Everything you need to know about your Portrait Session!
Frequently asked questions:
Where will the photographer travel?
I travel to the following locations: Destin, Miramar Beach(a sub Destin beach in Florida), Seaside, Seagrove, Watercolor, Watersound, 30a, Sowal – South Walton, Fort Walton, Fort Walton Beach, Okaloosa Island, Navarre, Crestview, Grayton Beach, Frangista Beach, Crystal Beach, Santa Rosa Beach, Sandestin Area, Seacrest, Rosemary Beach, Pensacola, Pensacola Beach, Panama City, Panama City Beach, Inlet Beach, Henderson State Park, Bluewater Bay, Niceville, Mary Ester, Shalimar and other cities upon request.
Where do we actually meet?
We will meet at the location of your choice for portraits. Usually, I will meet you at your condo or beach house if staying on the beach. If not staying on the beach I will meet you at a public beach park. My favorite places to shoot are Henderson Beach State Park in Destin, Florida and Beasley Park in Fort Walton Beach.
I always recommend that you give yourself plenty of time no matter where you are going. Traffic is awful most of the time in Destin, Florida now that there is construction making it so much worse. It is better to arrive early than to miss the sunset entirely by being late.
Still not sure where you want to take your pictures? Check out these amazing locations to take pictures in Destin!
What times do we meet for beach sessions?
Typically we will meet an hour before sunset for a sunset beach portrait session. This will allow for the best lighting for the best beach ambient lighting.
How long will the session last?
The session lasts about 45 minutes to an hour. I take my time to make sure we capture the images you are wanting. We will get some posed of the entire family and individuals of the children. Then we will get some candid and fun pictures. Some examples are walking on the beach or jumping pictures are always a favorite.
What should we wear?
Comfortable color coordinated clothing are best for beach portraits. My favorite colors are a mixture of Blues especially Navy. It really makes the water pop.
You can see more examples of what to wear in my Destin Beach Portrait All-in-One Guide
Other examples include a variety of Whites/Khakis, White shirts and jeans, Corals/pastels.
Please wear clothing that allows for movement such as sitting, standing, or walking. Short skirts or dresses are not recommended as they will limit the number of flattering poses available.
What should I do with my hair?
Products, products, products! There is always a little bit of wind on the beach even on the nicest days. You will love your beach pictures so much more when your hair is not in your face the entire time.
That is the biggest challenge on the beach for beach portraits. Please get your hair professionally done for beach portraits. I cannot stress this enough. Windblown hair covers your beautiful face and I want to see it. If you need a recommendation for a hair and makeup artist Mary Lee is fantastic and travels to you so you never have to leave your condo.
What if I wear glasses?
I will ask that you either wear glasses without lenses or remove your glasses during the session. The glasses will cause a reflection of my flash. Therefore, we will not be able to see your beautiful eyes with the glare from the flash. I try to do everything I can to reduce the glare but sometimes it happens. We can even have you hold your glasses as well so it is still authentic and a piece of you in case you don't feel like you without them.
What happens if the weather is bad the day of my session?
If it raining or if the wind is too high, we will reschedule. I always try to book you at the beginning of your vacation so that if we need to reschedule we may do so.
During the summer months, there are often scattered showers and thunderstorms. So on those days, I may call you to try to schedule you a different time during that day when it is less likely to rain.
Don't worry if it is cloudy. Cloudy pictures are actually better for lighting. Sometimes we may have to reschedule for sunrise if it is unavoidable before you leave. I know it is really challenging to get up that early but you may actually like sunrise better. There are fewer people, sometimes even better skies than sunset, cooler, and less windy.
If you are from out of town and we are unable to reschedule, you will receive a full refund.
When should we book a session?
Please try to book your session as soon as possible. Summer months are the busiest and book up fast so the sooner the better. You should also book the earliest in your vacation that everyone will be available in case we need to reschedule due to weather.
Don't worry if the day happens to be cloudy. It would look great because there will be more soft light and less squinting.
What happens after the session is complete?
About 1-3 weeks after your session has been completed (depending on the time of year), you will get an email with an access code to view your images online.
Why should I purchase print products from you instead of a local drug store?
Prints from your local store will not be as good of quality as a professional lab. If you would like to see the difference I can furnish sample products for you to see. You will see the physical color, texture, and quality is much different. We are not responsible for images being discolored when printing from consumer labs/companies.
What products do you offer?
Great question! We offer a variety of products from luster prints, canvas, framed prints, metal, or acrylic prints. If there is something you do not see listed please inquire as we probably can order it.
See a price list here >>>Product Pricing Guide
What is the #1 piece of advice you can give me?
Be authentic. There is nothing I love more than capturing photos of a family who is having fun and being themselves. So relax, have fun, be real, and love each other. Those 4 ingredients form the recipe to a perfect picture :)
Bonus
Here is an example of a family who took GREAT pictures because they were simply having fun!
Feel free to contact me if you have any more questions.