We realize that even after reading through our above-listed session offerings, pricing and scheduling & booking pages, this whole process may seem daunting. In fact, we imagine you may still have some question on which you want reassurance. We hope this FAQ will clear those up and look forward to hearing from you!
Before the Shoot
Why do you choose to work on-location?
Our experience is that families, and especially children, are most comfortable in spaces they're most familiar with--we want to capture your core essence as a family, after all. That said, we are equally comfortable shooting with natural light as we are with strobe, outside as we are in. If the "location of your choosing" is a studio, you know your children will relax in a new space, and we have access to equipment (guaranteed in New York; pending access elsewhere), we are happy rent a studio space for your shoot. Clients are responsible for studio rental costs, which will total the actual rental cost (no mark-up). We recommend shooting in the home for all children under the age of 6 months.
How do I choose a location?
The best locations are the ones your family will be most comfortable in. Your home might serve as a great location if it has adequate lighting; your favorite park or playground, the beach, your child's school grounds or the field down the road are all great options too. The possibilities are endless and we can make almost anything work, so feel free to get adventurous!
What if my house isn't "camera-ready?"
This is a common source of anxiety for parents who are thinking of scheduling an in-home shoot, and we can guarantee that no matter the state of your house, everything will turn out great. Not only are we experienced with kids and know all about the attendant mess of child-rearing, we are highly resourceful in our use of space, cropping and angle. The most important things you can do are 1. identify places in your house with good light; and 2. do a basic clean and pick-up of the areas we might be shooting, keeping in mind that we all want it to feel clean but still lived-in. In essence, if it's in decent shape, and with a little preparation, we can play it by ear and make it work.
What between here and Neptune should my kids wear? And what should I wear?
Prepping to dress for a shoot need not be stressful, and will be less so with a bit of foresight. Some good practices:
Colors and Styles
Solid colors and simple patterns work best; busy patterns can distract, though can also add fun and texture if they're used right (see: here). Logos and other brandings are generally a bad idea; we want to keep the focus on you and your family. That said, we know kids have favorite things they wish they could wear every day (and maybe do). We can definitely get in a few shots dressed in those favorites too, even if heavily branded.
For sessions involving families (which in our case, is the vast majority), try to fit together without being "matchy-matchy." A great way to do this is to "connect the color dots," so to speak. For example, if your daughter has a dress with a specific color trim on, maybe you'll wear a blouse that matches her trim, and your husband a shirt that matches your scarf or is a darker shade of your dress. Maybe all the little ones will wear the same color, and the parents another. Maybe all the boys wear polos. There are a million different combinations, and you simply want to make sure each person has some sort of tie-in to at least one two other people in the photo.
As for style, casual is great. So is "Sunday Best." Jeans, khakis, dresses, clothing that references your culture--all of these things are timeless and a sure win. Ultimately, you know your family's personality, so don't be afraid to show it!
Preparing your clothes
Prep a bit: don't wait until the last minute and discover the night before that an old favorite sweater has moth holes, or find yourself losing sleep to iron the morning of your shoot. Maybe you want to use the opportunity to update your family's wardrobe and go shopping. Set a reminder a week out reminding you to get things together. You won't regret the preparation.
Additionally, pull out clothing you'd like to see your kids in even if they are going through a stage during which they only want to wear one thing or one color. We can't guarantee anything, but we're pretty good with getting kids to change for us and/or be a little more adventurous than they might be in the mood for. They too understand we are professional outsiders and often get surprisingly cooperative when they understand it's a part of the etiquette of a shoot.
During the Shoot
How do I know my child will cooperate during the shoot?
The most honest answer is that no one can get your child to participate happily in the shoot if s/he doesn't want to. That said, we've never had a shoot where we didn't get a child to relax and take part. Part of the beauty of the type of photography we do is that we capture families at their most natural and relaxed by being natural and relaxed around them. For the most part, children (and parents) are barely even aware we're taking photos of them--except when they've decided to ham it up for us! So not only is your child likely just to "go along," we are confident we will catch some great moments of playfulness, joy and family togetherness.
Will you have an assistant there?
It depends on the situation: the number of people, the availability of trusted assistants and generally whether Jesús feels he can handle the situation on his own. If you feel we absolutely need an assistant and he is not already planning on bringing one, we can make it happen.
Will there be time for breaks? Potty? Food?
Absolutely! Part of the fun and excitement of a children's and family photo shoot is the stop-and-go nature of it--hence our name! The goal is to keep everyone happy and relaxed, and we do everything we need to do to make that happen.
What does a newborn session look like?
Newborn sessions tend to last a little longer than our regular BiGG sessions, and are priced the same. Unfortunately, due to the specific nature of our LYL sessions, we cannot photograph newborns at those times. Newborn sessions generally last 2-3 hours and are full of stops and goes for naps, feedings and time off. More information about preparing for the specifics of a newborn session will be available on your client access page after booking, or you can contact us with any questions.
Do you do maternity photography?
Absolutely! In fact, we have a maternity+newborn photography special. Please contact us for more details.
After the Shoot
What is this post-production business?
Post-production refers to everything that happens to your photographs after a photo shoot--from color correction to retouching to designing your custom print products to placing your order with our printers. Though we call the art of photography, "photography," in this day and age, post-production is actually what represents the biggest time commitment on behalf of a professional photographer. In post-production, we get a chance to interact with the data the camera has collected and use our expertise to bring out the best in each photograph--whether that means addressing an incorrect color, removing some lens-caused distortion or simply treating the photograph in a way that better reflects the mood of a shoot or the desires of a creative professional and client.
I don't get it. I am not looking for retouching. Why does a children's and family photography shoot entail so much post-production?
The truth is that though modern, advanced cameras and computers are unprecedented in their "intelligence," they are still inaccurate and blunt tools for capturing the beauty of life. To give a few examples, the color they capture is often inaccurate or muted in comparison to real life; even the best of lenses are prone to distorting images; and they cannot read light the way the human eye can, even if they may have other advantages. These are all things that take time to fix on a computer, even when there is no "retouching" going on. When a professional is committed to the standards and attention to detail with which we treat our photos, this can take a very long time--usually at least an hour or (much) more per photograph, even before any of the design work of putting together your print and product packages! In other words, post-production is where the real work lies for us.
When will I get to see and order my photos?
If you're a BiGG client, we will meet for an in-person photo reveal and ordering consultation 2-3 weeks after your shoot. If we are unable to meet face to face for any reason, we will hold the reveal and consultation over a video call. During the in-person consultations, you will get the chance to watch a slide show of your photos, see them on a large computer screen and actually hold, experience and buy actual prints. We will take your initial order that day, and will keep a web gallery online for you for two weeks after that so that you, your family and your friends can order more if you'd like. After two weeks, your work will be archived. Retrieving your work from our archives will entail a fee, so we highly suggest completing your order in the two week period.
For LYL clients, you will get to see your photographs 2-3 weeks after your shoot through a private, online ordering gallery. You are free to place your order in the two weeks your gallery will be online, after which your work will be archived. Retrieving your work from our archives will entail a fee, so we highly suggest completing your order in the two week period.
When should I expect my prints and products?
In general, you can expect your prints and pre-designed products within 3-4 weeks of your order. Particularly complex customized products can take up to two months; more specific information about individual products is included on your client access page. Additionally, since we personally quality-inspect every product before getting it out to a client, errors on behalf of the printer (or our behalf) can cause delays. We will keep you apprised if anything like that happens, rare as it is.
How will I know where to display such fantastic artwork?
Well first of all, thank you for such effusive praise! It's almost like we put the words in your mouth! ;-) As a part of your client access page, we will provide some pretty comprehensive consultation about where you might want to display your artwork and how it fits among common household furniture. Additionally, we are available a few times a year to consult clients in their home for those seeking one-on-one, on-site assistance in displaying their memories. Additional fees may apply. Please get in touch for more details.
Further Details
More specific details and pointers about these questions and others can be accessed through the client access page after booking. To book a session today or ask us any further questions, please get in touch. Cheers and we look forward to hearing from you!
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