Q&A

What are your hours?

Creative sessions are by appointment only so that you may have the photographers full attention and creativity. We customize the session specifically around you! We offer appointments weekday mornings, weekday evenings, and on Saturdays for your convenience…call us to check for availability.

How can I reserve a creative session?

Simply call us at 817-773-3793 or e-mail us at info@erikasphoto.com. We’d be happy to set up a time and discuss the details of your sitting.

How much does a session cost?

Our session reservation fee is $100 for in-studio or $125 for on-location. The session reservation fee allows up to 3 hours for newborn sessions and up to 2 hours for all other sessions. There is no limit to the number of people that can be photographed during the session. You will also enjoy unlimited poses and clothing changes. ALL RETOUCHING is included, and we will devote up to 2 hours at your preview session to help you narrow down your selection and place your order! We have Bonus Reward Levels starting at $500. We also offer a Caterpillar Club for parents with little ones that plan to do 4-6 sessions with us. You can find information regarding our session reservation fee pricing as well as the Caterpillar Club under the INFORMATION section of our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to call or e-mail us.

When do I pay?

At the time you schedule your appointment, we collect the session reservation fee. Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or Amercian Express can be used to reserve your session appointment. No payment is due on the day you’re photographed. The day of your preview/ordering session, we will apply any print portion of your session fee toward your order. Then, the balance is due at that time. We do offer payment plans to make equal installments on your order. Orders are usually finished and ready in approximately 3 weeks from your final order payment.

What clothing is best for the session?

When selecting clothing for the session, solid colors are highly recommended. It is best to avoid busy stripes, prints, bold patterns, and logos. Trendy colors can date your portrait and are best avoided as well. Black and pastel colors work well in black and white portraits. Also keep in mind that long sleeves are most flattering for adults. Shoes and socks should be similar tone to the outfit. With children, we like to do bare feet pictures instead of shoes. But, you can bring along coordinating shoes if you like. Simply avoid shoes with words and designs on the bottom, especially for infants not yet walking. For family portraits, it’s best to dress everyone in the same style, color or mood. All light or all dark tones will make the image most successful. Several shades of one color can be nice. Simple tan pants or jeans are great for a casual family photo with solid powder blue, chocolate brown, or black shirts. Bring a variety of outfits with you and feel free to make as many clothing changes as you like. Remember, this is YOUR session!!

My child has a scratch on his face, what can I do?

We have all the latest retouching tools, so don’t worry, we will fix it at no additional charge.

Can we take pictures or video during the session?

No other photographic equipment may be used during the creative session. Outside flashes can have an effect on the images captured during the session.

Who can attend the creative session?

Aside from parents of children, no person(s) other than those being photographed may be at the session. Other people can be distracting to the subject and interfere with the portraits that are being captured.

Can I reschedule my creative session?

Sessions are booked by appointment only. The session reservation retainer is due at the time of booking and is non-refundable. Rescheduling is allowed if a reschedule date is provided and is accompanied by, at least, a 48 hour notice. The retainer will be credited to the rescheduled appointment. We realize that sometimes children become ill or the weather does not cooperate. We usually contact our clients if it looks like nasty weather the day of an outdoor session. Call us to re-schedule if a person being photographed is feeling ill, persons who are not feeling well do not photograph well. If the rescheduled date is not fulfilled, the standard session reservation fee rate will apply when the session is re-booked.

When will the pictures from my creative session ready for me to view?

After your creative session, my job has just begun! We select the best portraits from your session and completely retouch them to print quality before you even see them! Typically within 1 week after your creative session (sometimes 2 weeks during extremely busy times), We will contact you and schedule a preview/ordering session at the studio. At the preview session, you will be presented the portraits from your session and helped to narrow down your portraits to assist you in placing your order. After the order has been placed, the client will be provided a private password to view the portraits from the creative session via the client review section of the web site. The cart feature makes subsequent orders by family members extremely convenient; therefore, please feel free to share the password with out of town friends and family. This private gallery will expire 2 weeks from the preview session order date.

Do you accept payments on portrait orders?

Payment in full is required before your portrait order will be submitted to the lab; however, we acknowledge that sometimes what you want exceeds your budget. Therefore, we offer a recurring payment plan which allows for an amount to be withdrawn from your Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or American Express on a regular basis. Once your recurring payment plan is completed, you will receive your portrait order. An additional fee for this service may apply.

When will my final portraits be ready?

Once your order is placed and paid in full, it will be sent to the lab for processing. Portraits are typically available for delivery within 2 weeks, depending on the lab and shipping carriers. Custom products like Gallery Wraps, Framed Canvases, and Gina Alexander Photo Handbags may take additional time to receive. Erika’s Photography will contact you as soon as your portraits are in and ready for you to pick up.

Can I re-order after my preview session?

Re-orders are available on previously ordered images and will be subject to the current price list. Additional fees may apply for retrieving the image depending on the age.

Why can’t I make my own copies?

Many people believe that if they purchase a portrait that they have the right to make additional copies. This is simply not true. The “Federal Copyright Law” is a law that is designed to protect artists, composers, writers, and photographers just like ourselves. This law says that the creator of the work has the exclusive right to reproduce and sell copies of their work. This includes scanning, copying, and reproducing our work in any manner for whatever reason without my written approval. We try to accommodate all of our clients; however, we usually do not release the right for clients to print our portraits elsewhere. We desire for you to have a high quality product which means that we like to have complete control over the finished product. Any unauthorized duplication or publication is subject to all civil and criminal penalties under the law.

Other Concerns:

Men, make sure you shave as close to the session as possible to avoid five o’clock shadows. If you have any concerns or something you wish for me to try not to accentuate in the photos, please let us know in advance.

Do you have a referral program if I send someone new to you?

The highest compliment for you to give me is to refer your friends and family members! Therefore, along with your order, you will receive business cards with a picture from your session and my studio information to give to your friends and family. You will receive a $50 Gift Card to be used toward the prints from a past or future session for each person you refer that books and completes a session with me. Your referred friends or family will also recieve a complimentary 8×10 portrait with their order! If you have additional questions, Simply call 817-773-3793 or e-mail us at info@erikasphoto.com.