FAQ’s
Get comfy! There’s tons of info on this page which I hope will be helpful to my potential clients, existing clients and past clients.
What do I get after we’re said and done?
What are your rates? How do I book?
I am based in Canmore, Alberta meaning that the entire Bow Valley is my studio and playground. However, I caught the travel bug years ago and am always itching to visit new places; therefore I am more than happy to join you at your destination – so long as my expenses are covered! I typically shoot sessions outdoors, but if you are more comfortable inside or have access to a great space – that’s perfectly fine. If you’ve got a favorite outdoor spot that you’d like to use as the backdrop – wonderful, I love to explore new locations. If not, don’t worry! I know tons of great little nooks and crannies around this neck of the woods.
I get a lot of inquires on what to wear for the photo shoot. Most importantly you should be comfortable in the outfit[s] you chose to wear; your ensemble should reflect your personality and style. That said, I’ve got a few tips to help you look your best and make your photographs timeless:
-brightly colored accessories are great – mittens, necklaces, bangles, shoes, scarves, toques, neckties…
-you don’t necessarily want to wear the same things you would in your day-to-day life…take your personal style and “fancy” it up a bit.
-in my opinion, it is best to avoid solid white shirts, super thick stripes or logos.
-if possible, try to steer clear of ski jackets and branded hoodies; a simple pea coat, leather jacket or great sweater is ideal in the colder months.
-everyone does not have to match perfectly – just all be simply coordinated.
-as much as I absolutely refuse to wear high heels myself – they do look pretty great in photos. However, due to the nature of my shooting style I absolutely recommend bringing a pair of flats along to switch into…just in case I ask you to climb around on a slippery slope or some steep rocks! …and in the winter, BOOTS!!!
If possible, it is ideal to book your session in the early morning or evening during the hot summer months – shortly after sunrise or about one hour before sunset…the light is so much nicer during this time of the day. Alternatively, in the winter months we lose natural light in the mountains very quickly…it’s best to be wrapped up the session before 3:30pm.
WHAT DO I GET AFTER WE’RE SAID AND DONE?
I always include a collection of edited high resolution files within each of my wedding and portrait packages. This means that once you have received your disc of images [while you are of course welcome to order professional prints through my business] you are never required to come back to me to get your printing done.
The quantity of images on your disc depends on a number of things…including, but not limited to: the amount of time we spend pounding the pavement with the camera, how many locations we get to, lighting conditions, whether I have a second shooter…and so on. I of course, edit out any duplicate images, as well as those with closed eyes or a half-open mouth. I find that one hour of shooting typically yields 50-70 killer shots – these are the ones that you will find on your disc. My goal is to deliver a collection based on high quality images over a large quantity of repetitive, so-so photos.
You will receive your edited digital images within four weeks of a portrait session and six weeks of your wedding day. I strongly advise that you back up the files as soon as you receive the disc! I will never purposely delete the images from my archive, but it is best for you to have a copy on your hard drive, as well as at least one or two dvd backups!
Now for a bit of an explanation of what goes in into my photo editing process and what you can expect when your disc of images arrives in the mail after production. The photos you receive will be in high resolution. Occasionally, however, I will crop the image for compositional purposes…even still, the files are plenty large! Each of the high resolution images on your disc will receive a basic edit. This means that every image will be individually tweaked for exposure, white balance and contrast. Each image is adjusted to be ready for print…nice and classic, nothing fancy! Sometimes for whatever reason, be it lighting conditions, skin tones or composition, an image just doesn’t work in color, so I will opt to process it in black and white.
On your disc, I always include a “Photographer’s Favorites” folder…this is the best part of my job! This folder includes a selection of images which have received a bit of extra love; these are the samples that you will find here in my portfolio galleries as well as in my blog posts. I often do a bit of funky color processing. Others, I will convert to a really rich black and white. A small selection of the portraits will be retouched even further to make the eyes pop and and remedy and pesky blemishes or under-eye circles. Occasionally, if possible, I will swap a head or two if there are some blinkers in a group shot. And finally, I’ll also remove any elements which I find distracting from the background.
I have included a selection of examples below which I hope will tie this all together to make sense. Photography, and especially photo processing is a personal taste. You may find that you often prefer the basic edit over the artistic retouch…which is why I always include both versions in your package.
Once you receive your photos, you are able to make as many prints as you would like. I highly recommend steering away from box store prints labs – head down to the local professional printing shop. They’ll do a great job in rendering skin tones, rich colors and punchy contrast.
One thing to keep in mind is the aspect ratio. This is a topic that baffled me to no end when I began printing. The way a DSLR camera sees the world is in a 2:3 ratio – for every two inches on the short side there are three inches on the long side. Therefore, a 4×6″ print will show you the whole image, but if you want to make an 8×10″ print, you will lose two inches of the image off the long edge. From the examples below, you will notice that sometimes these two inches are not critical…other times, you’ll be left without feet or perhaps the top of a head! If you deal with a professional lab, they will be happy to walk you through the process!
Below are some examples which demonstrate a variety of popular print sizes in terms of the aspect ratio.
I offer fine art heirloom albums and custom coffee table books for weddings and portraits. I try to design the albums in a story-telling manner with simple, timeless layouts. A typical design includes several details, candid moments and slices of life along with many highlights of the portrait session…anything which I feel that helps to bring the story together. A classic Julie Williams Photography wedding book is usually between 30 and 45 spreads. [60-90 pages] Before sending the design off for print, I will offer you a digital preview of the book to proof. You are welcome to make some minor design changes and remove any spreads that you are not fond of.
The base price of my books includes 25 spreads. I ask that this fee be paid before I begin the design process. Once your book has been approved and we’ve established a final number of pages we can settle up for any additional expenses beyond the base price and I’ll promptly place the order with my company.
Full album design examples:
Below you can see a quick example of the books that I offer. However, if really is best to see these albums in person…let’s schedule a coffee date!
WHAT ARE YOUR RATES? HOW DO I BOOK?
My portrait sessions start at $650. Wedding commissions begin at $4000 with elopement rates available Monday through Thursday, or for smaller boutique-style weddings booking within four weeks of the date. In order to reserve your wedding date I require a signed contract and a non-refundable $1000 deposit. I am, unfortunately, unable to hold the date or “pencil you in” without both of these items. Once you have sent in your contract and deposit, the date is ALL yours!