Ahnvee Photography Sessions | Frequently Asked Questions

Quality photography is an investment that appreciates over time, and we appreciate you investing in us! We pride ourselves in making you feel comfortable, relaxed, and flawless every step of the way. We ensure that all of your questions are answered as an integral part of our process. This post includes a few of Ahnvee Photography’s Frequently Asked Questions.

Q: How do I book my session?

If you have already contacted us and feel that we are the right fit for you, your next step is to choose a package & date! We are available for photoshoots Sunday – Fridays, and some Saturdays if we do not have a wedding booked. We will discuss available time slots and choose a session date that is mutually beneficial. Once a package and session date is chosen, we will send a simple digital contract for your signature as well as a retainer invoice. The retainer is 50% of the session fee + sales tax, and once paid, will secure your session in our books.

Q: What is a retainer, why is it non-refundable, and what does it cover?

A retainer is a non-refundable deposit to hold your spot for a photography session. These retainer fee is 50% of the session fee+ sales tax. In exchange for the retainer, we agree to reserve the specified date exclusively for The Client and will not pursue other work for that particular date, regardless if a higher paying opportunity arises. This also covers loss of business opportunity and availability, loss of income, and any time invested (correspondences, assistance, meetings/consultations, coordinations, etc.) The retainer will be applied to the total cost of services.

Q: What is your shooting style?

Distinct, artistic, & inventive! I like to think of myself as having a natural approach that incorporates an equal balance of lifestyle & editorial photojournalism.

We try to show appreciation and exhibition of how beautiful the natural state of the subject matter is. However, we use an energetic but elegant approach to finding that perfect moment with precision and skill. We work hard to be unique – from backdrops and angles to lighting and artistic editing; we strive to drop jaws!

Q: What is your editing style?

We pride ourselves in showing special attention to each and every photo by hand editing each image individually to ensure consistency and optimal quality. Editing-wise, we are known for staying true to color and displaying your natural beauty. We tend to prefer clean, vibrant, and contrasty, and we don’t typically subscribe to trends.

View the award-winning gallery here.

Q: Do you retouch the images?

We do retouch every photo you choose; however, we like to keep it as light and natural as possible. Every image will receive eye enhancement, skin smoothing (removing imperfections, thinning wrinkles, and minimizing pores), slight contour, evening skin tone, and hair smoothing, if applicable. We use a technique called frequency separation which allows us to even out the skin and hair without losing the texture – resulting in skin that looks flawless but not retouched. Our goal is to enhance and perfect, but not make any drastic changes.

Q: Why can’t we schedule our session earlier in the day?

Because I sleep till noon, DUH! Just kidding, but all jokes aside, the best & most flattering lighting occurs 1 to 2 hours before sunset and after sunrise. This is when the sun is most even with the face, producing consistent & direct lighting. The light is also softer & at a more natural color temperature. 

When the sunlight is too far above the subject, it highlights the forehead, nose & chin, causing these features to become focal points. It also creates shadows in the eye & mouth area, giving the unsightly appearance of raccoon eyes or darkened teeth.

We will work our own brand of magic when the ideal time frame isn’t an option. This does increase the time of a session & requires an assistant, thereby increasing the cost. Another option for working around your schedule is to choose an indoor location for your desired session. 

Q: What happens if it rains on the day of the session?

Depending on the type of session and your preference, we have a few options available if the weather does not cooperate for your chosen session date.  Our first option is to continue with the session in an indoor location. We do have a boudoir studio available in most situations, and we can also book at other venues, although that may come with an additional fee for the use of the space (dependent on the venue). Our second option is to adapt to the weather and make it work in a creative, artistic way. The third option is to obviously reschedule. We do try to keep a few Sundays a month open and available for that reason, and we do have several weekday availabilities as well. And there is absolutely no reschedule fee in this instance. 

Q: When will we receive our photos?

Sessions are edited in the order in which they are photographed. I deliver galleries as soon as possible, but an exact time depends on the time of year, how many sessions are in my editing queue, and the extent to which the images require retouching.

I guarantee that the gallery will be ready within 4 weeks of the session date. If possible, I will get it to you sooner. I also offer rush-editing at a turnaround time of 72hrs (M-F) for an additional fee of $100 

Our post-process requires a bit more time to deliver the artistic style shown in my portfolio. We artistically hand-edit each photo, retouching problem areas (blemishes, dark eye circles, teeth-whitening, etc), correcting shadows, highlights, contrast, exposure & white balance, removing distractions, implementing color correction, and our favorite: overall artistic enhancement.

Q: Do you travel for sessions?

Of course, we do! We love to travel and experience new destinations and photograph different sceneries! We travel within 30 miles of Lafayette, LA, without any additional fees for portrait sessions.

For distances further than 30 miles from Lafayette, LA, my travel fee is 60 cents per mile. 

Q: Is it ok if my family/ friends take photos during my session with their devices?

Professional photographers do not allow photographs to be taken during the session as that violates the contract due to copyright infringement. It can also be very distracting for both the photographer and client. 

Q: What rights do we have to the images?

While Ahnvee Photography is the legal & rightful copyright owner of the digital images, we grant you permission to reproduce your images & make an unlimited number of prints for personal use only. Friends & family may purchase prints or digital copies from Ahnvee Photography only.

Photos may be printed but not altered or edited in any way other than by Ahnvee Photography. Alterations are a copyright violation! Images are also not to be used for commercial or editorial purposes or entered into competition without the expressed written consent of Ahnvee Photography.

Q: How can I go about printing the digital images? Do you have any recommendations for printing labs? 

Yes, you can print directly from your gallery, using a trusted professional lab. The lab is White House Custom Color (WHCC), and you can order through them via your gallery and have them shipped to your address. With WHCC, you’re guaranteed quality prints of your images to ensure that your memories are preserved to the highest standard! Because I encourage printing from a professional lab, the prints are priced at my cost and are not up-charged for my profit.

For more information on choosing a print lab check out this comparison we did > http://ahnveephotography.com/professional-labs-vs-consumer-labs-for-printing/

Q: Who chooses the edited photos that will be delivered?

After the session you will receive an online gallery of unedited proofs. The number of proofs range from 20 – 50 depending on several factors. From this gallery you will choose the number of photos included in your package. I artistically hand-edit each photo you choose, retouching problem areas (blemishes, dark eye circles, teeth-whitening, etc.), correcting shadows, highlights, contrast, exposure & white balance, removing distractions, implementing color correction, artistic enhancements, etc.