Where do sessions take place?

Signature Sessions can be any day of the month at any location of your choosing. At home, in your yard, Disneyland Paris, and at the beach are some of my favorite places to work! I travel worldwide for sessions, whether that be at your summer home or on holiday abroad.

Are digital images included with the session?

Yes, in the modern era - most families want digital files, so all Simplicity and Signature Sessions include digital files for sharing online, printing and archiving. I also provide you my studio’s printing guide for printing recommendations and tips if you choose to print your digital files from your Simplicity Session. 

What happens in the case of rain, illness, etc?

If I am local and the weather looks uncooperative, I will contact you to coordinate a different date. However, if it is a destination shoot, and I am traveling to your location, I always encourage embracing whatever the weather ends up being like. I am a seasoned photographer and can play and shoot in any type of light. However, if it is crazy town and could damage my gear or it’s just not safe — I will absolutely reschedule or postpone. If your child is under the weather, it is imperative that we reschedule.Sick kids typically don’t act themselves, and as their parent, you’ll notice in your images if they aren’t feeling well. There is no charge for rescheduling due to weather or illness. 

What if my children are uncooperative? 

That is why I am here! It is a rare occasion that I am not able to get fantastic images of your child, regardless of their temperament. I strive to create images that capture all of the facets of their personalities - not just the smiles. If for some reason I am not able to capture everything I need to, I will schedule a follow up session free of charge. 

What if we are unhappy with our images?

While is is rare, if for any reason I am unable to get all of the images we need in the first go, I will let you know and come back to round out your images at no extra charge. I stand by my work and clients 100 percent. My ultimate goal is to provide you with beautiful, timeless images that fit your needs and expectations. If you are unhappy with your images once they are presented to you, I will work with you to either coordinate a reshoot or provide a full refund. 

how do we prepare for our session?

I will thoroughly discuss all of the details you’ll need to know, and chat with you on the phone about your visions, thoughts and priorities before your session takes place. In addition, you’ll receive my studio’s session guide, style magazine with wardrobe suggestions, as well as what to expect before, during and after your session. I pride myself on running a full-service boutique studio and will have you covered each step of the way! :)

does Helena photograph newborns or maternity?

Of course! We know the importance of preserving your family’s most precious moments, especially when you are preparing for the new addition to your family. Newborn sessions take place within the first 4 weeks of life, preferably within 7-12 days of birth. Maternity sessions take place in the 35th-36th week. Helena strives for elegant and clean images with plenty of natural, magical light. 

are we allowed to bring our dogs to the session?

ABSOLUTELY! No question. I am a huge animal lover. We can absolutely have your animals in any of the photos. I have photographed families and couples with dogs, pigs, horses cats — you name it. 

do you travel for family sessions?

Absolutely! In the last couple of years, I  have had families fly me out to their vacation homes and holiday destinations. It allows for me to document a season at your home or in your home state / country, and it is such a beautiful experience!

Tip: If you want to save on travel fees, try to find other families/mamas in your circle, or in your city, that may be interested in a session as well, and you can split the travel fees to save money! You can also check out my "bucket list" which showcase destinations with waived travel fees. 

HOW DO TRAVEL COSTS WORK? 

It truly depends on where I am traveling, the season we are in, the timeframe we book the flights, etc. That said, you can estimate by checking Airbnb/Hotel costs in the area I will be staying, and seeing how much roundtrip flights are from Paris (CDG) to the destination. Keep in mind that rental cars typically run about $30-50 per day, or less when booked in advance. Airfare is completely waived for destinations on my"bucket list"

DO YOU HAVE ESTIMATED PRICING FOR TRAVEL COSTS? 

I don’t have set travel fees since every destination is different and can have its own unique set of costs. I only have you pay for roundtrip flights, stay, and a rental car. If a rental car isn’t necessary, I just take Lyfts to and from the location and have you reimburse me. I am also completely open to staying with you or in the same hotel as your guests if this helps save money!

What time of day do sessions start, and what if my baby goes to bed early? 

Outdoor session start times vary depending on the season, but they almost always begin 60-90 minutes before sunset. In summer, that is usually around 7:00, and in winter that is usually around 4:30. Newborn and indoor sessions usually begin around 11:00 am, but start times are very flexible. If you love the golden hour glowing sunshine look, your session will need to start 60-90minutes before sunset regardless of your kiddo's bedtimes. Later naps and bribing with treats seem to help! However, if that is simply not doable for your family, don't worry - we can do a session earlier in the day in a location with lots of shade.

Will we get sneak peeks? Can we post them online?

Absolutely! I love when clients share the images to their own page or share with others! However, when posting my imagery online, please do not crop, edit, slap a filter on or change the image. You are welcome to use the images as your Facebook profile picture as long as the image is not altered and photo credit is given. When posting on Instagram, please ask us to text you your sneak peek images so you have the highest quality image available to use and kindly give photo credit.