Frequently Asked Questions

How far out should I book?

As soon as you know the date, or have an idea on when you would like to have your shoot, reach out. Although you may not have the date set in stone, checking with the photographer you are interested in to see if they have availability during that time frame. This will give you enough time to seek another photographer if your first choice is not available.

Do you require a deposit to secure the date?

Yes I do. The deposit will be dependent on what service you are requesting. It can range from 25%-50% of the total price.

What happens if I need to reschedule or cancel?

Life happens.

If you need to reschedule:

-More than 48 hours of the scheduled date/time, no fees will be assessed and the deposit will be used for the new date/time.

-Within 48 hours of the scheduled date/time, a rescheduling fee may be assessed.

If you need to cancel:

-More than 48 hours of the scheduled date/time, your deposit will be refunded to you in full

-24 to 48 hours of the scheduled date/time, a cancelation fee of 50% of your deposit will be assessed.

-Within 24 hours of the scheduled date/time, the entire deposit will be assessed as a cancelation fee. It may sound a little harsh, but depending on what I was contracted to do, additional equipment may have been rented or a second photographer hired to assist.

Do you travel for shoots? Is there a fee?

Yes and it depends. If it is local-ish (within 30 miles), no fee will be assessed. For over 30 miles, the federal mileage rate will be assessed. If air travel is involved, the cost of the flight (Basic Economy Class), lodging (standard room rate), car rental (large enough for equipment) and parking (off-airport) will be assessed up front. You also have the option of arranging all the travel and just provide the details. Realistically, if you can get me strapped onto the wing of the plane with the equipment to get me there and back and give me a place to sleep, shower and shave, I'll be happy.

What's included in your packages?

All packages will include travel to local location(s), wardrobe change, professional image editing, 1 editing revision and delivery of final images in digital format. Other options are also included depending on the package. This is just the base you will get.

How long will the shoot take? Can I bring props? What should I wear? Do you have a studio or only shoot on location?

All are excellent questions! Let's break it down.

The shoot length will depend on what we are doing. If it is a mini session, that will be 20-30 minutes. If it's a full session, 45-75 minutes. If it's a half day, 5 hours or less. Full day? 5-10 hours.

Yes, you can bring props. Only thing I ask is that the prop be legal to possess.

Although I prefer to shoot on location and don't have a studio, if a studio is what you are looking for, that can be arranged at no additional cost.

And as to what you should wear? Clothes. Let's be real, unless there is a specific reason why you need/want to get dressed up, don't. The purpose of a portrait, at least for me, is to capture who you are. If you normally wear flannel shirts and jeans, that's how people will always see you. That is YOU. I just want you to be comfortable in whatever you are wearing during the shoot. Saying to yourself "I can't wait to get out of these clothes" will only lead to an uncomfortable feeling for you during the shoot and you won't have fun. I want it to be as enjoyable for you as possible.

What can you tell me about the images? And what about licensing?

All the images that you will receive will be high-resolution images that have been edited. Because I take pride in my work, it will be more than just a basic edit. This is what the work flow will look like for you:

1. Day of shoot: I'll get all images uploaded and send you a link so that you can review and select which ones you want edited based on the package you selected (additional images may be added to your package at a per image fee).

2. Once you have selected the images, I'll get started with the edits. Once I am done with the edits, I'll send you a link to review the images. This may take up to 14 days, depending on the number of images.

3. After you have reviewed the edited images, you will have the option to have them retouched/re-edited 1 time, if you choose so (my goal is that you love what you get the first time around).

4. Once the images are approved by you, I will remove all watermarks and finalize them for delivery.

5. Images will then be delivered digitally for you to download.

6. Total turnaround time from shoot to delivery will be 3-4 weeks.

7. You will also receive a limited personal use license. This will allow you to download and print them for personal use only. You may also post them on social media. They may not be used for commercial purposes.

8. If you want to use them for commercial purposes, a commercial use license can be issued for an additional fee.

9. All images will be digitally backed up for a period of 1 year (longer if space allows).

10. BGAvila Photography retains all copyrights to the images.

What happens if you get sick or can't make it?

If something were to happen where I can't make it, I will be contacting you ASAP and let you know. If a reschedule is not possible, I will make arrangements with another photographer in the area that can do the shoot in my place, at not additional cost to you. I would still be responsible for all the editing and delivery of the final product as stated above. In the eventuality that another photographer could not be located, I would issue a full refund of any deposits that were made along with any travel related costs, if applicable.

What about bad weather?

If we are scheduled for an outside shoot, I will be monitoring the weather in the days leading up to the scheduled time. If weather does not look favorable, we will discuss next steps. This may involve moving to an alternate location or rescheduling, if necessary. I would always recommend having a backup indoor location that we can do the shoot in in case of inclement weather.

Do you have a plan in case your equipment fails?

Short answer: Yes I do. As with all mechanical equipment, its failure is not a matter of if it will fail, but when will it fail. There's no getting around that. As a result, if an issue with equipment comes up, there are many locations in the area where equipment can be rented so that the shoot can take place as scheduled with minimal to no disruptions. Best case scenario with an equipment failure? It happens and you never know that it happened. Any related rental costs are solely my responsibility.

Can I give creative input?

Of course you can! It's your shoot, not mine. I'm just there to capture the moment. You may have a shot list that you would like to follow or an inspiration board. Maybe it's trying to recreate a photo that you have seen. Maybe it's something that you have envisioned and want to try out. I'm all for it. I will put this out as food for thought though: It may not come out exactly the way that you thought it would. Adjustments may need to be made depending on the circumstances and what the request is. We also have to be realistic on expectation vs reality. I will do everything possible to make sure that you get what you want. The only thing that I want is for you to have fun during the shoot!

Do we really have to have a phone conversation to set things up?

Yes we do. Email and text may be great for many things, but I believe that the only way that I will be able to really serve you is by a phone conversation, at a minimum. When we speak, you'll be able to ask any questions that you may not know you had. I will be able to discover what it is that you want and envision so that I may serve you best. For all I know, you may not like something about me and choose to go with another photographer for that sole reason. Would you rather find out before the shoot or on the day of the shoot?