DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS?

WHAT IS THE BOOKING PROCESS?

First, you'll need to decide which collection best suits your needs. A $300 retainer/deposit is due at booking to secure your session date. This deposit will be applied to your session total. The retainer/deposit is non-refundable should you cancel, but it is transferable to another date in the event you wish to amend your booking with at least 48 hours notice. Session total remainder due one calendar week before session date.

We get to make beautiful art together. Before that happens you will need to reserve your session date by paying the non-refundable session fee and a signed contract.

Once your retainer/deposit is paid, I will then send you a styling guide including styling options and depending on your session a questionnaire to fill out so I can better prepare your session.

HOW MANY SESSIONS DO YOU TAKE EACH MONTH?

In order to best serve clients I only accept a limited number of sessions per month. Please make sure you book well in advance to secure a date on my calendar.

HOW LONG WILL OUR SESSION LAST?

Newborn sessions are at 9AM or 2PM and can take up from 2-3 hours. Maternity, family, couples and other portrait sessions take about 1-2 hours. Milestone sessions take about 1 hour.

However, I do not clock-watch or book sessions back to back and will only finish the shoot once I am certain I have the images I need. I am guided by my client's disposition and will take breaks as and when required.

WHAT IF MY CHILD IS NOT BEHAVING OR HAS A MELTDOWN DURING THE SHOOT?

Then CONGRATULATIONS! Your kid is normal! I’m a mom and I know exactly how these things go. Regardless of how your child is acting, I promise we will get some great shots. I do not expect perfectly still and poised children…in fact I prefer the opposite! While meltdowns are sometimes inevitable, I have a prepared a guide of tips that might help your kids adjust to the session smoothly.

WHAT IS YOUR POLICY ON RESCHEDULING?

I require a $300 session retainer/deposit in advance to secure your chosen date. This retainer/deposit will be applied to your session total. It is non-refundable should you cancel, but is transferable to another date in the event you wish to amend your booking with at least 48 hours notice. In the unfortunate event of rain, extreme cloudiness or bad weather we will postpone outdoor shoots. There will be no additional cost to reschedule a sessions due to bad weather. I wait up until 2 hours before our meeting time to reschedule due to weather.

DO YOU PROVIDE PRINTED PRODUCTS (CANVAS, PRINTS, ALBUMS AND SUCH)?

Yes! I work with some amazing print labs in the US, Italy, and Portugal. My printed products come from the highest quality papers and calibrated printing equipment. You will have the opportunity to see the printed products I offer either at your session or reveal and ordering appointment.

CAN YOU SHOW ME ALL OF OUR PHOTOS BEFORE YOU EDIT THEM?

No. Straight out of camera, unedited images are for my eyes only. Image selection and editing is done at my discretion only. The final delivered images will be representative of my brand, processing style, and aesthetic.

CAN I GET THE UNEDITED/RAW FILES?

No. Let me put it this way: If you ordered a cake from a bakery, you wouldn't expect all of the extra used/unused ingredients as well, right? The RAW files are just that. I deliver a finished product to you, not raw ingredients. Let me do the heavy lifting & editing; it's what I love to do.

DO YOU OFFER PAYMENT PLANS?

YES! Depending on the collection you select, two to three installments can be applied to your remaining total after the initial NON-REFUNDABLE deposit has been paid. With the last installment due one week before your session date.

WHAT IS YOUR TURN AROUND TIME?

After your session, I will personally go over your photos. I will then select the best images and professionally hand edit the best of the best images from your session. The post production process is just as important as the actual documentation of images and it is for this reason I take great care in the editing of each shoot ensuring a consistently high standard of work.

Within 7-10 days I will invite you to my home in Oakland (94602) for a reveal and ordering session where you will be able to see your images for the fist time, select your favorites, upgrade to another package, and order printed products if you wish to. Anyone involved in the order decision process should be at the reveal and ordering session. If you decide to order products and you are within 10 miles of 94602 zip code, I will personally deliver your products. If you are beyond that point, I will package your artwork and send it directly to your preferred address.

WHERE WILL MY SESSION TAKE PLACE?

Sessions can take place in the comfort of your own home, my home studio or at a location of your choice. This could be at a beach, park, or somewhere with special meaning to you. Maternity sessions take place when soon-to-be mommy is between 27-36 weeks pregnant and you have the option between in-studio or on-location.

I like to photograph outdoors during about before sunrise or 1-2 hours before sunset. If you have young children with early bedtimes, it's best to do a sunrise session or have your session in the fall when the sun sets earlier.

Posed newborn sessions take place in my home studio in Oakland, CA (94602) and are best photographed within the first two weeks of baby's life.

Lifestyle newborn sessions can take place in the comfort of your home. Lifestyle newborn sessions are photographed between the first 4 days and 2 months of a baby's life. these sessions are photographed in natural light only. For lifestyle sessions, I do not bring lights. Please make sure your home has adequate NATURAL WINDOW light.

Family lifestyle sessions can take place in your home or on-location.

WHAT IS A PRINT RELEASE?

If you purchase a collection that includes digitals, a print release will give you full permission to print your images for personal use, and archive them to your personal computer to share & enjoy for years to come. Although I always own the rights to all of my work as it's part of standard creative works & copyright laws, you receive rights for personal use only.

WHAT HAPPENS IF MY CHILD OR IF A FAMILY MEMBER IS SICK?

If your child or a family member is sick your session can be postponed at no extra cost. It's important that you advise me as soon as possible, preferably the 48hours before your shoot, so we can reschedule. Get in touch by emailing me at gloriafrancisphotography@gmail.com or calling/texting me at 786-942-1637.

DO YOU ALLOW OUTFIT CHANGES?

Outfit changes are welcome for any portrait collection if time and your child's disposition allows.

DO YOU TRAVEL?

Absolutely, and I love when my work brings me to exciting locations! Contact me if you'd like a quote for a destination or adventure session.

There are no additional travel fees for sessions within 30 miles California (94602).

DO YOU ARCHIVE SESSION IMAGE FILES INDEFINITELY?

No. Only images that are purchased or kept for portfolio use will be archived for one year from the date of your session. In order to make room for new clients, images that are not ordered or selected are purged from our systems twice monthly.

DO YOU CONVERT ALL COLOR IMAGES TO BLACK AND WHITE?

While each gallery will have a mix of both color and black and white images, I will turn color images into black and white as I see fit from an artistic point of view. Some images will be delivered ONLY in black and white if it was something I decided to do when shooting that particular image.

DO YOU ACCEPT CREDIT CARDS?

Yes, As a fully insured business, I accept Visa, Master Card, and Discover, as well as good ol' Cash!