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Letter to Parents:
Dear Parent,
Here are a few suggestions
to help make your experience at Ivy’s Garden a fabulous one!
Do’s:
- Plan ahead and have everything put
together that you may need well in advance so you do not switch into
“panic mode” the day of your sitting!
- Pack an “emergency” kit: hairbrush,
hairspray, makeup, (cover stick, powder, and blush) bobby pins,
pacifier, bottle, candy for bribery purposes…
- Put a bib on your baby so he/she will not
spit up on that heirloom Christening gown before we’ve had a chance to
make the portrait!
- Arrive on time for your appointment so
that your session will not have to be cut short or rescheduled! Your
appointment time is critical if we are doing outdoor/natural light
photography, as little as 15 minutes can negatively impact the
product.
- Make sure your child is well rested
before his/her session; a rested child is a happy child!
- Plan plenty of time for your session; I
don’t rush nor do I put any pressure on my young subjects, so expect
to spend an entire hour with me during the creation of your child’s
portraits!
- Have an open mind about your portraits… a
child’s innocent gaze at a vintage toy can be just as wonderful as a
big cheesy grin aimed directly at the camera!
- Encourage your child about the session;
let them know it will be a happy experience, and how proud you are of
him/her.
- Allow your child to be his/her age; a 12
year old can pose like a movie star for me every time, but a 2 year
old might have to be “shot in action”!!!!
- Refrain from giving your child
instructions during your session! Leave that to the photographer, she
will let you know if you can be of assistance.
- Battle the temptation to correct your
child for smiling the “wrong” way! Let him/her be themselves. You will
cherish those silly grins in the near future and will be so glad you
have the memories on film!
- Make sure your child doesn’t have hair in
his/her eyes. Tussy mussy hair is great with me, and on film, just not
in the eyes. Have a way to pin, curl, spray, or slick it away from
those baby blues!
- Call and reschedule if your child is ill!
Even if it’s the day of the session, I want the opportunity to make
AWESOME portraits for you and will be happy to find another time!
- Save your child’s “reward” until the
session is over. If you believe in bribery (and I’m a big fan myself)
don’t hand out the candy, gum, rice krispy treat, or new corvette
until we’re all finished. Otherwise Jr. will let us both know it’s
over when he is happily grinding up gummy bears!
- Finally, and most important, plan to have
a great time! Mine is an interactive experience (I will put you to
work) come relaxed and with a positive attitude! Expect great things
and leave worry and pressure out on the freeway where it belongs!
Don’ts:
- Don’t bring in the cavalry to “help with
the pictures” Usually just mom is plenty, but if you feel you need
some more support, let me know ahead of time and we can discuss what
will benefit you the most.
- Don’t ask/beg your child to do something
the photographer has already instructed! They will embarrass you every
time! Instead let them know ahead of time your expectations and let
the photographer use a little “reverse psychology” to achieve the
desired action/expression.
- Don’t have your heart completely set on a
certain pose; some settings make little ones unhappy while something
completely unexpected can be absolutely magical!
FAQ’s
1. How far in advance do I
need to schedule a sitting?
I can usually schedule a
session with 2 weeks notice, however during the fall season you will
want to schedule around 4 weeks in advance.
2. Are Saturday
appointments available?
Normally I do not have
Saturday appointments as these are “wedding”days. However I will book a
“last minute” Saturday the week of…call for availability.
3. How much can I expect
to invest in my portraits?
This will certainly depend
on your individual needs and the type of finishes and sizes desired.
Please keep in mind that I do have a $150.00 minimum order requirement
and this does not include the sitting fee. Price schedules may be viewed
by clicking “children” and then scrolling down to price list.
4. Are after hour’s
appointments available?
Absolutely! I have late
afternoon/early evening appointments available Tuesday thru Thursday.
5. When will I be able to
view my images?
7-10 business days from
your session date.
6. May I take my proofs
home to make my selections? No, we no longer offer proofs. Instead
we have a slide show presentation for you to make your selections from.
7. May I bring my
mother-in-law to help me make my selections?
Certainly! Bring everyone
who is going to be involved in the decision making process. However,
leave your children with a sitter as we cannot accommodate them during
the ordering process and they will keep you from being able to
concentrate on your selections.
8. Can I order more
portraits later?
You certainly can! We will
keep your negatives on file for approximately one year. Our minimum
re-order requirement is $35.00.
9. May I bring my other
child/children to the portrait session who are not scheduled to be
photographed that day?
Bringing extra children along
during the session is not a good idea. They are often bored, and
become distractive to both the photographer and the child who is being
photographed. There can also be a safety issue with lights, cables,
etc., in the studio. Please make arrangements for Grandma or your
favorite baby sitter to be available to take care of your other
children during an individual session.
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