Booking a Portrait Session: A Timeline of What to Expect
Booking a professional portrait photographer can often lead to a lot of questions, especially on how the booking process will work. To keep things more streamlined, I have a system in place to make sure we make the steps leading up to, during, and after the session as clear and stress-free as possible.
1. Booking Your Photoshoot
When you reach out to me (usually via email or social media messages), the first thing we’ll do is nail down a date that works for us both. Next, we’ll figure out which of my portrait packages best suits your photography needs. I’ll send you a breakdown of the details of each, and we’ll go from there. Once we have the date and package information squared away, I’ll send over my location guide. This guide offers a brief summary of all of the typical locations I offer, as well as links to Instagram posts showcasing a session from each place. I am always happy to schedule a consultation call!
2. Questionnaires, Contracts, & Invoices
Once we’ve set the what, where, and when of your session, it’s time to get to the formal bits. Conveniently, all of my booking and payment services are online, so the process is quick and easy. I’ll send you a document with three main pieces: a brief questionnaire to help us get to know each other and set a vibe for the session; a formal contract to explain how to both to do our parts to make the session happen; an invoice for the retainer deposit and, later, full payment.
3. Pre-Session Prep
After completing my online forms and retainer payment, I’ll send you an email with the exact meeting place (coordinates or description) of our session. I’ll also send over a style guide with all of my tips and tricks to make this your dream photoshoot and have it go smoothly! I’ll send a few reminder emails as the session and full payment due date approach, and I’ll be available to answer any questions or concerns in the meantime!
4. Day of the Shoot
Hooray! The date of our photoshoot has finally arrived! I’ll meet you at the shared coordinated and set time for our session - I’ll be easy to spot with all of my camera gear. We’ll get to know each other, get comfortable, and create some awesome images showcasing what makes you, YOU! If you have any specific poses, prompts, or concerns, don’t hesitate to share. My sessions are a safe space, and I am always accepting of suggestions, questions, and vetoes. :)
5. After the Session
After we wrap things up, I’ll give you a rough estimate of when to expect your gallery based on the current level of sessions in my editing queue. You can expect a handful of “sneak peek” photos as a preview of your gallery shortly after, and the rest of your images in the weeks after. All of my galleries are online, password-protected for your privacy, and include both color and black & white versions of the photos. All images will be professionally retouched (skin touch-ups, teeth whitening, etc.) and feature my own unique editing style for other basic adjustments (exposure, etc.). There is no additional charge to download the photos in your gallery, and you can save as many as you’d like.
6. Tagging your Photographer & Leaving a Review
The biggest thing you can do to help my business is to let me know if you love your pictures! The most rewarding part of my job is knowing that my work brought a smile to people’s faces and that they will cherish my art for years to come. By tagging me on social media (@jenlittphoto or @jenlittphotography) or leaving me a review on Google Business (Jen Litt Photo LLC), you allow me to keep doing what I love and spread joy to more clients in the future. It means so much to any artist when a client leaves a positive review. :)
To inquire about a session, please fill out the form linked here and on my contact page.
