1) Where Are You Located?
Lifestyle sessions take place in my home studio, located at 4014 Dalton Dr. Rowlett, TX. The studio is a custom design private space away from the rest of my home which holds everything needed for your custom photography experience.
You can also click on this link to get a look into the studio.
2) What Is Lifestyle Studio Photography?
Studio lifestyle photography is a laid back, casual approach to newborn and baby photography. I utilize a soft, natural and clean approach with the use of a white cozy bed with white/ivory organic linens, wraps and textiles. This type of photography is designed for parents that aren’t into prop heavy sessions and prefer a clean, natural and minimalist approach to their newborn/baby session.
3) How Is This Different To Documentary Photography?
Documentary photography is purely capturing really moments without any direction. However, Lifestyle does include a small element of this. It’s a little more styled and does include some slight posing. This might include me giving you some gentle prompts, such as where to stand/sit, where to place your hands all while keeping it relaxed and natural.
4) What Age Is Best For a Lifestyle Session?
With the Lifestyle session, fortunately for many clients there isn’t a specific time frame to get newborn/baby photos done. Clients have more flexibility in getting a Lifestyle session scheduled, than they would with a sleepy/posed, newborn session. Posed is always best when captured at the age of birth, up to two weeks, max. Only because of the heavy prop transitions involved for the posed newborn session. I have witness many, many times after the 14-16 day mark, babies have discovered the art of stretching! Once that happens…they won’t let us curl them up in the cute little newborn posed poses, without a fight.
Since no prop posing is ever involved with a Lifestyle session, you can wait much longer to get your session scheduled. There isn’t an age limit for these session. All babies at any age are welcome so please don’t lose heart. The beauty about Lifestyle newborn/baby photography is that, photos are more about the connection between you and your little one, rather than the posed studio newborn/baby photos you often see. If your little one is awake and looking up at you, these photos can be just as AMAZING too! ♥
5) What Creative Groupings Can I Expect From A Lifestyle Session?
Groupings starts with all family members together then branch off; mom and kid(s), dad and kid(s) and lastly your children together and (or) individually. You have complete control over the creative groupings but for the most part this is my go to order in which I start the session.
6) I Would Love To Do Both! Can I Book A Posed Newborn & Lifestyle Session On The Same Day?
Unfortunately, you can not. Clients have to book either, or. If you’re leaning more towards a posed newborn session, my advice would be to book the mini newborn collection. Get yourself small handful of beautifully curated newborn posed prop photos. Once your baby hits their next milestone, which is about 2/3 months, book the Lifestyle baby session. That way you’ll little bit of both; sweet sleepy posed newborn photos and then of course, baby photos where you can capture some amazing awake, sweet bonding parent/sibling photos. Important to note, Lifestyle newborn photos are completely propless and do not include the use of any props. Unfortunately, no exceptions will be made to this studio policy.
If you’re still interested in doing both, the same day, clients can book the mini newborn and add the lifestyle session as, an add on. However, please be aware, no discounts will be given for combing both. My pricing structure is already priced reasonably for the quality of work and not to mention, delivering of, said high resolution files is by far, most valuable commodity, which not many professional photographers do. You’ll notice not many photographers sell their digitals, let alone the entire gallery and when they do, you’ll notice that they are priced a lot higher than fine art prints. Reason being, digital files are amongst the highest priced items to photographers, because once I give you the files, I lose any future sale from your session. For this reason, I need to ensure a reasonable profit is made so again, no discounts of any sorts will be applied to your collection(s).
7) Will You Help & Guide Me To Make Me Feel & Look My Best?
Yes, I most certainly will! ♥ Let’s be honest, most don’t have the opportunity to get professionally photographed on a regular basis so it’s completely normal for clients to feel uneasy about the whole process. I don’t want you to worry. I come with enough experience to already envision the whole session before we even begin; posing, lighting, angles..etc. Not to mention because of the relaxed nature of a Lifestyle session for a majority of the photos, they are photographed in a more documentary style approach so you don’t have to worry about too many straight camera smiling photos!
After booking has been confirmed, you’ll receive a Lifestyle session prep guide that’ll discusses in detail, every aspect of the studio session and how you can prepare with regard to hair, makeup, clothing, tips to prepare your baby/other children..etc.
8) Can I Bring/Incorporate My Pet & Other Non Immediate Family Members To The Lifestyle Session?
As much as I wholeheartedly get the sweet idea of having your fur baby involved, pets are not allowed to be apart of any studio session. If you’re wanting your pet involved, I would recommend an outdoor session. Since this setup is very intimate and doesn’t leave room for large groups, sessions are for immediate family members only; mom, dad, children.
9) What Time Of Day Do You Schedule Lifestyle Sessions & Do You Offer Weekends Appointments?
Since Lifestyle sessions are indoor, we’re not limited to the weather. Because I also specialize in weddings full time, Lifestyle sessions are not scheduled on weekends. They must be booked during the week. Earliest start time, would be an 9am and latest would be 4:30pm.
10) What Safety Precautions Have You Incorporated Into Your Studio Business?
I’m vaccinated with the both COVID dosages and Tdap vaccine. I’m continuing to wear double face masks during all studio sessions and will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. Clients are required to wear a mask when entering my home but have the option of removing it when they arrive to the studio. Shoes must be taken off at the door.
I have begun the process of booking studio sessions full time, however on the contingency of, every other day. During that rest period, it will allow me to adequate time to thoroughly disinfect the entire studio; door handles, light switches, camera gear, floors, couches, seating chairs, walls, floor..etc and also run my air purifiers throughout the entire day to clean the air. Garments/props that are worn and not machine washable, are put on a 3 day rotation of no studio use after disinfection. Frequent hand washing breaks and the use of hand sanitizer is used throughout the whole session. For all the linens, I have 3 bedding sets in rotation. After your session is complete all linens are machine washed and not available for use for 3 days.
Please note, there is absolutely nothing more important to me than the health and safety of all my clients. Taking all the necessary steps to ensure the studio environment remains safe and clean for your studio session is my utmost priority so if there’s anything else I can do to help alleviate concerns, please don’t hesitate to let me know.
11) Who chooses the final digital image count?
Within a week of your session, I will send you a gallery link for soft proofing. Meaning, once your images have been narrow down to the deliverable files, I’ll email you the gallery link of unedited files and from there, you get to pick and choose the ones images you would like edited/delivered. The median range for this gallery is 45-50 files.
12) What if we run out of the said amount of time for my collection?
No worries, this tends to happen quite often but I don’t want you to worry. Depending how everything is progressing, it might run a little longer or shorter so please don’t feel as though you have to rush through it all. I understand not all families are the same, especially when working with little ones. Although the time listed in your collection is a generalized time of how long the sessions typically take, my session won’t be complete until I have the said amount of digitals, I am to produce.
***IMPORTANT BOOKING PROCESS/STUDIO DETAILS***
1) How Do I Book My Session With You?
Just an thorough insight, all sessions are fully inclusive, meaning you select the collection that include the said number of files. The collection price includes time, talent, session design, editing of your images as well, as the rendering of your high resolution digital gallery which will be available for download straight to your computers. The photos are your to share, print, treasure and adore for years to come! ♥
Once you’re ready to make it official, I will put together your contract and emailed it along with your PayPal invoice for the non-refundable retainer fee of $35. Retainer is applied to the total amount due and the remaining balance can be paid when services have been rendered. All collections are subjected to a 8.25% Texas State Sales Tax and payments can be made via PayPal or Zelle Quick Pay.
2) Why Do You Only Deliver the Said Amount of Digitals & Not More, For The Listed Amount Of Time?
Newborn photography is not like your traditional types of sessions. There is a very delicate nature that is involved in working with little babies. It takes a great deal of time and care to soothe your precious little one—something that is very important and quite crucial in the process of creating works of art. Yes, you might have seen other photographers provide more images but I would rather take my time producing my said number of images of clean, crisp, sweet photos of my babies posed beautifully and comfortably and not 50 images where your baby doesn’t look comfortable at all.
The said number of files is always the range of every session. I don’t take more to purposely up-sell you. If anything, depending how well the session is going, I might take a few more and include them at no extra charge.
3) What Is The Turnaround On The Files?
Turnaround on your digital files is 21 days from your scheduled session date. Once the said photos have been post processed, files will be added to your online viewing gallery. I will text you once the gallery has been emailed. From the gallery, you’ll be able to download your high resolution non-watermarked images to your computers. You will also receive a PDF of your print release/usage rights. You’re more than welcome to share the gallery with family and friends. Online gallery also has the option to also purchase prints directly from the printing lab. Prints start at $15.00 and orders are shipped directly to the lab and arrive within 2 weeks of order date.
4) Will I Receive “HIGH” Resolution Photos?
A lot of photographers say they will give you the digital files, but that can be deceiving as some photographers only give a 8×10 resolution. So if you ever want to print an 11×14 print, you have to spend hundreds of dollars with the photographer for the rest of your life. That way prints and frames can ONLY be ordered by that photographer and nowhere else.
All of my collections include the high resolution edited files which can be printed up to a 30×40 or higher.
5) What if we need to move our session date, or even worse, cancel it, after we’ve signed a contract with you?
My contract does state my policies for handling situations like these. The deposit is always non-refundable no matter what. However, if you have to move your session date, you can apply your retainer toward the new date, as long as I’m available. If you cancel your session altogether, unfortunately your retainer is non-refundable.
6) Who Has The Rights To The Images?
Lily Hayes Photography, retains the copyright to all the images, per USC Title 17 (US Copyright Law). So just a little insight as to what that means, as the photographer, I retain the right to show off your gorgeous images to my other potential clients so that can see my beautiful work. You have solely, purchased reproduction rights, not the actual design. With your full print release (usage rights), you have the right to print and share the images being provided to you by, Lily Hayes Photography.
7) Are You Insured?
Yes, I am with both professional and liability insurance! ♥
8) Do I Have Permission To Print The Photos? Can I Use Them On My Social Media Platforms?
Yes, you do! All sessions include full print release/usage rights. However, I do ask that you please do NOT print your images from a low quality printer like Wal-Mart, Target, CVS, Shutterfly, etc. The quality of your images will not reflect how beautiful they really are! ♥
9) Does the collection price change if I don’t need the said amount of digitals?
No, unfortunately it does not.
10) Do You Watermark Your Photos?
No, I do not. I don’t feel it’s necessary even though it’s an endless amount of free marketing…lol. I’ve been very blessed to have worked with so many amazing clients and for the most part, word of mouth referrals accounts for a big chunk of my clientele.
11) Can I Have The Unedited Files?
Raw images are not usable images – at least to a client. Raw images need to be processed in order to create a final image. Part of my job is to process your images, perfect them and create a finished product. Asking your photographer for the RAW files, is like asking a cake vendor for an extra bag of flour, on the side. It’s only a partial ingredient in the overall product and means nothing on it’s own.
