Frequently Asked Questions

Can we meet with you before we book?

Absolutely! In fact, I strongly recommend it. If possible I will set up an in-person meeting with you. Meeting in person is so much more effective as well as efficient than speaking over the phone or via email. You'll find that the in-person consultation leaves you more satisfied and at peace with our decision and investment than any other means of communication.

Is there a difference between printing through you and printing somewhere else?

Yes.  The process that each image goes through before being printed can take hours, and is very skilled work, so I charge accordingly for this service. This is why there is such a big price difference between taking a digital negative to your local neighborhood one-hour photo and getting a 4×6 for $.20 and purchasing one from me for $15. At the one-hour photo place, you will get low quality paper, printing, and automatic adjustments which often makes the images WORSE, not better. When you purchase from me directly, you are getting an image printed by a professional photo lab on the highest museum quality photographic paper and the time it takes us to carefully tweak and retouch each individual image separately and then calibrate it to the specific printer that our lab will be using, as well as my guarantee that if something is wrong with the print you receive, I will replace it free of charge until you are satisfied. This requires expensive software and hardware, as well as lots and lots of time (roughly 15-30 minutes per image). For large prints, I also have a special process that allows me to enlarge the image to virtually any size without any loss of quality. I also include all  retouching on prints ordered through me, which can be substantially time-intensive.

When I get the digital images, does that mean I own the copyright?

No. By law, I retain the copyright to every image I take. When you purchase the digital images, you receive the digital files as well as a usage agreement that gives you permission to use the images for certain purposes, such as making prints or other photo products, posting on a website, or for personal use. The release is specific to you, the purchaser.  If you wish to purchase the full copyright, you can do so for an additional $5000, which includes a Non-Disclosure Agreement specifying that I will no longer possess or use the images in any way.

What exactly is involved in the editing of a photo?

This is truly a big question and is hard to explain completely in words. It can mean removing shadows, adjusting contrast, adjusting the white balance, changing color hues, removing blemishes, slimming down unattractive body parts (only if requested), opening closed eyes, erasing debris or distracting backgrounds, adding special effects like vignettes or sepia, processing in black and white or matte, etc. The possibilities are endless, and every single image requires something different. This can become a very time-consuming process.

In addition, each image goes through two different rounds of editing. The first round of editing is where I make minor tweaks to the image to make it presentable for proofing. The second round of editing is where the more artistic and refined decisions are made that really make the image stand out and be perfect. Images also have to be properly prepared for printing so that what you see (and like) is what you get.