FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
GOT A QUESTION?
Please read answers to my FAQ's below.
If you can't find the answer to your question here, please send me an email and I'll be happy to help.
I've also made some videos to share tips with you! Check them out here.
How will Covid affect my shoot?
Full details can be found here.
Where will the shoot take place?
We will most likely be shooting at my home studio OR local area in North London N14. Nearest Tube is Southgate (Piccadilly line) or Palmers Green (National Rail).
If you book a Location Shoot, we will discuss the location during your phone consultation.
I am also happy to travel across London, or even further, for an additional charge, please email me to discuss.
What days do you shoot?
I prefer to shoot Monday to Fridays but I can shoot on the weekend if needed for an additional fee. If you’re booking a location shoot, I suggest mid week as it’s not so busy.
Can I do a mix of studio and location shots?
If you book the 'Portfolio Package' we will have enough time to shoot inside my home studio AND outside in my local area.
All my other packages are designed for studio OR location so I suggest you decide which you would prefer as there isn’t really time for both I'm afraid. Remember though, if you book a second shoot with me you are entitled to 10% discount!
Can I mix a headshot shoot with a dance shoot?
Generally, I advise you to book these shoots separately so we can really prioritise getting the best headshots OR the best dance images within the shoot time. However, if you book the 'Portfolio Package' we will have much more time to play with so we can divide the shoot up in to two halves if you'd like.
If you book the 'Specialist Skills Package' I am happy to prioritize one type of image for the majority of the shoot and try out the other for 30 mins at the end if you want. This is only possible on location shoots though, as my home studio isn’t big enough for dance shots.
Remember, If you book a second shoot, you will receive a 10% returning client discount!
Can I shave half way through the shoot?
Sure! If you bring a razor, make sure it’s fully charged to save time. Please note this can eat in to your shoot time though and sometimes can leave your face looking a bit red and blotchy so we’ll probably leave it till near the end. If this is something you’re thinking of let me know during your consultation.
Can I change my hair or makeup half way through the shoot?
Yes, but only minimal changes. Any changes you do will eat in to the shoot time so nothing too timely! For location shoots make sure you bring a pocket mirror. Please arrive with the look you will want for the majority of your images (natural makeup to start). You can add a bold lip or some eyeliner later on if you want a different look. Bring hair ties and brushes if you want to try some hair up and some hair down, but remember, nothing complicated we won’t have time. I can discuss this in more detail during your consultation.
What makeup do you recommend for headshots?
We will discuss this in your consultation, but generally I recommend minimal, natural makeup. Moisturize everywhere so there’s no dry skin. Maybe add a bit of highlighter if you know what you’re doing and please avoid heavy contouring! Your face should match your neck & collarbones! Just do your everyday look rather than your party look but feel free to bring lipstick etc, to layer on later on in the shoot. Avoid powder please as it’s hard to retouch. And no fake lashes if possible, they can actually make your eyes look smaller in photos. If you’ve got any spots please don’t worry, I can retouch them away like magic!
I’ve never had a professional shoot before, I’m kind of nervous and a don’t know how to prepare.
It’s totally normal to be nervous, even if you’ve had lots of shoots before, but don’t worry, I’m really friendly and not at all scary and I’ve worked with lots of first timers too! But don’t just take it from me, check out my reviews to see what my clients think!
During your consultation I’ll try to talk you through everything you need to know and answer any questions you have. I’ll then email you an info sheet with lots of tips on how to prepare and what to bring. I've also made some videos with tips, so do check them out here! And of course you’re always welcome to email me if you have more questions.
When you arrive at the shoot I’ll do my best to make you feel comfortable, we’ll have a laugh and hopefully you’ll enjoy the shoot just as much as you’ll love your images.
One important thing though, have a think about your look in advance. Are you planning on changing it soon? Maybe change it before your shoot so the images will be more useful to you for longer. But if you do change something drastic PLEASE do it at least a week or 2 before the shoot, just in case you don’t like it!
How do I pay?
I will send you an invoice with bank transfer details. All Packages require a non refundable 50% deposit to secure your shoot slot. The outstanding fee is payable up to 4 working days before your shoot.
Will my images be retouched?
Yes, I will professionally retouch your selected images using Photoshop. I’ll get rid of spots, blemishes, stray hairs and under-eye shadows where needed. I also adjust the exposure and colour of the images and use lots of tricks to make your face and eyes really stand out! I won’t make you look fake though and I don’t alter body shapes. Headshots need to be an honest representation of you, so I try and keep it as natural as possible.
Do I get to keep all the unedited images from the shoot?
No, I don’t give out unretouched images I’m afraid. I’m a professional, so I give you professional images, edited to a professional standard. Quality over quantity guys!
How quickly do I get my images?
Unedited photos will be uploaded to a private gallery within 5 working days (mon-fri).
‘The Top Up Package': Unedited photos will be uploaded to a private gallery within 48 hours (mon-fri).
Retouching Turnaround: Once you have chosen the images you want & settled the bill, give me up to 3 weeks to work my magic on your images. If you would like me to prioritize 1 and send that to you before the others are ready just let me know and I’ll see what I can do.
If you happen to have booked your shoot at a busy time for me, I will try to give you as much notice as possible that there may be a sight delay on getting the images to you.
If you take more than 2 weeks to choose your final images, I may have to prioritise retouching of recent clients with urgent requests. So please be aware that turnaround time may be longer if you delay choosing your images.
I need my images urgently, can you help?
If you require an expedited retouch service (48hr turnaround) images will be charged at £50 each. Please give me as much notice as possible so I can meet your deadline.
Is it ok to order more images from our shoot at a later point?
You’re more than welcome to order more images at a later point. I’ll keep them on file for a while – possibly even forever! Just send me an email, and if you’re online gallery is no longer active I can re-upload your images for you to view.
How do I receive my finished images?
I’ll send you a link where you can download your final retouched images as digital files. You’ll receive three versions of each image: 1 low res suitable for web & email, 1 sized for instagram, and 1 high res file suitable for large prints.
If you require any particular cropping please let me know.
Will I get to see my images during the shoot?
During the shoot I will show you the images periodically on my camera LCD. We will discuss which ones are working and what we want to change to make sure you’re happy with the way you look and the way I’m shooting. Before we wrap up I’ll flick through all the images on my camera quickly to make sure we’ve got everything we want and I’ll give you one last chance to try anything else out. I won't stop shooting until I'm certain we've got what we need!
What happens if I need to reschedule my shoot?
If something pops up and you have to change your shoot date I’ll understand and be as accommodating as possible. Please try to give me as much notice as possible though so I can give your slot to someone else. If you have to change the date of your shoot with less than 72 hours notice, there will be a £50 charge. There may be a higher charge if given less than 24 hours notice. If you you need to reschedule your shoot but don't re-book within 2 months of your original shoot date, your deposit may become void. To make sure this doesn't happen, please don't ghost me, just let me know if you need to wait longer and I'll be as accommodating as possible.
What happens if I cancel my shoot?
Please don’t cancel. If you need to, you can postpone. Deposits are non refundable, so you should probably reschedule.
What happens if I’m late?
If you think you’re running late please let me know as soon as possible! Sometimes things happen and I’ll try to be as accommodating as possible but if you’re more than 15 mins late there may be an additional charge or your shoot may have to be cut short if I am unable to extend it. Try your best to leave as much time as possible though, you don’t want to be in a rush, you’ll be less relaxed and it could show in your images.
I’ve booked a location shoot but it’s predicted to rain or snow on my shoot day, what happens?
If weather or unforeseen circumstances permits a shoot, I’ll give you a call so we can discuss the options. In some situations you might be able to switch to a studio shoot if you want, otherwise the shoot will be rescheduled for a future date at no additional charge.
I’ve booked a location shoot, how will I know who you are when I get to our meeting point?
I will give you detailed instructions of where we will meet. I’ll have my phone on me in case we can’t find each other. There’s a photo of me here so this is what I look like and if you’re really worried, I’ll tell you what I’m wearing or even hold a sign.