FAQ

Q: I’m noticing a lot of sun flare/glare/spotty things in your photos, can you get rid of that? 

A: Short answer, pretty much no. If you want portraits at the lake, there’s gonna be lens flare. If you don’t want to squint in photos because you’re looking straight into the sun, there’s gonna be lens flare. If you hire me, there’s gonna be lens flare. It’s kind of part of shooting outside in this beautiful place and achieving the style that I showcase. I am very conscious of flare/glare on people’s faces but it’s gonna happen sometimes as we’re shooting candidly, constantly moving. That’s why I give you a ton of photos! Please take a look at my portfolio, instagram, etc BEFORE BOOKING ME to make sure we are a good match stylistically.

Q: What do we wear for family portrait sessions?

A: White shirts and blue jeans! J/k that’s super old school guys, please don’t wear matching outfits unless your kids are REEEEEAL cute and have the world’s most adorable clothing. Instead, I recommend color families: as in everyone in different shades of one color, everyone in neutrals, everyone in cool colors, everyone in warm colors, etc. Really just as long as you don’t have a million large prints you’ll look great! If you take a look at my family gallery or Instagram there are excellent examples!

Q: How many digital images are included in the listed price? How do I choose what images I want?

A: Short answer, you don’t have to choose! For all of my services I narrow down all of your images to the usable ones (no closed eyes, blurry, between smiles etc), edit them to perfection and upload them to your gallery. ALL of your images are included in the listed price! There’s no proofs, no paying for downloading, no extra charges at all! This applies to any/all of my services including weddings and portraits!

Q: What are the best times for portraits at the lake?

A: The light anywhere is best the two hours after sunrise and the two hours before sunset. The light is best on the West Shore in the early morning. The light on the East Shore is best in the evening/late afternoon (depending on the time of year). Shooting early afternoon/midday/later morning at the lake is not recommended, but other locations not at the lake are available at any time of day!

Q: How many weddings have you photographed?

A: I’ve been shooting weddings for over 13 years, clocking in at… I have no idea how many. Phew! The great thing about weddings though, is that each one is unique, so there’s always something fun and new to shoot. I’ve had the honor of shooting weddings all across the country and several foreign locations.

Q: Is retouching included in your pricing?

A:  Yes and no.

  1. I think you are gorgeous and amazing just as you are, really! For this reason I do not offer slimming or shape altering services. I will, however, help to guide you into flattering poses so that you feel like the superstar that you are!
  2. I’m a sucker for work and want my photos to be as great as can be. I always do light dodging/burning when needed and small blemish/spot removal free of charge.
  3. As a special gift to you, because you’re awesome, I’m happy to offer skin-smoothing, teeth-whitening and extensive blemish/spot removal on a select number of your favorite photos free of charge. Please send me the list of photos all at once and allow 2-3 weeks for the edits to be completed.
  4. Any additional retouching such as removing makeup stains, removing background items/people, face swaps and anything beyond your chosen images will incur a per-image fee based on the intricacy of the request. Please let me know about your requests all at once for maximum efficiency.
Q: Do you work from a shot list?

A: Short answer: no. I LOVE to have a list of your important, posed family photos so we can get the shots you want done quickly and painlessly (there’s only so much forced smiling your face can handle.) However, working from a list your entire wedding is not good for either of us. My favorite photos often happen spontaenously and there’s no way I could have captured them at all, much less well, if I’m looking at a list. My friend Lauren Lindley once said it best, “you are not that person and I am not that photographer.”

Q: What do you shoot with?

A: I shoot with two Canon 5D Mark IVs and all Canon L Series lenses. They’re pretty. I also have an additional backup camera, tons of back-up cards, batteries, etc so I’m prepared for any equipment situation, should it arise.

Q: Do you use lights when you shoot?

A: Nope! Your wedding day or portrait session should be all about you, and I’ve found that using lights takes so much set-up/breakdown time that it just cuts into your valuable shoot time, plus it’s just not my style. I’ve spent many years perfecting my flash technique for any less-than-ideal light conditions.

Q: How many hours should I book you for?

A: That really depends on your event. I’m happy to offer by the hour pricing for small/budget events and portrait sessions. For a typical wedding day (getting ready, ceremony, portraits, reception), I’d recommend 6-8 hours of coverage. For portrait shoots, usually an hour is enough but if you’d like to shoot at multiple locations or do outfit changes, I’d up the time to two hours.

Q: When and how will I get my images?

A: You will receive your edited images in a password-protected gallery NO LATER than 8 weeks after your event. There, you can download them, send the link to family and friends and order prints.I will send you a few previews within a week of your shoot. I take great care in editing your images to perfection and sometimes that only takes a week, but it will never take longer than two months. You are free to post your images wherever you like and order prints from CVS if you want to, my lab is just an option.

Q: Do you require a retainer? If so, how much? Can we just do a verbal agreement instead?

A: Retainers are due when we both sign my contract and are half or 1/3 of the entire fee. This part of my schtick is non-negotiable. This retainer ensures that your date is secure and no one else can book me that day. Shoots are booked on a first-come, first-served basis meaning if two clients inquire about the same date, I will book whoever gets me a deposit and contract first. I’ll do my absolute best to be fair and communicate quickly should this situation arise.

Q: What the heck does Nemus mean anyway? That’s not your last name!

A: Nemus (n) Latin: a sacred tree or grove. I wish I could say there’s some deep meaning to choosing Nemus but really I’m just obsessed with treesand I didn’t think my last name was cool enough.