FAQ's Answered about your Photo Session

Where do you shoot Headshots and Portraits?

All sessions are shot on location. All outdoor locations are your choice. If you prefer indoors, we can shoot in the comfort of your home. While it is important to choose a time of day that is most convenient to you (and happiest for your children), please keep in mind that the best outdoor photography occurs either early morning (just after sunrise) or late afternoon (beginning about 2 hours before sunset). If we are shooting indoors, we may try to choose a room that has ample daylight filtering through for a more natural look. Porches are always a great alternative since they offer soft, open shade. If you desire an indoor session, we will view your rooms during the Planning Session (for Portraits) to find an area of your home that would be ideal for the shoot. For outdoor sessions, once you select a location, we will visit that location prior to the sesion to check out the lighting and backgrounds and plan your photo session well in advance.

What should we wear to our session?

When you schedule, we will provide you with many suggestions for outfits to consider. We will also discuss clothing options at the required Planning Session, which we prefer to hold in your home prior to the shoot (for Portraits). During the Planning Session, you will have the opportunity to ask any questions, we will get to know one another, and we can see your home (for Portraits) where, ultimately, our Custom Print Art from your session will be displayed.

Do you provide hair and makeup services?

We currently do not provide hair services. However, we do have a working partnership with a certified makeup artist. Those services would be at an additional cost.

What happens if it rains during our outdoor session?

Weather can change quickly. As such, we typically do not cancel the session until the time of your session or if we know for sure that the weather will be uncooperative. A rainy day can often change to a day which is perfect for a session, with picturesque clouds and even a rainbow. However, your safety is our number one concern. Therefore, if it begins to rain during your session or if we have severe wind or lightning and thunder, we may cancel your session and reschedule.

Can we do clothing changes during our session?

Well, yes and no. If the session is indoors at your home, of course you can do clothing changes…as long as it does not cut into any agreed allotted time for your session. However, for any outdoor location sessions, there would very likely be no private areas to change clothes. In that case, clothing changes would not be allowed or advisable.

Can we bring props to our session?

Absolutely, and we encourage you to do so!  Any items that are personal to you and your family can help tell your story. This could be something as simple as a favorite hat or scarf, or something really crazy like a motorbike. Your imagination rules!

Can I or a family member take pictures with our own camera?

There are several reasons why we don’t like having other cameras out during your session. The main reason is that it will negatively impact the quality of the finished photographs that you’ve hired us to take. When a family member takes out a camera, subjects will often cause a distraction and hinder the ability of the photographer to capture the best photos possible. Moreover, when eyes are not looking at the professional’s camera, it can ruin an otherwise great photograph. For these reasons, as well as others, we ask that you leave your cameras at home or in the car and let the experts at BGPhoto capture your special moments.

Can we get the negatives or digital files?

Well, yes and no. We do provide one digital file optimized for use on Social Media with every photo you select for a custom print or inclusion in an heirloom album. Plus, depending on the products you choose, full-resolution digital files may be included. Plus we do offer options for the purchase of digital files.

Do you charge travel fees?

All travel expenses are included at no extra charge anywhere on the North Fork or in the Town of Southampton on the South Fork. Any travel outside of these areas will incur a modest travel charge based on distance. Any tolls or parking charges will also be charged. If a session or planning session is at a venue where parking is for residents only or an admission fee is charged, the client is responsible for gaining us access and payment of all required fees.

Do you require a deposit when I schedule my session?

There is no deposit required when you schedule your Planning Session. The Planning Session is at no cost to you, even if you decide against hiring us as your photographer. However, we request that you schedule your actual photo session at the Planning Session, at which time your full Session Fee will be due and payable. We can also bill you for the Session Fee where you can pay by check or by credit card online. We cannot confirm your Session date or time until the Session Fee has been paid in full. We accept all major credit cards, check, or cash as a means of payment. 

What is your cancellation policy?

If you need to cancel your scheduled session for any reason, we ask that you do so as soon as possible. If an emergency arises, cancellations can be done with virtually no notice. However, cancellations for any reason should be rescheduled as soon a possible. Session no-shows or cancellations that are not rescheduled will result in your Session Fee being applied to our hourly rate for the time and type of session that you scheduled. 

How long is our session? 

This and other commonly asked questions are best addressed during the Planning Session held before the date of your actual photography session but generally do not exceed 75 minutes. At the Planning Session, we will discuss any questions you may have regarding wardrobe, pricing, etc. We want you to arrive on the day of your appointment feeling relaxed and confident. The Planning Session, ideally held in your home (for Headshots, the Planning Session is typically held on the phone), allows us to better understand and accommodate your needs. It will also allow us to view your available wall space and make recommendations for Portrait Wall Art or other alternative forms of heirloom artwork. We may also photograph your walls so that we can show you sample images as they would look on your own walls. Feel free to bring inspiration images that you may have so we can work with you to insure we meet all of your expectations on the day of your session! 

What type of products do you offer for purchase after the session?

For Portraits, we offer several styles of Wall Art (such as Canvas Prints and Giclee Canvas Wraps, with optional frame options available) plus Custom Heirloom Albums. Our product offers may change from time to time. We also offer the option of purchasing digital files. We will discuss all of our offerings with you at your Planning Session. It is best to have an idea in mind as to how you want your portraits displayed in your home even before we have photographed you. By working this way, we know exactly how to photograph you and your family so that the finished portraits will look their very best and fit perfectly within your home decor. For Headshots, the product is a digital file, with the option to purchase prints from that file.

Do you shoot in both color and black & white?

We shoot 100% digital in color. We can easily convert any images to Black & White in post-production. There is absolutely no additional charge to convert an image to Black & White, or to convert a Black & White image back to color again.

Do you ever offer special promotions or pricing?

A few times throughout the year, we may offer special pricing, or sessions and collection pricing making use of seasonal themes. We suggest that you join our Mail List. A blue button allowing you to join appears in the menu area of every page of our website. 

Do you offer copyrights to digital images?

At BGPhoto, we embrace digital technology and sincerely appreciate the way it has changed and shaped photography for us. However, great photography is not dictated by the most expensive piece of digital technology, but by lighting, posing, an experienced photographer, and the final result…a beautiful custom print of your image!  We do not feel our job is complete until we see your favorite moments and memories fully produced to last a lifetime. We feel a responsibility to our clients that the photographs should be enjoyed and displayed in the home, not simply forgotten and filed away on a flash drive in a drawer. In accordance with our business plan, however, we do offer digital images (which will be explained at the Planning Session). We always recommend that clients invest in finished physical prints. On the other hand, Headshots are always provided in digital file format with the option to purchase prints from that file. Any digital files that a client receives or purchases from us will come with a special Copyright Contract which outlines what legally can and can not be done with the digital files. For more information about Photographic Copyright and Copyright Infringement, please click here.

How long are my images available for purchase if I am unable to place a timely order after my session?

Once you are photographed, your images are stored on our server for 30 days from your session date. After this 30 day period, any ordered images and/or poses are archived in a safe place for up to one year and can be retrieved for a small fee. However, images that are not chosen during your Design and Ordering Session are subject to purging 30 days after your initial order date. We do everything in our power to ensure the integrity of your digital images, but technology today is not foolproof. We highly recommend placing your order in a timely manner to guarantee the availability and safe keeping of your photographs. For your convenience, we do offer payment plan options and are happy to help you to make the purchase that you want while staying within your budget. Photography is most certainly an investment and since we value the art of photography, we also understand the financial investment. We want you to be able to comfortably invest in the images from your session in a manner that best fits your budgeting needs.

I have a gift certificate I won at a fundraising event. How do I use this?

Our studio (and our hearts) are founded in helping others. We firmly believe in supporting and giving back to the community. We often donate to charitable events and causes, and we frequently do this through gift certificates. Most gift certificates have a face value that is clearly displayed on the certificate which covers the Session Fee, a small custom hand-made print which is suitable for framing, and selected digital files optimized for use on Social Medial. To use a gift certificate, we ask that you follow the instructions for use on the rear of the certificate. You must have your Gift Certificate in order to use it at a session.

What is the best time for a location photo shoot?

We can schedule your location headshot or portrait session at just about any convenient time for you. However, we always recommend having the session during the Golden Hour. Golden Hour occurs during the hour immediately prior to sunset. The lighting during the Golden Hour is extremely ideal for headshots or portraits. Since so many sessions with a great number of photographers are held on location (rather than in a studio), Golden Hour sessions have become extremely popular during to the perfect lighting conditions. It’s important to state that we can hold a session at any time of the day. With the use of the proper equipment or the ideal positioning of the subjects of the session, the result will be excellent photographs. 

What can we do if we meet with you and discover that you cannot provide the service we need?

If we cannot meet your needs or if we do not have the service or products you are looking for, we have a large listing of photographers to whom we can refer you.