FAQs
I am interested in a newborn photo session, but I am worried that my baby will not sleep. Thank you for considering me as your newborn photographer. I have years of experience working with babies, soothing and comforting and posing newborns. All my newborns sleep during newborn session! On extremely rare occasions (really, really rare!) newborns have an “off day” (just like most adults do sometimes) and may be less cooperative. When that happens we’ll schedule additional time for you to come back for a reshoot or to take a few additional pictures. This said, please be assured that my utmost priority during every session is your baby’s safety is comfort. Over the years, I have invested in continuous research and education of newborn physiology and taken online and in-person seminars and workshops with the country’s leading names in newborn photography.
Where is your studio located? I am renting studio space in a beautiful commercial community in the heart of Reston, in Northern VA. It is very easily accessible from DC via rt.66 and the Toll Road, and from throughout Northern Virginia and Maryland via the 495 beltway. My clients mostly come from Arlington, Alexandria, Ashburn, Fairfax County, Great Falls, Reston, Herndon, Falls Church, Vienna, McLean, Loudoun counties, although some travel as far as from Baltimore.
Do I have to come to your studio? Can you come and do a newborn session at my home? Over the years, I have transitioned from traveling to clients’ homes for newborn sessions to setting up my own full service photography studio dedicated to newborn photography. When clients come to my studio for their newborn session, they can for the most part relax, chat, check email or even take a nap (I’ve had many dads and moms enjoy a nap on my cozy couches, and I have pillows and blankets too!) while I take care of soothing, posing and photographing their precious baby. This way, they do not have to worry about preparing their home (heating the space to the right temperature, cleaning and decluttering all the while preparing for the session and taking care of the newborn) or about whether there is enough light (a very valid concern!) for best quality photos. At my studio, I have access to guaranteed, reliable studio lighting for best baby photos, as well as a very wide selection of blankets, wraps, hats, headbands, bowls, and props (you name it, I probably have it!). All props coming in contact with your baby have been carefully washed and sanitized.
I am interested in booking a photo session, where do I begin? Please email Olga at chasingmoments@gmail.com with information about the type of session you are interested in, your time frame, preferred location and/or other relevant information as well as any questions you may have. You will hear back asap (usually the same business days) with pricing, availability, and answers to all your questions. Of course, you can also call me at 202-251-6368, I prefer afternoon or evening calls as I photograph newborns and babies most mornings).
What is the difference between a “print” and a “digital file”? A “print” is a print. Depending on what you order, you can receive prints as 4×6, 5×7, 8×10, 16×20, 24×30, or whichever size you want. A “print” does not refer to anything digital. A “digital file” is a digital image, which, if purchased, will be delivered to you via email or on a CD. You will then be able to use the digital file you purchased to make prints for yourself, family and friends at any size/quantity you wish, which is why digital files are valued higher than prints.
What’s your approach to posing clients for family photo sessions? I will help you with poses as much or as little as you would like me to. I can provide very detailed posing instruction, setting up every detail of every shot or I can shoot in a photo journalistic style. In many cases, I end up using general suggestions that help improve overall look of final images without “micromanaging” every single shot.
Can I get all the images on a CD? Yes, you can purchase as many or as few digital files on a CD as you wish. Please inquire for the price list and review “Digital Collection I” and “Digital Collection II” for price information. Digital files are also available a la carte. All digital files on a CD will come with courtesy”reference prints”. A reference print is a 5×7 print of a digital file that shows you what it should look like in print. This allows you to compare the prints made by the print lab of your choice to the “original” print,as intended by the photographer and printed via a professional print lab.
I am not sure about the retouching needs. Would I need to tell you what type of retouching I want? You do not need to know anything about retouching or photoshop. Retouching decisions are made by the photographer based on her expertise and artistic vision. Please inform the photographer of any special retouching requests.
Can I get my images in black and white? Some images look good both in color and black and white, some look good only in color and some look good only in black and white. Therefore, depending on the photographer’s artistic vision, some shots may be made with the view of a final black and white image. Your gallery of proofs will include both color and black and white images, as appropriate.
How long will you keep my files for, in case I decide to order additional prints or products? Your photographer will keep all proofs for ordering for 6 months after the first order is placed. If no order is completed within 30 days after proofs are delivered to Client, all raw and edited images from the session will be purged.
Do you work TFCD (time for CD)? Yes, I do. My time is very limited, however. I shoot TFCD selectively with experienced/exceptional models with interesting/unique ideas and kids/children/young families and couples with commercial looks. All TFCD sessions are free and include a selection of high resolution digital files for your use. All TFCD models are required to sign a commercial model release allowing me to use images from the session for sale through stock agencies. These images can then be used by clients for use in print or on the web; please click here for examples of how some of my images have been used in the past and send me an email if you are interested in signing up as a stock model.