What to Expect at my Image Reveal and Purchasing Session? - Premier Bergen County Photographer

Image Reveal & Purchasing Session

Your photo session includes not only a Personal Wardrobe Consultation over the phone with me, and meticulous re-touching of each image in your personalized photo gallery, but it also includes your own Personal Image Reveal and Purchasing Session.

Sounds exciting right? Here are the details!

Each Image Reveal & Purchasing Session details include:

• A Personalized Slideshow of your 30-50+ edited and enhanced images including color, black & white and my signature vintage tones (families and seniors) will be presented during your Image Reveal & Purchasing Session.

• Marking of your favorite images- a chance to narrow down your options.

• Samples Review- a chance to take a closer look at samples. See, feel and easily visualize exactly what you will be ordering. Hold them up on the walls of your own home, measure, and visualize.

• Gallery Wall Consult- I will personally guide you in making the right choice in size and image selection for your home wall spaces.

• Price list overview and purchase selection- now that you've had a chance to overview your images, and had a chance to touch and feel the products, you can be confident in making your first print/package/product order. We will fill out your order form together so you have the confidence you are making the best investment for your family as well as your home decor.

This session will be scheduled right around two weeks from your photography session date and can be held in your home.

Please allow 1-2 hours for the reveal and portrait ordering session.

An online gallery with private link and password will then be available for 10 days to share with friends and family. Digital downloads from this album are available for purchase.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

 

 

 

Like what you see and want to book a Premium Photo Session of your own with Halley Ann Photography?

Contact me at info@halleyannphotography.com

Why is it important to find the RIGHT Infant Photographer?

Premier Bergen County Infant Photographer - Halley Ann Photography

You have found out your are expecting, congratulations! Now that you know your due date, it is time to start thinking about who you would trust to take your little bundle's first photos. But who do you hire? How do you know they are worth your time and money? And why do they charge SO MUCH MONEY??

In this post, I will share with you all you need to know about picking the right Infant Photographer for you.

GOLDEN HOUR:

1. Firstly, it is important to hire a photographer that knows the "Golden Hour" of newborn photography and requests that time frame of you.

Believe it or not, most photographers (if they know what they are doing) book infant photo sessions for when your baby is 1-2 weeks old! Seems early right? There is a good reason for such an early time frame that I like to call the "golden hour" of baby photography.

The Golden Hour of infant photography begins the first few weeks of your baby's life. It is the perfect time to capture your baby in their freshest, most sleepy, and compliant state... Meaning, once your baby is asleep, your photographer will be able to pose your sleeping baby much easier than an older baby. Your chances for your photographer to be able to move your baby around into those sweet peaceful poses goes waaaay down past the two week mark. Any older and your baby will have a harder time falling asleep and will be less likely to tolerate being moved around or positioned after they have fallen asleep. You want your baby so sleepy they will allow your photographer to safely position them into any sweet position.

This all means, if you don't do your homework, you could end up with a lot of not-so-sweet-and-peaceful photos of your brand new baby that you just invested a whole lot of money for. Additionally, and unfortunately, you will be too late to hire that one photographer that you really loved but passed on to save a little money because the Golden Hour will have already passed. Newborns grow so fast and the window of time is so short so don't waste your money and time, go with the best photographer FIRST! This brings up my next point.

JUST LIKE YOUR WEDDING:

2. Think back on your wedding day. It was a magical day, culminating the love you and your partner share as well as a celebration of all the planning and effort put into that day. When you were researching your wedding photographer, did you look for the best? Of course you did! But why? Because you new it was one of the most important days of your life and you wanted to hire someone that could capture not only the day, but the emotion, the love, the friends, the family, and the feelings of that day right? And you knew you had to have the best because your wedding day is a one time thing, you can't go back and "redo" your wedding day if you didn't like the way the photos turned out.

With all this said I BEG you to think of your prospective infant photographer as if they were your prospective wedding photographer. If you think about it, weddings and infant photo sessions have a lot in common. Much like your wedding day, infant photo sessions have a very narrow window of time to capture the moment before the moment is gone! The "golden hour" of infant photography is like your wedding day, once it has past, you will never get the opportunity back to have those precious moments captured. So book the best!

Secondly, much like your wedding day, the images captured of your brand new baby will help you remember them better in this tiny stage of life. Your child as a tiny newborn only lasts so long. You want the best to capture them in this special and fleeting time of life because lets face it, being a new mom is tough, between the nightly feedings, all day feedings, crying, diaper changes, healing and recovery it is ALL A BLUR. It is hard to fully appreciate (or even remember!) what your little one was like over all the exhaustion of just being a newborn mommy. You need someone you can trust to capture this time. You will be SO glad you did!

Thirdly, and quite possibly most importantly, much like your wedding album, your baby's infant album will become a family heirloom, something to treasure for not only the rest of your life, but your child's life too.

I have 3 children and let me tell you, they have their baby photo books memorized!

YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR:

3. If you go with a sub-par photographer to save a little money... you usually get what you pay for. So do your research! Ask your prospective photographers how long they have been doing infant photography. Ask them how many baby's they have done sessions for. Ask them anything you like to ensure you are getting the right fit.

Try to find someone who has been at it for a few years.

Go back through their work, their website is a good place to start but that is an easy place for photographers to showcase only their best work. Not all the photo sessions that didn't go so well. I would recommend finding them on social media and going back through some of their old posts.

Here are a couple things to watch out for:

1) Have they improved over the years? Is their style relatively the same? Or are they wishy washy on how they edit their photos? Sometimes you may book thinking you will get one style you love, but end up with something totally different. I have been photographing infants for over 10 years now. My style has evolved over the years, but not to any great extreme. My returning clients have been very happy with their albums year after year because I have been consistent. Consistency and quality are important!

2) Are their images over exposed or under exposed? Sometimes too much exposure can wash out all the beautiful details of your baby. And at the same time an under exposed image leaves your images looking too dark.

3) Are their images blurry? A good infant photographer knows how to take crisp photos, focused on the baby's face. The rest of the image should be softly blurry though, this is called a good depth of field, which makes your baby's facial features pop and makes the rest of the image soft. This also means your photographer knows what they are doing and have the correct equipment (lens) to create this soft look. Your baby is not moving, they are asleep, so you can't blame the blurry face on the subject!

4) Too much fluff? Do they over do it on the props and backgrounds? Sometimes over doing it with props, bright colors and busy backgrounds can be distracting and is a disservice to your beautiful baby. You want a photographer who showcases your baby, not all their fancy props and backdrops.

5) Do they offer in-home or in-studio photography? I hands down, always prefer an in-home photo session. In-home infant sessions allow me to fully capture the family in their element. It allows me to capture their family in a very personal and intimate setting. Their is nothing better than a new mama snuggling her little one in the nursery she worked so hard to design and set up for her baby or a dad rocking his little bundle in the same rocking chair his mother rocked him in when he was a baby, or a couple enjoying their new baby comfortably and intimately in the comfort of their own bed. It creates personal, one of a kind photo sessions... every time that you will cherish for a lifetime.

I've been inside many different homes, sat and talked with all different types of new moms and dads. I am always amazed at how much of their personality comes out in their album when we shoot in the comfort of their own home. No two albums have been the same, but each have been unique and special to each family... something they can treasure for years to come.

So opt for the photographer that puts a focus on In-Home Infant Photo Sessions

6) Awkward poses. This one probably goes without saying but if you see some poses that make you cringe a little... like a dad without his shirt on (this always makes me cringe!)... it's probably best to move on.

7) Do the babies look safe and peaceful? I’ve seen some unnerving set ups around the internet, babies hung in a sling from a stick, or balancing inside something hard like a wood bowl with no soft blanket. If the baby looks uncomfortable, it probably is. Posing a baby correctly and safely takes years of training and experience. This is your brand new baby we are talking about, let's not take any chances with their safety!

The good news is, the choice is ultimately up to you. There are many wonderfully talented photographers out there and once you find the right one. You won't want to let them go! They are like your favorite hair stylist, once you've found your match, no one else will do. And I feel the same way about my clients, they truly are friends and family to me. I have families who hired me to do their engagements, wedding, infant, and family photos year after year. I feel like I am just part of the family and I LOVE it. My clients are the best. :-)

For questions or concerns, feel free to contact me.

Halley Ann Photography

PREMIER BERGEN COUNTY PHOTOGRAPHER

w w w . h a l l e y a n n p h o t o g r a p h y . c o m

Like what you see and want to learn more?

How to Prepare For Your Upcoming Infant, Newborn or Baby Photo Session

You've committed to booking your first Newborn Photo Session with your favorite local photographer and have brought home your new little bundle! Congratulations! There is nothing more personal and intimate than bringing your new baby home for the first time. There is so much love, anticipation, anxiety, stress, pain, exhaustion, excitement and peace all wrapped into one week. And now you're ready to start getting ready for your baby's first photo shoot. That sounds stressful, among all the other emotions of your first few days at home with your baby, lack of sleep, lack of freedom, lots of people (and their kids!) wanting to hold your baby (good intentioned but germ filled) and now you have got to get your house and yourself ready for a perfect stranger to come in and move things around and touch your baby who you worked so hard to bring into this world??? Of course your stressed!

But you don't have to be.

You've come to the right place to get all your answers and a little bit of peace of mind.

Follow this guide I use for all my clients to help calm their nerves before their upcoming Newborn Photo Shoot

WHAT TO EXPECT

GETTING YOUR HOME READY

• Crank up the heat. Babies love to be warm, and we love to undress those sweet little bundles to capture them in their most natural state. So crank up your heat or turn down your AC to around 80 degrees about 20 min before your session.

• Pull out any textured blankets, baskets, headbands, hats, diaper covers, etc. you have on hand that we can incorporate. But no need to stress! I will provide enough of everything we need if you don't have any of these items.

• Heirlooms. Think about something special you could use for your session with your baby. Maybe a blanket your baby's grandmother quilted, a gift your baby was given like a small stuffed animal or tiny bracelet, or perhaps something from the past like your grandmother's wedding ring. The sky is the limit so start thinking now.

• Make way for windows! I like to use natural light for infants so I will often use your largest, brightest window space for your infant shots.

• Tidy up... a little. Listen, I get it, I am a mom of 3. I don't expect your home to be immaculate, but I do like to move around your house and use different elements of your space including the nursery, the living room, windows, and your bedroom so tuck away anything you feel necessary to feel comfortable with me in the various rooms of your home.

 

 

WHAT TO WEAR

• Solids, neutrals, no crazy prints. I like for the baby to be the focus of your album, not your clothing. Think of yourself as your baby's canvas.

• Coordinate with each other. But don't be too "matchy". I.e. matching white shirts and jeans are far too similar and distracts from the natural, real life album you are looking for.

• Parents and siblings should wear tones that are similar and go well together but don't wear all the same thing.

• Do your hair and make-up but keep it simple. Remember, you will be in the photos but it is your baby who we are showcasing. And a little honesty and simplicity makes your photo session seem more honest and real life.

• For more, see my blog post on what to wear!

• Email me with any concerns or if you need some wardrobe advise. I am happy to assist!

 

 

 

 

 

 

PREPARING YOUR BABY

• Well fed. Feed your baby before the session starts so they have a nice full tummy.

• Don't rush your baby either. If you are still feeding your baby when I get to your home, don't stress, I can sit and chat with you (or your hubby if you want a little privacy) and get things set up while you focus on your baby.

• Don't scour your baby's closet. With the exception of maybe one special outfit, we typically undress your baby not dress them. Putting babies in clothing for photo sessions tends to distract from your baby so no need to pull out all your favorite outfits, your baby will be better showcased with less. A hat, headband, or diaper cover will suffice (which I can provide).

Halley Ann Photography

PREMIER BERGEN COUNTY PHOTOGRAPHER

w w w . h a l l e y a n n p h o t o g r a p h y . c o m

 

PREPARING YOURSELF

• RELAX. Know that your baby will be in good hands. I have done over 60 infant photo sessions and have been in many different homes. Every baby and family is different and unique and beautiful. We will get the shots that we need, even if your baby is not asleep right when I get there, or if you both got zero sleep the night before and your exhausted, or your little one is just having a fussy day, it will be okay!

• RELAX! Did I already say this?? It is important because your baby is so well connected to you that they know when you are stressed, and a stressed Mama equals a stressed baby!

PAYMENT: Please be ready to pay your infant photo session of $300 in full the day of your photo session. I accept venmo, cash or check (written out to me Halley Stringham). If you are planning to purchase a infant photo package that includes the session fee, your session fee payment will be credited to your package price.

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Why are Digital Files So 'Expensive'? - Premier Bergen County Newborn Photographer

PREMIER BERGEN COUNTY NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHER -HALLEY ANN PHOTOGRAPHY

I was chatting with a friend the other day who was asking why professional photography in general is so expensive. The conversation went like this:

“I was looking into all the photographer's pricing in town and they are all so expensive! Why does it cost so much to buy digital image files from a professional photographer? Surely a USB doesn't cost that much?!"

My Response:

“Well, firstly you are not paying for the actual USB stick, you are paying for the time, experience, skill, professional equipment and most importantly, the art of the professional photographer in creating each digital image.”

By the end of our conversation, my friend had her mind set at ease and came away with a much better understanding of what you are really buying when you invest in digital images from your professional photographer.

Let me explain more fully why prices seem to be so 'high' for digital files.

When you are presented with your online gallery, each image has been meticulously retouched as a work of art. It has been enhanced to display the natural beauty of the subjects in the photograph.  The digital files you purchase are ready to be printed as large or as small as you want through a professional lab specifically for photographers. They are checked for sharpness, contrast, color density, composition and exposure so that they are ready for the finest of printing... a beautiful canvas of your baby hung on the nursery wall, or a beautiful large framed family photo above the fireplace, but did you know that they are professionally edited to also be hung in an art gallery?

When you invest in these digital files, you are investing in an art piece that you can print as many times as you would like for yourself, for family, for friends, etc. Share on social media. As well as print canvases, make albums, large prints, small prints, make announcements, cards, your opportunities are endless. They are “expensive” because of all the above and the fact that you have them forever in the digital format. 

But please keep this in mind once you've purchased your digital files...

When printing with your own printing company, no two companies print the same. Your images may appear too dark, or come out looking blue or green. This is because they use programs that make adjustments to the light and coloring through auto-settings. The printing lab I use allows me to calibrate my computer to their printer's settings. Thus, printing through Halley Ann Photography ensures every one of your photos comes out exactly as it was intended to be... beautifully colored, exposed, and composed.

Digital files are the one of the highest priced items because once I sell you the files, I have lost control of the product outcome. And unfortunately for you, you loose your guarantee on quality when printing with your own printing company. 

I love nothing more than beautifully printed images which can be admired without the use of a computer or smart phone. Not only do prints stand the test of time but they give joy each time you walk past them in your home; a window back to a moment in time that you will never have again. It is also important for me and my brand that my work is displayed as it is designed to be, professionally printed with the colors correctly reproduced and the composition intact. That is why I offer digital and wall art collections in which your digital images cost you less because you are also purchasing a beautiful piece of wall art.

But what about those other photographers that give me a great deal on Digital Files??

If a photographer is charging you $200 (excluding specials) for the session including some or all digital files, chances are they have not been in the field long, are quite possibly cutting corners to save money, and unfortunately, probably do not have the best quality in equipment, experience or knowledge to offer you the quality of a true professional photo session you may end up disappointed in the end.

Picking the right photographer is so important! See my blog post on this topic.  

After doing your research with new eyes (staying away from those photographers offering you that too good to be true deal), you will soon realize not many photographers sell digital files, let alone the whole gallery. However, when they do, you will see that they are usually priced A LOT higher than the fine art prints…etc. The digital is the original piece of art, it belongs to the photographer.

Simply stated... Professional Photography is an investment. An investment worth a lot more than any other bought possession. You are receiving works of art created especially for you. Works of art that will be a family heirloom for your (and your child's!) life time. For that reason, most clients book months in advance to save up for their session.

“cheap photography isn’t good and good photography isn’t cheap”.

Good photography is worth the investment.

halley ann photography

PREMIER BERGEN COUNTY PHOTOGRAPHER

w w w . h a l l e y a n n p h o t o g r a p h y . c o m