How a session with me works, start to finish

1. You text me

That's the whole first step. A text, a call, or the form on the portraits page. Tell me what kind of session you're thinking about and roughly when. Senior pictures in October, a family session before the holidays, a headshot this month. You don't need a date, a location, or a package picked out. That's what the next step is for. Headshots run a little differently (you pick your favorites right after we shoot); that's all in the headshot guide.

You'll hear back from me the same day. If I'm on a shoot when you call, it goes to voicemail and I call back when I'm done.

2. We plan it, by text or on a short call

Some people like to plan it all over text. Some want to talk it through. Both work. If you want the call, it's a free 15-minute planning call and you can pick a time straight off my calendar.

Either way, we sort out four things:

• The date and time. For outdoor sessions I aim for the last hour or two of light, so the start time follows sunset for your date.
• The place. I have spots I shoot often and I'll suggest a couple that fit what you want. Somewhere that means something to you beats any of them.
• The package. I tell you what each one includes and how long it runs. I don't push the bigger one. The right one is the one that fits how many outfits and locations you actually want.
• A backup date. Weather in Nebraska does what it wants, so we agree on a second date up front. More on that below.

Then I text you a quote. That number is the full price. Nothing gets added later.

3. Half holds the date

Once you're happy with the plan, half of the price holds the date. The other half is due when your gallery is delivered. If splitting the balance into two payments makes it easier, say so when you book and we set that up.

When you book, we also agree on the date your gallery will be delivered, and that goes in writing on your booking. I'd rather give you a date you can hold me to than a vague promise.

4. You get ready

Read the what-to-wear guide. It covers outfits, colors, what fights the camera, and what to pack, and it has a checklist at the bottom you can print. Short version: one dressier outfit, one casual, one that is completely you. Steam everything the night before. Get any haircut done a week out, not the day before.

If anything changes on your side, a new outfit idea, a relative who wants to be in a few frames, a schedule problem, just text me. Most of it is easy to work in if I know ahead of time.

5. The shoot

I show up early, walk the spot, and check the light. When you arrive we start with the first outfit right away, because the light is only getting better and I don't want to waste it standing around.

Most of the session is walking and talking. I tell you exactly where to stand, what to do with your hands, and where to look. You don't need to know how to pose and you don't need to feel natural for the first ten minutes. Nobody does, and it never shows in the gallery. When we can, we change spots with the outfit, so each one gets its own look.

How long we shoot depends on the package. For senior sessions:

• The Essentials: 40 minutes
• The Classic: 90 minutes
• The Signature: 2.5 hours

A family session runs about an hour.

Parents are welcome, and honestly they help. The best expressions come from someone behind me making you laugh. Friends are welcome for the same reason. Dogs are welcome with a leash and a person to hold them between frames.

Weather

If it rains, we reschedule at no charge. We already picked a backup date when you booked, so the first move is to that date. If the backup doesn't work out either, we pick the next date together. I watch the forecast in the days before and I text you if it's looking bad, so you're not the one guessing on the morning of.

Cold is usually fine. Bring a coat you like and we work it in between spots. Overcast is fine too; that light is soft and flattering.

6. A sneak peek, then the gallery

On The Classic and The Signature senior packages, you get a sneak peek before the full gallery. A few finished photos so you have something to show while I work through the rest.

Then the full gallery lands on the date we agreed when you booked. It's a private online gallery, and it's yours to keep. Every photo in it gets real retouching: stray hairs, blemishes, glare on glasses, the bruise from practice. Nothing that makes you look airbrushed. Seniors also get the yearbook photo sized for the school.

The gallery link is the whole delivery. Open it on your phone, share it with family, save the photos to your phone or computer. There's no print package to buy and no second bill for the digital files.

7. The balance, and one favor

The rest of the price is due when the gallery is delivered. I send the details with the gallery link.

After that, one favor. If you're happy with your photos, I'll ask you for a Google review. It's one person here, not an agency, and reviews are most of how the next family finds me. If you're not happy with something, tell me that instead.

What I need from you

• Roughly when you want to shoot and what kind of session
• A yes on the date, spot, and package once we have planned it
• Half of the price to hold the date
• Outfits ready the night before, from the what-to-wear guide
• On time on the day, or a text if you're running behind
• The balance when the gallery lands

What you can expect from me

• A reply the same day
• A quote that's the full price
• A delivery date in writing, agreed when you book
• A plan for the location and a backup date for the weather
• Direction the whole shoot, so you never have to guess
• Every delivered photo retouched