Myrtle Beach Photography Session Information

Baby on the beach in Myrtle Beach

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

Where do we have our Beach Portrait taken?

We can certainly come to your hotel or accommodation, although most of the time that is not the best idea and we cannot guarantee you will like your background.  We have chosen many spots along the Grand Strand that work best for beach portraits. Usually  hotel beaches are very cluttered and the dunes have been trampled.  We will suggest a location within minutes of your accommodation.

How far in advance to we need to book our beach portrait?

Since we have limited availability, we recommend booking your beach portrait as soon as possible so that you are assured of a time that is suitable for you. If, however, you decide last minute to have a beach portrait taken, please call us. We may be able to accommodate you with very little advanced notice – possibly even the same day!  We do not take a deposit although we do hold your reservation with a credit card.  For some reason, if you do not call to cancel or you no-show, we reserve the right to charge your card for the session fee.

When is the best time of day to have our beach portrait taken?

The lighting is best either early morning (6:00am or 6:30am) or early evening (6:00pm to 7:00 pm). We do offer earlier times in the evening but prefer to shoot as close to sunset as possible.   The exact time varies depending on the time of year. We will be able to give you an exact time when you book your beach portrait.

What should we wear?

http://myrtlebeachphotography.com/photography-session-info

What if it’s an overcast day?

Great!  Overcast conditions actually provide excellent lighting for portraits.  Think about it … you won’t have to squint from the bright sun and there won’t be any harsh shadows on faces or elsewhere.  Clouds act as a natural diffuser to give us nice soft lighting.  So . . . DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE CLOUDS!

What if it rains?

If it looks like rain, we will wait until the last possible minute to see what happens.  Many times the rain misses us and we are able to continue with a great shoot.  If it does actually rain, we will contact you by phone to reschedule your shoot.

How many pictures do you take?

As many as it takes! It doesn’t cost you any more whether we take 50 shots or 150. Our goal is to provide you with as many quality proofs as possible. If that means you want 30 different shots of the same child, just let us know and we will be happy to accommodate you. Remember, this beach portrait is for YOU. We want to give you what you want!

Do you take just “family” shots?

Absolutely not. We usually start with a few “family” poses. However, when we are done with those shots we will break down your family as many ways as possible. For instance, we will take pictures of just the kids together; the kids individually; the boys with dad; the boys with mom; the girls with mom; the girls with dad; mom and dad, etc., etc., etc. You get the point. Remember, it doesn’t cost you any more for us to take all of these pictures. We want your family beach portrait to reflect every aspect of your family. A basic session is 30 to 40 minutes so if you have a family of 6 or 7 and want a lot of extra shots, you may want to consider the premier that lasts a bit longer.

Is there a minimum purchase requirement?

Not at all. You purchase what you want . Period. We don’t assume to know what your needs are and do not force you to buy more than you want. We are very flexible and we want your beach portrait to be as positive and as memorable as possible.

How do we view our proofs ?

You will be able to view your proofs on our website approximately one to two days after your shoot. (This time  frame may vary in certain situations – your photographer will tell you at the end of your shoot when you can expect to view your proofs) . You will be instructed to call our office at 843-236-5403the morning after your shoot.  We will give you instructions from there.  You may also make an appointment to view proofs at one of our two locations.   Keep in mind, proofs are not retouched and have not yet been corrected for color and density and clutter in the background as your final prints will be.

What if I need my proofs retouched or altered?

Your final portraits will be corrected for color and density and clutter.  They will be cropped to fit the format of the size you order.  We offer a wide range of digital “fixes” such as the removal of unwanted objects or people, the removal of eyeglass glare and head swaps.  Because these can only be fixed through corrective artwork which is done on a per pose basis, the costs usually range from $10 to $60.  You will need to consult with our staff for a quote.

How do I place my order?

Orders may be placed online, via phone or email or in person.  Please note, some options, such as packages and different media selections (fine art paper, metallic paper etc.) may not be available online in which case you would need to email us or phone in your order.  Payment is due when you place your order.

How do I know what size wall portraits to order?

Typically, the more people there are in a photo, the larger the wall portrait should be. As a rule of thumb, the faces in a group wall portrait should be 2 to 5 inches in height to be visible from across the room. If your group portrait consists of 6 or more people, we recommend a minimum of 16 x20 for large families and  20×24″ or 24×30″ will be even better.

Do you offer Christmas/Holiday cards ?

Absolutely!  Go to our packages page and you can find samples and prices.  Some of our larger packages include holiday cards.  We can custom quote for very large orders.

Do you take credit cards ?

Yes we do. We accept Visa, Master Card and Discover.

Will we get wet ?

This will be up to you. Many times at the end of the photo session if you are willing to jump in and get wet we can take a lot of fun in the water photos.  I can’t tell you how many times we have started a session and the young children run for the water dressed in their  best.  Pay close attention to your kids.

Can we make copies of the prints we order?

No that would be a copyrights violation. But you can buy a master DVD of all your edited photos that will include rights to make your own prints at any size and amount.  Even if you are willing to bend the copyright law and make your own prints, they generally turn out badly and are not going to be something you will be proud of.

Purchasing a DVD of our images and then make our own prints?

Yes we can sell you a master DVD of all your images. We offer this service in high resolution and low resolution.  The low resolution is suitable for web and computer use such as Facebook, Instagram, Emailing and Social Media. This CD is unedited and priced accordingly.  We offer two high resolution CD’s.  They are  printable images. The number of edited images on the printable CD will depend on the package you purchase.  You will also receive a letter from us giving you co copyrights and permission to edit and make as many prints as you wish in any size you would like.