ENGAGEMENT SESSION & PROPOSAL DETAILS & FAQs

Most frequently asked questions and concerns before, during, and after the session! It looks a little long, but I promise I'll answer any lingering questions you may have.  Here's what you need to know...

PRIOR TO YOUR SESSION
Location
We’ll set the location in our first emails. If you’ve already got a spot in mind - terrific! I’m all ears. If not, I know lots of beautiful spots around DC for family photos. Just describe how you envision your session - any description will do - and I’ll make some suggestions based on what you want.

You can also check out my blog - blog.RLincoln.com - and use the dropdown menu “Categories” in the right side (or verrrrry bottom of the page if you’re on your phone) to select different locations around DC like “Lincoln Memorial”, “Georgetown Canal”, “Bishop’s Garden”, “National Portrait Gallery”, etc.

What should we wear? What should we bring?
Once you book your session, I will email you an info sheet with lots of details on what to wear, what to bring, etc. You'll be very well prepared :)

DURING YOUR SESSION

We are really awkward in front of the camera. We’ve never done this before, we don’t know what to do during a photo session.
That’s ok! That’s why you hired a professional. :D
I will guide you through poses, tell you when to smile, where to look, etc.

The most important thing is: don’t feel like you have to get it exactly right, and definitely go ahead and interact with each other as if I weren’t there! I’ll take photos and give you directions the entire time.

While the photos we’ll take are “posed”, the results are anything but! I like to work with action sequences, whether you’re sitting together interacting or walking down the sidewalk. The specific directions I give are what creates the warm, loving, emotional, and best of all candid images.

At least half the couples on my website came to me with this exact comment. Not to worry - you’re in good hands and will be taken care of. I’ve been doing this for almost 10 years.  ;)

My fiancé hates the camera, he won’t smile for it.
Cool, I love a challenge!

But seriously, the poses and “action shots” I will guide you through are sure to provoke loving smiles and laughter from your man.

We aren’t comfortable kissing in public.
I feel you - definitely let me know at the start of your session so I can modify your directions and poses.

AFTER YOUR SESSION

HOW do we get our photos?
I will email you a link and password. For turnaround time, please refer to the next question.

In that email, I will include instructions on accessing, viewing, downloading, ordering prints, and sharing your photos. It’s really easy! You can share the link + password with your friends and family for them to view, download, and order prints, too.

WHEN do we get our photos?
Your gallery will be ready within 14-16 days after your session date. Please schedule your session accordingly.

I know you’ll be excited and full of anticipation to see your photos - I will send a preview within the week following your session. That means at some point in the 7 days after your session, you’ll receive 2-3 photos for immediate sharing.

For 1.5-hour and 2-hour sessions, the turnaround time is 21 days, and you’ll receive a preview within the week after your session

WHAT will be in the gallery?
The high resolution, retouched (edited) images will be in your online gallery.
You can download the full, high res size, or smaller sizes for easy uploading and sharing.

Can you send the photos to my Dropbox?
No, because I use a high res, archival quality, easy to use online gallery that is password-protected, so only the people with the password can view your photos. I cannot guarantee the quality preservation when transferring files through Dropbox, and I want you to have the highest quality images possible.
lus, my galleries work on your computer, tablet or iPad, even your phone. Just click the link, enter the password, and you’re all set! You can even download the photos on each.
Your gallery never expires, so you have a safe place to store your photos in case something happens to your computer!

RETOUCHING
What does that include?
All sessions include sharpening, color correction, toning, cropping, and light blemish removal on close-ups. You're in good hands, I won't let any annoying little blemishes intrude on your gorgeous photos.  ;)

What if I absolutely know I'm going to need extra retouching?
No worries! Check out my retouching info page (www.RLincoln.com/retouching).

My arms always look fat in photos, can you fix that?
For sure! I always do my best to avoid poses that may cause that, but sometimes in the midst of an amazing candid moment, you end up occasionally needing a little finessing.

In photos where may be super-duper obvious, I will make that modification before delivering your final gallery, so you will never even see the “before” photo.

Of course, I understand that your point of view may differ from mine, and in photos when I think you look stunning, you may feel you need a little more work. I’m happy to help out. I offer three (3) complimentary “slimming” requests per session (no matter the session length). That means I can slim down your arms, and trim a tiny bit off the middle if you like, for three different photos. If you find a fourth photo, or even 50 more photos, you’d like the slimming applied to, let me know, and I can do the extra modifications for $7 per photo, and you can mail a check or send a Venmo payment to @Rachel-Lincoln-DC. I will begin work on the changes as soon as the payment comes through.

PRINTING
You can easily order prints through your gallery (they ship right to you!), or you can download your photos and print them at the vendor of your choice.
I have partnered with one of the country’s leading professional photo print labs to provide color accurate, sharp, high quality images to all my clients. Please note that if you choose to print your photos elsewhere, I cannot guarantee high quality, or color loss.

Do you offer SAVE THE DATES?

Yes! You can view the templates here:  

The cards are printed in full color and have a light sheen. The thick cardstock and gentle linen texture give your cards a luxurious feel.

Printed 5x7 Save the Date Cards are $________ for a set of 50, $_____ for a set of 75, and $___ for a set of 100. If you need more, let me know how many and I’ll send you the total.

The cards ship directly to you.
White envelopes are included.
Return address printing is $0.20 per card.

In order for me to begin work on your card, you will need to send the payment in full. I cannot being putting together your card or send it to press without the full payment.

The templates posted on my website are not modifiable (except for the names, date, and location of course!) and cannot be combined. To ensure you receive your cards in a timely manner, you may choose 2 photos to be previewed in two different templates to the final card from.

How to Order a Save the Date card set:

Choose up to 2 card templates (from my website) and up to 2 photos you’d like to preview and let me know via email - RL@RLincoln.com. I will put together and email your proofs within 3 days.

Please include in your email: the correct spelling of your names, wedding location, and the wedding date.

If you already know which photo and card template combination you’d like, great! Let me know and I’ll put together a proof for you to approve. As soon as you reply via email confirming the design, I will send it to press.

Once you approve the design and I send it to press, processing time is 2-3 days in press, and 2-3 day shipping.

FAQs

We don’t want 5x7 cards, we want 4x6 cards.
I currently offer 5x7 cards.

We don’t want double sided cards, we just want a photo on one side.
Cool, please specify in your initial email. The back of the card will be blank (white/off-white) and non-glossy. Please note this does not affect the cost.

Can we have a digital save the date card for emailing to our guests?
E-Save the Date cards are $95 each and are delivered as a 5x7 web resolution jpeg file via email. Please follow the instructions above for ordering your card.

I don’t like your designs, can you make one like this (screenshot attached)?
Custom card templates are $145 each (not including printing or e-card). I can match the look, style, and general design of the card you like, but it will not be an exact duplicate.

To ensure you receive your cards in a timely manner, I allow modifications to be requested up to 3 times. Please note the modifications only apply to items already existing in the original template you requested I create (that means I can change the lettering font, size, color, and placement, or adjust the size and placement of any icons, borders, or flourishes in the original design). If you find another card with an extra icon or picture you’d like to add to the design, the cost is $27 per item and is non-refundable, even if it ends up not getting used.

75% of the custom fee is required to begin work and is non-refundable. Once you’ve approved the final design, the balance is due prior to receiving the e-card or placing a print order.

What if I don’t like the custom template I chose originally, or don’t want the extra icon I added later? Can I have a refund?
The deposit covers the time and effort I’ve put into creating your custom card from scratch, and the cost per icon covers the time spent on any subsequent digital creations we add to the original design. If you’d like to start a new custom card, or end up using a template instead, you will need to place a new deposit.

I’ve received my printed cards and decided I don’t like the photo I chose, can I have a refund and order a new set?
Due to the custom nature of the Save the Date cards, all card orders are final (printed and digital) and cannot be refunded. If you’d like to order a new set with a different photo, I can offer you a 15% discount on the second order.