It’s one of those things… you’re really excited about the idea of doing your senior pictures, but at the same time, you’re nervous. That’s kinda your life right now though… you’re excited to graduate, until people start hounding you about what comes next, then all the nerves kick in. I’ll be honest with you, your life right now is weird. Everyone, especially yourself, wants you to be an adult… but at the same time, you would never make your own doctors appointment and you still get nervous calling in a to-go-order at Pei Wei. I’m 29 years old and I still make my wife ask for ranch if the waitress forgets it— if you think life gets a whole lot different at this point, just know it doesn’t… people just get better at pretending they have their shit together.
That was a weird random tangent, but I think something that should be said.
Before I got to talking about your current life-crisis, I was talking about this. Your senior pictures. A lot of people have told me over the years, “I avoided doing senior pictures because I’m awkward!” Which is funny, because awkward is easy for me. If I’m being an open book, it’s the people who think they are amazing in-front of a camera that make my job difficult… becaaauuuuuse, snapchat doesn’t make you a model. It’s the people who always think they will be terrible in pictures who I always feel like I create my best images with.
I want to make you feel comfortable— but even more, I want to make you feel like a total bad ass. High school is hard, friendships in high school are even harder and sometimes, or maybe all the time, everyone is annoying. Sounds cheesy, absolutely, but I just want to give you a day, dedicated to you, looking and feeling your best. I want to give your parents and grandparents pictures of you, to freeze this time for them (because believe it or not, they are actually insanely upset about you leaving) and pictures they can cry over when you leave home (because TRUST me… you turn into a saint once you’re out of the house and they forget about your sometimes-maybe-all-the-time bad attitude).
That’s enough rambling. I just want this to be fun.
-Ace
THE PROCESS.
Let’s make this as simple as possible.
1.
CHOOSE YOUR PACKAGE.
We have three different packages to choose from. We have tried to make something for everyone— with the main differences being the number of outfits and time, except for when you go for the full enchilada— then you also get hair + make-up.
Buut, think about you and your personality, talk to your parents about budget and find which package is right for you.
2.
PLANNING YOUR SESSION.
We want to make sure your session is perfectly you from beginning to end.
Once you’ve got your outfits ready to go— send them over to us! We’ve been doing this so long, we know EXACTLY what pairs well together in regards to location and we will make sure your shoot is cohesive and well-planned.
Oh, and we’ll also make sure we schedule it. That’s important.
3.
YOUR SESSION.
If I’m being real… this is the best part.
If you’ve booked hair + make-up, you’ll meet at our house in North Peoria. If not, we will meet you at your location. I’m a control freak— so stop stressing— I will tell you exactly what to do and how to do it. I’m more of a coach than I am a photographer. The goal here is to just make you feel your absolute best without any second-guessing. I will scream and dance like it’s how I pay my bills, your mom will more than likely tear up at one point, but deny ever doing so and you will hopefully just soak it all up.
4.
THE PROOFS.
Step 4 is kinda optional.
Every session INCLUDES your proofs. These are web-size images, marked with my logo and are only for viewing purposes. Your proofs will be delivered to you through an online gallery. Your proof gallery is where you can decide if you want to purchase the high-resolution images (delivered on a custom USB), tangible high-quality prints you can cover your home with or a mix of both. *This step is optional because the majority of our clients purchase their USB during their session and bypass this step.
5.
ALL THE GOODS.
If the shoot is the best part, then this is a damn close second best.
All of your goods are packaged up and finally yours forever. We include an online gallery that you can share with family or friends so they can fawn over how perfect you are. All high resolution images are delivered back to you in both color + black&white, as well as a print release, so you can make your own prints if you wish. Also, a slideshow of your shoot to really just bring it all home, and for your parents to watch whenever they miss you while you’re away at college.
Step 5 has also been referred to as, “Christmas morning.”
PRICING.
ONE.
$400.00
35 MINUTES.
ONE OUTFIT.
It’s simple… or as hipsters would call it: minimalistic.
I once wasted an entire day watching Marie Kondo talking to other people’s clothes and thanking them for their service, but didn’t lift a finger to get my own life in order. That was the closest I got to be a minimalist.
This session is simple and right to the point. You’re like me, in the fact that it doesn’t matter the outfit, because you’re gonna look damn good no matter what. 35 minutes is definitely enough time to capture you being you.
TWO.
$500.00
60 MINUTES.
TWO OUTFITS.
Some of the greatest things in the world happen in one hour… like every Real Housewives episode of all time. That’s television gold, just like you are human gold. It sounded a lot better in my head until I typed it out, but oh well. You get the point.
Your session will be more like a reunion episode though, with amazing lighting and your clothes will be next level… but with a lot less fighting.
Bring two outfits that you feel truly represent you and spend the next 60 minutes embracing your inner-model.
THREE.
$600.00
90 MINUTES.
THREE OUTFITS.
HAIR + MAKE-UP.
There isn’t much I do in moderation… I mean, exercise, but other than that— I am an excess type person. I started living a treat yourself lifestyle a few years back and ever since, I’ve never met a dessert I didn’t deserve.
This is your treat yourself moment.
Choose three outfits to really showcase your own personal style and personality. Eliminate any stress of getting ready, because we’ve got your back with hair and make-up. 90 minutes of shooting, but hopefully an experience you remember forever.
*PLEASE NOTE: These prices do not include taxes. All photo sessions require an additional 8.6% charge for Arizona State sales tax.
ADD ONS + EXTRAS.
USB OF HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGES: $200.00
All of the images from your session, in high-resolution, color + black & white and a print release that allows you to print all of your images whenever and however.
HAIR: $45.00
MAKE-UP: $45.00
HAIR AND MAKE-UP: $75.00
Read even more about our hair + make-up add-ons, as well as a guide of tips and tricks to help you, if you decide to do it on your own.
PRINTS + PRODUCTS
I’m a photographer, it’s impossible for me to not care about the quality of the prints of my life’s work… but I’m also not the kinda photographer to chew your head off for printing at Costco. If you’re interested in reading more about the different prints + products (with quality I stand by) that we offer— we’ve got a guide for that too.
“I’VE STILL GOT QUESTIONS!”
F.A.Q.
PROOFS VS. HIGH RESOLUTION
Can you explain this a bit more?
Absolutely. This can definitely get confusing.
Every senior session includes digital proofs that you will view in an online gallery. They are web-size and protected with my logo across them— their only purpose is for viewing. It’s like going to get fro-yo and sampling the different flavors— the samples aren’t the reason you are there, but they help you decide on the perfect blend (NY Cheesecake + Strawberry) for your final product.
The high resolution files are purchased in-addition to your session fee. High resolution files are delivered to you through a USB that includes all of your images, fully edited, in both color and black&white PLUS a print release— that allows you to take these images and print them however and wherever you please.
WHY DO WE HAVE TO PURCHASE THE HIGH RESOLUTION FILES SEPARATELY?
WHY NOT JUST INCLUDE THEM?
It sounds stupid, right?
The idea of purchasing the two things separately came from when I started my business 10 years ago— when, if I’m being blunt, I didn’t know if my clients would even like the images I was delivering. So I wanted a way for them to be able to not fully commit if they didn’t want to.
A few years back, I was ready to just combine the prices and just include the high resolution images in each package (because 95% of my clients were just buying the USB at the time of the session) but then a long time client said to me, “I love that you give the option to purchase the USB separately. I’m a single mom— and I know I want them, but it gives me a little more time to save for it.”
And from that moment on, I decided, I don’t care if people get it… it’s staying.
HOW LONG IS YOUR TURNAROUND TIME?
Approximately two weeks.
Sometimes a few days earlier and sometimes a few days later. We aren’t deadline people.
DO WE GET TO CHOOSE OUR IMAGES?
HOW MANY DOES EACH SESSION INCLUDE?
I probably should have put this as the first question, because it’s asked a lot.
No, you don’t get to pick your pictures. A lot of photographers have this business model— and it doesn’t work for me. I pride myself on my ability to get you a really good variety of images, and including all the good ones in there for you.
“Yeah, but how many?”
If you’re a numbers person, you will likely hate my answer: a lot. I’m a creative— I don’t like to put myself into a box. But no one in the history of my photography career has ever felt like they didn’t get enough. Someone once jokingly complained, “There’s too many to choose my favorites!”
WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?
I DON’T KNOW WHAT LOOKS GOOD IN PICTURES!
The clothes. For a person who wears gym shorts and Old Navy graphic tees every single day of their life— the outfits are one of my very favorite parts of my job.
From the moment I first picked up a camera and to this day, I’ve known I want to work in the world of fashion— so for me clothes are such an inspiring part of what I do.
If you’re worried at all about clothes— and even if you aren’t— we wrote a super easy to read and helpful style guide to help you out. We’ve seen, over the past decade, what works and what doesn’t in pictures… learn from our mistakes.
HAIR AND MAKE-UP?!
I DON’T KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN.
Breathe. And find comfort in the fact that a lot of our girls feel this same way.
“I hardly ever wear any make-up!” is a phrase we have heard more times than we can count. It was about 6 years ago when we started offering professional hair and make-up as an extension of our business. I was tired of spending tons of time in editing, trying to make bad make-up look like okay make-up. If it’s completely overwhelming to you— let us take that pressure off you and book it with us.
If you are feeling confident but want a few pointers about what works well in my camera. We’ve got you covered.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION.
DO WE CHOOSE WHERE TO SHOOT?
We handle everything. We have been doing this for ten years. we’ve driven everywhere, we’ve shot in every location, we’ve seen every cactus, boulder, open field, tree, building, etc… and what I have found over those 10 years: location should help to bring focus to you not take focus away from you.
We cater our location to you and your shoot. We choose location based off your outfits, to help give you the most cohesive look to your shoot. My goal is to not to only give you the best pictures you’ve ever had, but also the best experience you’ve ever had.
Still have questions? Or maybe you’re ready to book…. Fill out the contact form below and let’s get things started.
BOOKING.
One of our biggest goals in life is to be more organized— this questionnaire is a really big step in that direction. Please fill out this questionnaire as soon as possible. We will love you even more!