Photoshoot FAQ

Coordinate without matching exactly. Choose 2–3 complementary colors and stick to them across your group. Neutral and earthy tones photograph beautifully — cream, tan, dusty rose, navy, sage, and forest green all work well. Avoid busy patterns, logos, or anything neon. Wear something you feel comfortable and confident in — if you're tugging at your clothes or self-conscious, it shows in photos.

Timing is everything with little ones. Schedule the session around their best time of day — usually mid-morning after breakfast, never during nap time. Bring snacks, a favorite toy, or a small treat as a reward for cooperation. Don't tell kids to 'smile' — let us engage them naturally. Dress them last, right before leaving. And most importantly: stay relaxed yourself. Kids mirror parent energy.

For weddings and maternity sessions, professional hair and makeup is highly recommended — it holds up under natural light and throughout a long session. For family and casual portrait sessions, simply look polished and camera-ready. Whatever you choose, try it before session day so there are no surprises.

Absolutely. We love shooting at locations that are meaningful to your family. If you have a spot in mind, tell us and we'll scout it before your session. If you'd like a recommendation, we have 17+ years of knowledge of DFW's best shooting spots — from Collin County parks to urban Dallas backdrops.

Bring inspiration photos — Pinterest boards, magazine clippings, screenshots of sessions you love. Share them before the session and we'll use them as a starting point. We never replicate exactly (your family isn't that family), but references help us understand the mood, style, and energy you're hoping for.

Portrait sessions: 4–8 weeks in advance is ideal, though we can sometimes accommodate shorter notice. Fall season (September–November) books the fastest — reserve early if you want holiday card photos. Weddings: 6–12 months in advance. Popular dates in spring and fall fill quickly.

Portrait sessions run approximately one hour. We never rush — if we're getting great images and everyone is having fun, we keep going. If we hit a wall (toddler meltdown, golden light gone), we wrap up gracefully. Plan for the full hour plus a little buffer on either side for getting settled and wrapping up.

This is more common than you think — and it's completely fine. We start every session with low-pressure, easy activities to warm everyone up before we ever start shooting. We never draw attention to nervousness or shyness. Most 'camera-shy' people tell us afterward that they forgot we were there within the first 15 minutes.

Kids are unpredictable — and that's actually fine with us. We're experienced at working with children of all ages and temperaments. We have a bag of tricks for getting genuine smiles and natural moments from even the most resistant little ones. Some of our best family photos come from 'uncooperative' sessions. The key is staying relaxed and letting us handle the direction.

For outdoor portrait sessions, we can reschedule at no charge with 24 hours notice. If rain is light and you're up for it, we've shot some stunning sessions in overcast conditions — the soft, diffused light is actually flattering. For weddings, we shoot rain or shine and have contingency plans ready for every scenario.

Simple, meaningful props are welcome — a special blanket, a family pet, a musical instrument your child plays. Avoid overly themed or seasonal props that will date the photos quickly. For engagement sessions, props rarely add to the images. For family sessions with babies or toddlers, familiar objects from home can help them feel comfortable.

Portrait session galleries are delivered within 2 weeks. Wedding galleries are delivered within 4–6 weeks. You'll receive a link to your private online gallery via email. If you have a hard deadline (holiday cards, a specific event), let us know at booking and we'll prioritize accordingly.

Portrait sessions include 40–60+ professionally edited images depending on session type. Wedding packages include 300–700+ depending on your package. We don't deliver every image taken — we cull carefully and only deliver images that meet our quality standard for exposure, focus, and expression.

Yes — your gallery comes with a full print release, which means you can print anywhere you like: Walgreens, CVS, Costco, Shutterfly, or any professional lab. For the best color accuracy and print quality, we recommend ordering through your online gallery portal where prints are produced at a professional lab.

Absolutely — please do! We love seeing our work shared. Please tag us @shutterwide when you post so we can share your photos too. Your print release covers all personal use including social media.

We don't deliver RAW files or unedited images. The editing process is integral to our style and the quality you're hiring us for. Every delivered image is professionally edited for color, exposure, and tone.

In 17+ years of shooting, this has been extremely rare — and we'd like to keep it that way. That's why we invest time in pre-session consultations to understand your vision, and why we communicate clearly about style, location, and expectations before every session. If there's ever a concern, we address it directly and work toward a solution.

All portrait sessions are $350 for one hour on location. This includes a free consultation, professional editing, private online gallery delivery, and full print release. No hidden fees. Wedding packages start at $1,800 — see our full pricing page for details.

Yes — a 25% retainer secures your date and is applied toward your total balance. The remaining balance is due one week before your session. Retainers are non-refundable but your date can be rescheduled once with at least 2 weeks notice.

Fill out our contact form. We'll schedule a free 15-minute consultation to discuss your vision, date, and location. After that, a retainer secures your spot. It's that simple — no lengthy contracts, no confusing packages.

Yes. We serve the entire DFW Metroplex at no additional travel fee. For sessions more than 60 miles from Plano, a travel fee may apply — we'll always discuss this transparently before you book. We also travel for destination weddings and sessions.