Ever wonder what a session is truly like from start to finish?
Maybe you have never scheduled professional photos and you don't know what to expect. Regardless, photography is an investment and you should know all of the details prior to locking in your booking. Buckle up - this month's blog post will give you a full walkthrough from inquiry to delivery for a session with KNP.
Please note that weddings have a bit of a different process - separate blog post to come on that!
inquiry
The journey starts as soon as I get that initial message, email, or inquiry form. Let's get acquainted! Typically, I will send over my package options based on the type of session of interest, and you will let me know whether or not you'd like to move forward in the process. It's important that you let me know either way - even if you are not interested in moving forward, it's nice to know for the sake of scheduling and organization on my end. There are never any hard feelings.
From there, be prepared for questions! You will almost always get a questionnaire to cover location, package choice, and date of preference if you are a new client. In addition to the logistics, I will ask a few other questions to get a gauge for what you are looking for within your session: style, must-have photos, potential props, etc. It all depends on the type of photoshoot you are scheduling, but these questionnaires are vital to getting the most out of your session.
Once you provide me with your responses, I will review and work with you to get a date on the calendar. I may have a couple of follow up questions based on your responses, but now it's time to lock in a time!
If you are a returning client, sometimes we don't need the questionnaire portion. For example, I sometimes have families that return every year. After a first or second session, I am pretty in sync with them in terms of what they like and don't like. In those cases, we may be able to skip the questionnaire entirely and go straight to finding a date!
prep
Prior to your session, there is still a little bit of prep that needs to happen. Most importantly, you will have to choose your outfit(s)! Luckily, I've got you covered with some guides that can help you coordinate for any session. If you ever have worries about how to choose your outfits, please reach out to me and I will be happy to send you my guide that covers coordinating colors, palettes, and all kinds of advice for this aspect of your session.
Aside from outfits, you may need to do a smidge of research.
- Make sure you are watching the weather for your session date. I am always in contact with you about this if it's looking like rain or clouds, but it's important for you to keep an eye out as well so you dress accordingly. Comfort is key!
- Check the location ahead of time. You don't need to physically go there, but make sure you know how far of a drive it will be so you can arrive on time. Light is a peculiar thing and even 15 minutes could throw off the trajectory for your session!
your session
You've done all of the preparation, coordinating, and communicating - now it's time to get it done! Upon arriving at your session, we will meet at the agreed location and I will check in on how everyone's feeling. People tend to get nervous when they know their photo will be taken, so it's good to check in and get acclimated with each other. I'll walk you through my plan for spots to shoot at depending on the location, and we will go from there. I always like to start with a few warm up shots, and then we'll start to get into some more fun poses and explore other spots on the property.
There is never a consistent structure for how the actual shooting process will go. Every session I have is unique and people's personalities are all different. I have a "go with the flow" approach and never like to rush sessions. If you have cranky kids that aren't cooperating, we'll play around and do the best we can. Maybe this means getting in some quick shots as soon as possible - that's okay. On the other hand, I have some clients that love to explore the location, or they have their own ideas for some shots they'd like - totally fine too. Whatever you're expecting out of your photos, I will do my best to accommodate.
I always end my sessions by asking if there are any other shots or spots you'd like to try, and then I'll remind you of the post-process expectations.
Phew - you made it!
the anticipation
Between your session date and delivery, there is always a waiting period before you receive your photos. I always guarantee your gallery within 4 weeks of our session, but my typical turnaround time is usually much quicker. I get excited to work on the photos almost immediately, and can sometimes deliver the photos within a few days. It all depends on my current backlog and personal life, but I always communicate reasonable expectations based on those factors. During this time, I am working through edits and touch ups for each individual photo, and culling the best ones to deliver. Each one is handled with care, and I promise it will be worth the wait. I may even post or send a few previews to hold you over if it's going to take longer that I anticipated. As always, questions are always welcome!
delivery
The moment you've been waiting for! By this point, I've worked through all the post-process editing, and your photos are ready to be delivered. You will receive a link to a digital gallery where you can download all of your high resolution images to your computer or phone for use. The gallery software allows for individual or batch download, and you can even favorite or group certain photos. From there: print, post, and share away! If you have any problems downloading, I am always willing to mail a flash drive instead.
post-delivery
Once you have your photos, many choose to share on social media. I ask that you tag my page when sharing - this helps get my name out there, but most importantly, I am always curious about which photos you chose to share and liked best. I will likely post your photos to my pages, website, etc. as well, but oftentimes will not tag you for privacy protection.
Lastly, it means the world to me when people fill out a review - you can find me on Google. This helps me learn more about what I am doing well and what I can improve on, but it also gives other potential clients genuine feedback on your experience so they know what to expect from their end. They are helpful all around, and bonus, I will occasionally run deals for those who have given reviews!
Thank you for every single person that has made it this far. I appreciate your support!
♡ Kylie
