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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Visions By Carol Photography? I am located at 214 Edwards Street Glen Carbon IL 62034 .
What is a consultation? This is where we sit back, relax and talk about what I can do to tell your story. This can be done over the phone or in the studio. I want to know everything about you, your kids, your family, your house, your style – EVERYTHING! We will talk about clothes, and I would love to see images of your home so we can talk about certain wall spaces and plan for something that fits YOU. I will even tell you how to capture images of your home with your camera or phone to email me. We will use these images at your viewing appointment. When your Session day arrives, we’ll have a plan so everything goes smoothly – which means less stress for you.
How do the sessions work? After your consultation either by phone or in person I will have a better understanding of the feel and goals we want to meet for your images. I will capture a variety of images for you to view and choose from during your ordering session. Most indoor studio sessions last 20minutes to an hour, however newborn & high school seniors can run up to 2-3 hours.
Be sure to bring along all the special items we had discussed during our consultation appointment as well as 3-5 outfits. During majority of my sessions I photograph 1-3 outfits but it is best to bring along a few extras so I can help you narrow it down to the outfits that go best with the backgrounds and props I have in the studio. If you have specific ideas or wants please be sure to include this information during our consultation.
Family sessions are allowed one outfit with the option of creating your images in the studio or on location.
Children sessions are allowed up to 3 outfit changes. However I do prefer you bring at least five so I can help you choose which would work the best. If your child is doing well then we can try to photograph a few additional outfits within your hour session.
Newborn sessions are unique sessions. I have several parents that feel as if they are moving into my studio when they bring blankets, stuffed animals, items from the babies nursery, hats, bows and more! I prefer to photograph babies without outfits as many times they do not fit well and take away from your newest addition. Instead I would prefer smaller items as I mentioned above.
Senior sessions have several options. Depending on they type of package you choose will determine how many outfits and accessories to include. We will discuss this all during the consultation.
What is my investment? We have no minimum order requirement at our studio. There are many options for your home such as, wall portraits, smaller gift prints and wallets. We also have a variety of finishes for your images including frames, canvas, acrylic and metal. Most clients start their investment around $500 and go up from there. However we do have clients that spend as little as $300 as there is no minimum order requirement. A few times a year the studio also offers unique specials so be sure to follow our Blog so you do not miss these great events. Please click here for additional details and let us know if you have any additional questions.
When is a good time for my session? My studio has amazing north window light and my clients love to take full advantage of that. With this being said I like to photograph my sessions between 9am – 3pm for the best light. I do my best to fit within everyones schedules and tend to book quickly. I suggest trying to schedule your session at least 2-3 weeks in advance for your desired time.
Are you open on the weekends or evenings? I do my best to accommodate all of my clients needs and as I know with children’s schedules life can get hectic. I myself have a family at home that I like to spend time with and have special after school activities we must attend. I do offer viewing appointment on selected evenings and weekends depending on my schedule.
What should I wear? With the fashion world always changing it is hard to stay up with the current trends. For your portrait session we want you to look fashionable but not dated. So in 20 years when you look back at your images you will still love them! Please review the below tips and feel free to click here to see some clothing suggestions.
- Parents consider what room of the house you would like to hang your finished images, keep this in mind when choosing outfits.
- Accessories are a must have.
- Trendy outfits will work but please bring some classic choices as well
- Make sure your shoes are clean for your images
- Girls if you wear nail polish make sure they are not chipped and are a color that will go with all of your outfits. Toenails also!
- Avoid sleeveless shirts and dresses
- Black looks great on everyone
- You can never go wrong with jeans and a t-shirt
- Do not cut your hair the day or two before your session. Please do this at least a week or two before unless you are a boy or your hair grows fast
- Bring as many props as you would like to go along with your outfits
Do you offer retouching on your images? All of the images that you order from include retouching of blemishes, stray hairs, scars ( if you want them removed ), wrinkles, dark circles under your eyes and many other options. We will discuss this further during your ordering session so I know how little or how much you would like to have your images retouched.
Where do you go for outdoor sessions? We can go anywhere in the Glen Carbon / Edwardsville area you would like. Most of the time we will discuss the locations during your consultation so I choose a location that will best capture your idea. I do my best to not go to the same locations over and over again. This is your special session and you want it to be unique from your friends and families images.
What if it rains the day of my outdoor session? If we have decided to capture your images outside on location and it looks like it may rain please call before you head to the studio. At the time we can discuss if the session needs to be moved into the studio or rescheduled. Please keep in mind that cloudy overcast days are the best, so do not let the clouds scare you away!
When will I see the images? You will see your images projected in a slideshow set to music during your Ordering Appointment 5-10 days after your Session. I will help you with all of your final decisions on images and products that we have custom designed just for you so please make sure all decision makers are present. 50% of your order is due at the conclusion of your Ordering Appointment. This usually takes about an hour.
Can you help me select the products that are best for my home? Yes that is why I am here. I will explain to you how to capture images of your home to bring with your to your ordering session. We will discuss the product options as well as frame options. I will be able to show you how what you chose will look in your home by using the images you provide. There is a tremendous difference between an 8×10 and a 30×40 wall portrait when displaying them in your home. Interior designers recommend that a portrait occupy at least 50% of the wall space. If not, the viewer’s attention will be drawn to the wall rather then the portrait. That is why it is best for me to show you what your finished products will look like in your actual room.
Are children allowed to attend the ordering appointment? I want you to have a chance to relax and concentrate on the images and products that have been created for you, so you might want to arrange childcare for children under the age of 12. However I do have a small area set of with a few toys for the little ones to play with. You could take this time to arrange a date night or we can schedule your appointment when your children are in school.
When will my order be ready? Quality takes time, so please allow 2-3 weeks from the time your is processed. I will take the time to hand retouch and enhance each image you order before they are sent to be printed. Each image will have a protected spay to ensure quality for generations to come. Custom designs and orders with framing or albums will take longer.