Inquire to Book Now
What is the best way to contact you?
New clients: Please complete my contact form to reach out about your first session.
Booked & returning clients: Email me about a session or questions about your booked session.
Email is the preferred communication method for in order for me to provide the best possible experience for you.
All emails are returned within 48 business hours.
Office Hours vary week to week depending on my session schedule but are usually Monday-Friday 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Most Saturdays I'm on location and am closed on Sundays.
If you have a very specific question that has not been addressed,
please include it in your inquiry for a response.
What type of editing is included?
Images in my client's galleries include color correction, basic adjustments in cropping and image quality along with some minor tweaks as needed. Advanced editing and retouching is not included and require a per image fee.
Do you do composite images?
At this time, I do not offer any composite images but can provide referrals if that is what you are looking for.
Do you use Photoshop?
While I do have photoshop, I do not provide extensive retouching of images such as altering your body shape in any way. If this is something you are interested in, it will be sent to an outside editor and has a per image cost. It is my goal to get images as close to your final gallery image while I'm shooting and believe in capturing and delivering images that are an authentic representation of the season you are in.
Do you provide RAW images to your clients?
RAW images are kept for my use only as they are not an accurate representation of my work and require specific programs to be able to open for editing purposes. All portrait sessions do come with a print release that will allow you to print wherever you choose. Print and product quality is only guaranteed when printed through my professional print lab. This is due to the variation in maintenance and quality of equipment used by non-professional labs.
editing questions
When is the best time of year to get photos?
It's really up to you and what you want the images for. While many people desire to get photos in the fall with the leaves, you may not want fall leaves up in your home if you have a light and airy decorating style. Winter snow photos can be beautiful and snow is a natural reflector so we have plenty of light even on cloudy days with snow on the ground.
When scheduling your date, it’s important to remember that the sun sets much earlier during the colder months of the year and much later during the warmer months, so make sure to factor that in –– especially if you have small children with a specific eating or sleeping schedule, or if you (or your spouse) will need to leave work early to get ready for the session and arrive on time. If you don’t have plans after your session, I always recommend going out for a fun date or family night since you’re already dressed up!
Do you shoot on weekends and weekdays?
My weekends fill up fast and far in advance. However, my weekdays are much more flexible. So if you’d like to do your session sooner rather than later, scheduling mid-week is the way to go!
Outdoor sessions end for DHP the Saturday before Daylight Savings Time in order to ensure delivery in time for gift giving and Christmas cards.
Your availability interferes with my child's sleep schedule, are there any other options available?
I photograph a majority of my portrait sessions the way I like to be photographed myself: outdoors, in natural light, because my style of photography is filled with images that are clean, bright, fresh and timeless. In order to provide images consistent with my gallery, session availability is based on the best light of the day in the early morning around sunrise or 1-2 hours before the scheduled sunset –– during the magical “golden hour” –– when the light in the sky is the softest, dreamiest and most flattering.
What happens if my newborn comes early or is late?
Little ones always come on their own schedule. For this reason, I only book a limited number of newborns each month so I can have some flexibility for those that arrive early or need a little extra time before they have their first photo session. Your contract will cover you for any date reschedules due to adjusted delivery dates.
What happens if I need to resschedule/cancel my session due to an emergency?
Your non-refundable payment will be valid for one rescheduled session pending photographer's availability. After that, a new non-refundable payment will be required to reserve any session date.
scheduling questions
Do you travel outside of Darien?
Yes, I offer complimentary travel within DuPage County and the towns on the surrounding edge of DuPage. Travel feel will be added to any session in downtown Chicago (limited availability) or that require significant travel. Please contract me for a custom proposal if you think your location is outside of my complimentary travel area.
How much is due up front?
Most full sessions require a non-refundable payment of $250 or 50% depending on the session type. Refer to your quote for specific payment plan information.
Where will my session be located?
When you book a full session, we will talk through your priorities for the session, how you plan to use the images and we'll come up with a wonderful location. I have a list of locations that I provide my booked clients (signed contract and non-refundable payment are required prior to location selection and to be considered a booked client). The locations range from local forest preserves, little downtown areas and some unique locations. Premium locations require a permit fee that will be in addition to the session investment (examples include: Cantigny, The Morton Arboretum, etc).
What happens in the case of inclement weather?
All weather related changes will be at the discretion of the photographer. Options for rescheduling are very limited from August through December due to the high volume of sessions requested by clients like yourself.
How many photos will be in my full session final gallery?
Most full galleries include at least 30 images for you to choose from.
How long does it take to get my images?
You will receive a sneak peak within a week and your gallery will be ready within 20 business days. It usually takes a lot less time than this for both but in an effort to serve each client well, I want to ensure I have adequate time to meet your needs and provide a quality gallery for you.
PLEASE NOTE: August through December are the busiest times so gallery turnaround times are longer and weather related reschedules are very limited.
May I share my images on social media?
Absolutely! You are welcome to share your sneak peek posts as well. Each gallery includes web-sized images just for this purpose. I kindly request that no editing or alterations are added to any photos including filters on Instagram or other platforms as it is not an accurate representation of my work and each photo is hand edited specifically to match my style.
While you are not required to tag my business pages when posting on social media, it is always appreciated! It means so much to me and I can't thank you enough in advance for doing so.
Do you offer prints, additional digitals and other products?
Yes, I do offer prints, digitals and products in addition to what is included in each collection. Using my professional lab ensures a quality product for you so for that reason, I only provide a guarantee of satisfaction for items through my lab. Please note that print and product orders require a $40 minimum. You can view more information on Print & Product pricing here.
Do you use props?
I keep a small assortment of props available for use during sessions although I prefer to focus on the people I'm photographing. Please contact me if you have a specific prop in mind and I will let you know if I'm able to accommodate your request.
May I combine multiplate types of sessions to be done in the same day?
Possibly. Depending on the types of sessions, I may be able to accommodate your requests but contact me in order to confirm prior to booking. You will receive a custom quote if I'm able to do what you are looking for.
May I include my pets?
You are welcome to include your family pets as long as they are fairly well behaved and will not endanger the safety of anyone including myself or others in public areas. I do recommend bringing an extra person your pet is familiar with to take them for a short walk while we finish your session.
general questions
This is a comprehensive list of the most frequently asked questions from my clients and potential clients.