Have questions before you book a Family Photo Session? 

I’m here to help navigate the process and answer your frequently asked questions.

See below for answers to some commonly asked questions about Family Photo Sessions with Stephanie Friedman Photography.

1. Timing and Scheduling:
   • When is the best time of year to schedule a Family or Extended Family Photo Session in Austin, Texas? Do you prefer wildflowers in the Spring or want photos just before sending out holiday cards in the Fall? When is your family’s schedule less busy? With our reasonable weather most of the year, you can pick most months to be outside in Austin.
   • How far in advance should you book a session? I recommend booking 1-2 months in advance of your preferred date.
   • What factors should be considered when choosing the time of day for the photo shoot? Some locations work best in the morning and some have the best light in the late afternoon. We’ll take those factors into consideration during our pre-planning conversations.
2. Location and Setting:
   • What types of locations work well for Family or Extended Family photo sessions? I have a HUGE BLOG POST that lists 80+ settings in Austin for photo shoots.
   • Are indoor or outdoor sessions better? I prefer outdoor sessions for the natural light and sense of place (unless bad weather and deadlines mean we can only meet indoors).
   • Can families choose a location, or is it typically determined by the photographer? We’ll work together to decide the best location that works for the time of year the session is booked. 
3. Style and Wardrobe:
   • What should the family wear for the photo session? It depends on your location – will you be hiking along a trail in a park or on top of a downtown garage?Decide your setting and pick clothes that are comfortable, flattering and that you can move around in. Are you able to pick up little kids and sit on the ground in your outfits?
   • Plan to coordinate colors (pick 3-4 total) rather than strictly matching. Remember to add accessories.  Avoid: neon colors, large logos, phones/wallets in pockets.More details on my BLOG POST. 
   • Pinterest also has lots of inspiration.
4. Editing and Retouching:
   • What level of editing and retouching is typically done? My motto is “if it’s not a permanent feature, I will retouch it” Example – I usually photoshop out acne and do light retouching on skin.
5. Cost and Packages:
   • What is the typical cost of a Family or Extended Family photo session? You can see my current rates HERE.
   • Are there any additional costs that families should be aware of? If you’d like to purchase prints or print products through your gallery – those are extra. You only receive the digital files through my family package plan. Some locations also require a booking fee (cost varies).
6. Delivery and Usage Rights:
   • How and when will the final photos be delivered? You receive a gallery of digital hi-res files (minimum 50 edited images) two to three weeks after your session date. You can also pay a Rush Fee to receive your photos four days after your session.
   • What rights do families have regarding the use of the photos? Client Rights are spelled out in my Client Agreement, which you’ll sign as part of our pre-planning process. Families are granted a non-exclusive license for personal use such as posting to social media, creating personal prints or in personal communications such as a holiday card.
7. Weather Contingency Plans:
   • What happens if the weather is unfavorable on the scheduled day? I’ll send you frequent weather check-ins the week of your session if it looks like your photo shoot will need to be rescheduled. We’ll work together to pick another date and time with better weather. You have up to three months to use your initial retainer fee.
   • Are there alternative arrangements in case of bad weather? If you must have your session on that day with bad weather, we’ll work together to find an alternate indoor location (which may have an additional location fee) to use if you don’t want to reschedule.
8. Booking Process and Contracts:
   • What is the typical booking process for a Family photo session? The booking process includes picking a date and time on my calendar, signing a Client Agreement and Paying a retainer fee.
9. Pets:

• Are pets allowed at family photo sessions? Yes. Well behaved pets are welcome at family photo sessions. Just let me know ahead of time so we can plan your location accordingly.