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FAQ'S - We hope this helps answer all (if not most) of the questions you may have as you prepare for our session. We’re super excited to work with your family! All you need to do is bring yourselves, wearing your favorite outfits and leave the rest to us. But in the meantime, here are some answers to questions we’ve received over the years!

 

 

 

 

FAMILY SESSION TIMING

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We have put together a guide for booking timing on the "Book Now" section of our site! 
 

We generally keep family sessions under an hour to ensure a positive experience for both you and us. A shorter session allows for natural interactions and helps everyone stay engaged without feeling overstimulated, leading to the best possible photos. We believe this approach results in more relaxed, authentic moments.

 

While we do aim to complete the session in a timely manner, there are exceptions. If we haven’t captured the best images by then, we may extend the session on a case-by-case basis. However, if everything is going smoothly, the session could wrap up in as little as 25 minutes.

 

Remember, you’re paying for the experience of working with a professional photographer, not for an exact amount of time. You don’t need to ask if we’ve gotten good shots—we will ensure we’ve captured everything needed for your session for a flawless end result, before we wrap up.

 

Thank you for trusting our team to create a memorable experience for you and your family!

 

ADDING ADDITIONAL PEOPLE TO YOUR SESSION

If you’d like to add extra individuals to your session (e.g., siblings or parents for a milestone session), please discuss this with us in advance. Additional fees will apply for each extra person, even if it’s just for “1 shot” or “a couple of photos.” This fee applies per person, so please be prepared for the added cost.

 

We kindly ask that you do not request additional people to be included in the session on the day of without being prepared to pay the extra rate. We appreciate your understanding!

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PHOTOGRAPHER ASSIGNMENT

Depending on the type of shoot, time of day or week, you will be assigned a photographer from Mandolin and Magnolia’s team. All photographers are seasoned professionals specializing in your specific service request. You may request a Photographer, however, we cannot guarantee availability. 

 

ARRIVAL

Please stay in your car until your photographer arrives to greet you. We have friendly dogs on the property who can get excited, and we don’t want your fresh outfits to get soiled. Thanks for your understanding!

 

CELL PHONES, CAMERAS & RECORDING DEVICES

Please leave all recording devices at home. While cell phones are allowed during newborn shoots, we ask that you refrain from taking photos of sets or the photographer without permission.

 

STUDIO & LOCATION

Our studios are modest, so please limit additional guests to one or two. Unless it’s a family newborn session. Most sessions will take place outdoors. Be sure to check your confirmation for location details.

 

“SAY CHEESE”

Let us connect with your child during the session. Hovering or directing them can alter the natural flow and may lead to overstimulation. Enjoy the moment with your kids, and let us guide the session to capture their true joy. We will absolutely ask for assistance if we need it. 

 

TRAVEL & ON-LOCATION SHOOTS

We are happy to shoot at an alternative location, but travel fees may apply. Please confirm location preferences prior to booking.

 

GALLERY  LINKS

Once you receive your gallery link, please save it! There is a 25$ fee each time we have to send your link to you after our first session. Galleries are stored on PASS PLUS, and we recommend downloading your images immediately to a permanent location. We cannot be responsible for lost galleries.

 

IMAGES & COPYRIGHT

We do not release RAW (unedited) images or allow alternate processing (e.g., black and white instead of color). Images are copyrighted, and we offer a print release upon request. Please trust our vision when you book with us! 

 

GALLERY DELIVERY

Gallery delivery is typically within 2 weeks, but may be delayed during busy seasons. For expedited deliveries, additional charges apply. 50$ for a Regular session or 25$ for a seasonal mini for a TAT of 48 hours. We do not offer refunds for delayed deliveries. 

 

SERVICES & SPECIALIZATIONS

While we offer a variety of services, please review our portfolio before booking to ensure our style aligns with your vision. We reserve the right to refuse service and encourage clients to trust our brand’s artistic direction.

 

SESSION DETAILS

You are guaranteed a minimum of 20 digital images for a full session and 10 for mini-sessions, unless otherwise specified. Session duration varies but typically lasts between 20 minutes to 1 hour. We aim to get the best results, not simply meet a time limit.

 

EXPERIENCE

Our photographers are experienced professionals, and you’re paying for their expertise, not the clock. We appreciate your faith in our style. 

 

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PREPAID SESSIONS & BOOKINGS

​Prepaid session deals are due in full upon booking and are nonrefundable. They cannot be combined, sold, or transferred. If you are purchasing a deal for someone else, they must have a gift certificate to verify their session before booking.

 

Purchasing a deal does not automatically guarantee a session. We recommend booking your session immediately after payment to ensure availability. We typically book 1-2 months in advance for weekdays and 4-6 months for weekends, depending on the season.

 

A $50 weekend fee applies for sessions booked on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays, in addition to the deal rate. Weekday sessions do not incur this fee. The weekend fee does not apply to seasonal mini-sessions with dedicated weekends.

 

Please schedule prepaid sessions within 30 days of purchase to ensure availability before the expiration date. We do not track or remind clients of these sessions. You can use the PocketSuite app (Download in the App Store or Google Play) to track your sessions and receive notifications.


TRANSFERS & GIFT CERTIFICATES

Sessions are non-transferable and cannot be sold, unless purchased as a gift. Gift certificates are available upon request.

 

PROPS

Firearms must be unloaded and on safety before bringing them. We reserve the right to not include certain props if we feel it will compromise the safety of any person involved in the session. We have a variety of props available for your session, but we encourage you to bring anything special you’d like to incorporate to make your session unique and personal to you,  we may use props at our discretion to stay true to our brand.

 

PETS

Pets are welcome at no additional charge! Please inform us ahead of time so we can manage distractions from our own animals on-site.

 

FIRST-YEAR PACKAGE DEALS

If you’re booking a first-year package, remember that we do not track your child’s age milestones. Please contact us 2-3 months in advance for weekend availability and 1-2 months for weekday shoots.
We cannot roll over milestones, if you miss the window for a specific milestone, that one will be skipped & we will schedule for the next one up to the last of the package purchased. 

 

SESSION EXPIRATION

All sessions purchased in the current year expire the following year by November 1st, unless stated otherwise on your invoice or confirmation.  We do not roll over sessions or provide refunds.

 

RETAINERS, PAYMENT & NO-SHOW POLICY

Retainers are non-refundable.
If you no-show or reschedule more than twice, the retainer will be forfeited, and additional charges will apply for rescheduling.
Retainers must be paid before session will be confirmed. 
Remaining balances are to be paid in cash.

 

BLEMISHES & RETOUCHING

We offer retouching for an additional $50 if desired. (This rate may be increased depending on the extent of the retouching.) Please ensure your child’s face is clean and bring necessary items to keep them tidy during the session. 

 

WARDROBE & STYLE GUIDANCE

Certain colors and patterns photograph better & flow better with our style of editing & backgrounds. Please reach out if you need help. Although we pay careful attention to hair and wardrobe, we cannot be responsible for wardrobe malfunction (missing bloomers, lose straps, soiled shirts, etc.) I allow my clients to move freely during session’s and certain outfits do not work well in those circumstances. Make sure the clothes fit well.  Please be mindful when you are selecting outfits. Overall dresses & overall's, low cut dresses, side slit maternity dresses & exact matching patterns, just to name a few are discouraged. (This does not apply to Newborns)
 

HATS & TRANSITION GLASSES

Hats can create shadows on the face, and transition lenses can look like sunglasses in photos. We recommend avoiding them for the session, but if worn,  we will not photoshop your images to appear as if you are not wearing them. It is entirely up to you if you wear them during your session, but it is advised against.  We are not responsible for the appearance
 

EXTRA ITEMS

Please remove hair ties from your wrist, empty your pockets, and leave bulky items like watches in your car. These items can be distracting in photos, as well, we like our images to be timeless. 

 

WEATHER POLICY

We consider weather conditions carefully. Temperatures below 40°F, high winds, or rain can negatively affect a session, as can extreme heat. Trust our judgment on whether to reschedule.

 

SICKNESS POLICY

If you’re feeling sick, please stay home. We are happy to reschedule sessions due to illness. Please reach out if you are or someone in the session is feeling ill in as much notice as possible.
 

CONFIRMATIONS & BOOKING

A confirmation is required for your session to be scheduled. If you don’t confirm within 24 hours, your session is not booked. Please review the confirmation carefully and reach out if you don’t receive it. An email, FB message, in-person conversation or plain text is NOT a confirmation. Please don’t show up without a confirmation. Our confirmations are sent via text only through our virtual assistant - PocketSuite. 

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​​ADVANCE BOOKING & LATE POLICY

Book general sessions 2-4 months in advance for optimal service. We do book up to 365 days in advance if you are a planner, like us! Our Mini Session Schedule is available a minimum of 6 months in advance. You can see what we offer by clicking the "Services" section of our site.                 

 

Newborn sessions should be booked while pregnant & scheduled relative to due date.
 

We allow a 10-minute grace period for lateness, but after that, your session may be canceled & any payment made including retainers & advance payment may be forfeited. 

 

 

 

 

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