FAQ for Portrait and Lifestyle Photography Sessions
What can I expect at my newborn portrait session?
Newborns are photographed in their own homes because it is a comfortable environment for the parents and the baby. I use natural light and will find a source in your house, like a large window or doorway. I come prepared with my newborn setup of blankets and props. I also highly encourage you to pick out a favorite prop, outfit, or blanket of your own to make the session special.
Babies love a warm environment. Since we will be taking natural photos of your newborn, we want your baby to stay warm, comfortable, and happy. This may mean turning up your heat just a tad.
Newborn sessions typically last 2-3 hours. This allows us plenty of time at a relaxed pace. Newborns often need frequent breaks for feeding and calming, and I will work around their schedule. I don’t want you to feel rushed.
It is best to photograph your newborn within the first 10 days after they are born for those perfectly positioned poses. Don’t worry if your baby is older than 10 days, though because these cuties can be photographed at any age.
What can I expect at my family and lifestyle portrait session?
Sessions are on-location for lifestyle portraits, which means we can go anywhere. We will talk beforehand to get to know each other a little more. This will give me the opportunity to learn more about your family, and what you enjoy doing most with each other. Since the goal is to capture the real you, each session is unique and customized to you and your family.
We can meet at your home, a local park, downtown, or wherever fits your family! I am welcome to all ideas. A typical session lasts 1-2 hours, which allows enough time so you don’t feel rushed. I work organically — directing you, but also capturing those in-between moments. It is relaxed and lots of fun for everyone!
What can I expect at my high school senior portrait session?
Sessions are on-location for high school seniors, which means we can go anywhere! We will talk beforehand to get to know each other a little more. This will give me the opportunity to learn more about you and what you enjoy doing most. Each session is customized for high school seniors. My goal is to capture and highlight the real you.
We can meet at your home, a local park, downtown, or wherever fits you! I am open to all ideas. A typical session lasts 1-3 hours, which allows plenty of time for multiple locations and outfit changes. Please bring along several outfits to showcase different styles. You are also welcome to bring sports equipment, a musical instrument, or even your car — anything that is special to you!
Family and friends are welcome to come to your session if you would like! They can even be photographed with you.
What should I wear to my portrait and lifestyle session?
Family Dress and Style Tips
The upcoming task of trying to coordinate your family wardrobe may seem daunting! I am here to help and offer you some advice. Below is a link to a Family Style Guide that offers helpful tips on what to wear!
High School Senior Dress and Style Tips
Below are two style guides offering helpful hints on what to wear to your high school senior session, Senior Girl Style Guide and Senior Boy Style Guide! I recommend bringing along a variety outfit choices (i.e. casual, formal). Remember, be YOU!
If you would like more guidance (or even an opinion), feel free to contact me!
How do I book a session?
If you are interested in booking a session, please email me at info@laurentomasella.com or call me at (513) 213-9551.
Upon booking, payment is due in full prior to your session.
What happens after my photo shoot?
When will I see my photos?
After your session, your photos will be ready for viewing within 2-4 weeks. Be on the lookout for an email where I will provide you with a password to access your online gallery. Feel free to share your gallery with family and friends!
Your gallery will remain available online for 4 weeks. During those 4 weeks, you will be able to place your order online, with me over the phone or we can set up a time to meet!
I also love posting sneak peeks and pictures from photo sessions, so check in frequently to my Blog and Facebook page. Don’t forget to “Like” my Facebook page to see the latest posts!
Four weeks came and went and I didn’t order my photos! Now what?
No worries! I am more than happy to extend your gallery. Please contact me if you need more time, and we can work out an extension.
I placed my order, when will I receive everything?
Your order will be processed and shipped to you within 2-4 weeks. Some products such as photo albums, may take longer due to their custom design.
What are my order payment options?
Payment is due upon ordering. Your order will not be processed until full payment is received. I accept check, credit card or bank transfers.
Can I purchase a thumb drive of my images?
Of course! With the purchase of any digital files, I will provide you with a thumb drive of high resolution images for your personal use and archives. This includes the printing rights.
Where do you recommend printing?
Below are several sources I love so you can get the very best out of your images!
Pinhole Press – (and online boutique for personalized, inspirational gifts!) http://www.PinholePress.com/?
Mixbook – (love their books, cards and calendars!) – http://www.mixbook.com/
Blurb (great for books!) – http://www.blurb.com/
MyPublisher – http://www.mypublisher.com/
TinyPrints – http://www.tinyprints.com/
Mpix (great for prints!) – http://www.mpix.com/
Canvas on Demand (great for gallery wrap canvases!) – http://www.canvasondemand.com/
Artifact Uprising (huge fan of their books!) – http://www.artifactuprising.
I encourage you to get those images off that thumb drive and create a beautiful gift for yourself or someone in your family 🙂
Do you offer referral incentives?
Yes! There is nothing better and nothing I appreciate more than referrals from my clients. You deserve the credit! For any future clients who mention your name upon booking a portrait session, you will receive a $50 gift certificate for each referral. Six referrals gets you a free portrait session and a thumb drive of your images at high resolution.
Thank you in advance for sharing Lauren Tomasella Photography with your family and friends!
FAQ for Wedding Photography
What do your wedding photography collections include?
All wedding collections include up to 8-10 hours of wedding day photo coverage, a second shooter/assistant photographer, as well as a disc of high resolution images for your personal use and archives. Additional items may include bridal, engagement or day after portrait sessions, a signature guest book featuring your favorite engagement images, a flush-mounted story album displaying your favorite images from your wedding day and a gallery wrap canvas of your favorite image. Please inquire for more details by filling out the Wedding Inquiry Form!
Why do an engagement session?
Shooting an engagement is important for several reasons. First, this time allows you to get comfortable in front of the camera. It also gives us the chance to get to know one another, figuring out how we work best together before the wedding. Next, you can showcase your personalities in a more casual setting, while creating some fun captures for wall portraits, your wedding sign-in book, sign-in board and Thank You cards. If shot early enough, you can also provide the images for your Save the Date cards and invitations! Best of all, you can remember this special time forever. This is your time together. Great engagement shoot ideas include at the place he proposed, at your favorite restaurant, doing your favorite activity, where you first met, with your pet, your favorite city skyline, a downtown urban setting, an amusement park, the local fair, the beach, vintage-styled with old furniture, your favorite coffee shop. The possibilities are endless!
What should we wear to our engagement session?
Below is the Engagement Style Guide offering helpful hints on what to wear to your engagement session! Multiple outfits are welcome! 🙂
If you would like more guidance (or even an opinion), feel free to contact me!
What do you love most about weddings?
I love telling YOUR story! It is a day that goes by so fast and images become an important way of remembering that precious time. From getting ready to exchanging your vowels to the first dance, I am there to capture the many details of your day, the laughs exchanged, the joy shared, the proud moments from loved ones. It is a day of celebration and a day that is long awaited for. It is so beautiful to share in and I am very honored!
What is The First Look?
I get chills every time! The First Look is wonderful for so many reasons. Most write it off immediately because of its “un-traditional” character. I like to think of it as a “new tradition” and here’s why. Your day goes by so fast. I cannot emphasize this enough! You have planned for this day for weeks, months, years. So many emotions will fill the day. Tension can build and anxiousness can set in. It is a true whirlwind. The First Look allows you that quiet time with your best friend before it all begins. You get to have that intimate time with one another. One on one. He can embrace you and talk to you and tell you how stunningly gorgeous you look. It can be one of the most emotional moments of the whole day and put you both at ease.
Most are worried that grooms will not have the same reaction when their bride walks down the isle. This is a much anticipated moment and trust me, it will be another spectacular moment. This time, shared and surrounded by the ones who love you most.
Another one of the wonderful bonuses of The First Look is that it allows time! You are investing a lot into your wedding and your wedding photography. With The First Look you will receive significantly more portraits. Not only of the two of you, but your bridal party and family. Normally, once the ceremony ends, you rush through your portraits because you do not want to be late for introductions and your reception. The First Look extends your wedding. Rather than being rushed for portraits, you get to enjoy them and enjoy being with one another. It is more relaxing and you do not feel pressed for time. Then, once the ceremony ends, you can head straight to your reception and begin celebrating!
More on The First Look! The ever-so-lovely, Katelyn James, gives great advice for brides and grooms on this topic! Read more about The First Look here!
How do I make the perfect wedding day schedule?
My goal is to help make your day run as smooth as possible! Below are a few tips to help make that happen! I also included a rough outline for basic wedding day coverage. In addition to the tips and outline, I also listed a few great articles covering how to create the perfect and complete wedding day timeline!
My wedding collections are currently based on 8-10 hours of wedding day coverage. Below is a breakdown of that time!
- 1-2 hours of getting ready and shooting details (dress, shoes, flowers)
- 30 minutes-1 hour of portraits of the bride and groom (this also includes The First Look, if desired!)
- 30-45 minutes of bridal party portraits
- 30 minutes of family portraits (allowing at least two to five minutes for each grouping)
- 1 hour shooting candids of guests and details of the ceremony and reception site
- 30 minutes-1 hour for ceremony
- 3-4 hours for the reception
Important notes!
- When planning for your ceremony and reception time, consider the time of day and year! This will most likely determine when is best to have formal portraits! For example, if you are planning a Fall/Winter wedding with an evening ceremony, I would recommend doing as many formal portraits before the ceremony as you can (especially if you are wanting outdoor portraits!), because the sun sets significantly earlier. My new favorite website for checking sunrise & sunset times all year round – http://www.calendar-365.com/2014-calendar.html
- Always overestimate how long things will take! Especially if there is travel involved and moving groups from one place to another. It’s better to have more time (and not feel rushed!) than not enough!
- Hair and makeup the day of your wedding will almost always take longer than anticipated! By allowing 50% more time for hair and makeup you will be assured you have plenty of time!
- Create a specific shot list for formal and family groupings (i.e. parents, grandparents, extended family) that you would like to have! Make sure to communicate to everyone on that list when and where they are supposed to be! I would even designate a family member or close family friend to gather everyone together and avoid stress!!
- Consider a wedding coordinator! Not only are they a great resource, they will help you stick to your schedule 🙂
- While I love The First Look for many reasons (as listed above under “What is The First Look?”!), I understand if you prefer not to have The First Look! If you opt not to have The First Look, a majority of the portraits and formals will follow immediately after the ceremony. Depending on the start time of your reception, a cocktail hour for guests while portraits and formals are taking place is a great all around solution! It gives your guests a chance to begin eating, drinking and celebrating and you will not feel like you are missing out on your own reception!
- The best advice I can offer to save time taking photos is being prepared and communicating! We will talk in much detail before your wedding day to assure that! 🙂
Additional articles offering a ton of advice to help plan your day, hour by hour!
Bridal Guide, Complete Wedding-Day Timeline
Southern Weddings, Southern Expert: Ten Tips for Working With Your Photographer
Southern Weddings, Emily Plans a Wedding: Wedding Day Details
Do you have any additional advice for brides and grooms?
- Be sure to have a hair and makeup trial at least a month before your wedding. This will give you peace of mind to know exactly how you will look and give you the opportunity to change things in advance if necessary. Make sure to bring all jewelry to the trial to see how makeup shades work with the pieces.
- Have your florist deliver your flowers to where you are getting ready, not the ceremony venue. Since you never know when the mood will strike for a great photo, you’ll want your flowers there and ready to go.
- Find out what the rules for photographs are at the ceremony location. All venues are different, some restricting the location of photographs and even the times in which they are permitted.
- If possible, arrange to have your formal photographs taken before the ceremony. Getting this step out of the way early in the day frees up the rest of your time to spend with your guests. You will be able to go straight to cocktail hour and catch up with loved ones without stress. It’s a new age, so it’s no longer considered bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding.
- Have food delivered to your getting ready location. It may be hectic, but take the time to have a bite before the wedding since it will be a while before you have the opportunity to nourish yourself during the reception.
- Prepare an emergency bridal kit with clear nail polish, mints, a sewing kit, stain treater, Visine, safety pins, bobby pins, pain reliever and mini deodorant.
- Allowing 50% more time for hair and makeup than you originally anticipated alleviates the number one reason wedding schedules end up running late. This will assure you have plenty of time for all the portraits you want to take before the wedding.
- Make sure you discuss a “rain plan” with your venue just in case Mother Nature doesn’t see sunshine in the cards.
In addition, below are some great articles written for brides and grooms, offering a ton of tips and advice for planning your wedding day!
Southern Weddings, Southern Expert: Ten Tips for Working With Your Photographer
Bridal Guide, Complete Wedding-Day Timeline
Morgan Trinker, FAQ For Clients: How to Make A Rockin’ Wedding Day Schedule
Katelyn James, Wedding Wednesday: The First Look
Inside Weddings, Why You Should Take Engagement Photos
The Wedding Wire, 5 Unique Wedding Exits
How do we book you for our wedding date?
I am extremely honored to be a part of your wedding day! After deciding on your wedding collection, we would review the wedding agreement contract. Upon signing your wedding agreement, a 50% deposit is due. Custom payment plans are available! I accept check, PayPal payments and credit/debit cards thru Square!
After our wedding, how long does it take to receive our photos?
Delivery time varies depending on the month and season you get married. December thru March weddings can expect to have their images within 4-8 weeks. April thru November weddings will be delivered 8-12 weeks after the wedding. In general, within 90 days after your wedding you will receive your images and gallery! I will of course keep you updated on its status! Images come print-ready! I like to say every image is touched with love! 🙂 If you need anything in the meantime, I am always happy to send! I am also appreciative of your patience and understanding with this process! Thank you!
Be sure to check in frequently to my Blog and Facebook page. I love posting sneak peaks and pictures from your wedding day! Don’t forget to “Like” my Facebook page to see the latest posts!