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bobbie bush photography • 35 congress street • salem, ma 01970 • 978-744-6918 • info@bobbiebush.com
Frequently
Asked Questions
in
finding the best photographer for your
Children's Portraits
by Bobbie Bush Photography
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 child?
No, the session fee is the same for one child or five children. However,
more attention can be paid to a single child at a time. We generally prefer
not to mix two families together in a single session.
What
style of photography do you use when working with children?
Our main goal is to capture the authentic personality of the child. It
is the natural expressions that we seek out, the ones that you will look
at and say, "oh, that one is so him!"
When is the best time to schedule newborn photographs?
It is best to photograph your newborn at one to three weeks old. You may
want to book your newborn session before the baby is born. Little ones
change quickly over the course of their first year, so consider having
portraits again at three months when your baby is able to hold his or
her head up while laying on their belly, then again at six to nine months
when they are able to sit up unassisted, and again at twelve months when
they are standing. We offer first year baby plans to encourage you to
capture these wonderful first year milestones.
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?
Full sessions run approximately 60 minutes. Typically, a child being photographed
runs out of steam after about an hour. Generally it's best to allow for
a short break for snacks, feedings and/or wardrobe change. 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 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 20 miles or 45 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 young children, bright colors
can be lots of fun, while timeless white dresses are lovely for little
girls. For babies, the more skin showing the better! Bare feet are the
best. For families, we encourage you all to coordinate, but it is up to
you if you want to wear matching colors. We recommend bringing a few changes
of clothing, as multiple clothing changes are encouraged during a session,
but we always recommend starting with your preferred outfit, in case we
don’t get to the next round of clothes. 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 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! Occassionally,
we 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
children 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. We recommend that all of the decision makers
are present at the time of the ordering appointment. 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 four 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 gallery wrap finish. For more information,
see our investment
guide.
What
is a gallery wrap?
A gallery wrap is a wall portrait bonded to 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.
Can
you retouch boo boos, blemishes and scars?
Yes, absolutely. Every portrait in your order will
be individually enhanced for lovely skin tones. We will smoothen and soften
the blemishes or boo boos, 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.