Your children, our images, memories that last a lifetime.
What does a family photo shoot involve?
I meet you and the child(ren) at a location we choose and typically I'll suggest that the kids run around and play for about 30 mins, while I capture the fun and and spirit of the day with my camera. Relaxed, natural portraits are how I create amazing images for you. Then we sit down for a breather/drink and move onto group/family shots.
Do you require a deposit to hold a session date?
Yes, I get very busy throughout the year and some clients book well in advance. Therefore I ask for a 50% 'save the date' deposit from you at the time of booking. If you need to cancel, the deposit is fully refundable provided I have at least 48hrs notice, anything less than that makes it very difficult to book someone else in the slot allotted to you.
How long does it take?
Typically an hour and a half, sometimes more sometimes less. When the children look like they've had enough we usually wind down the shoot.
Do you photograph babies?
Oh yes, I am quite happy to have babies in family shoots and to photograph them individually. My style is very natural and I love to capture images of babies being cuddled by family members or sleeping peacefully on a shoulder, hence I don’t do 'posed' newborn shoots using props etc.
Do you work weekends?
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Yes, I actually find weekends work better for most families as everyone can usually be available for the shoot on a weekend at some point.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do we have to pay for the session?
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I can be paid the balance of the session fee by card or cash on the day of the shoot, or afterwards within 7 days via direct bank transfer. I cannot start work on your images or start printing until payment has been received in full.
Where does the shoot take place?
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I have found that a big open park or a quiet beach works very well. I’m happy to hear any ideas you may have for a location. I try to use places that the children will find fun because the idea is to let the kids be themselves to make relaxed, happy photos. So anywhere with plenty of space for them to run and play safely is great.
Can I just get one single family portrait done?
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I’m happy to capture just one family shot but you might be best served going into my studio and posing for it. The way I work is to capture natural, easy-going moments when the children are at play individually or with the whole family. If you do choose to go into the studio then as a general guide, the children should be a little older than toddlers so that they can be asked to sit still and pose.
How do I book a session?
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An email is fine or give me a ring if you would like to discuss options, whichever suits you best.
Do the grown-ups have to be in the shoot?
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No, not at all if you don’t want to be, but don’t rule it out. It isn’t often you get the chance to be in photos with the kids (instead of taking the photos) and any reluctance to step in front of the camera at first is usually overcome when you start having fun. You may really be glad you took part. In years to come you, your kids and even your grandchildren will be glad you did. Why not treat yourself to a mother-daughter session or gift a father-son/daughter session to your partner.
Can we bring the Grandparents?
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Yes please do. All too often grandparents are left out of these events, so any chance to capture three generations should never be passed up.
What should we wear?
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It’s important to wear items you feel comfortable in. Bold prints and colours work great on kids (and adults!), or whites and light colours can look stunning in beach settings. Perhaps think about co-ordinating everyone if you are having group shots as this really helps give a lovely 'uniform' look to the pictures. If it's just individual shots then matching each other up isn’t so important.
Do I have to purchase extra photos?
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You are under no obligation to purchase any extra images from your shoot, our packages are designed to give you a varied selection of shots from the shoot. The option is there to purchase extra images if you want to (eg. duplicates for family members) and it is an option - absolutely no hard sell here, but be prepared to want them all!
What do most people choose to do?
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Photo book albums are very popular and in two of our packages photo books are included. They are popular because digital images tend to languish on hard drives or discs and rarely get printed. In the packages, I have also included slideshow DVDs of the images taken which, although you cannot print the files, gives a lovely reminder of the shoot in years to come. Canvasses and print enlargements are also very popular and I have included a selection of these in my packages as well, or they can be purchased on their own.
Can I get all the photos of the session on disc to print myself, share online and keep on my own computer?
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I provide a high-resolution digital negative of every image purchased (this includes the printed images in the packages but not all the other images from the photo book). This is licensed so you can make extra copies and enlargements if you would like to. We also provide a low-resolution folder of watermarked images for sharing online. I always try to accommodate clients' requests, so yes I can provide a disc of images if you prefer, but please bear in mind that the cost of the packages are primarily for the shoot and the editing time, not the printed images.
How can I buy extra prints?
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You can purchase individual extra prints in a wide range of designs, from small prints to large prints, canvasses and photo books. We do a large selection of the printing ourselves and only outsource canvas and photo books. We find that prints are exceptionally well presented when we have complete control over the whole process, from the weight of the paper to the supplier of the ink.
What happens after the session?
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I will prepare a slideshow of your photos for you to view on a private gallery on Flickr, which will only be accessible to you. From here you can browse and choose the images you would like to have printed and turned into stunning wall art, from the comfort of your own home.
How long do you keep our photos on file for?
I keep duplicate backups of all clients' edited images for as long as I can, in case of loss by the client. I cannot guarantee this though in case I too experience a catastrophic hardware failure. For this reason it is imperative that you back up your digital files. You should keep a copy on at least one external hard drive as well as on DVDs or flash drives.
© 2014 by Firefly Photography