits by finding different settings within your chosen location.  Newborn Sessions can last a bit longer as Babies need to be fed and burped at least once during the Session.  Allow for up to 3 hours for this type of session.

Q. When do we get to see our photos?

Editing your photos will commence the same or following day I take your portraits.  Firstly I will blog about your session within the first few days to give you a sneak peak.  I will then start the intensive editing of the chosen images.  Following completion of the editing work, arrangements will be made to meet with you and your family for a visual presentation and to discuss your printing requirements.  The editing process will take around 3 weeks and during peak times may take 3-4 weeks.

Q. We have chosen our photos, when can we expect to receive our prints?

I ask that you expect to wait around 2 weeks for delivery of your images once ordered.  I understand clients are keen to get their images, but it is important not to rush this process.  I inspect every single image to make sure everything is perfect.  If it isn’t, I will have it re-printed before you even see the print.  You and I both want the prints that grace your walls to be amazing.  If a rush order is required for an urgent reason please inform me at the time of your viewing.

Q. Can we buy the digital files?

I run a a high end, custom, boutique studio, and as such I am eager to provide my clients with only the very best finished product. I understand that I could easily shoot a session for my clients and sell them a CD of the images, leaving the rest of the work up to them, but as an artist, I simply couldn’t do so with a good conscience.

I am invested in providing for my clients fine artwork, not simply digital files which are mere representations of what the final image could become if handled with professional imaging know-how and care. As an artist, I earn my living by providing for my clients the very best, and only I can place a value on what I think my artwork is worth. I could easily put all of my images on disk and sell them at a low cost, but what would I be saying about the degree to which I believe my art has value?   Knowing what goes into making an image a stellar piece of art, I feel my prices are a true reflection of the value of the finished product, and I will not allow anything to leave my studio bearing my name if it doesn’t reflect my personal standards for quality and craftsmanship.

*** To see the difference between a Digital File and a Fine Art Image look at the “Before & After” page.

Q. What camera do you use?

I only use professional camera equipment for Professional Photographers from Nikon.  My lenses are all genuine Nikon products also.  I am always looking to update my Kit to the latest technology so I can provide the best possible photos for my clients.  I am passionate about photography and strive to learn & develop.

Q. Do you teach people how to take photos like you?

This is a question that I have been getting a lot lately and whilst I have conducted workshops in the past I am currently not offering any workshops.