photoshoot POLICIES AND Frequently asked questions

General Info | Artistic Info | Technical Info | Legal Info

Where are you located? How far do you travel for shoots?
My private office is located in Bushwick, Brooklyn (NYC). Generally speaking, my travel range is limited to the NYC Metro area (Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, and Staten Island) that is covered by the MTA subway system. If you are outside of this area and are interested in a shoot, I’d be happy to arrange for an alternative travel method (the cost of which would be covered by the client, and incur an additional travel fee). Travel fees start at $200, and go up from there based on distance and difficulty of traversal on public transportation (I don’t drive/own a car/have a driver’s license).

What is your general availability/hours of operation?
My availability is dependent on whatever scheduled projects I currently have in my calendar, so it can be all over the place. However, my shooting hour start-times usually fall between 7am and 10pm.
(If the time needs of your shoot fall outside of this window, additional fees will incur; please contact first to discuss)

My customer service/communication hours are strictly Monday-Friday, 10am-6pm, and all phone calls must be pre-scheduled as I do not take or make them while I am with other clients; however I will (almost) always be available via text, email, or chat during these hours.

I am typically unavailable on major holidays, and do take occasional vacations. If you are looking for a holiday-specific shoot, please contact be beforehand to discuss possible arrangements.

What kind of photography do you specialize in?
I like to think of myself as a solid, all-around generalist, but I tend to get booked for portraits, events, and food shoots more than anything else.

Is there anything you don’t/wont’ shoot?
There are a few genres of photography that I have limited experience in shooting: boudoir, babies/children/families, maternity, and sports. This doesn’t mean I won’t shoot them, just that they aren’t my exact specialty as of this writing. I’m always up for a new challenge!
With regards to subject matters that I won’t shoot, there are definitely boundaries that include (but aren’t limited to) anything pornographic, or images that promote hate/violence. Certain religious customs may also be outside of my comfort and expertise level as well. If you are unsure, please don’t hesitate to reach out first to confirm.

How short (or long) can I book you for?
All shoots must be booked for a minimum of one (1) hour, however you may use as little (or as much) of that hour as you choose! The maximum time I can spend on a shoot is generally around 6-8 hours, depending on the circumstances. If your shoot requires more coverage than that, I’d be happy to discuss the specifics of that with you!

How many photos will I receive from my shoot?
This will always vary based on the type of package you choose, the kind of photoshoot it is, and how many hours are spent shooting. However, a good rule of thumb is that on most photoshoots, you can expect that around 60-200 shots to be taken per hour, and from those shots you will likely receive between 20-50+ really great final press-ready images (per hour). Please note that this is not a hard-and-fast rule, as different kinds of shoots will often produce significantly more or less than these numbers. If you are concerned about receiving too few (or too many) images from your shoot, I’m always happy to discuss your expectations and needs beforehand.

Will you edit my photos? Are there limitations regarding the type of editing that is available?
Yes! And…sort-of.
All photo packages include professional hand-editing in Lightroom by me (I do not outsource this service), and covers the following basic adjustments: color and exposure correction, straightening/alignment, cropping, clarity/brightness/saturation, and sharpening, and subtle “instagram-style” filtering. Should you require more extensive Photoshop retouching (ie: ‘glamour services’, background or object removal, etc); this can be negotiated prior to the shoot and will incur an additional per-photo fee (based on complexity).
I do not offer any kind of extreme alterations like distorting the size and/or shape of your body and/or facial features. If the editing needs of your photo project falls outside of these basic parameters, I’d be happy to discuss my abilities, time scope, and any additional fees.

What is the turnaround time for getting my photos edited and delivered after the shoot?
This will vary from shoot to shoot (based on the length of the shoot and the final number of images to be received), but generally speaking anywhere from 3 to 14 business days is my standard. Most basic shoots will have their photos edited and ready for delivery within 3-5 days, while large events like weddings or images that require heavy retouching will take longer. Please note that delivery of your photos will only occur after final invoice payment has been made.

Do you offer prints, albums, or other physical items?
While the price of your shoot always includes digital files, I am happy to offer printing your images on physical keepsakes via a third-party production partner as an additional option, if requested. Prices will vary based on the type, size, and number of items you are purchasing.

What is your background and experience?
I have been a hobby photographer all of my life, cutting my technical and compositional teeth on analog film cameras and darkroom processing techniques in high school and college (before digital photography was even invented!), and by working in several photo labs. After digital came on the scene, I got my first non-film ‘point and shoot’ camera around 2004, and my first DSLR in 2012. My educational background is 2 degrees (AA and BA) in Visual Communication/Cinematography, and my professional life has largely been spent in the tech world especially in web development, graphic design, and in I/T.
I started shooting professionally around 2012 working as an in-house staff photographer for various industries, and then broke out into full-time freelancing in 2018, shooting for such clients as Google, Squarespace, Door Dash, Make Up For Ever, American Express, and others.
I have also spent a good deal of time as a semi-professional model, both for photographers and fine-artists…so I know what it’s like on both side of the lens!

Do you shoot weddings? Will you shoot my wedding?
I have shot a handful of weddings, and while I enjoy them- they definitely require a great deal more legwork, preparation, flexibility, and planning than standard photoshoots; and they will typically be more expensive for these reasons. Because they are not my specialty, I generally only shoot weddings for referrals, or for people whom I have worked with in the past. I also have guest and venue size limitations as well (under 75 people) as I will be shooting alone with a single camera. I ask that if you are interested in having me cover your wedding to please contact me first to discuss particulars instead of using the instant booking option (as I reserve the right to cancel wedding bookings without notice if they have not been discussed first).

What is your pricing structure like? Do you ever offer free/discounted shoots?
All photoshoot options start at around $150, and go up from there based on various factors. Please see this page for more information.
If you are a valid (501-C) non-profit organization for a cause that I am passionate about, I would love to discuss offering my pro-bono photography services for your institution!

What payment methods and currencies do you accept?
All deposits must be made digitally (Venmo, Paypal, etc) in USD in order to hold your appointment, and are non-refundable. Final payments (and tips) can also be made digitally, or in cash. I do not accept checks, cryptocurrency, money orders, or other ‘legacy’ forms of payment for any transactions. Certain payment processors may incur additional fees.

What are your late/cancellation/rescheduling policies?

• Lateness:
  I am often tightly booked back-to-back, so there is rarely any wiggle room with regards to being able to extend your shoot past its scheduled finish time. If you are going to be late, please know that this will eat into your shooting time, and it is important that you communicate this to me along with an ETA. Typically, if I am already at the shoot location and you are going to be more than 15 minutes late, I will consider the shoot cancelled and you will forfeit any payments that have been made toward it. If there are extreme circumstances and you need to reschedule your shoot, this can be arranged (please see below). If you wish to extend your photoshoot time on the day-of and I am available to accommodate this, instant payment via Venmo must be paid in order to secure the extra time.

• Rescheduling:
  If you need to reschedule your shoot, please notify me no less than 48 hours from the shoot’s start time, and the date and time of the new shoot appointment will be dependent on my current availability (no additional charge). If you need to reschedule the shoot within 48 hours of its scheduled start-time, this will incur a $50 fee (to be paid first in order to confirm the appointment change), and is also dependent on my current availability.

• Cancellation:
  It is best to re-schedule as opposed to outright cancelling; even if you are not sure of the exact date that you need to reschedule for, we can always ‘pencil you in’ for a far-out future date and then refine that as details are hashed out. If you need to cancel a shoot entirely, no matter how far out it is scheduled, you will forfeit any and all payments that have been made towards it.
  In the unlikely event that I need to cancel our shoot, you will receive your full deposit back.

Do you also provide videography services?
At this time, I only provide still photography. Though on occasion I can also offer .gif/animation services on a per-project basis.

Do I have to tip you/can I tip you?
Please do not feel obligated to tip me! However, if you feel I have provided exceptional quality of service and imagery I am happy to accept gratuity. You may tip in cash or via Venmo.

How can I leave you a review?
Reviews are the life-blood of any small business, and because I’m still in the beginning phases of having my business online for public review, I don’t have very many yet. That being said, I would be so appreciative if you could do so! I have profiles on both Google and Yelp, so whichever one is your favorite platform to post reviews on will be great!

How do you describe your shooting style?
I am primarily a documentary and photo-journalistic type of shooter.
My approach is quite laid-back (I am from California, after all!), so I try to stay out of the way of the event/subject as much as possible and allow its natural essence to shine on its own. I want you to feel comfortable, relaxed, and totally yourself- so my approach is very unobtrusive, "in the background", and rather gentle. I do my best not to rely on awkward, and unnatural posing or in putting you 'on the spot'; I will never boss you around or bark orders at you. Instead I offer basic, simple suggestions to help show you off in the best possible light. Photoshoots don't have to be dramatic, nerve-wracking experiences...they can (and should) be easy-going, pleasant, and fun! Whatever ideas you have for your photoshoot I want to help turn into a reality :)

What if I don’t know where I want to have my photoshoot, will you help me choose a location?
If you’re visiting NYC and not familiar with the area, I do know many popular outdoor locations that people love to get their vacation photos taken at (though it’s important to note that they can often be quite crowded, depending on the time of year). If you are a local but still not sure where you’d like to shoot, I’m happy to work with you to find the perfect spot that matches your interests, personality, and aesthetic vision! If you are looking for an unique indoor environment, peerspace.com is full of folks who rent out their interesting homes, offices, studios, and other locations specifically for photoshoots.

Do you offer hair, makeup, or wardrobe services?
At this time, I do not (although this may change in the future for special seasonal/thematic packages).
Please make sure you arrive to your shoot ‘camera-ready’. If you need help in these areas, I recommend glamsquad.com which is great for on-demand hair, nail, and cosmetic services (but please make sure your session is completed prior to the start time of our shoot). With regards to wardrobe, you are responsible for that as well. If you are looking for short-term rentals of unique, high-end pieces, I also recommend renttherunway.com.

What if my shoot requires an art director or stylist?
While I do offer basic/minor directing and styling, if your shoot requires anything outside of the scope of simple handling/supervision you will be responsible for sourcing, hiring, and coordinating your own third-party professional. This will be determined during our initial discussions regarding the specifics of your shoot.

Can I bring props, outfit changes, or any other items to my photoshoot?
Yes, absolutely! Please make sure to discuss this with me prior to the shoot date so that I can make any necessary arrangements for incorporating them.
I do not provide props of any kind.

Do you shoot film?
Yes! I can and do love shooting film, and have several 35mm SLR cameras! However, it should be noted that due to the high cost of the materials, developing services, the limited number of shots per roll (usually about 27), and the extended processing time required that these shoots will be more expensive, and it will take longer to receive your images than digital.

How will I receive my photos? What format will they be in?
You will receive your images digitally via (your preference) of one of two means: either via a private Dropbox folder link from my account, or as an online gallery on Pixieset.com (view an example here).
Both options offer the ability to view, download, or share your photos anytime without restriction.
Unless otherwise discussed beforehand, all images will be delivered as high-res .jpegs in 2:3 aspect ratio (4000x6000 px), and the file size of each image will be 10mb or less.
If you require your images to be delivered as other formats (.tiff, .png, etc), or at other aspect ratios (16:9, 1:1, etc), I am happy to arrange for this as well as long as it has been agreed upon before booking.

How long will you store my files for?
Loosely speaking, indefinitely. But this may change as technology advances and methods and formats evolve. Should I need to move your files to another hosting solution (or delete them), I will definitely reach out to notify you.

Do you offer .RAW files?
As a general rule, I do not deliver any .RAW, or unedited/un-formatted final files (learn why: 1, 2, 3, 4).

What kind of equipment do you use?
I currently shoot with Nikon D850 and Nikon D750 camera bodies, and have the following lenses:
AF-S Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G, usually used for food and parties.
AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G, usually used for portraits.
ED AS IF UM Samyang 14mm f/2.8, usually used for real estate.
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II, usually used for artistic events (weddings, baptisms, etc).
AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G , usually used for outdoors/nature/wildlife.
If your shoot’s needs exceed what my equipment is capable of, I am happy to rent any hardware necessary to get the job done. In the event that additional lenses or bodies are required for your shoot, the rental expenses will be added to your final invoice.

What kind of computing hardware and software do you use in post-processing?
My home office (where all photo editing takes place after the shoot) is equipped with several state-of-the-art Apple desktops, laptops, iPads, and more. I use Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Photoshop, Portrait Pro, and Topaz AI for image editing. I backup all of my data both locally to ‘cold storage’ hard drives, and to various cloud-based storage services. As an I/T veteran, your data is always safe with me!

Will I have to sign a contract?
Yes. All photoshoot appointments require a legally binding contract (drawn up by JI[N]YC) that will be digitally signed by both parties prior to scheduling, along with a 50% deposit. The contract will cover the scope of the work, along with delivery dates, usage rights, file format specifications, and editing requirements, along with any and all other legally required coverage. If you are not comfortable with this arrangement, then we might not be a good fit for each other.

Who will own the copyrights to the images, and are there restrictions regarding how I can use them?
All shoots are granted an unlimited lifetime usage license to your images, and you may use them in any (non-revenue-generating) way that you wish, but I will own the copyrights to them unless a full-buyout is executed. Unless you buyout the copyrights, you may not sell or license out the images to other 3rd parties.
If you wish to obtain full copyrights to your images, a full-buyout must be executed (the price of which will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis).

What about permits, permissions, location fees, ticketing, etc?
It is important that your chosen location allows for professional photoshoots, and it is up to you to research this information before booking. If the location of your photoshoot requires prior permission to shoot there, special permits/fees, or admission costs- these must all be obtained by, and covered by you, beforehand. Please consult the property manager (or the photoshoot policy section of their website) of your chosen photoshoot location to ensure that we will be allowed to shoot there. Should the necessary permissions/permit not be obtained and we are asked to leave during our shoot, it will be considered cancelled and not continue past that point.

If I post my images online, do I have to tag or credit you?
Although it is always nice to get a shout-out, I do not require you to credit me when you post your photos (unless it was a non-profit shoot).
However, you are certainly free to do so if you are feeling in the spirit, and I am always grateful for the extra support!

Will my images be used in your portfolio, or on your social media pages? What if I don’t want them to be?
There is no guarantee that they will, but they might be! Because I own the copyrights, legally I can use them in any way that doesn’t require a model release (for example: I can’t sell them to stock photo websites, but I can display them on my website, or on a business card). If this is something you’d like to opt-out of, we can discuss a ‘privacy buyout’ (which is basically an extra fee you’ll pay in exchange for me not being able to use your images in my marketing efforts). It should be noted that your images may also be submitted to competitions or trade publications.
Additionally, all persons displayed on this website are actual clients; I have never used paid models to build my portfolio.

What is your refund policy?
I want you to love your photoshoot and your images! While I do not offer monetary refunds for completed photoshoots, I may offer a re-shoot (or re-edits) on a discretionary, case-by-case basis. Unless otherwise discussed, all sales are final.

What if my question has not been answered here?
I would love to help you out with any concerns you may have, so please feel free to reach out to me anytime and I will respond as soon as I am available!