Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a family or childrens session typically last?
Most session are done in about an hour. Children, especially the younger ones tend to tire out quickly.
How far in advance do you book?
I recommend at least a month, but we often find a time that works for everyone. I have several families that book one season ahead, to insure they get the time they want. We are very busy during the holidays, booking a few months in advance for holiday sessions is common practice.
Are weekend sessions available?
Yes, most family and children sessions take place on Saturday or Sunday mornings and early afternoons. When the wedding season is in full swing Saturday availability is limited to mornings sessions only.
What areas of Chicago do you cover?
Short answer: All of them! Long Answer: We travel all over the City of Chicago and surrounding suburbs to photograph families, children, engagement sessions, weddings, and other events. We also travel to Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin as well. We are not limited to the Chicago area, if you would like us to photograph for you outside of the Chicago area please do not hesitate to contact us.
Can we post the images from our session on an internet website, like Facebook?
Yes, please do. Please tag the TK Photography Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/TK-Photography/116648815039585) in the photo or as part of the Facebook album and note in the album “Photos by: www.tkphotographychicago.com. We specifically provide a set of images on the DVD that you will receive that are optimized for internet use and emailing. The images will be in a folder called LowRes_WebReady. The images will be prepared at the proper resolution for viewing on a screen. The images will also be sized to properly be displayed as HD images on an HD TV or computer monitor.
I have a pimple / my baby scratched their face / I have a black eye… should I reschedule our session?
Minor cosmetic blemishes or scratches on a baby’s face or anyone’s face can happen, these can be easily taken care of during the post processing and editing of the photos so the session will not have to be rescheduled. However for larger items like black eyes the session should be rescheduled. Kids are kids these things happen, its okay. Since this may be the first time we shoot please mention visible moles or birthmarks that should not be removed, especially on babies and little children where it can be hard to distinguish.
We have a family pet, can they be in the photo as well?
Please by all means plan to include them. Pets are an important part of a family. The photos we take are a representation of you at this time particular time. We cannot act as pet wranglers, so the posing and wrangling of the pets will be up to you. The animals will be more comfortable and take better pictures as well if you handle them as opposed to a strange new person.
Do you accept credit cards?
Not at this time. If we start getting lots of requests we may start offering credit card payments. If you are a wedding and can only pay via a credit card, let us know we will work something out with you. Credit card processing is very expensive; we try to keep overhead costs on items low so our session fees can be more competitive for you. Again if it is a deal breaker for you let us know we may be able to work out something via Pay Pal.
What if and adult or one of the children is sick on the day of the shoot
Please contact us as soon as reasonably possible to reschedule. We don’t want to put a sick adult or child thru a photo session, and someone who is sick will also photograph like they are sick. Photoshop does not have an “unsick” function/filter the person will still look sick even if they try not to. There will be sessions that are more time sensitive than others, and in the case of adults, if the session doesn’t need to be or can’t be canceled, please let us know ahead of time so we can best accommodate for the persons condition.
Should I get a haircut or change the style right before the session
No. For men and boys, the best time to get a haircut is about a week before the session. Women and girls should not try out a new hair style for the photos unless they are sure they are going to like the way it looks.
When is payment due?
It varies based on the type of photo session you are requesting. For Family and children’s portrait sessions, payment is typically made when you book the session. For weddings and other events a retainer is required to book the event and reserve the date. Weddings and events are book on a first come first served basis. For weddings and other events Full Payment is to be made no later than 7 days before the start of the event.
What forms of payment do you accept
Cash and Check
Do you shoot with a film or digital camera
Digital camera only. I have used film in the past and know my way around a darkroom pretty well. However, I will not use film as the primary medium for a shoot.
I like black and white photos, will you be taking black and white images?
We will be shooting in color. Since we shoot all digital, any of the images can be converted into a black and white or sepia toned image. Some photos are best shown in black and white format, therefore you may get some images at our discretion in black and white. Again with our digital workflow any image we present to you can be converted to a black and white image. Please note that this is a process and it will take time for us to change the image, it is not as simple as a checkbox in our post processing software. Each image will have adjustments made so the image renders well in the black and white format.
Are you available to photograph a destination wedding?
Yes, my passport is current, contact me and lets go over over the details.