q. are you the photographer, straight or gay?
a. if i told you would you believe me?
q. where are you located?
a. i am in CHARLOTTE, north carolina
q. do you, the photographer, travel to other cities/states to photograph?
a. this is one of the most often asked questions, especially from ATL(Atlanta) potential clients/models. i DO NOT travel for photo sessions. my studio & resources are in CLT(Charlotte) where i live, NOT where you live. i have no studio in your city. even a hotel room is too small with a big bed in the middle of the floor. my goal is to provide you with studio images as well as location/outdoor, weather permitting. if i come to your city, all i will be able to provide is location/outdoor minus studio pictures and you need both - not just one. i have lots of equipment that i'd have to break down, setup somewhere in your city, break it back down after photographing you and re-setup back in my studio after returning home. additionally i would have to pack and bring my own personal belongings(ie: clothes, toiletries) to stay the night. it's just not efficient or effective for me to do that. you as a client, really only have your personal clothing which is easy to transport versus me with lots of equipment. i'm providing a service and it's here where i live - not there. i politely ask that you come here where i can provide YOU a QUALITY product and service. if you want me to come to your city, please have a location, studio and lighting equipment ready upon my arrival. 'thank you', in advance for your understanding.
to any potential Atlanta clients: if you come here, ATL WILL NOT shut down while you're away. the city will continue to function fine while you're gone and it'll be there upon your return to embrace you again.
q. i am a COLLEGE STUDENT, struggling and/or poor so i do not have a lot of money.
a. to all college students: rich, poor, struggling, affluent or modest, i do not make exceptions for you. It’s also NOT FAIR to non-college people. wal-mart, targets, grocery stores, malls, doctors, car mechanics, etc., DO NOT negotiate their prices and rates for college students and you do not expect them to so neither do i. if i wish to extend a discounted rate, then i will let you know. if not, my rates stand. please respect me and do not attempt to negotiate my rates. plus, college students do have money. many college students travel back & forth home frequently, take out-of-town trips, and visit beaches and out-of-country vacation spots for college breaks. so college students do have money for things they want.
q. are you an agency?
a. NO. photography ONLY! i am not an agency of any type.
q. is there an age requirement?
a. yes. you MUST be at least 18 years old, with valid I.D. & sign a client/model release form*. NO EXCEPTIONS!
* the release DOES NOT exclusively tie the client/model to me or any frozen films properties. again, photography, NOT agency
q. how many changes(outfits) should i bring?
a. i prefer no more than 4 -to- 6 changes, but you may bring more. just don't bring your entire closet. (LOL)
q. what type of clothing do i bring or wear? (to applicable gender)
(A.) some hip-hop, head gear, suits, dress shirts, sweaters, jeans, slacks, coats, jackets, athletic gear, body gear, tight-like t-shirts, swim wear, underwear, tank top(wife-beaters), facial gear, panties, bras, dresses, bathing suits, or whatever other types of clothing you prefer or have.
(B.) bags, luggages, some jewelry, and other types of accessories and props are welcome!
(C.) cigars, cigarettes, etc. are welcome for particular scenes - if warranted.
(D.) fashion styles of Abercrombie & Fitch, Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, American Eagle, etc. are certainly welcome!
q. what do i NOT bring or wear?
a. NO POLO SHIRTS! ......
if you want polo-like shirt pictures, i encourage you to visit the mall or places where they produce those pink or blue like glowing pics. i am NOT a mall photographer so please do not treat me as such.
***IMPORTANT*** avoid bringing TOO many PURE WHITE shirts/clothing if possible. often pure white clothing do not photograph well. white shirts, t-shirts, dress shirts - absorb too much light and reflects the light back into the camera lens causing YOU, the client to look too dark in the photo. 1 or 2 pieces of white is okay, but NOT too many pieces. all other colors are acceptable and welcome.
q. what is the goal or objective of the photography session?
a. the objective is to do creative pictures in the areas of FASHION, HIGH-FASHION and BODY SHOTS.
q. do i have to do nude photography?
a. you DO NOT have to do NUDE photography; client's discretion. implied/semi-nude is desired, but not required. doing or being nude doesn't make it pornography. please be open-minded. the body is ART! i DON'T do pornography.
q. what types of hairstyles are permitted?
a. all men and women hairstyles are acceptable & welcomed. please ensure it is styled appropriately and/or cut. additionally for men, facial hair must be neatly trimmed, shaved, shaped-up and/or cut accordingly. please, just look nice!
q. what is the time length of a photo session?
a. photo sessions generally last 3 -to- 4 hours, sometimes longer but the time expires fast.
q. what are the times and days photo sessions are performed?
a. at current i perform photo sessions ANYTIME(24/7): weekdays, weekends/holidays.
q. may i bring someone with me to the photo session?
a. i DO NOT allow onlookers -or- 3rd party persons to attend photo sessions. if someone must accompany you, please discuss with me prior to arranged date.
q. do you perform TFP's (time for print, time for picture)/TFCD (time for prints on CD Rom, pictures on CD, etc.)?
a. NO unsolicited TFP's/TFCD's which actually means "Free Shit". i DO NOT perform TFP's because THIS IS WORK. it can be hard laborious work. like any other business, i can not sustain doing my photography free of charge. i have ongoing expenses like any other person or business. i have to pay rent, electrical, water, high-speed internet, cell fone bills. i had to invest in myself to become a photographer by purchasing a decent camera, lighting equipment and other tools i utilize in producing QUALITY images. i have ongoing expense such as purchasing mailout envelopes, stamps, gas for finding locations to shoot at, preparing and cleaning up before & after clients, purchasing detergents to wash towels & stuff, etc. NO STORE gave me anything to start my business for free. i'm constantly thinking of ideas to explore and purchasing items that might be utilize in photo sessions. wal-mart, targets, and other businesses do not give their products and services for free, therefore, don't expect me to give mine for free. i guarantee if you were in my position or starting a business of your own, you would not do it free of charge. this is work and like for any job done, a person wants to be paid. i exhaust 3 -to- 4+ hours photographing you, and another 3 -to- 5+ hours retouching and that equal at least 8+ hours or a FT job. who wants to work FT and not be paid? even if a person does something for free, a consumer should still offer some token of appreciation to the merchant because NO business can support itself free of charge. if i want to shoot you for TFP(FREE), i will DEFINITELY let you know. thanks.
you don't ask for free gas at the gas station;
you don't ask for free hair cut at the salon or barbershop;
you don't ask for free clothes at department store;
you don't ask for free food at the grocery store;
you get the point!
q. how many exposures are taken?
a. the goal is to capture between 75 -to- 100 raw exposures; (sometimes more). chemistry, creativeness between client and photographer as well as time, ideas and
fatigueness
are determinants if more pictures are done.
q. how many photos are retouched/cleaned up?
a. i usually retouch/cleanup around 30+/- images (COLOR -and- B/W) if i take at least 75+ exposures or more.
(if less exposures are captured, then the retouched amount is prorated accordingly)
q. do i receive actual prints, a CD Rom with the photos or both?
a. i provide the pictures on a CD Rom ONLY!
q. how long does it take for the pictures to be retouched/cleaned up?
a. it takes me at least 1 week to retouch/cleanup 30+/- of the images. after retouching, the CD Rom is mailed which takes another several days of mail delivery. if you're local to me, a time may be setup to obtain the CD in person.
q. do i still receive all the images i take, raw and retouched/cleaned up?
a. no. i ONLY provide the specified number of retouched images based on the package you purchase. for best quality, i do not give out untouched/raw images, proof or contact sheets.
q. do i get studio and outdoor/location shots?
a. if you come during the weekday, ONLY studio will be done. if you come on weekends/holidays, outdoor/location shots might be done. (during the 8 -to- 5 work weekday when people are working, there are not many adequate places we can shoot, have privacy and not be in violation of trespassing on private and public properties. weekends/holidays when businesses, construction areas, abandon buildings are empty, vacant and closed are best when shooting in those locations. location shots also depend on weather, time of day and environmental conditions.)
q. what forms of payments are acceptable?
a. i accept CASH -or- CREDIT CARD electronic payments ONLY! NO CHECKS!
q. what is the cost for a replacement CD?
a. $25.oo.
q. do you do family portraits, weddings and event pictures?
a. i do not do weddings, events and family pictures at this time. sorry.
q. what are some of the TOP EXCUSES clients provide for Canceling, "No Shows", or Rescheduling a shoot?
#1 - my uncle is in the hospital. (is it possible to visit your loved one before or after your shoot? & for some reason it's always the "uncle" and never another relative.)
#2 - i have to figure out my work & school schedules & i'll get back with you.
#3 - i'm having surgery
#4 - i'm (still) working on my body.
#5 - my car broke down; isn't working now.
#6 - my ride can't bring me.
#7 - my day(s) off -or- free from work, i have to make errands -or- help my grandmother.
#8 - i'm moving -or- have to move into my new apartment (home) today.
#9 - i'm having family issues/matters.
#10 - i have a bump &/or spots on my face now.
#11 - i need to get -or- didn't get new clothes for the shoot.
#12 - i'm having issues with my boyfriend, girlfriend -or- significant other. (my partner doesn't want me doing certain things...)
#13 - the bank messed up my account with a lot "NSF" fees & i'm not able to pay you. (it's the bank's fault i bounced transactions)
#14 - my dog (animal) is sick or isn't well.
#15 - my cell fone is/was lost, disconnected so i couldn't let you know i wasn't coming.
#16 - i didn't -or- no longer have internet access to let you know i wasn't coming.
#17 - IT'S A HOLIDAY - (memorial, labor, veterans, president's, new year's, MLK Jr., columbus day, easter, 4th of july, christmas, thanksgiving | mother's, father's, valentine's, st.patrick's, april's fools day)
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