Hey friend,
I know this may seem complicated at first glance, but it's really pretty simple and I'm here to hold your hand through it all!
Check out the steps below where I share the experience of working with me from start to finish.
STEP 1: Consultation Call
First things, first--we need to jump on a quick and complimentary consultation call. Yes, I know, talking on the phone these days can feel dreadful (I literally have an irrational fear of speaking on the phone), BUT it really is an important step in our photographic journey together. If I can muster the courage so can you;)
The phone call serves to:
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acquaint us prior to meeting in person for the first time
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allows us to vet one another to make sure it's a good fit all around
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gives you the chance to ask me ALL the questions
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offers us the opportunity to coordinate often-busy calendars and choose the best date and time to schedule our session
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we can discuss your vision for what you'd like from the session, decide if you'd prefer a studio or outdoor session, and choose a location that suits it
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most importantly, you get to tell me all about your dog! Our session is only a couple hours long, so knowing a little bit about them beforehand helps me connect with them as much as possible and that means better images.
STEP 2: Session Day
It's the big day!! We meet up at the location of your choosing and get to work on creating images of your dog that you'll love and cherish for the rest of your life.
You might be worried about how well it will go because your dog has a mind of their own, but please know that it's all going to be great. This is your dog's experience and 'so what' if they don't want to sit and stay when we want them to. We'll go at their pace and let them guide us. I always have a plan in mind for every session, but frequently we end up steering the ship in a completely different direction and it all works out in the end. The magic is in the messy, my friend!
Regardless of whether it's an indoor studio session or outdoor adventure, I will be prepared and ready with my backpack full of treats, gear and noise makers like a good little Mary Poppins.
Your role in all of this is to be flexible and relaxed! Depending on your dog, I may not need much assistance from you other than to walk your dog from spot to spot for outdoor sessions or just smile adoringly at them for moral support during an indoor shoot. Conversely, I may need you to quickly switch gears and be my co-pilot, getting down in the trenches with me if your dog has suddenly lost their attention span or they're overly nervous. Often I will need the parents to help out with things like:
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getting their dog to look at the camera (or general vicinity)
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holding the leash up and away from the dog to coax them into a sit and stay
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rewarding with treats for a modeling job well done when I'm a good distance away
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throwing the ball so we can get great action shots of the dog running straight at my face
And obviously, your biggest job is to, again, relax and just be yourself! If I'm photographing you with your dog, whether it's a candid or posed shot, the absolute best images are those where you're connecting with your dog in the way that is special to you both.
STEP 3: Choose Images
After our session, I will go through everything we captured, choose the batch of images I think have potential and perform very basic edits on those chosen portraits--just enough so you can see their potential. Within a day or two, I will fully edit one image and post on my social media as a sneak peek. Within a week, I will send you an online gallery of image proofs from which you'll choose your favorites; for studio sessions you'll receive at least 30 proofs and for outdoor sessions it will be a minimum of 75 proofs--I typically send more than double those base amounts, however.
Your job at this stage is to go through all of the proofs and decided which ones you'd like to purchase! If you had an outdoor session, this is also the point where you decide on which package you'd like to go with. If you're only interested in purchasing three images then choosing A La Carte might be the best option for you. However, if you have 30+ images on your favorites list then you've got some thinking to do. You'll either need to narrow it down to one of three packages or maybe purchase an album A La Carte and receive the matching digital files for every image in the book. You have options;)
To keep things moving (and my computer's storage operational) you'll have 3 full weeks from when the proofing gallery was delivered to make your picks--use this decision to guide which package you ultimately decide on. Once your choice is complete, the invoice for any remaining balance will be emailed and due within 7 days. Please note: if these deadlines aren't met your session will be archived and a $100 're-stocking' fee will be instituted if you wish to re-open your dog's portfolio.
STEP 4: Image Delivery
It's time for your dog's image reveal!
Once you've made your picks and paid your balance, I'll get to work on completing the detailed edits that will bring each image up to my creative standards and artistic style. I will have your final images to you within a week (up to 15 portraits), with the exception of an album purchase (20+ portraits) which will require an additional week or so depending on the image volume.
Your dog's finished portraits will be shared with you in a new folder within your personal online gallery and available for immediate download in both high-resolution/print and social media sized digital files. If you purchased the Premium or Luxe package, you will also receive a special coupon code (valid for 30 days) to apply your product credit to any wall art or album purchase in the shop connected to your online gallery.
I'm here to help if you need any guidance in choosing products. If you have questions about print sizes, finishes, mounts, etc--just ask. I'm happy to do things like create mock-ups of your wall with varying sized prints so you can visualize and compare how a piece will look or even meet up for coffee to show you physical samples. My goal is always to create emotive and gorgeous images, but most importantly, I want to create an experience for pet parents that leaves them feeling appreciated, happy and seen for being the dog-obsessed people they are.
Cheers!