Frequently Asked Questions

How would you describe your style?

My shooting style is very candid and often different; I love creating unique photos that work with your personality. Together, we create images that capture you. It’s my job to push you outside of your comfort zone and it’s your job to try to bring 110% --- we do this by having fun, trying new poses, taking “standard” poses and everything in between. To create variety I also like to shoot on different backdrops or with different clothes and props; this means we can repeat the same poses, yet it will have a whole different feel with the minor changes.

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My editing style is where I vary from a lot of photographers: I do not use presets! If I do, it’s rarely the same preset twice. This is what sets me apart from the others because most photographers use presets to keep their work consistent – this is awesome because you know what your photos are going to look like, but on that same note I find that as a negative because that means your photos look exactly the same as everyone else’s. The clients who come to me come for something different; I want to work with you to find out more about you and to create a session that is individual.

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There is consistency in my work in that there are bright, vibrant colours, a lot of candid photos and the photos that are “posed” are usually unconventional. My work is also known to be edited quite dramatically; I’m not afraid of dark and moody and I’m not afraid of something different.

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I work with you prior to your session to find out more about what you’re after; as much as my style reflects me as a photographer, ultimately I want the photos to represent you too and for you to feel comfortable booking the session knowing that although you may not know for sure how your photos will look, you can be sure that you’ve been involved in the planning process.

 

What services do you offer?

I offer a variety of services:

• Couples

• Family

• Children/ Sitter

• Cakesmash

• Maternity

• Newborn

• Pet

• Conceptual Portraits

• Business Photography (headshots and product/service photography.)

 

 

Do you do location shoots or studio?

I predominantly work in my home studio. This is because I absolutely love working with studio lighting, props and backdrops.

 

I also live on a small acreage that has mountain views, an orchard, gum trees and other trees around the yard to shoot with as a nice backdrop. I also love that in studio we can shoot at any time of the day and in any weather.

 

 

What is your studio like?

I love my studio; it’s very different to my last studio, which was bright and white, this one is very sleek and moody. Located in a custom built shed at the back of our property, the studio is fully insulated with vinyl plank flooring and barn-style roof. We have a beautiful, big space to work in with a variety of different lighting. This is also our media room, so you have the comfort of our recliners, access to our TV where we can stream kids shows, movies or music and we have a reverse cycle air conditioner. Located next to our gym, we also have a small drinks fridge, a jug, water cooler and a microwave. You can park right in front of our studio and whilst we currently do not have a dedicated, plumbed toilet, you do have two options: we have an outdoor composting toilet next to the gym for emergencies and it’s a short walk up a ramp to our granny flat where you have access to a plumbed bathroom.

 

We are also in the process of building up our backyard to be a photographer’s dream! Keep an eye out on that; it will take us years to develop, but we will be releasing outdoor options in stages!

 

Why is your studio dark?

Our blacked-out studio with no windows and only a small door in can be quite different at first and may throw you off because most studios you see (especially for family and newborn photographers) are in white, bright studio spaces with a big window and soft lighting…why the heck would mine be so dark?!

 

Simply, this is how I’m trained to work. Studio photographers who like to work with studio lighting will always go out of their way to have a “blacked out” space. This is because studio photographers want to have as much control over the lighting as possible; this is because with studio lights, we can create a lighting plan that we build with the studio lights; uncontrolled lighting from outside sources impacts on the end result of said lighting. This is particularly important for concept photography, portraits and business photography where the lighting should be dynamic.

 

Working in a dark space does not mean your photos will be dark. Although my editing style is quite different, quite bold and often on black backgrounds, that’s not to say that I don’t work with bright lights and I can create white and airy photos.

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I don’t know how to pose, can you help?

Absolutely! We always start with comfortable, “standard” poses first and build slowly from there. I’ll give you reminders and prompts as we go! I know how awkward and hard this part of photos can be; despite me being able to guide you into poses, I myself default back to bad habits and “Millennial poses” when I’m in your shoes! I also bring along examples of poses that we can look at together and I also encourage you to look at poses that you like and either bring them with you to your session, or send them to me at least 24 hours prior to your session.

 

What should I wear?

I always encourage you to dress up for your photos; it’s a special time and for many, not something that you’ll do all that often. Most people’s family photos are from their phones at family get togethers, where your clothing is usually your every day wear. I believe that dressing up also sets the tone for the shoot; it’s something special, something worth dressing up for and something different!

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Having said that, dressing up also needs to be comfortable. Sometimes these two things do not go together, but you need to consider this and find a balance. If you are doing a location shoot, for example, you do not want to be wearing restrictive clothes and difficult shoes – perhaps you wear comfortable clothes to your session and you get changed at the location.

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Since most sessions are done in my studio, you can wear slightly more restrictive clothing, just make sure you feel comfortable and confident in them. Wear something that makes you feel pretty or handsome.

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Things to consider: if you’re doing a couple or family session, the best photos come from outfits that compliment each other, but do not need to match (unless that’s the vibe that you’re going for!) Complimentary outfits are easy to achieve by setting a colour theme or a theme: some examples of this are choosing one colour that everyone must wear 1 piece of clothing with that colour, choosing a colour theme (such as neutrals) or you may all dress smart casual. If you want to match, your whole outfit doesn’t have to match, but you can choose 1 matching item (such as everyone wears jeans or everyone wears a tartan shirt.)

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Layering is always encouraged; jewellery, belts, scarves, jackets, shoes, etc, change an outfit dramatically and also allows you to mix and match on the day. You can change the whole look of an outfit by adding a jacket with a statement piece of jewellery.

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Things to avoid: I discourage white clothing; not only is it so hard to keep clean on the day, but white also picks up on every colour surrounding it – this is a nightmare to edit and sometimes isn’t possible to do so. An example of this is white shirts with blue jeans on a location shoot – the white often comes out with a blue tone because it is reflecting the blue from the jeans and blues/greens in the environment. An off-white, cream or beige is more preferable as it has a yellow undertone, which is easier to work with. It’s advisable to have a change of clothes for everyone, just in case, especially if shooting with kids and/or pets.

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I recommend you wear your clothes prior to your session and also encourage you to take photos of yourself at different angles in this clothing; this will give you an idea of what you’ll look like on the day and can help you to decide if you it enhances your body shape, if you like how it looks from all angles and what it looks like layered.

If you’re unsure about what to wear, you’re more than welcome to send me photos of what you think you’ll wear or to go through options!

 

Do you provide clothing?

Simplest answer is, no. It’s impossible for me to hold a wide variety of clothing for all of the photography services I offer. I do, however, have some options at the studio and mostly for women and girls. I have some dresses, skirts and jewellery options (including some fabulous crowns and halos!) I do not have anything for men at this time, but do have a few hats, scarves and accessories for boys.

If you are looking for something specific, please reach out at the time of your enquiry and we can see if we have that item, or we can see if we can accommodate it.

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How do I receive my photos?

There are a few ways in which you can receive your photos;

1. Custom USB delivered to you or

2. Online downloadable gallery

3. Prints

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See my Pricing Page for more information about what you receive in each package.

 

What is your process?

My process starts from the moment you reach out! I'll first ask you some questions about what you're looking for and help guide you towards the right package, or custom quote for different services.

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Then when you're ready to book, we set a day and time and I get some basic information from you so that I can send your pre-session documents. 

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At this documentation stage, you will receive your Service Agreement, which is a contract between us and to protect both of us (not just my studio.) The Service Agreement outlines what you can expect from me and what I need from you. I like to make sure you're informed and have a chance to read through the agreement because it's important to me that you feel comfortable with the session.

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You will also receive your invoice at this point. We currently accept bank deposit, PayID, PayPal or cash. All monies paid will be receipted. Your invoice will also clearly outline what is included in the session so that you have full peace of mind that your investment is safe.

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Part of the documentation is a questionnaire, which you will receive via a Welcome Email. The questionnaire is to help me understand who you are as a person or family, what style you like, what your favourite colours are, if you had any specific photos in mind, etc. This is important for me because I use that information at this time to start planning for your session, making sure I have everything I need to help your vision come to life. This also helps me to ensure I get all of the important pictures for you and also helps me ensure we don't do anything that you don't like!

 

There is also a Welcome Pack digital booklet with some information to help you. This is also suitable at the communication stage (the very start of your process) if you're not sure what type of session you might like.

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If your session is quite some time away still, I will get in contact with you closer to the date to check-in. This is particularly important for pregnant mummas, new parents or busy families as I know a lot can change in a small space of time. I want your session to be a positive experience, so it's around this time that we'll ensure your date still works for you, you have your clothing options sorted and that any questions you may have, you can ask me!

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The day of the session I'll send you an SMS in the morning, or messenger message, with more information about how to get here and where to park. It's preferable that you get here 10 minutes early so that you have time to get settled in. We then get stuck into your session!

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After your session, the real work begins! I will send you a "Contact Sheet," which has all of the good images from your session, unedited, ready for you to pick your favourites as part of your package. If you find more photos than what's included in your package, I do offer separate image/print packages and will discuss that with at the time. Once you have selected your images, I will start the process of editing. You will be given a sneak peek whilst you're waiting and then you'll be notified when your photos are ready! If you're just too excited to wait whilst I'm working on your edits, you are welcome to ask me how it's going anytime - I get it and I love that you're excited!

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How long until I receive my edited photos?

This will vary depending on the time of year and how busy I am. I will absolutely keep you up-to-date on processing times so that you are aware at every stage.

The very longest wait time is 6 weeks, however I always aim to have your photos back to you within 3-4 weeks of you confirming which photos you would like edited.

I try to have a sneak peek to you within 1 week.

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Are you vaccinated?

Absolutely! The health and safety of your family is imperative to me. I have all childhood vaccinations, I have recently had a booster for Whooping Cough, I get the flu jab every year and I have 3 Covid vaccinations (and will receive another jab if the Covid strains continue to mutate.)

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Why are your prices so high compared to some others?

There are many reasons for this, which I cannot speak to on behalf of others, however my prices reflect quite a lot of things:

1. I am a registered business and I declare all of my income, which also means paying the appropriate taxes

2. I have invested in professional equipment, from my cameras to my lenses to my studio lights - this is to ensure

    I'm providing the best products for you that I possibly can

3. Photography is my job and career; it is how I pay my bills

4. Speaking of bills, there are many costs associated with photography: insurance, tax, equipment maintenance,

    set and prop maintenance, education and training, website costs, printing costs, software costs, not to mention

    the hours of work that goes unseen in a photoshoot (from your very first enquiry, I am working for you)

5. My experience and my vision are also part of my pricing; I have worked long and hard, and continue to do so,

    to provide quality and unique work.

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Photoshoots are a luxury in this economy, however they are still incredibly important. I want to provide you with imagery that you wouldn't be able to do yourself with your phone. I want you to thoroughly enjoy your experience so that your memories associated with your photos are meaningful and positive. I want you to have a legacy item to pass along to your future generations.

 

This is why I offer payment plans and a range of packages to suit most budgets.

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Are you flexible with cancellations or re-scheduling?

I try to be very accommodating; I truly understand that life can get in the way or situations can arise, so whilst I always encourage you to attend your session, if you have a legitimate reason and have given me notice, I am happy to work with you on re-scheduling. Please note that this is completely discretionary; each time you cancel, that's a position someone else could have had and as photography is my wage, having a lot of cancellations with no-one to take those spots drastically impacts on my household. I'm an open book and incredibly approachable, just keep the lines of communication open and we can work something out together.

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Why should we choose you?

I'm not going to do a big sales spiel on why you should choose me to take your photos; only you can decide that. The main thing to consider is do I photograph in your preferred style? Every artist has a signature look or sound, which makes switching to a whole new aesthetic difficult; this is why the initial communication is so important because if we aren't a good match, I will let you know that and why I think that - sometimes it is something we can work on together, other times it can't. For example: a lot of people will show me photos that they love from other photographers and when we discuss it not being my specific style, those same people are happy for my interpretation of that photo. Then there are people who really want replicas of that work, in which case I'll point you in the right direction of another photographer.

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What I can promise is this: genuine customer service, open communication, flexibility in the style of the shoot to suit your personality, quality images and quality prints. The studio is also pretty cool and you are looked after whilst you're here.

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Let's chat! All enquiries have no obligations, no spam and no relentless marketing - it's as simple as a conversation (email, messenger, phone, text) with a follow up if I haven't heard from you, so rest assured knowing that you're welcome to ask questions to see if I'm the right photographer for you x