Here are answers to most of the 'What', 'Where', 'How', and 'When' questions that are popping into your brain:

Where is your studio?

Everywhere!  I think the best lighting and backdrops are outdoors. Since I'm based in New London County, everything from rustic farms to rocky coastlines to nautical landmarks make for creative and inspiring options.  The choices for your perfect setting are nearly endless.  

What should I/we wear?

That depends on the look you are going for, but here are a couple of things to keep in mind:

  • Be sure your clothing isn't wrinkled
  • Stay away from loud or busy prints
  • If there will be more than one person in the shot, try to color-coordinate your outfits. They don't have to match. To get some great ideas, go to Pinterest and search for "Color Coordinated Family Pictures"
  • When in doubt, bring an extra piece or two.  Together, we'll figure out the best look.

Can we have pets in our portrait?

I LOVE animals, so I'm up for it as long as you and your pet(s) are. Just be aware that pets may not be feeling cooperative at the time of the shoot.  New location, new people (me), and non-stop commands (you) can be distracting, if not downright scary.  Not to mention that the humans in the session may be focusing on getting Fido or Boots to look a certain way, and forget to do so themselves. Think of your pet as a human toddler....sometimes those not-so-perfect moments often lead to the most endearing memories.    

What if the weather forecast is bad for our scheduled session?

Living in New England, that's always a concern.  I will watch the forecast carefully and communicate with you.  Often there are hair/make-up appointments to factor into the decision, so I also take that into consideration as well.  I don't like to say "always" or "never", but a good rule of thumb is that if there is more than a 50% chance of precipitation, we'll have a conversation about "Plan B".

And what if my child is "bad" for our scheduled session?

Yep, it happens.  Tears and tantrums are part of life.  Before the situation reaches "Red Alert Melt-down", I'll do my best to help bring back smiles and giggles. And, full disclaimer, it might mean you'll see me doing some pretty ridiculous things. But, my antics aren't always successful.  That's when I let the parents step in and take over while I unobtrusively take some candids. Here are a couple of suggestions to keep things happy:

  • Give yourself PLENTY of time to get ready and travel to our session.  Nothing creates more stress than running late.
  • Consider having a 'practice' session at home a day or two before our shoot. Role-playing makes it relatable and fun. 
  • Bring your child's favorite go-to 'comfort' item....it might be that raggedy ol' blanket that gets dragged around, or a teddy bear with missing parts. Even if he/she insists of holding onto it in the photo. 
  • Bring 1 or 2 favorite story books. We can have some great shots of your child 'reading' to you.
  • Snacks! 
  • "If you don't behave, ___________________ (fill in the blank) will happen when we get home!".  I know...it can be a parental reflex reaction when things aren't going as smoothly as you would like, but It is completely counter-productive to getting your child back to their happy place.  Instead, I have found that unabashed bribery works wonders.       

Can I bring props?

Absolutely! Sports equipment, musical instruments, flowers, balloons, artwork, crayons, books, toys, bubbles, wine/wine glasses, and the list goes on and on.... Pinterest has a gazillion ideas.  Just remember that the photos should emphasize YOU, and the props just help tell your story.  

What else should I bring?

  • Bottled water
  • Tissues for blotting sweat, make-up, or runny noses
  • Comb/brush and make-up for quick touch-ups
  • Smiles, laughter, and a sense of humor!

When is final payment due?

The Initial Payment (approximately 20% of your selected package) is required when you book your session, and the balance of your session fee is due seven (7) days prior to your scheduled session. 

How long before I see proofs?

While certain times of the year are busier than others, I usually get post-production proofs to you 1-2 weeks after our session.

Will I get to see every photo that was taken?

My work is my reputation so I'm only going to show you my best work.  You'll have plenty to choose from in your gallery to make your final selections for post production. 

Do I get the digital files?

Digital files are available for a nominal fee. These files will showcase your session beautifully on all the major social media platforms.  They are not suitable for prints due to their low resolution, however, you are able to order high-quality prints in a large variety of sizes, as well as cards and gifts, directly through your 5 Scoop Photography Personal Gallery.

Is there a minimum to buy?

Nope.  Order as many, or as few, as you like.  I hope you'll order many!  

Do you shoot weddings?

While I work with engaged couples, wedding photography is a completely different animal.  I'd rather GO to a wedding than shoot one! 

Who owns the photos from my session?

5 Scoop Photography, LLC owns all rights and copyrights to all photos.  You will need to sign and return your Contract and Model Release prior to our session.  It's nothing scary, and it's standard for the photography industry.

What happens to my personal data?

OK, here's the official Privacy Policy information:

Privacy Notice

This privacy notice discloses the privacy practices for www.5scoopphotography.com. This privacy notice applies solely to information collected by this website. It will notify you of the following:

  1. What personally identifiable information is collected from you through the website, how it is used and with whom it may be shared.
  2. What choices are available to you regarding the use of your data.
  3. The security procedures in place to protect the misuse of your information.
  4. How you can correct any inaccuracies in the information.

Information Collection, Use, and Sharing 
We are the sole owners of the information collected on this site. We only have access to/collect information that you voluntarily give us via email or other direct contact from you. We will not sell or rent this information to anyone.

We will use your information to respond to you, regarding the reason you contacted us. We will not share your information with any third party outside of our organization, other than as necessary to fulfill your request, e.g. to ship an order.

Unless you ask us not to, we may contact you via email in the future to tell you about specials, new products or services, or changes to this privacy policy.

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You may opt out of any future contacts from us at any time. You can do the following at any time by contacting us via the email address or phone number given on our website:

  • See what data we have about you, if any.
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Wherever we collect sensitive information (such as credit card data), that information is encrypted and transmitted to us in a secure way. You can verify this by looking for a lock icon in the address bar and looking for "https" at the beginning of the address of the Web page.

While we use encryption to protect sensitive information transmitted online, we also protect your information offline. Only employees who need the information to perform a specific job (for example, billing or customer service) are granted access to personally identifiable information. The computers/servers in which we store personally identifiable information are kept in a secure environment.

If you feel that we are not abiding by this privacy policy, you should contact us immediately via email.