Session Details

Your Custom Portrait Session Includes:

- My commissioned Time, Talent and Creativity
- Print credit
- Pre session consultation to determine client's goals, personality, and preferences
- Professional and Quality Editing of each image resulting in 25-30 proofs.
- A custom photo session for up to 4 people (additional people may be added for $20 each)
- A Private Online Proofing Gallery hosted 24 hours a day for up to 21 days
- If you prefer, the session may also include an in-person meeting with me to discuss any custom designs and order any products.

**I will travel up to 30 miles from my home in St. Paul without extra charge. Please inquire about the extra charge if you think you may be outside this area. Your proofs will be available via the private password-protected online ordering gallery within 2 weeks of your session date.


Preparing for your Custom Portrait Session

It is best not wear your sunglasses for up to two days prior to the shoot. This will help you not squint as much. Try not to squint when going without your sunglasses. If your glasses have transitions lenses, consider wearing an older pair of glasses for the shoot. The transitions lenses will be dark in almost all lighting conditions we use.

For those with smile troubles: If you do not like your smile or your child is stuck with a ‘cheese’ pasted- on smile it is a good idea to do some mirror time prior to your session. By talking to yourself/child while looking in the mirror and thinking/saying things that make you smile naturally you will see that you have a great smile. If you are worried about yellow teeth or some discoloration I can help you with that in the editing process. Practice talking to your baby (non-newborn) from a distance to get smiles and looks. The camera is often at least 4 feet away from the baby.

Try to plan ahead for well-timed meals. Bring snacks, but no candy or Cheerios. Bribes do not work! They never have and they never will. For Newborns, sessions are best begun on a full tummy. Sessions for newborns ARE typically longer and we’ll likely take several breaks to feed and tend to babies natural functions.

If applicable based on their age, talk to the kids about what to expect. We will get to know each other if they are not familiar with me. We will walk to different locations, try different things, sit, stand, climb, run, and walk, make serious faces, try funny faces, laugh and smile. Smiles generally come naturally during your session. Try not to worry if you don’t see them right away. Begging for smiles will certainly result in photos with forced smiles...and no one wants that! Bring drinks for outdoor shoots, although it is recommended you only have drinks in re-sealable containers such as a bottle of water, Sippy cup or bottle. Staining juices are best avoided all together.

Plan plenty of time to get ready, eat and travel to your photo shoot. Early is better than late. Because we are using natural light your appointment is set to optimize the light for your photo shoot. If you have never been to the location of your shoot try traveling there prior to the day of your shoot to time the drive and make sure your directions are correct. Getting lost by relying on mapping programs or not so clear verbal directions is very common. Think about potential traffic issues such as rush hour when timing your arrival.


Clothing Choices

Adults and Families:

Solid colors and simple clothing choices are best for creating classic portraits. Mid-tones are best and clothing items with interesting textures are favored. White is generally best avoided as it does not photograph well unless it is paired with black in an interesting pattern. Please avoid logos, characters, pin-stripes and large patterns; these choices draw attention away from the most important part of the photo: the face and eyes (or baby bump if that if the focus). If having a session as a family, try to add interest to the photos by wearing complementary outfits rather than ‘matching’ outfits.

Toddlers and Older Children:

Have more than one outfit in case the primary outfit is ruined. Changes of clothes are welcome, but depending on how they do we may not end up using them. Consider simple and/or trendy or retro clothing. Logos and characters, again, are best avoided, but bright colors, large graphic stripes or anything that exhibits the child’s personality is highly encouraged. Rubber galoshes, tutus, leg warmers and wooly caps that you may have are just a few great examples of props that can transform ordinary photos into fun, captivating keepsake portraits.

Newborns:

Newborns are best photographed bare or with as little clothing as possible. If you have any cute headbands, hand-made or hand-knit items for the baby, feel free to bring them along as they can make delightful additions to the newborn or infant’s portrait. Some other examples might be hats, booties and bloomers (if you’re uncomfortable baring baby bum.)

In General:

Accessories such as hats, scarves and vests are encouraged as they create wonderful detail and texture in photographs. Clothing changes are also welcome for variety in your final images. If you’re unsure in your outfit choices, feel free to bring multiple options and I will be happy to help you decide which outfits are best for your session.

Layers add great visual interest and texture to your outfit. Many popular online retailers have sample outfits which work well for photos. Or try going to your favorite retail store online for ideas you may just have in your closets already! Wear clothes that fit – baggy clothes add weight and volume; tight clothes add rolls and lumps. Sheer outer shirts are rarely flattering.


During your Custom Portrait Session

Each session is customized to suit your needs--each client's personality, hobbies, favorite past-times are taken into consideration. Sessions typically will be scheduled mid-morning or mid to late afternoon (depending on the season) for the best natural lighting. Sessions (non-newborn) generally last around 2 to 3 hours, but can be done in as little as 45-60 minutes. There is also no time limit; If needed, I will photograph until the subject(s) are finished being photographed. Sessions with small children or infants are best scheduled on a day when there is no rush. Scheduling during meal and nap times are best avoided as these times of the day do not create a stress-free environment. I am flexible time-wise, so we’ll work together to set up the best appointment time for everyone involved. This is your custom portrait experience and I strive to make it as stress-free, comfortable and fun as possible.  Newborns have an extremely narrow window of time in which good photographic results are likely. 7-10 days old is best and I will be flexible in scheduling when baby arrives!

Payment Details

The full session charge must be received within 7 days of booking or your session date will be opened up and may be rebooked to someone else. Sessions can be rescheduled due to bad weather, illness or other unforeseen circumstances. Orders must be placed within three weeks (21 days) of the date your proof link is sent to you. Once your gallery is expired, it can be re-hosted for a $25 fee. Orders will be ready for pickup or delivered to you within three weeks of your full payment receipt. Payments may be made via check or cash. Paypal for credit cards will be an option in the to-be-determined future.

*Receive a $40 print credit ($20 during portfolio building and $10 during practice-mode) to be used toward your next photo session each time you refer a friend to SBliss Photography. *Referral Print Credit will automatically apply when the referral has completed payment on the current minimum order amount.

SBliss Photography (Sharee Gustason) retains copyright to all images captured for uses including, but not limited to, marketing or advertising purposes, website or print display.  However, your images WILL NOT be sold to a third party under any circumstances without your express written consent.