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bobbie bush photography • 35 congress street • salem, ma 01970 • 978-744-6918 • info@bobbiebush.com
Frequently
Asked Questions
in
planning for your
Family Portraits
by Bobbie Bush Photography
In
our experience, there are a number of commonly-asked questions that a
parent asks when choosing the best portrait photographer for their family.
Often, this can be the first time a parent has searched for a professional
photographer since their wedding day, yet the set of questions are quite
different. To assist you in the process, we have put together this helpful
guide to address most of your questions and for you to know what to expect
in planning for your session.
Where are you located?
We are located in historic Salem, MA. However, we also offer location
sessions and will come to you, if you prefer. The studio is located near
the Salem waterfront in Shetland Industrial Park. Visit our website for
complete directions
with a detailed map & parking information.
What are the studio hours?
The studio is open by appointment only. We're generally here during normal
business hours, however, given the nature of our business with a mix of
studio and location assignments, our hours can vary. So, it is best to
schedule a time to meet with us.
Do
you offer consultations?
Of course! Please feel free to contact us for a complimentary appointment
to meet us, see our work and discuss your wishes for a successful portrait
session. We recommend that you schedule a specific date and time with
us so that we are able to give you our fullest attention. Also, once you
decide to schedule a session, it is helpful to pre-plan the session, which
can be done in the studio.
What
will a session cost?
Your investment starts at only $150 for a weekday session at the studio
or at Winter Island in Salem. Location and weekend sessions are $200 and
$250 respectively. Included in your initial investment is Bobbie’s
time and talent during the session and a personalized follow up consultation
to assist you in making your portrait order selections. For more information,
see our investment
guide.
Do you charge more per family member?
No, the session fee is the same for a small or large family. In your portrait
session, we look to capture a variety of combinations, including individual
portraits and groups. We generally prefer not to mix two or more families
together in a single session unless the primary goal is to capture one
large group shot.
Do
you photograph large family groups?
We can accomodate up to ten persons in a group shot at
one time in our studio set up. During the warmer months, location sessions
can be done outdoors and the size of the group can be larger. With any
family group session, we strongly recommend that one family member act
as the lead decision maker to attend the viewing & ordering session.
Where will my session take place?
Sessions may take place in the studio or on location. Location sessions
may take place at your home, backyard, favorite place or at the beach.
Winter Island in Salem is a favorite outdoor location.
How
long will you spend with us?
We allow up to an hour for our family sessions, which is usually more
than enough time. Depending on the age range of the family members (small
children versus young adults), we can often get great results in less
than the hour allotted. Typically, if there are younger children being
photographed, they run out of steam after about an hour. We ask that you
be on time and arrive no earlier than 10 minutes in advance of your session,
as we often have
a scheduled appointment just before or after your reserved time.
What is it like to work with Bobbie?
Most of our clients say how much fun it is to work with us! See our behind the scenes videos on YouTube and read the reviews on Yelp.
What is a mini session?
Periodically throughout the year, we plan family portrait events and offer
discounted mini sessions which run approximately 15-20 minutes per family.
Our email newsletter subscribers always learn of our mini session specials
first, so we invite you to be added to our mailing list!
Do
you photograph digitally or with film?
Bobbie photographs 100% digitally with the latest Canon professional digital
cameras. Each image is captured in a high resolution file format and is
individually adjusted for color, exposure and contrast.
What about black & white?
Any of your portrait images may be prepared as a beautiful black &
white photograph. Let us know in advance if you have a preference for
black & white and we will prepare your images accordingly.
How far do you travel?
Locations up to 30 minutes from Salem, MA are no additional charge. Locations
beyond that will incur a travel surcharge which is evaluated on a case
by case basis.
What happens if I need to reschedule my
session?
We understand that personal emergencies, illness or inclement weather
sometimes require sessions to be rescheduled. Bobbie kindly asks that
you provide as much notice as possible in order to make that time slot
available to other clients. Cancellations or postponements less than 48
hours prior to your session may result in a cancellation fee.
What should we wear?
Simple and timeless is best. It is recommended to avoid busy patterns,
logos and large designs on your clothing. For families, we encourage you
all to coordinate, but it is up to you if you wish to wear matching colors.
We suggest bringing a change of clothing, as multiple clothing changes
are encouraged during a session (as time allows). You may be formal or
casual, it's up to you. Often, families will coordinate by wearing white
shirts with denim pants, or by all wearing a similar color, like khaki
or navy blue. For black & white portraits, we suggest wearing a color
darker than your skin tone in order to accentuate the faces in the portrait.
What if I wear eye glasses?
If you always wear glasses, then of course it
is best to photograph you wearing glasses. Non-glare lenses are best suited
for portraits. If you only ocassionally wear glasses, it's often preferable
to go without so your eyes are best seen. And if the session is outdoors,
it's best to refrain from wearing transition lenses so that your eyes
are visible in the portrait.
What kind of backdrop do you use?
We most often use a clean white backdrop for our studio sessions. This
'high key' background is a fresh modern look and works well for all kinds
of clothing, including whites, denims, khakis or bright colorful clothing.
Think of yourself as being on the set of a Gap commercial! Alternatively,
we often use a rich chocolate brown backdrop for more formal portraits.
The darker 'low key' background is great for striking black & white
portraits and works best with darker clothing (even black) so that the
face is the focus of the portrait. In general, it's best to let us know
if you have a preference for either style in advance so that we are prepared
when you arrive.
How many images will I see from my session?
Bobbie may photograph dozens of captures in a given session, however not
all are keepers. She will capture as many images as necessary in order
to present you with a strong body of images. Depending on the number of
family members and/or group combinations in the session, we will present
you with the best 25-40 images in order to simplify your selection process.
When will I get to see my photos from the
session?
Approximately one week following your session, we invite you into the
studio to review all of your images, assist you in making your selections
and to place your order. With any family group session, we strongly recommend
that one family member act as the lead decision maker to attend the viewing
& ordering session in the studio for selecting the group shot, as
we do not post the photographs on the web. If there are multiple families
participating in the portrait session, we generally recommend that each
family schedules their own private viewing to select the portraits of
their own family. We
are happy to accommodate you in the evening for these appointments.
What
should I expect to spend on my portraits?
It's entirely up to you what you decide to spend on your purchases from
your session, choosing from our gift portraits, wall portraits, gallery
wraps or custom hardcover books. We offer as many as five gift and desk
sized portraits for under $100. Fine art wall portraits start at $150
and are available in four elegant finishes: premium lustre, classic linen,
fine art canvas and our most desirable museum gallery wrap finish. For
more information, see our investment
guide.
What
is a gallery wrap?
A gallery wrap is a wall portrait imaged directly onto a fine art canvas
and stretched around a 1-1/2” deep wooden frame. The image wraps
completely around all four edges, providing a painterly and elegant way
to display your portrait as fine art. All canvases are finished with a
rich luminous glaze for lasting preservation. Gallery wraps are ready
to hang and do not need a frame.
Can
you retouch our portrait and make us look better?
Yes, absolutely. Every portrait in your order will
be individually enhanced for lovely skin tones. We will smoothen and soften
any blemishes or facial lines, so not to worry!
Do you archive session image files?
We archive your session images for up to one year. Beyond that point in
time, we do not guarantee that the images will be available for retrieval.
A minimum order of $150 is requested for any subsequent reorders. Prices
are subject to change without notice.
Do
you offer gift certificates?
Yes, of course, in any amount you wish. Wouldn't you love to receive a
gift certificate toward portraits of your loved ones?
Bobbie
Bush Photography is a professional photographer specializing in children's
portraits, babies & bellies, maternity, pregnancy, toddler, infant,
child and family photography. Bobbie Bush is located north of Boston,
MA on the north shore of Massachusetts in historic Salem, MA.