What to expect… (FAQs)
Firstly, if you’ve made it all the way here. Thank you!
In this post, I want to briefly talk about what to expect from the first point of contact with me. Let’s assume (for ease) that you’ve looked over my website and thought “aw yeah, she seems alright,” and you’ve decided to take the leap and send me an email, or direct message via my Facebook or Instagram page.
I’ll usually respond within 12 hours, though I do aim to have that reply time much shorter. I currently work two jobs, the first as a registered nurse - so sometimes it can take me a little longer to reply but I have the personal goal to make sure I reply to people within a 12hr period.
Then, the first few questions that most people will ask me are:
Are you available on XXX date?
How much will I have to pay?
When do you require payment?
Do I have to sign a contract/ How do I sign a contract?
How many photos do I get?
How long does it take for me to get my photos back?
What is your COVID policy?
What is your refund policy?
People always manage to find new questions to ask, so if I don’t answer one of your questions here- please feel free to send me a message and ask the question. This is only a very general post addressing some of the FAQs.
1. Are you available on XXX date?
Short answer - Maybe? It’s worth sending me a message to check if your date is available as I book out fairly far in advance, especially since I have additional workplace commitments.
2. How much will I have to pay?
It depends on what service you require, how long you would like me to be on-site if covering an event, and how many photos I need to deliver at the end of the shoot, as well as any travel fees. I have a price guide page, but it should be noted that this is not necessarily the final cost that you will need to pay. I recommend that you send me a message with the details of what you will require and I can give you a no-obligations quote. I am also very happy to speak to you via the phone.
3. When do you require payment?
I require payment approximately 14-30days before the date of the session, depending on the type of session and date of booking. If, for whatever reason, you are unable to pay in full before the day - I’d love for you to talk to me. I totally understand that finances are a tricky thing. If you still want my services, then I have a policy for those who need to access it. As a short side note on this topic - I don’t offer services such as AfterPay, and at this time offering such services does not align to my business values. As I mentioned, if you know that you wish for my services - I would love to talk to you and we can discuss setting up a payment plan together.
4. Do I have to sign a contract/ How do I sign a contract?
Yes, I do require you to sign a contract. This can be signed digitally, or you are more than welcome to print the document - sign it, and then email it back. I do require it to be signed before the session date. I do also encourage clients to read the contract before they initiate any money transfers, though this obviously isn’t a requirement. The main method for signing your contract that I offer is through your client portal which I will send you a link to set up. If you find this is a little bit confusing, don’t hesitate to let me know as I can walk you through how to do it or I can offer a back up system for contract signing.
5. How many photos do I get?
It depends on which session you book. For my Lifestyle and Brand sessions, clients recieve approximately 30 photos. For Weddings, it is a little varied but I find a good estimate is anywhere between 40-60photos per hour.
6. How long does it take for me to get my photos back/ how do I recieve them?
Again, it does depend on which session you book. For Lifestyle and Brand sessions, my turn around time is approximately 2-3 weeks. Wedding galleries can take me anywhere between 4-8weeks depending on the month. In general, I like to remain in touch with you through this process. If it looks like your gallery will take me longer than I originally anticipate, I will send you a message to keep you apprised of my progress.
You will recieve your photos via a digital download link. This gallery is password protected and will remain active for a set period of time.
7. What is your COVID policy?
At this time, due to the reopening of state borders and the low community transition rates of COVID-19, my current policy is to minimise close contact where possible and carry hand sanitizer.
8. What is your refund policy?
If you were asking for a refund at a retail store, they would ask for you to please return the item as part of their returns policy. Since returning digital products is effectively impossible in the era of the internet, I am unable to offer a full refund on photography sessions. I can offer a re-shoot if you are unhappy with your images. If you have purchased albums or photo prints through me, I am absolutely able to offer full refunds on these products once they have been returned.
I hope you’ve found this helpful! I know I haven’t covered everything here, so please feel free to contact me at any time as I love to hear from new people. (It gives me the warm and fuzzies).
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,
Laura :)