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Well...no. I used to do what’s called “all-inclusive” as a business model, where you’d pay one price and I’d send you all the digital files and say “good luck with figuring out what to do with them!” 
I found that wasn’t serving my clients when I’d check in with them a year later to find that their photos never made it further than a Facebook post and maybe a Shutterfly calendar that fell apart in 3 months. 
So I switched to an in-person service model, where I would go to peoples’ houses to reveal their photos and then have them order artwork that same day to make sure they got things printed. 
However, that turned out to be a disservice in another way, because it was a lot of pressure having me there and then having to make decisions on the spot. It also took a lot of both their time and mine to land on just the right products that fit both their preferences and budget. 
So now I have a new system where you get to see your photos before you decide how much you want to spend, then you get a month to make decisions on artwork without any pressure, and I’m still always happy to hop on a call or even come by in person to offer any help you might need. 

Yes! A cornerstone of my philosophy when it comes to family sessions is that it is crucial that kids have total freedom to be themselves (as long as it’s safe.) My experience is that trying to force active kids to smile and look at the camera is a battle you will never win, and the more relaxed the parents are, the better things turn out. Generally, there are so many fun things to do on the farm that getting great candids of joyful moments is a piece of cake. Then, for the more traditional family portraits, I have a vast repertoire of sophisticated techniques to get genuinely happy expressions out of little ones. These include firing up the bubble machine, engaging in the very silliest of dance moves, and perfectly executed fart noises. Also, I use the pre-shoot consultation to find out what your kids are interested in, what makes them laugh, etc. and by getting to know who they are beforehand, I can get them to forget they’re getting their picture taken during your shoot. 

It depends on your definition of these words, but I make every effort to help make it as much of all three as possible. It is a working farm, so there are hazards in the environment that I’m always sure to point out before entering a new area (for instance, alpacas make a gurgling, Chewbacca-esque sound right before they spit.) I’’ll also help you to prepare beforehand so that hygiene and comfort don’t create a distraction during the shoot. For example, I recommend comfortable footwear, preferably water-resistant, in case anyone steps in a cow patty or has to walk through wet grass. I also suggest extra layers, an emergency change of shirt/pants, etc. and provide a comfort kit upon arrival with things like hand sanitizer, bug spray, water, and snacks so you don’t have to worry about them. 

I’m pretty sure I have yet to meet anyone who really likes having their picture taken. In fact, I’d raise an eyebrow at anyone who told me that it’s one of their favorite things. I have a policy that I won’t use photoshop to alter anyone’s weight, height, hair color, or how many noses they have, but I do use it as a tool to fix small distractions like fly away hairs and skin blemishes if requested. More importantly, I’ve invested a lot of time and dollars into professional development over the years so I know exactly how to shoot and direct you so you’ll look your absolute best in your photos. Plus, when an image captures a genuine moment of love, any physical imperfections tend to get overshadowed. 

Until recently I offered these services complimentary and built the time it took into the price of the artwork itself. However, I found that not everyone needed or wanted these services, so to make things more flexible and to make the artwork more affordable, I decided to offer these as separate add-on services. They’re still available, but they do cost a little extra for me to do them. 
And in many cases, I might not be the best person to do them for you (I’m more of a ‘clumsyboy’ than a ‘handyman’ and my wife makes 100% of the design choices in our house for what it’s worth.) In these cases I’ll always make a referral to someone I know and trust will do the job right and leave you feeling thrilled to pieces. 

Each Collection includes a number of high-resolution, fully retouched (edited plus small blemishes/flyaway hairs and background distractions removed) digital files that you can choose from an online gallery of at least 60 images. In addition, each collection includes a print credit, which is like a gift certificate that can be used in an online store connected to your gallery, which guarantees you'll end up with something real at the end. Everything in the online store is museum-grade and guaranteed to last a lifetime. For more detailed information about the packages and pricing, please book a call with me by clicking here! 

I could be a cheap photographer, but I’m not. This wasn’t an easy choice to make, because part of me wants to please everyone, be all things for all people, and just work for free so that each person on earth can have nice photos. I was also afraid that people would be mad at me if I charged a lot, and I might get yelled at, which would be a fate worse than death according to my imagination. But someone reminded me that no one yells at the salesperson at a Mercedes dealership because the prices are high. Or if they do they’ll just be asked to leave. Luxury car makers just make nicer cars, they serve fewer customers, and the prices are higher than other cars. 

There are a few basic things that I’ve learned are important to me as a business owner. One of those things is that I have the capacity to go above and beyond for each and every customer I serve. That’s why I limit the number of sessions I take on, so that I can pour every resource I have into giving my customers the best service possible. For example, every shoot includes an in-person consultation where I pack my car full of artwork samples, drive to your house, then spend as long as it takes to learn your family’s story and personalities, what types of photos and what products would perfectly complement your home, and show you exactly what different sized pieces will look like up on the wall. I can give tips on outfits, provide guidance on preparing and managing kids, and only leave once you feel 100% excited and 0% confused about your session. With fewer sessions I also can offer no time limits on family sessions, so there’s no feeling rushed or worrying about time, resulting in the best possible images. 

It’s also important to me to only offer the highest quality products. While I have three price tiers to accommodate different budgets, the products in the least expensive tier are still lightyears beyond what you get from consumer print labs. By offering museum-grade art products, I’m able to include a lifetime guarantee that their quality will hold up, so your kids’ kids will get to see these images in the same condition that you do. So, while products of this caliber cost more, the value of a truly archival-grade piece can be found in both its beauty and longevity, and for me, to offer anything less would feel like a disservice. 

Offering a quality product also means creating the best possible images for you, which is why I’ve invested a great deal of time and money into things like professional development and equipment. I strive to have the best tools and knowledge at my disposal in order to deliver a superior final product, so much so that it’s occasionally problematic for my marriage (‘That cost how much??’) 

So all this is a really long way of saying that my service costs more because it’s worth more. I understand that not everyone values photography the same and that for many people a lower priced photographer is a better fit, so am always happy to point folks in the direction if that’s the case.