{"id":2305,"date":"2023-06-14T00:26:48","date_gmt":"2023-06-14T00:26:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/robinallen-photography.com\/staging\/4470\/?page_id=2305"},"modified":"2025-06-14T14:40:04","modified_gmt":"2025-06-14T14:40:04","slug":"faq","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/robinallen-photography.com\/staging\/4470\/faq\/","title":{"rendered":"FAQ"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” height=”1000px” max_height=”1300px” custom_margin=”-200px||||false|false” bottom_divider_style=”waves2″ bottom_divider_color=”#FFFFFF” bottom_divider_height=”60px” bottom_divider_repeat=”1x” bottom_divider_flip=”horizontal” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”FAQ” button_two_text=”ready to book!” background_overlay_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”||||||||” title_font_size=”120px” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” background_image=”https:\/\/robinallen-photography.com\/staging\/4470\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Ben_newborn_relababy-only-scaled.webp” parallax=”on” min_height=”1000px” height=”800px” max_height=”1000px” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ custom_css_main_element=”Padding:400px 0 250px;” global_colors_info=”{}” title_text=”Ben_newborn_rela+baby-only_phone” sticky_enabled=”0″ background_last_edited=”on|phone” background_image_tablet=”https:\/\/robinallen-photography.com\/staging\/4470\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Ben_newborn_relababy-only_phone-scaled.webp” background_enable_image_tablet=”on”]<\/p>\n

Some questions I get asked all the time,<\/p>\n

and then there are others that never get asked.<\/p>\n

I’m glad you stopped in to find out details you didn’t even know you needed!<\/p>\n

Let me know when you’re ….<\/p>\n

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[\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_blurb title=”SCHEDULING FAQ…” content_max_width=”100%” admin_label=”SCHEDULING FAQ…” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_font_size=”24px” header_letter_spacing=”3px” custom_padding=”10px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_toggle title=”How far out do I need to book my session?” closed_toggle_background_color=”#FFFFFF” admin_label=”How far out do I need to book my session?” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h1″ title_font=”||||||||” closed_title_font=”|300|||||||” body_font=”|300|||||||” body_font_size=”16px” body_line_height=”1.8em” border_width_all=”0px” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ box_shadow_blur=”22px” box_shadow_spread=”-10px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

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THE ANSWER DEPENDS ON THE SESSION TYPE…<\/p>\n

Generally speaking, it’s best to allow 4 weeks before your desired session time. More, if you want to make sure you get a spot on my calendar.<\/p>\n

Newborn sessions require even more careful scheduling. Please schedule newborn sessions 8 weeks prior to your due date.<\/p>\n

Professional headshots are a completely different situation. Two or three days is acceptable if you are scheduling a quick and simple session like this.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”I’m ready to book! What do I need to do?” closed_toggle_background_color=”#FFFFFF” admin_label=”I’m ready to book! What do I need to do?” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h1″ title_font=”||||||||” closed_title_font=”|300|||||||” body_font=”|300|||||||” body_font_size=”16px” body_line_height=”1.8em” border_width_all=”0px” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ box_shadow_blur=”22px” box_shadow_spread=”-10px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

GREAT!\u00a0 I’m glad you like what you see so far!\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Whatever type of session you’re getting ready to book, have a look at that type’s gallery, and its info\/pricing page.\u00a0 \u00a0Every photographer’s style, taste, finishing techniques, policies, and pricing can vary widely.\u00a0 Let me know if you have any questions before you book, no question is too silly. It’s best not to assume you alrady know!<\/p>\n

Whether you have a quick question, or are ready to book, you can reach me through the connect page here on this website.\u00a0 Contacting me via email like this is the best option.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Obvioulsy I cannot guarantee that I’ll have a spot for you on my calendar, but that’s why you’re reaching out to me early, so the odds are better!!<\/p>\n

When you’re ready to book, we’ll look for a date together, and I’ll send you a link to where you can pay your depososit.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”I know you, Robin! Will you shoot our session???” closed_toggle_background_color=”#FFFFFF” admin_label=”I’m ready to book! What do I need to do?” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h1″ title_font=”||||||||” closed_title_font=”|300|||||||” body_font=”|300|||||||” body_font_size=”16px” body_line_height=”1.8em” border_width_all=”0px” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ box_shadow_blur=”22px” box_shadow_spread=”-10px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

NO!<\/p>\n

Go away!<\/p>\n

ok\u00a0 NOT\u00a0 SERIOUSLY ….. but kinda…..\u00a0<\/p>\n

I have thoughts.\u00a0 Have a listen before you ask me for real to shoot for you….<\/p>\n

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Obviously I’m writing this wayyyyy before YOU asked me to do your session.\u00a0 So I am not thinking personally here.\u00a0 I am thinking broadly about all my past friends and family sessions.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In my industry, wisdom says “DON’T SHOOT FOR YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY!”<\/p>\n

(Actually, this might be wisdom in all small business circles, but its too darn awkward, that no one actually says much of anything.)<\/p>\n

We (business owners\/merchants\/vendors, whatever) love our friends and family, but y’all can be tough.\u00a0 \u00a0You know US personally. But rarely do you know our no-nonsense, direct, hard-line-in-the-sand, “businessey” side.\u00a0 We usually leave that at the office.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

But that “businessey” side is precicely what has kept us afloat for so many years.\u00a0 We keep deadlines, and require our customers to do the same.\u00a0 We pay our bills, and require our customers to do the same.\u00a0 We keep business dealings to business hours and customers do the same.\u00a0 \u00a0Humans don’t always keep friends at arms length like that.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Friends call or text later into the evening.\u00a0 We don’t really care if a friend shows up to a barbeque 30 minutes late.\u00a0 We reimburse the $5 we owe when we think of it.\u00a0 We ask a favor of a pal at church.\u00a0 No big deal!<\/p>\n

You see where I’m going with this, don’t you…<\/p>\n

When the boundary lines get blurred, or confused, or completely not communicated at all, the relationship suffers.\u00a0 In many cases it’s proabably one-sided.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Nothing could be more exciting …. AND more annoying and complicated that serving friends and family!!<\/p>\n

Read on…<\/p>\n

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In my industry (and mine probably isn’t the only one) wisdom says “DON’T SHOOT FOR YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY!”<\/p>\n

It’s only a positive experience if the friend would actually be willing to have zero special treatment, zero special price, and zero extra accommodations.\u00a0 If you think you would trust me enough to hire me if I were a stranger, then we can definitely talk.<\/p>\n

So here are the steps you need to take:<\/p>\n

1<\/p>\n

Peruse my galleries. Do you even like my work?\u00a0 Does MY style match YOUR style?\u00a0 And most importantly, do I currently offer the kind of session you are wanting? (E.g…. I DON’T offer photography for weddings, birthday parties, engagement sessions, senior portraits, or boudior.\u00a0 And I rarely do in-home studio work anymore.)<\/p>\n

If you said YES, then go to step 2.\u00a0 If you said no, then I’d be honored to walk with you in finding a professional who you’ll love and will fit you!<\/p>\n

2<\/p>\n

Peruse my info pages where the pricing is.\u00a0 I offer a premium product.\u00a0 That’ll happen when you’ve been at this for nearly two decades. If you were a stranger would you want to afford the menu items? (regardless of if you CAN afford it, would you WANT to?)\u00a0 \u00a0If you answer NO, I’ll tell you why this is a problem.\u00a0 The customer should always agree on the VALUE of the merchant’s product. (Whether or not they can fund it)\u00a0 If the customer doesn’t value it, he will almost certainly inhibit the creative process. It is very difficult to create well when the customer is sort of telling the merchant what to do, how to do it, choices to make, and ultimately doesn’t trust the merchant.\u00a0 A photographer in this position just ends up being a glorified camera-holder\/button-pusher. They’re not actually free to create.<\/p>\n

No one ever MEANS to be insulting by when they are “trying to help.”\u00a0 Of course not.\u00a0 But the familiarity of the relationship can, in a way, blind the customer to the fact that their friend may actually be actually a professional.<\/p>\n

If you said YES, you’d definitely hire me, then go to step 3.\u00a0 If you said no, then I’d be honored to walk with you in finding a professional who you’ll love and will fit you!<\/p>\n

3<\/p>\n

OK, so to this point we agree on the first important pieces so far.\u00a0 Yay!<\/p>\n

You can shoot me a message through my website to inquire about my availability.<\/p>\n

***I can only offer a “friends and family” reduced session rate during the months of January, February, May, June, and July.*** All other months are full-price sessions.<\/strong><\/p>\n

So friends, I humbly ask that if you actually want to hire me, that you also trust me to handle your session with utmost professionalism and creativity.<\/p>\n

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[\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_divider color=”#f2f2f2″ divider_weight=”2px” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” custom_padding=”50px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_blurb title=”SESSION FAQ…” content_max_width=”100%” admin_label=”SESSION FAQ…” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_font_size=”24px” header_letter_spacing=”3px” custom_padding=”10px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_toggle title=”What do I need to know to have a great maternity session?” closed_toggle_background_color=”#FFFFFF” admin_label=”What do I need to know to have a great maternity session?” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h1″ title_font=”||||||||” closed_title_font=”|300|||||||” body_font=”|300|||||||” body_font_size=”16px” body_line_height=”1.8em” border_width_all=”0px” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ box_shadow_blur=”22px” box_shadow_spread=”-10px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

At booking hopefully we we’re able to discuss YOUR particular goals for the session, and your maternity images. So this is a general list for the majority of my maternity clients…<\/p>\n

TAKE CARE OF THIS BEFORE THE SESSION AT SOME POINT:<\/p>\n