Frequently Asked Questions

After we agree on on a date and time, I will prepare and email you a contract which you can sign online via your computer or mobile device. The contract simply lays out expectations and protects both parties from potential misunderstanding.

This contract is standard in the photography industry and your session will not be considered booked until it is signed. I will also attach an invoice to the contract so you can see exactly how much is due and when.

If your chosen shoot date is within 10 calendar days of booking, the full amount will be due upon booking. If there is more than 10 days before your shoot, a non-refundable $200 retainer is due upon booking to reserve your slot and the remainder will be due 1 week before the shoot date.

After your photos are finished, if you wish to order additional digital images, photo prints or products not included in your package, full payment for the products will be due during order submission.

All payment is accepted online.

We accept credit and debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover & JCB.)

Even though your session might only be for 1-3 hours, the time required for me to prepare for and travel to and from your shoot will take up approximately half of my day, which means on any given day, I can at most book 1 morning session and 1 afternoon session. When you book your session, that half day is reserved for you and I cannot book any other clients. Therefore, a non-refundable retainer is required at booking to reserve your slot and show me that you intend to show up at the contracted date and time.

If, for some reason, you will not be able to make on the reserved date and time, please contact me as soon as possible and we can reschedule for another date and time within the same calendar year on the same retainer. However, if you choose to cancel, that retainer will not be refunded due to the fact that it will have prevented me from booking other clients for the dates/times you had reserved.

The remaining balance for your session will be due 1 week prior to the session date.

In the event of adverse weather conditions, we can reschedule for another day at no cost to you. I will be checking the weather forecast regularly to make sure conditions continue to be ideal for our shoot. If you notice a drastic change in the weather forecast and think we may need to reschedule, please contact me as soon as possible.

This may also apply if we are shooting indoors and will be relying on natural light from windows and doors. Lighting equipment is available for indoor shoots, but the effect may be different from natural light, so feel free to discuss weather concerns with me whether your shoot will be indoors or outdoors.

Please make sure you bring:

• Waste cleanup bags
• A leash
• A favorite toy or ball
• Vaccination records showing the pet is up-to-date on shots
• If previously agreed upon: treats
• If your chosen shoot location requires one: applicable permits or licenses

Please arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled shoot time to allow your pet to acclimate to the surroundings. If you pet is excitable, please arrive earlier to give him/her the time needed to settle down.

Unless the shoot is in your home or on your own property, please bring a leash as it is required by law. If we are shooting in a secure location where dogs are allowed off-leash, then you may take off the leash. However, if we are shooting in a public location such as a park, your dog will need to be on leash.

If possible, please bring a leash that is conservative in color and size (not too thick or brightly colored) to make it easier to edit out in post processing. However, safety should always be the number one concern when choosing a leash for your session.

This may sound strange considering my business name, but please do not bring treats unless previously agreed upon with me. The reason for this is that some dogs may become overly excited or focused on the treat to sit still or obey commands, and all of the resulting images may result in maniacal food-crazy expressions rather than your pet’s normal and lovable features.

Another reason to not bring treats is that some dogs may drool when they smell or see treats, and there is also the problem of drool spots on the face after munching on a delicious treat.

If you think your dog may need something to attract its attention, a favorite toy or ball would be recommended and may yield better results than treats.

Yes, for an additional fee, you images can be loaded on a USB drive and mailed to you.

When your initial edits are finished, the photos will be uploaded to an online proofing gallery where you can pick the images you want. If you want more images than were included in your package, you can choose additional images that you wish to order.

After you are done selecting the images you want, they will undergo final editing and polishing before the final gallery delivery. You will be able to download the images included in your package and pay for additional images and prints.

Taking the photos is only part of the process for the photographer. After a shoot, I will need to edit the images before delivering them to you. This process can take anywhere from 1-3 weeks depending on the number of images taken or ordered.

I know you are excited to see your image, but please be patient as the editing process is just as important as the shooting process. And please remember that pet photography requires more editing than human photography if you don’t want a leash showing up in every photo.

Due to copyright law, photo labs often require a print release from the photographer before printing professionally produced images. If you purchase a digital image with a print release, please read it carefully to familiarize yourself with the rights and permissions granted and take it with you if you are having prints made by a photo lab.

Unless you purchase a commercial license, all photos are for personal use only. This means you can use them for:

• Your personal (not business) social media
• Sharing with friends and family
• Personal greeting cards
• Gifts to friends and family
• Displaying in private homes
• General personal use

Commercial use is anything that results in financial gain and will require commercial licensing. Some scenarios include but are not limited to:

• Business websites, social media, advertising, etc.
• Promotion of animals or products for sale
• Display in a publicly viewable business location (with exception of a private office desk)
• Merchandise (calendars, mugs, etc.)
• Publishing (digital and physical)
• Websites, blogs, or social media accounts that earn ad or affiliate revenue
• Anything that results in financial gain