FAQ:
Do you have a studio? YES! All over Charleston, the beach, a moss tree field, your home etc are what I call my studio. Charleston is so beautiful and I prefer to do all of my sessions outdoors or in your home. If you have a spot in mind, we’ll go there! If not, I’ll recommend some places. The possibilities in Charleston are endless. Newborn Sessions are done in your home using all areas, but mostly the nursery you’ve worked so hard to put together! I also do lifestyle family sessions in your home!-Don’t rule out your own home as a location choice! That is where many of your family memories are made, so why not have a custom photo session there as well, including the glue of the family-MAMA!
What areas do you cover? I live in West Ashley, but also cover downtown, James Island, Johns Island, Mount Pleasant, Summerville, Hanahan, & Goose Creek. If you live outside of these areas, a travel fee may be applied to your total. I love to do sessions downtown, at the beach, etc.
Do you offer digital files on a disk? This is the question I get asked the most and the answer is Yes, I do offer digital files on a disk. I have several collections to choose from. Please email me for a full price list: TickledBluePhotography@gmail.com
Please keep in mind that custom photography is not cheap and if the deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is! The old saying, ‘you get what you pay for’ rings 100% true when it comes to photography. Keep that in mind when choosing the right photographer for you.
What should I wear? Don’t stress over your outfit. Once your session fee has been paid, you will receive from me a session prep guide that details things like this. Choose something you know you look great in! Dresses are great, but do keep in mind the type of photos you want taken. If you want photos of you interacting with your little ones, on the ground, etc, dresses will make photos like that more difficult. Try not to choose something too matchy matchy ie. white shirts and khaki. Boring, right? Avoid anything that will really date your photos such as clothing with store or brand logos (like Gap, Old Navy, etc.) Also anything with characters such as Sponge Bob and Mickey Mouse, while cute, don’t always make for great photos! Multiple outfit changes are just fine, but be sure to give me a heads up so I can plan around that. (I don’t allow outfit changes for mini sessions) Try to avoid flip flops and instead opt for dressy sandals or a more dressed up flop. Oh, and did I mention COLOR? Ok, ok, I think you’ve got it, color will really make your photos pop! I will send you more info and help on choosing your outfit once you’ve fully booked your session.
Props: I have lots of quilt options, a simple white crate for sitting, a few colorful painted chairs, and some accessory type add ons for children. If you see a prop in a session you are drawn to, ask me about it. I’ll let you know if it’s mine or was brought by the client.
Can you give a break down of what to expect from my session? Sure can!
The very first step is to contact me! Send me an email to TickledBluePhotography@gmail.com or fill out my contact form and you’ll hear back from me within 24 hours. Emails received on friday after 5pm are returned the following monday. We’ll talk about who you want photographed, what you have in mind for your session, etc, and I’ll send you some forms to fill out. The forms will tell me a lot about you and what you are expecting from your session, so be sure to get those back to me either by mail or email. Remember that your space is not reserved unless you’ve paid your deposit. Deposits are non-refundable, but if you need to cancel your date, you can use it towards another date within that same year based on my availability.Once your deposit is paid, we’ll discuss locations and what you have in mind. I have some suggestions if you’re stumped. Morning and evening light usually the best depending on the location , so keep that in mind! Taxes and shipping are applied to all orders!
During your session: This is the easy part! Plan on having fun! I love photos of you smiling, but I’ll also capture those of you or your kiddos just ‘doing what they do’. I love ‘lifestyle’ photography so I will try to incorporate that into your session, especially for newborn sessions. All posed newborn shots will be natural poses(ie. swaddled, sleeping in a basket). Birthday suit shots will be done with diaper on but a diaper cover can be used. I have one if you don’t. I like subtle head bands or hats for newborns. Don’t be afraid of clothing on a newborn. A simple solid colored onesie looks great in lifestyle newborn photos! Check out the newborn menu in the drop down above for lots of info on newborn sessions! During your family session, be prepared to laugh, tickle, and just have fun. I want your family to interact the way you would at home.
AFTER YOUR SESSION:
I know you’ll be anxious to see your photos and I’m always excited just after a session too so I will usually edit a few photos to post online within 24 hours of your session. You’ll get a sneak peek of your photos on both my facebook fan page and my blog/this website. Usually 1-2 photos as to not spoil the surprise of your gallery! The sneak peek photos are watermarked images so feel free to tag yourself in them on facebook or share the blog post link with your family and friends.
Within 1-3 weeks of your session(usually less), you’ll receive a link to your online gallery.
Now you might be thinking, but why does it cost x amount for you to just take photos of me? Well, don’t think my work is through after clicking away for an hour at your session. I spend hours editing and getting your photos just right before presenting them to you. It really is a process that is more than what most think it entails. I certainly didn’t understand this before getting into this business. My first step is to pick the best images and edit those first so that you’ll have an online sneak peek to relive the day before. Usually within the week, you get a link to your gallery to view your images. The prints you order from me will not be lackluster at all. They’ll be vibrant and beautiful and will last forever!
I hope that about covers it, but if you have questions I haven’t answered, please contact me at TickledBluePhotography@gmail.com
