No. I have a Bachelors in Computer Science actually. Photography was a hobby I took up in 2008 that ended up turning into more.

While I do take different courses etc, everything I’ve learned has been self-taught (books from the library, google, YouTube) & through experience.

Cameras: Canon R6 | Canon 5D MarkIII | Sony 7C

Lenses: 50mm 1.2L | Canon EF 100mm 2.8L | Sigma 35mm 1.4 ART

Flash: Canon Speedlite 600 EX II

I use my IPhone Mini for my reels & my Instagram stories. I recently got a Sony Alpha 7C & have been using that to document my own family.

I have been blogging since 2012 & have over the years written about home, motherhood, faith & celebrating small things on the daily. You can read my blog here.

I used to recommend Canon Rebel models since that was the camera I started with but I love the latest mirrorless options for how compact they are.

That being said, I think the best camera esp to document your kids is the one you have on hand. I fully believe in using what we have & learning to make the best of the camera you have right now.

Two options for an entry level mirrorless camera Fujifilm X-T100 | Sony Alpha a5100.

Currently, no. But I'm open to it in the future if travel costs are covered. I have opened up spots in Islamabad previously & hope to do that with different cities I'm visiting in the future as well.

My newsletter is the best place to stay on the loop with that.

Photography can feel like a luxury service because there is A LOT of time, effort & expensive equipment that goes behind running a professional photography business. I also have a decade long experience of doing this which is a plus for my clients because I'm able to handle unexpected situations.

If budget is an issue: I recommend keeping an eye out for mini sessions & special offers because that can give you a great deal. Get on my email list so you don't miss out on special offers & sales.

No. When you hire a photographer, you are paying for the final, fully edited images which is their art. Most photographers like myself also shoot “in raw” which unlike jpegs is a format you most likely won’t be able to view even without a particular software or plug-in.

Here's a post from my blog with more info.

Photos are sent out through a beautiful online gallery. Clients can are view, select, download, share & order prints through a private gallery of their photos. I love being able to give my clients this experience. I use Pixpa/Pixieset for this.

If you'd like your photos on a USB drive, you can purchase that add-on.

Most of my packages are digital only unless otherwise mentioned. But you do have the option to add-on prints. I love making those for my client-families:)

As a photographer, it's through sharing my work that I'm able to share my art with the world & get more clients. Because a lot of my clients want me not to share their photos it can make it hard for me as an artist.

From 2023, I will be asking for a 15% non-usage fee for those clients who want me not to share photos from our session. This will mean no photos will be shared on Instagram/Facebook/Website & in any guides. The non-usage fee is to compensate for the loss that I would suffer from not being able to get new clients from that particular session like I would normally be able to do.

FYI: the non-usage fee is not a way to make money. Infact I will be trying to convince clients to consider ways that they would feel comfortable in sharing & not have to pay the non-usage fee.

I have a membership with a photographer exclusive lab Millers Lab, that helps me give THE BEST quality of photos to my clients.

You may have noticed colors looking different (even terrible) when you get your photos printed from commercial labs. Getting them done from me especially if you're printing them for your walls, will make sure they look perfect.

That is actually a photo re-toucher's job. haha.

For photographers like myself who take natural, lifestyle photos, photo-retouching is not a part of our packages. I also believe in photos that are beautiful AND authentic to you & your family; so my edits are always flattering but real.

We take photos at some of my favorite outdoor locations around the Seattle area.

A few are: Lake Sammamish State Park, Medina Beach Park, Marymoor Park, Bellevue Botanical Gardens, Washington Park Arboretum.

Another option is client homes which are my personal favorites because they make your sessions so much more personal.

The turnaround time can vary for different packages but typically it takes me around 10 working days from the session to send out proofing galleries & 10 working days again to send out final edits once I receive your selections. It can vary for different packages & through busy seasons. Session guides should include this information but you can ask me in an email as well!

Typically we do not cancel till a few hours ahead of the session when I can check the radar & have a better idea of the situation. Sometimes we plan for a backup date or a backup indoor location (mostly the client's home) as well.

Here's what the process looks like typically:

BEFORE THE SESSION

1: We can get on a call either before you confirm or right after to finalize dates/packages etc.

2: I email you a confirmation + information on sending in your booking fee which is needed to confirm.

3: I will email you the contract to go through & your final invoice.

4: You will receive a session guide + a questionnaire to fill out for me about your family. For events: I will get in touch with you to get any final details.

5: Full payment is due on the day of the session.

AFTER THE SESSION

6: I try to send out a sneak peek.

7: I send out a proofing gallery to select your photos from. You are able to make selections online.

8: Once I receive your selections, I will edit your selections in detail & send out your final gallery.

9: We book a call to chat about photo books & prints.

10: Leave a review. Leave feedback. We are done!

Yes! I offer a Design Service to help my client families with their photo projects like making photo books, getting prints, enlargements & framed prints and to plan gallery walls for their home. The rate for these is hourly & I can provide a time estimate after we talk about your project.