tia biggs
BIRTH & POSTPARTUM DOULA | CHILDBIRTH EDUCATOR | PHOTOGRAPHER
photography faq
Let's get on the same page! Photography is an art full of personal preference which makes finding the right photographer incredibly important. I want you to love & cherish the photos I take for you and your family, so please read on to learn a little more about my process & style and background...
The Simple Stuff!
Where are you located? I am an Edmonton birth, newborn, family + maternity photography! However I am also willing to travel to surrounding areas including St. Albert, Spruce Grove, Sherwood Park, Leduc, and Beaumont. If you are hoping for your photos to be taken somewhere else, please don't hesitate to reach out to discuss this possibility.
Do you shoot in a studio? I am happy to provide a space for simple headshots, however I spend most of my time shooting in-home or outdoors.
What is the investment? Lifestyle sessions (including newborn, maternity, family + beyond) are $450 for a 1-2 hour session + 50 digital images. Birth photography is $1500.
Will my photos be shared on social media? Each and every family will be sent a photo sharing consent form that will give you an opportunity to decide your level of comfort with your photos being shared. You are in control of this!
The Look!
How would you describe your style? Candid moments are my favourite moments. While I am more than happy to provide guidance & direction to help produce a particularly aesthetically pleasing photo, you can also expect me to document all the silly, the raw & the connection. This is why I have found my niche in birth & family photography.
How do you decide how to edit a gallery? The final product in photography is far more influenced by the backdrop & setting compared to editing than many of us think! What this means, is that in sessions where I am able to creatively direct the composition of the photo and control the environment, I will produce a light & bright image as you see above and in many of my photos. However, with certain types of photography (particularly birth or in-home sessions) the environment cannot be modified to produce a stylistic end, at which point I will always choose to make editing decision that will produce a purposeful & appealing photo, even if it means straying from my usual style. An example of this can be seen below.
The Technicalities!
What format will my photos be in? Your gallery will be shared using Pixieset with an opportunity to download your photos as a .jpeg.
When will I get my photos? You will receive an UNEDITED gallery of proofs within 7 days of your shoot where you can select up to 50 photos to be edited. You will have one week to make your selections, after which you will receive a fully edited gallery of your selected images within 3 weeks.
Do you share RAW files? Unless agreed upon prior to booking your session, RAW files will not be shared.
When & how can I pay for photos? A non-refundable $200 retainer is due at hire, with the remaining balance due one week prior to the scheduled session. For birth photography, 50% is due at the time of hire and the remaining 50% is due at 36 weeks. Payment can be made by e-transfer or credit card upon signing a contract.
The Birth Stuff!
Do you use flash at a birth? This is up to you & can change in the moment if you wish! Photos absolutely need adequate lighting and as a result, discreetly using flash can significantly enhance the quality of your photos. That being said, protection of the birth space is my top priority, which means that I give each family the ability to share there preference prenatally, and shift this preference at any time.
What is your experience with birth? I have been a birth doula for more than three years & have attended more than 45 births! This means that I am not only incredibly familiar with birth, and its many complexities, but also working with healthcare professionals.
What happens if you can't attend the birth? While I am quite familiar with life on call, the unpredictability of birth can fool even the best of plans. As a result I have several backup birth photographers who I can reach out to in the event that I cannot make it. If I am denied access to your birth location due to visitor restrictions, you will receive a partial refund (50%) + a newborn/fresh 48 session. In the event that a backup is required for combined doula + birth photography services, I will first reach out to a colleague who also offers both services and ideally have her provide back-up. In the event that she is not available, a backup doula will be sent and 40% refund will be offered. Please note that the backup birth doula will still be able to take non-professional photos for you to keep as memories.
How likely is it that you will need backup? The answer to this question will be best answered on a case-by-case basis. However, I wish to be transparent that I will be in full time school between the months of August and May. While this most often won't cause any problems given the flexible nature of my program, any mandatory assessments (i.e. exams etc.) will require that backup be provided. This is in addition to unexpected and unavoidable issues such as sickness.
What is different about birth photography? When photographing a birth, I do my very best to blend in to the background so that you can focus on welcoming your baby! This means that I will not be posing or making suggestions throughout the birth, and may only do this if you feel up for it after baby in born. I also tend to include a much larger proportion of black and white photos because they do such an excellent job of drawing your attention to the emotion & the moment.
Will you continue to take photos if complex medical situations arise? You will have an opportunity to share your preferences about moments where you would prefer photos not be taken. If your preferences change following the birth, please share this with me and I will exclude these photos from the gallery.
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