Family, portrait & pet photography sessions

1. What can I expect from a photo session with you?

Fun! If you are not feeling relaxed and at ease, then I am not getting great photos of you (your family, your children, your pets). It’s as simple as that.

So whatever the location and whatever the circumstances, I do my best to ensure that we are all feeling relaxed and happy during the shoot.

For kids, this may include fun props. For pets, there may be biscuits. And for portraits, I’m going to be letting you know that you look great (because trust me, you do!).

2. How do I need to prepare for the session?

In general, there is little need to do anything other than show up looking your finest! I’ll take care of the rest.
You may decide that you’d like a certain theme or certain colours in a family. We can chat about that before the shoot and I’ll offer any advice needed.

If you have children please do ensure that they are well-rested, and well-fed and that they bring along any toys or items that you know will help them feel more at ease and relaxed during the shoot.

The same goes for pets (although instead of well-rested, I prefer your pests to be well-exercised before our shoot!). If you have any treats you would prefer them to have then by all means bring a bunch of them along with you. Toys? Yes, please! Bring their favorite balls or toys and anything else they love to play with.

With regard to appearance; just have them looking the way you love them, whether that means well-groomed or scruffy.

Perhaps the most important thing to bear in mind for all shoots (but especially those involving children and animals) is that they take time. We all want to feel relaxed and not rushed, and you will likely need a bit of time to start to feel comfortable in front of that big scary camera ;)

3. When will I get my photos?

This depends on my schedule, other shoots and editing work, but in general, you can expect to have your photos within a week or two of your shoot.

4. In what form will I receive my images?

You will receive an online gallery of l images for viewing and sharing with friends & family and high-resolution versions of those images either by online transfer or on a USB (depending on preference).

If prints are included in the shoot, then you will receive high quality prints on either luster or semi-gloss photo paper, delivered to you either by post or by hand depending on distance.

5. What about refunds?

Due to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances, shoots may need to be rescheduled. In this case, no refund is applicable.

If for any reason other than weather circumstances or unforeseen events during the shoot) I am not able to deliver the pre-specified number of high-quality images from your shoot then a full or partial refund will apply.

In terms of finished photos, I want you to be completely happy with your images and I do my utmost to ensure both quality and quantity, while taking into account any preferences you may have.

6. What kind of gear do you use?

I’m a Canon girl, all the way from cameras to printers!

1. What is your art style?

I aim for (expressive) realism in portraits and either realism or fantastical realism in my other artwork and children’s illustrations.

2. What materials do you use?

Watercolour: I like painting on 300gsm hotpressed paper from Fabriano, Arches or Canson. I paint with a mix of Daniel Smith and Winsor & Newton paints.

Digital art: Wacom tablet and iMac.

1. What materials do you use in your commissions?

I use various different papers and manufacturers depending on preference and availability. Most frequently I paint on 300gsm hot pressed watercolor paper from either Fabriano, Canson, or Arches.

Regardless of manufacturer, the paper is always at least 300gsm in thickness and 100% cotton and acid-free for quality and longevity.

I use Daniel Smith and Winsor & Newton professional artist’s watercolour paints.

2. Can I request changes to the painting in process or once finished?

I paint my portrait commissions in watercolour, which is an unforgiving medium in the sense that it is often simply not possible to erase, cover or change once the paint is laid down on the paper and dried. It is therefore unfortunately not possible to request changes to the painting once you have approved the initial drawing.

3. How long will it take for my painting to be completed?

Depending on the number of orders I have at any given time, the time from order to when I start your painting can vary and there may be a waitlist. Please check the up to date turnaround info on the order page.

Generally, once I start a painting the process is completed in 2-3 weeks after the drawing is approved by the client. I then allow a day or two for drying and matting (where applicable) before shipping your painting to you.

Shipping times will be dependent on local carriers. Express shipping can be arranged upon request.

Exceptionally, unforeseen circumstances, may arise that necessitate a longer turnaround time for your painting. In that case, you can expect clear communication regarding the delay and adjusted time for completion.

In the case of a longer than expected turnaround, refunds will not be accepted unless I am not able to complete the painting within a 6-month period from the date of order.

Note: this is not a common occurrence, normally all paintings will be completed and shipped within 2 weeks to one month of order.

General refund policy:
Due to the nature of commissioned artwork, I am not able to offer refunds on portrait commissions other than in the exceptional circumstances mentioned above.
However, I aim for 100% client satisfaction and I set very high standards for my work. Although the final result will be, to a certain extent, dependent on the quality of the photo used as reference, in general, you can expect a well-executed painting with a clear likeness and a high level of detail.

How do you make your prints?

I print from my studio using a professional pigment ink printer.

The paper type I used depends on the type of print; high quality luster (semi-gloss) or matte for photo prints and matte art paper for illustration prints.

Once the prints are fully dried (I allow at least a day for this), I sign and mat them and send them off to you!

Matting:

I like to put my prints in a mat. This is the rectangular bevel-cut card that goes around the image in a frame.
A Mat adds a visual value to the piece by highlighting the image in the frame or by complementing the colours in the print/painting. They also offer protection by keeping the image away from direct contact with the glass or plexiglass of the frame.

I cut my mats myself, using a Logan cutter and various high-quality mat providers.

A range of colours are available.

To keep costs to the client as low as possible, I generally use tracked shipping with local carriers, although expedited shipping can be arranged upon request.

Occasionally, delivery by the carrier will take longer than expected after shipping. Unfortunately this is not under my control but usually packages will arrive promptly, in good condition.

I ship my prints, paintings and other items securely packaged in cellophane and rigid-backed envelopes or shipping rolls.

Should your package arrive damaged by the postal carrier, I will replace it and reship it at no additional cost, although I may request a photo of the package in that case.