This page of FAQ’s is in progress — as I have spare time and receive new questions, I will add questions/inquiries to it. Feel free to submit questions and I’ll post them here.
Q: Do you provide wedding and event photographic services? I can’t find pricing for either one.
A: As of June 1, 2009, Christina McCall Photography no longer provides wedding or event (i.e. reunions, vow renewal, graduation/confirmation/retirement) photographic services. When I evaluated (and overhauled) what was then Reflections of Life Photography in the spring of 2009 – from the business name down to the mundane accounting details, one of the main considerations I agonized over was narrowing down what services we provide. Since I’m a one-girl show with occasional assistance from my brother, parents, and a friend, weddings were one of two areas I didn’t feel I could continue to provide 110% to now that Robby has an unpredictable work schedule as well as the fact he transferred to another university in Fall 2009. We are more than happy to recommend one of our many photographer friends (in East & North Texas as well as beyond) who specialize in wedding photography to capture your special day.
Q: How far in advance do you recommend scheduling portraiture sessions? What do I have to do to reserve a session date/time?
A: We highly recommend you schedule your portraiture session a minimum of two weeks in advance, although at peek times, its best to schedule at least four weeks prior to your preferred date. 99% of our sessions are on weekends — and to get the best lighting as well as other external factors, we limit the total number of sessions scheduled each month.
Additionally, to confirm your session date/time, all clients must pay a $100 non-refundable retainer fee (plus 6.25% Texas State Sales Tax; Personal Check/USPS Money Order preferred or credit card (via Paypal)) + signed portraiture contract is required — this must be received within 4 calendar days or the date/time slot is reopened to other clients. The balance of your non-refundable creative retainer fee ($50; total: $150) is due no later than 72 hours prior to your session date.
Q: Will you travel to my location for a portraiture session or special occasion? I do not live in Henderson, Kaufman, Smith, or Van Zandt Counties.
A: If our schedules coincide, I will be more than happy to travel to your location to provide photographic services. I currently work Monday – Friday, so my availability is limited to weekends and weekday holidays (excluding Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day). Occasionally, other weekdays may become available as I occasionally travel out of town for personal reasons and will gladly schedule a session or two wherever I may be.
Q: Do you have a recommended list of locations for portraiture sessions?
A: While I don’t keep a published list on this website — I don’t always like to give away my ‘hidden gems’ I’ve located and am waiting for the ‘right’ client to have a session there, I do have a spreadsheet I’ve compiled of locations I’ve come across — popular spots and random locales I think would make for a great backdrop as well as off the wall spots no one would image could be used for a portrait session – that I keep organized by city. Just tell me what your want out of your images — casual / upbeat, rural / urban, popular / gem of a location not used much if at all, and I’ll help you choose a location that fits you and your personality!
Q: How long after my session will it be before I am able to see my proof gallery?
A: As long as I do not have a backlog of sessions I’m editing, I typically am able to start previewing ’sneak peeks’ on the blog – about 5-6 images from your session within 1-4 weeks of your session. During slower portions of the year, I have proofing galleries online at the two week mark from your session date. Busier portions of the year (closer to graduation and Thanksgiving/Christmas), it may take up to three weeks for your proofing gallery to be online. I edit sessions in the order they are photographed — this also includes any second shooting I do for other photographers. I rarely alter this workflow due to the limited amount of time I have to process/edit/upload image files.
Q: Do you offer digital images I can purchase?
A: As of October 1, 2008, digital collection options are available for clients to select from. Depending on the collection, you will receive both the color and black/white versions of the images (number of images varies by collection) selected — unless one version is not available, along with a list of recommended printers and a pdf copy of the print release for personal printing use. “Artsy” images are not included in the digital collections, but may be purchased a la carte (minimum purchase of 5 digital images required). Additionally, the digital collections include a luxe boutique item from our product line.
Q: Are digital images included in my session/creative fee?
A: No. The Creative Fee only covers time and talent for scheduling/planning, traveling to, photographing, and editing your session’s images. Prints, print products, and digital files are available for purchase separate of this fee.
Q: Is there a minimum purchase/order requirement? What is the average amount invested in a session by clients?
A: Yes, a $250 minimum purchase/order requirement is required on all sessions — full and mini/Serendipity. This is separate of the Creative Fee assessed.
Most clients spend an average of $500 on prints/collections. This is separate of the Creative Fee.
Q: Is sales tax included in the print / collection pricing on your site?
A: No. Sales tax is not included in the Creative fee rate or any of the print and collection pricing. All creative fees and print/product purchases will be assessed a 6.25% percent Texas state sales tax as required by state law. This is the sales tax rate assessed for my business address.
Q: Do you offer low resolution digital images for purchase?
A: For all sessions scheduled on or after December 1, 2009, the option to purchase basic proofed digital files sized at 5×7 (will not print larger than this size) is available. Pricing details are available upon request.
Q: Why should I use one of the printing companies you recommend with the digital collections?
A: The printers I recommend are the ones I use for my personal images. These are professional printers with a ‘consumer option’ whose primary goal is to provide both professional photographers and hobbyists/individuals who highly value the art of photography with archival quality prints. No, they may not be not the cheapest option and they are not local, but they are reasonable priced when you consider they constantly calibrate their printers so you receive prints at the ultimate print quality on paper with a 100 year guarantee. Additionally, discount store and discount online print options are printed on lower quality, shorter archival quality paper which can result in a color cast. I don’t know how many times I’ve purchased images in the past that are faded or distorted in color quality (think a nice green tint on skin tones!). You pay for what you receive – cheap prints sometimes means cheap quality! You’ve splurged for the photo session and the digital collection of images — please don’t skimp on the prints!
I’ve used other mass retailers who have printing services – as well as several other online options. Sometimes you luck out and get great color prints. Many times you do not. I don’t know how many times I’ve been disappointed by the local options I have to choose from. Sometimes so much so I wanted to cry or chunk the prints back across the counter. Add in that some mass retailers (think the store that sells everything) will refuse to give you your prints if they even begin to look ‘professional.’ Doesn’t matter if you have a print release — I as the photographer have been given grief when I’ve gone the few times to pick up my personal non-human subject prints. I don’t want to inflict that headache upon you.
If you are curious as to a particular non-recommended location that is best if you’re in a time crunch, please ask. If I haven’t used them, I probably know another photographer or individual who has. I don’t want you to order prints and be disappointed if they don’t look like the color calibrated images I created on my computer screen.
If you have a color photo printer — the newer your ink cartridges are, as well as running a calibration test prior to printing should suffice for personal prints if you already own one. In the long run, I find it more economical to stick to recommending a small number of online professional printers — even with shipping, you’ll save in time and money overall. I personally don’t even own a photo printer — I outsource it!
Q: What is the average order time from when I place my order to delivery?
A: Typically — approximately two weeks for prints and some luxe products outside of ‘rush’ periods (i.e. late spring for seniors and late November through the end of December). During ‘rush’ periods, the queue with our printers can take up to three weeks from order placement to delivery. Canvases, coffee table books, albums, and the rest of our luxe boutique line can take up to 4-6 weeks for designing, ordering, creation, and delivery to me before I am able to deliver the item(s) to you. If you need an item or items faster, select the Rush shipping option. This doesn’t speed up the item in-plant, but will get it to me faster than regular delivery options so I can get it to you faster.
Q: Is it okay for me to scan the prints I’ve purchased to share with friends and family?
A: Legally, according to the US Copyright Act, this is NOT okay. If you want to share images with friends and family via email, you are more than welcome to share the watermarked images I post on the blog as sneak peeks (or email them the link to the entries) — or I can tag the sneak peek images to your Facebook or MySpace accounts. Additionally, scanning and posting the prints infringes federal copyright law. I did not create these laws, but I will enforce them when necessary and to the fullest extent of the law for blatant and ignored violations.
Additionally, according to Professional Photographers of America (which I am a member of):
“The Copyright Act protects photographers by giving the author (creator) of the photograph the exclusive right to copy, edit, and distribute image by sale or transfer.
These exclusive rights make it illegal to copy, scan, edit, or share photographic prints and digital media without the photographer’s permission. Violators of this Federal Law will be subject to its civil and criminal penalties.
Be sure to discuss your copyright needs or questions with your photographer; reasonable requests may be accomodated.”
Q: How do I obtain the rights to use the photographs taken during the session for advertisements or promotions?
A: If you are wanting to use images for any commercial usage, an additional rights fee may be purchased — this is a nominal fee that can be done on an individual image basis or on a multiple image basis (i.e. cd of images selected from session). Please contact me for further details.
Q: Can I purchase the copyright to an image?
A: In a nutshell, no. All images are copyrighted by Christina McCall, dba Christina McCall Photography (formerly Reflections of Life Photography), 5 foot 4 Productions, and its owners/photographers. You can purchase the rights to use images for commercial publication or for printing (with digital images), but the copyright remains with its creator and cannot be purchased or transferred. All images are registered with the US Copyright and Trademark Office — this copyright extends 70 years past the creator’s date of death.
Q: I think I’ve seen an image of yours used elsewhere online or in print — I just wanted to make sure it wasn’t stolen.
A: Thanks for watching our ‘back’ — many photographers, especially those using Flickr have experienced their images being used without their consent elsewhere online or in print. If you see an image and not sure I’ve given permission or the rights for it to appear elsewhere in the internetwebosphere, please contact me. I’ll be eternally grateful! As will any clients that may appear in those images!
Last updated October 16, 2009.
