General Questions

Who is your target market & ideal client?

My ideal client / target market are likely a family. They are either in the military or respect the military and want to capture milestones like new babies, events, and the passing of family members. Not to say I do not service couples, just less likely than other photographers in the area.

Where is your studio and what areas do you service?

My studio is located in the zip code 92021 (about 10 min off the highway). I service all of San Diego and up to LA or Yuma with a .75c mileage fee for anything greater than 20 miles out of 92021.

Are you a licensed business and do you have liability insurance?

Yes to both! I am publicly registered under a DBA for Morning Owl Fine Art Photography, with an Limited Liability titled “Morning Owl Fine Art LLC” I do file taxes and all that other fun stuff. I also hold a million dollar liability policy to ensure coverage of the unknowns. - Liability insurance is needed for most event venues as well.

Do you provide styling help and location suggestions?

Absolutely! I provide both. Here is my pinterest board with outfit guidance and then local locations with image examples. I will also provide individualized family guides.

How soon do you need a deposit?

I need your deposit within 72 hours of signing your contract and the remainder is due the day of your session before I leave. If you fail to pay your final payment, images will not be edited or released until paid and may be subject to deletion after 60 days.

Do you offer payment plan options?

Absolutely! The most important thing is we capture your memory. We can set up a layaway or payment plan option so long as your session is 50% paid for by the date of your session. Your digital images and products would be created and edited starting after your final payment.

Can we ask for our images to remain private? Is there a fee?

Yes! That is up to you. During contract signing you will express your desire to not sign the model release. And no, there is no fee to keep them private - no photographer should charge you for that!

What is your typical turnaround time on images?

I am able to have event images out within 14 days after final payment and portrait sessions out within 24 days of final payment AFTER image selections - Please note, if the gallery is over 30 images - expect an additional 3 weeks per set of 30 images..

Do we get access to the RAW and unedited images?

Rather than providing the RAW CR3 file (which are not printable or able to open by normal software), we provide you with all of the edited images as full resolution JPEGs (360dpi). That way, your images are viewable and printable everywhere. Image enhancement is a critical step in the process, and an integral part of the service you receive from our studio. Images without enhancement are like raw materials and are not as pretty to look at or speak of the full service we offer. That is why each and every image goes through a standard enhancement process. From there, we focus our time and attention on the images we feel are the absolute best, and give these an extra round of premium enhancement for events. This involves reviewing and correcting these favorites by hand, and crafting the final product. You will also have the opportunity to select your most favorite images for premium enhancement and final edits for portrait sessions.

Do we get print or advertising rights to the images we pay for?

You do get print rights for your own personal use and to share online but the images ownership is retained by Morning Owl Fine Art LLC and is not to be entered in competitions or used for advertising without written consent.

Military Related Questions

How do I book my homecoming if the date and time are likely to change?

I only book one family per homecoming and am considered on call to ensure I am there for you day and night! Even with last minute delays I will be there.

How many people do you book per homecoming?

I only book one couple or family per homecoming to guarantee your special moment is captured. My spouse and I are a team and he takes on a second client closer to the actual date whereas I sometimes book a year or so out.

Do you photograph at the San Diego Airport if my service member flys home early? What about in the middle of the night? What about LA?

Yes and Yes! I am equipped with proper lighting and have experience photographing at night. Photographing at the airport is both rewarding and intimate so don't miss out on the opportunity to have it photographed.

What happens if my Marine drops out or gets pushed back? What happens to our portrait session?

If your Marine gets pushed back, we simply transfer your session to their new graduation date! If your Marine goes home, we keep a $20 processing fee and any card fees the processor took (usually 3%) and the rest will be returned.

Portrait Session Questions

What happens if I have a miscarriage or still birth? Will you still Photograph?

Absolutely. I am prepared to photograph bereavement sessions of any nature in hospital, in home, or in funeral home. If your maternity, birth, or newborn session is already booked, I would return all but 50% of your deposit and include all usable images of your stillbirth, or any other monumental part of your baby's life. I can also hold onto them for however long you need me to if you are not ready as well as deliver on a drive for your own safe keeping for when you are ready. As a side note, I did photograph my own babies still arriving in 2017 and am so glad I did.

Do you offer a maternity or client closet?

Yes. I have many gowns that are suitable for maternity sessions and for regular sessions too! I also have a small selection of children and newborn clothing like bonnets, swaddles, rompers, dresses, etc.

How do I book a newborn session for a specific date if my baby might not arrive on his/her due date?

Super common question! As soon as you book your newborn photography session via the booking links provided, I will have your due date listed in my calendar. Babies come when they decide to, I will ask that you simply email, call or text as soon as baby arrives or when headed into your birthing space. As soon as I receive your notification we will then be able to officially schedule our session date. I like to book our fresh 48 newborn sessions between 24-48 hours and lifestyle newborn at around 8-14 days, so it’s important that you call or email asap after the baby's birth so that we can schedule for that time.