About your photoshoot
How does the sitting work?
Typical timings for the whole process are outlined below. If you require a faster turn around, we'll do our best to help.- Phone to book your photo sitting on 01903 779699 or 07863 546161.
- Read our guidelines below on "How to get the most from your shoot"
- When your sitting arrives, relax and enjoy yourself! Your sitting fee is also payable if not paid at the time of booking. Sittings are all held at our studio between Yapton and Barnham.
- At the end of your sitting, set a date to view the photos (typically 7-10 days later) at our Rustington showroom.
- At the viewing, relax whilst you review your shots in glorious HD and select which one(s) you'd like to purchase. You may also select frames if you wish. There is absolutely no hard sell or silly promotions. Payment is required at this stage.
- You'll get a call 10-14 days later advising you that your prints are ready for collection (for framed prints allow an extra 7 working days).
How long does a standard sitting last?
It varies. For Individuals usually 40 minutes, families of 4-5 around an hour, larger groups up to 1 ½ hours if separate shots are also required. It is discussed when you make your booking.How to get the most from your shoot
Relax! Loads of people claim to hate having their photo taken but trust us, you'll get into it and have a great time. So don't feel nervous!What to wear:
Please note shoes must be taken off in the shooting area (although you can pose statically in your Jimmy Choo's if you wish). Socks must be worn. In our experience clothes with contrasting, bold colours work best. Strong pastels are good, as is denim. Best avoided for tops are creams, browns, dull greens, very light grey and subtle, intricate patterns (or multi-coloured bold prints). Contrasting tops, bottoms and accessories work well. Shocking pink and electric blue accessories work great. Pure white is OK, especially with contrasting detail on it but, for large groups, please limit it to a couple of people - it is a difficult colour to light over a large area and can therefore make the shoot more restrictive. Also if you're a group we don't recommend you all wearing dark greys and blacks... unless you want to look like the Hells Angels!
Make it personal:
We can't emphasise this enough. Feel free to bring along any props and you'll get a unique set of shots personal to you. Musical instruments, surf boards, football, sunglasses, hats, toys, high heels ... use your imagination!
Music:
You can bring along your iPod/ MP3 to pump through our speakers. It keeps the dynamism and enthusiasm up! It can also help reassure young children.
Blemishes and scars:
Unless for health reasons it is best to leave these uncovered by plasters / make-up. It is then easier to retouch and remove them. Contact me if you have a specific concern.
Anything extra I need to know for pets?
Please make sure you mention your pet when you book. Pets should be clean and dry. If the ground is wet on the day of your sitting please carry them into the studio (you can pull-up directly outside the door). Unless dogs are exceptionally calm they will need to be kept on a lead, although this can be digitally removed from the photo. Although not essential, it often works well to have two people handle a dog (one to hold, one to distract whilst we take candid shots)
Are the prints framed?
You can order them with or without frames. We've a great choice of frames to choose from but it's up to you.Can I put my photos on-line?
Yes! We supply a small digital file of any photos that you buy. They are too small to print out but look great on-line.Do you sell DVDs of images?
Yes we do. The minimum charge is £300 for 6 images, £50 each thereafter or £500 for 12 images. We urge our customers taking this option to get the images professionally printed by a non-automated operation (i.e. somebody you can speak to!). Many fully automated print labs will automatically adjust photos to make them "average" which can result in them losing their 'punch' and vibrancy.Gift Vouchers
Gift Vouchers can carry either a monetary value or be for a selected item. If it is the latter we still allow customers to select different goods to the same value. For example, if you purchase a voucher for a portrait sitting and 12in rectangular print (total cost £69), it could be used against couple of smaller prints, or a larger print, simply paying the difference as appropriate. If we have a promotion running at the time of buying your voucher you can take advantage by paying for that item at the promotional price. You can pay in the showroom or over the phone via debit / credit card.Passports, Visas and Other Services
Passports and Visas:
These are taken at our Rustington showroom. No need to book but please check our opening hours and phone ahead if you are traveling a long distance.
We supply photos for UK Passports, Driving Licenses and disability badges instantly.
- Charge = £10 for a sheet of 4. If you require the digital file there is an additional charge of £3.
We supply photos for all foreign documentation overnight, such as Passports and Visas for the USA, Canada and India (printed and/ or digital for on-line submission)
- Charge = £20 for a sheet of 4. If you require the digital file there is an additional charge of £3.
Retouching and photo restoration
Retouching is charged at £12 per 15 minutes and we'll always give you a price up-front. We can scan and restore old photographs from negative or print. We charge £6 per A4 scan (multiple photographs can be scanned within the A4 area).
