FAQs
You have questions - hopefully I have answers! If anything isn't covered here, you can of course reach out via my contact form (email) or direct message (Instagram).
What's covered
Graduation-oriented
1. People
2. Clothes/What to Wear
3. Time/Seasons
1. People
2. Clothes/What to Wear
3. Time/Seasons
General
4. Posing/Location
5. Changes/Cancellations
6. Photo Delivery
4. Posing/Location
5. Changes/Cancellations
6. Photo Delivery
1. People
Q: Can I take one last picture with mum/family?
A: Sure! If it's just a photo or two, there's no additional cost. This will come out of your allotted time (30-min/1-hr/1.5-hr) unless you'd like to add a 20-min family session to your package for $20!
If family will not stay for the rest of the shoot, it's better for your mum/family to come at the beginning to take pictures together.
Q: Can I take a picture with my partner?
A: Of course! I'd be happy to take a photo for y'all :) If this is not a couples shoot where you'll be with each other the whole time, then it's better to get together at the beginning of the shoot.
Q: I'm in a group of n people; can I take a picture of myself?
A: It's possible! I don't have any restrictions; I'll take all the pictures that you want me to do in the given time. However, if there are a lot of people, we may have to hurry so we have finish within the time limit.
Q: I'm in a group of n people; how many hours would be good?
A: I'd say three people can comfortably fit in two hours. For more than 4 people, 2 hours will be a bit of a crunch - kindly keep in mind that the proportion of individual photos to group photos will need to be adjusted appropriately.
If it's more than that, you should think of it as a group photo in two hours. There can be many unexpected variables (late, meeting friends while passing by, poor conditions, waiting time for photo areas, etc.). The more relaxed the shoot, the better for you (and me!) :)
2. Clothes/What to Wear
Q: Can I wear several outfits?
A: It's possible! It takes at least 10-15 minutes to change, and if you change twice, 30 minutes will magically disappear. Considering this, I don't usually recommend more than one per roughly 45 minutes. Clothes can also be heavy to carry around (I'll help you where I can, though)!
Q: Can you recommend clothes to wear to my grad shoot??
A: For feminine clothes, dresses with minimal details are recommended. It's better to have less details on the upper body or neck, because large details or lots of cloth can make you look "puffy" since you'll usually wear a grad gown on top. Traditionally, solid colors such as cream, beige, light sky blue, and light pink are preferred to emphasize your regalia.
For masculine clothes, a suit or dress shirt and slacks for at least one "formal" outfit is great to have! I can hold onto your sports jacket if you choose to wear one while you have your gown on, as it can get warm/bulky with the extra layer. Crew-neck sweaters with dark pants and dress shoes are also great!
In the case of a dress or skirt, the long skirts or mini skirt are recommended over knee-length skirts (they can photograph a bit oddly with the gowns). If you don't have enough time and need to buy something in a hurry, a square-neck cream/white/beige mini-dress is always classic! It's the easiest!
Q: Any hair/makeup tips?
A: For my folks with some length to their hair, setting your hair with some volume at the top is always nice since we'll be outdoors and weather may be windy on/off. For short bangs, don't forget to bring a comb/brush to help floof them since you'll need to adjust your cap! If you have a choice, looser curls are less prone to get tussled by the wind over tighter curls, as well.
3. Time/Seasons
Q: When is the best time to take pictures?
A: This can depend on your likes and dislikes. By default, I'd say golden hour (the time before the sun sets) is the best time, and its warmth is prettiest in summer. Depending on the season, golden hour starts at 5p-7p. For a bright and cooler feeling, before high-noon is best (so 10a-12p) or early evening (4-5p depending on the season).
Q: What's the best season to shoot?
A: I think there's a special magic to mid-April going into May! Perhaps I'm just a sucker for spring flowers... Early July is great because it's clear with summer in full bloom, but it gets too hot as mid-July approaches.
The next best season is mid-September to late-October with fall's golden beauty poppin' in. After the end of October, the weather starts to get finicky as winter sets in.
The next best season is mid-September to late-October with fall's golden beauty poppin' in. After the end of October, the weather starts to get finicky as winter sets in.
Q: What's the best weather to shoot in?
A: To each their own! For me, it's clear and sunny, so if I go out today without clouds, I'll burn myself. Your skin will get tanned well today, you'd better not go out on a day like this. I like this kind of weather. I recommend changing the date on cloudy days. It's better to check the weather forecast in advance and change the schedule quickly. :-) There is no penalty for changing the schedule.
Q: I'm going to be busy during my last semester; can I take grad pictures before then?
A: Sure! So long as you have access to your respective grad regalia, it may even be better to do your graduation shoot a semester (or two!) before you plan to graduate. That way, it's one less thing of your plate. You'll also have flexibility of choosing the season you like most (ex. shooting with fall colors but graduating in spring)
4. Posing/Location
Q: Do I have to prepare poses?? How do I pose? I'm new to this! ㅠㅠ
A: No worries, I gotchu! I'll guide you through how to generally pose yourself, so no worries on where to put your hands and whatnot :) For a lot of people, it's their first time doing a photoshoot like this (besides senior photos in high school perhaps?). Besides, it's my job as the photographer to create something!
Q: Which universities do you shoot at?
A: During the school year, I'm in school and can cater to universities around the metro Atlanta. Examples are: Georgia Tech (home grounds!), Georgia State, Emory, Clark, Spelman, Morehouse, SCAD Atlanta, & Kennesaw State.
5. Changes/Cancellations
Q: It's going to rain for my shooting day. SOS!!
A: There's no penalty to change days due to weather or unforeseen circumstances coming up! The only limitation will be your and my availability, in which case may bump your shooting day back if it's a busy season for me (we love exam szn).
Q: I want to cancel my appointment. What do I do?
A: Please tell me ASAP if you need to cancel. There's no penalty if you change your mind to not shoot with me. However, please please let me know as soon as possible if you change your mind.
I don't take deposits as of now because as a college student myself, I understand flexibility is important, so there's nothing to worry about there.
6. Photo Delivery
Q: Can I have my unedited photos?
A: I do not give unedited photos to clients (even upon special request), just as a painter wouldn't put an unfinished painting in an art show! If you have any issues with your gallery, we'll figure out a solution together.
Q: When should I expect my finished gallery?
A: You should receive a link to your finished gallery 10 business days after the end of your shoot. If circumstances arise where I cannot deliver in this time frame, I'll let you know as soon as possible! Please allow me a little extra grace and understanding for shoots that fall around finals, especially.