Portrait photos,
your questions answered.

As early as you can, especially for weekend and golden-hour times, which book up first. A few weeks of lead time leaves room to choose a date and location, send the agreement, and plan around the season's sunset. Last-minute sessions are sometimes possible, so it's always worth asking.

Yes. A 50% non-refundable retainer reserves your date, the contract is completed before the session, and the remaining balance is due on or before the session date.

Session options and what's included are kept current on the pricing page rather than restated here, so the details are always accurate. Tell me what the photos are for — a milestone, your work, or a creative session — and I'll recommend the option that fits.

San Francisco locations are included. Locations outside San Francisco may include a travel fee based on distance. Send me the spot you have in mind and I'll confirm any travel fee before you book.

Light overcast and fog are genuinely flattering for portraits — soft, even light with no harsh shadows. Heavy rain is the main reason to move a session. If the forecast looks bad, we'll talk ahead of time and agree on a plan together, whether that's adjusting the timing or picking a new date.

Not at all — direction is the core of what I do, and it matters double in a solo session. I tell you where to stand, what to do with your hands, where to look, and I keep simple prompts moving so you're doing rather than holding still. You never have to invent a pose.

Completely normal — being photographed alone feels more exposed than being in a group, and almost every client says so. I keep the session low-pressure with movement, resets, and breaks, and the awkward first few minutes pass quickly once we get going. You don't have to perform the whole time.

Yes. We choose together based on the mood you want, what the photos are for, and practical things like walking, parking, and privacy. The portrait guide's location pages are a great starting point, and I'm happy to suggest options that fit.

Yes — portraits for your work are one of the most common reasons people book: website and profile photos, press images, or a professional refresh that actually looks like you. Tell me how you'll use the photos and I'll plan the locations, outfits, and frames around it.

In many cases, yes to all three. Dogs work when the location allows them and someone can help wrangle between shots. A meaningful object — an instrument, a tool of your trade — can add a lot when used sparingly. And inspiration images help me understand the look you're after; I'll aim for that feeling and adapt it to our location and light.

Solid colors and simple silhouettes keep the focus on you: warm neutrals and earth tones for parks and the coast, sharper structured pieces for architecture and the city. Choose clothes you can move in, and bring a layer for San Francisco wind. The what-to-wear guide goes deeper, including branding-session outfits.

Often, yes — it depends on the session length and location logistics. Tell me you'd like an outfit change when you inquire and I'll let you know what's realistic and plan the route around a practical changing point.

Entirely up to you — there's no requirement. If you do book styling, schedule it so you're not rushing to the session, and plan hair for the location: somewhere windy like Baker Beach favors a style that moves well over one that must stay perfectly in place.

It depends on the session option — each one lists a minimum number of professionally edited images on the pricing page, and I'll confirm the count for your session when you inquire.

Standard turnaround is up to 2 weeks from your session date, delivered as a private online gallery you can download and share. If you need images sooner — for a launch, a press deadline, or an application — tell me the date and we'll plan around it.

No. The edited gallery is the deliverable — every image is fully edited and ready to share, print, or publish. RAW files are not included with the session.