FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The first step is to get in touch with us to find out our current availability for the week you’ll be here. Once we have nailed down a day and time for the photo shoot you’ll be able to submit your contract and deposit online. After that you’re on our calendar and we are good to go!

As soon as possible, it’s never too early to book. Summer is our busiest time so those months fill up quick. Most people book a few months in advance so as soon as your vacation is booked would be a good time to start planning your family portraits!

Absolutely! If there are any openings left this week we would love to work with you! The best way to get in touch with us last minute is by phone, so give us a call at 252-996-0063 and we’ll try to make it happen!

We require a $50 deposit to hold the day and time, which can be paid online with a credit card when submitting your contract. The balance will be due at the time of your shoot, which can be paid with cash, check, or credit card.

We always keep a close eye on the weather forecast and radar. If it looks like your shoot might get rained out we’ll get in touch with you to go over reschedule options. Most of the time we’re able to move you to a different day no problem. If we do have to reschedule we can’t guarantee the same time slot but we always do our best to keep it the same.

Another option we have if you don’t want to reschedule is to do the shoot in your rental home. I travel with a full studio lighting set up and can turn any rental home into a beautiful backdrop to make the most out of rainy situation.

If it’s only overcast with no rain, don’t worry! Those clouds can actually make for excellent portrait lighting!

We understand that things happen. If you need to cancel your shoot for any reason up to 3 weeks prior to your scheduled shoot we will refund your deposit minus transaction fees. The deposit is non-refundable for cancellations less than 3 weeks prior to your scheduled shoot. The only exception to this is in the case of inclement weather. If we are unable to offer you any reschedule options and we are forced to cancel your shoot we will refund your deposit minus transaction fees.

Nope! Our packages are all inclusive so there’s no additional sitting fees for you to worry about!

We travel to most of the Outer Banks for no additional fee. We charge a $75 travel fee for the southernmost towns (Avon, Buxton, Frisco, & Hatteras) and a $100 travel fee for the 4x4 area of Corolla/Carova. We currently do not travel to Ocracoke but we would be happy to meet you at a beach access on Hatteras Island.

We are required to collect sales tax for all NC residents. Sales tax will be applied to the total amount and will be collected when you pay your balance at the time of your shoot. The tax rate will be based on the county of the billing address used when submitting your contract and deposit.

We accept cash, checks, and all major credit cards. Whichever is easiest for you!

ABSOLUTELY! They are part of the family after all! Bonus points if you bring your cat :)

Yes! Generally I will meet you at your rental home and from there we can all walk out to the beach together. If you are not staying within walking distance to the ocean or would prefer a specific location such as a pier then we can discuss a meeting spot near you.

Whalehead Club in Corolla is one of my favorite spots for a change of scenery. Some other great spots are Bodie Lighthouse in Nags Head or downtown Manteo.

You don’t need to bring anything other than your smiles! Beyond that, a few helpful things to consider bringing would be:

•   Water! We’ll be out in the sun with no shade. It can get pretty warm so it’s always good to stay hydrated.
•   Hair ties, clips, hairspray, etc. Even on calm days the beach can still get pretty windy so it’s a good idea to bring reinforcements. 
•   Towels to wipe away any sweat. There’s not much we can do to edit out sweat on foreheads and clothes after the fact.

We don’t provide any props ourselves but feel free to bring along anything you want to incorporate into your photo shoot. Just make sure that anything you bring is beach friendly. For example, releasing balloons or confetti can be very harmful to marine wildlife.

Absolutely! During the course of your shoot we’ll be able to get the group shot, plus each individual family, grandparents and grandkids, cousins, couples, etc. both seated by the dunes and down by the water.

Generally I am able to position you and your family to minimize people in the background. From there we’re usually able to remove any stragglers during the editing process. We do our best to make it appear as though you and your family had the whole beach to yourselves! Click here for more info and examples.

Once we finish editing your photos we will upload the full resolution images to a personal web gallery for you. You’ll receive an email with directions and your gallery access code. From your gallery you can download your photos as well as order professional quality prints and canvases.

Every family and every shoot is different so there’s no set number. For most 1 hour sessions you can expect somewhere between 40-70 edited images. Mini shoots have a maximum of 25 edited images. Standard shoots have no image limits.

This varies based on the time of year and our current workload. During our peak season we generally run about 4-6 weeks for the final images. In the off season it’s usually about 2-3 weeks. About halfway through the processing time we’ll give you a sneak peek of some of our favorite photos from your shoot.

Nope! All of our photo sessions include the full resolution digital photos that you can download from your web gallery. Our custom printed DVDs make a wonderful keepsake or gift. We put your gallery of edited images onto an archival quality DVD, then photos from your shoot will be printed on the disc for a personalized touch. After your DVD is hand crafted it’s placed in a beautiful linen bound, magnetic close case then shipped to you at no additional cost.

Not at all! Included in your web gallery will be a Right to Print letter which will allow you to get prints made wherever you like. You will, however, have access to our professional print lab through your web gallery where you can get professional grade prints as well as fine art canvases and photo gifts. Click here to see our current product list.

Editing refers to alterations done to the image as a whole. This includes things like color correction, brightness, and contrast. We use color calibrated monitors and specialized equipment in a controlled lighting environment to ensure the highest quality. Professional photo editing is included with your session so all the images you receive will already be fully edited.

Most retouching is available for an additional fee. You can learn more about our retouching services here.