FAQ – Events

BOOKING & PRICING

How do we book a portrait session with you?
To book your session, I require a signed contract and a pre-payment of 50% to cover work performed prior to your session (including phone/email/Zoom consultations, researching locations, preparing equipment, and more). This fee is a non-refundable payment. Making this payment will lock you in on our calendar.

What payment methods do you accept?
I accept in-person cash payments, Venmo and Zelle. Checks are not accepted.

Do you have different portrait packages?
Yes, I offer several options. You can see all session types here.

Do you have a studio or are you an on-location photographer?
I shoot the vast majority of sessions on-location. They can be at a beach, in a downtown area, in your home or at many other locations. If you’d like an indoor studio session, we can book studio time in a local rental studio for an additional fee. I don’t add any extra fees when booking studio rental time, you’ll pay only what they charge.

SESSION DETAILS

Can I reschedule my session?
Rescheduling is possible if you request it at least 21 days before the session, subject to availability and assuming all other details remain the same. If any costs associated with the session change, you’ll be responsible for those.

What if I need to cancel my session?
Because of the uncertain nature of bookings in session photography and the fact that it’s often difficult to re-book canceled sessions, if you cancel your session within 21 days of your date, all fees paid up to that point are forfeit. If you cancel within 7 days of your session date and have yet to make your final payment, you will still owe the final payment, to cover the loss of income from not being able to re-book your date.

What happens if you can’t make it to the session?
If I’m unable to attend due to unforeseen circumstances outside of my control, I’ll try to reschedule first, or if that’s not possible, I’ll attempt to find a replacement photographer – either one of my associate photographers or a peer in the local community. If none are available, I’ll refund your fees in full and give you a $50 credit valid towards any future booking except mini sessions.

IMAGE DELIVERY & USAGE

How long does it take to receive the photos?
You can typically expect to see your edited images within 7 business days of your session! A three day rush is available for $50 per session, or a same/next day rush is available for $100.

How will we receive the photos?
I deliver high quality digital images via an online gallery, typically at or around 1920 pixels per long side. You can also order professional prints, canvases and more directly through the gallery. I use one of the best professional printers in America, White House Custom Color.

Who owns the photos?
As the creator of the art, I own the copyright to all images I create, which is both state and federal law. Don’t worry though! You’ll receive a license to use the photos in almost any way you like, with only a few limitations (like not being able to remove my logo except in certain circumstances, not being able to sell the images or assign rights to them, and no commercial uses without permission from me).

Can I buy the copyright to the photos?
Yes, non-commercial clients can purchase the copyright for $1500 per gallery, or $500 if you allow me to use the photos for promotional purposes. You will then have complete ownership of the images and can do anything you’d like with them, and unless you choose the promotional option, I will no longer have any right to use the images in any way. Commercial clients will need to negotiate a separate agreement on a case-by-case basis.

Can we share the photos online?
Absolutely! Feel free to share the photos anywhere you like, as long as my logo remains visible. You can remove my logo for use at home or for use in a personal/commercial website design (as long as the website belongs to you), but please leave the logo on for all other purposes.

Can I edit the photos?
You may edit the photos in any way you like for personal use that won’t be shared online or through email. For any image that will be shared online (social media or otherwise) or through email, please don’t edit the photos beyond basic cropping. If you need more extensive edits, I’m happy to do them for an additional fee. This ensures that my brand and style remain intact when sharing images I’ve created.

PREPARING FOR YOUR SESSION

What should we wear for our portrait session?
You are welcome to coordinate your outfits on your own, or I can provide a Pinterest board with all kinds of outfit inspiration. One suggestion: if wearing matching colors, it’s better to wear similar shades of the same color rather than everyone wearing the exact same color. Also keep in mind that bold prints, patterns and graphics can be very distracting and draw the attention away from you. Consider solid colors or less-obvious patterns/prints.

Can we bring multiple outfits for our session?
Yes, certain session types allow multiple outfit changes! Keep in mind that the more outfits you change into, the less time we have to photograph you, and though one hour seems like a long time, it can be eaten up quickly by multiple outfit changes.  I recommend two to three per one hour session.

Can we include our pets in the photo session?
Absolutely! As long as they respond well to your direction, dogs and other pets that can be directed or managed are welcome in any session. Please note, I can’t guarantee that your pet will be looking at the camera in any shots, but we’ll work together to try to make it happen.

Do you offer hair and makeup services?
While I don’t provide those services directly, I can recommend trusted professionals who can help you look and feel your best for your session.

OTHER IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

What happens if it rains on the day of our outdoor shoot?
If it’s genuinely raining, we can either reschedule the session or explore indoor location options. If it’s just gray or windy, we’ll still shoot! Gray days provide very even lighting and we can get some great shots. I do reserve the right to cancel and reschedule if the weather worsens during the session.

Do you have liability insurance?
Yes, I carry liability insurance and I’m licensed to work in San Luis Obispo County and others.

Can we bring a friend or family member along to our session?
Yes, you’re welcome to bring a guest for support or to help with any little ones. Please note, if you want them to actually be in the session and be photographed, there’s an extra fee of $50 per adult, which is due in advance or at the session itself. There is never a fee for extra children, though the children must be siblings.

Please note: this FAQ page is an informational guideline and is not a legal document and should not be treated as such. Please consult your contract for specific legal details. I am not responsible for accidental errors or omissions on this page. Should any information on this page contradict or contravene anything in a legal agreement between Namu.Love and a client, the contracted agreement will take precedence.