Life In Progress - Photography by Kellee Logo

Custom and creative portrait and
wedding photography in the comfort of
your own home or on location
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  1. How long does a photography session last?

  2. How are you able to have the photo session in my home?

  3. What do you hope to accomplish with the photos?

  4. Why are so many of your photos black and white?

  5. What should I (or my child) wear in the photos? And what about makeup?

  6. Your pricing mentions "multiple poses/wardrobe changes." What does this mean exactly?

  7. Is there anything special about your services to Seniors?

  8. What is your wedding photography style? What can I expect to see in my album?

  9. Is there an additional charge for locations outside a 20-mile radius of the Fox Valley?

  10. What kind of longevity guarantee is included with the photos?

  11. When will I see the original proofs from my session, and how long does it take to get the ordered prints?

  12. What are copyright laws and what do they mean?

  13. Is there an additional charge for special finishing, and what services are available?

  14. What is your professional experience as a photographer? What kind of equipment do you use?

  1. How long does a photography session last?
    A single session may be from 1 ½ to 3 hours long, depending on the number of subjects, locations, and purpose of the photos (e.g., Seniors, engagement, large family). I refuse to place a time limit on my sessions, and I never schedule them back-to-back. I would hate to miss a great photo just because a 45-minute session has expired. Working without a limit also enables me to take the time to get to know you, for you to become more comfortable with posing, and to be able to capture the real "you." The more time I can spend with you, the better the photos and the more choices you will have.

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  2. How are you able to have the photo session in my home?
    I have all the necessary equipment to assemble a temporary studio in your home, including backdrops, background stand, tripod, and camera equipment. It is easy to travel with and easy to set up. Because I use natural ambient light for my lighting, all I need is a large picture window that allows for a good amount of light in a room in your home. I find that clients, especially children, are more comfortable in their own surroundings. It also allows for easy access to wardrobe and personal items that we may use for the photos. If, for some reason, there is not enough light or space in your home, we can hold the session in mine.

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  3. What do you hope to accomplish with the photos?
    My goal is to provide beautiful photos of you and your loved ones - to capture a moment in time that you can cherish forever. I strive to offer you a wide variety of poses, expressions, and styles - with a focus on personality. You will never see a photo taken by me of a child in a sailor suit, holding a toy boat, with a paper background of an ocean pier that you might see from in-and-out photography studios. Does your son even like boats? Does it have any meaning in his life? Does it reflect his personality? If it does, that's great. But we can find something more natural to express this. If not, let's find something that does reflect your child's individuality. It is my greatest reward to have a family member say, "That is so like her!" or "He makes that face all the time; I'm so glad you captured it," or simply "What a beautiful photo of my granddaughter." If it makes you smile, it makes me feel good!

    I hope to never hear that someone only liked a couple of the photos. I really want you to have lots of choices, which is why I also never place a limit on the rolls of film I use. We may take as few as 100 photos, as many as 200, or even more. When providing a combination of color and black and white, it's easy to do - and the number of photos taken never alters the session fee. Film is the least expensive part of the process, and I will always have just enough to never run out - in case we think of one more great shot. In the end, I hope your only dilemma is deciding which of the photos you're going to order!

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  4. Why are so many of your photos black and white?
    Some of the reasons I enjoy using black and white film is because it works well with natural light, often has a softer quality to it, and is very forgiving with skin tones and imperfections so that it requires little retouching. Blemishes and other imperfections are usually not as evident in black and white. Secondly, black and white photography is considered an art form. What better artwork to display in your home than a photo of someone you love? Although I encourage both color and black and white to offer you more choices, the black and white photography is very popular today and many clients ask for it exclusively. This is why a lot of the samples in the photo galleries are black and white.

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  5. What should I (or my child) wear in the photos? And what about makeup?
    Solid colors work best for both color and black and white. Choose something dark and something light. Consider both long-sleeved and short-sleeved options for inside portraits, and appropriate dress for the season for outdoor photos (e.g., no sundress with autumn leaves in the background). When there are multiple subjects in the photos, it is best to somewhat match style (e.g., both in summer attire), and color should be either similar or complimentary (e.g., blue and red are complimentary colors while orange and pink are usually not). Similar matching will ensure the focus is not on one subject versus the other or on the dissimilar attire; instead, the focus will be on the subjects themselves. Less focus on color is necessary when all the photos will be in black and white.

    With my mothers-to-be, I ask them to consider tank tops, T-shirts, turtlenecks, or knit sweaters, as well as the classic man's white dress shirt. Don't worry; we'll discuss clothing options prior to the session. Best of all, having the session at your home gives us access to other wardrobe options, if necessary.

    When it comes to make-up, a little darker than you would normally apply will look better in the photos. Remember, while film can be more forgiving than everyday harsh light, it can also lose some detail. Applying slightly darker make-up will help; especially pay attention to the eyes. Some parents even apply a small amount of mascara to young girls’ eyelashes; it’s completely up to you. But please! Don’t go overboard or do something you normally wouldn’t do, like apply blush or bright lipstick. We still want you looking like yourself in the photos.

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  6. Your pricing mentions "multiple poses/wardrobe changes."  What does this mean exactly?
    Because I want to offer you a lot of choices, I allow for multiple poses and wardrobe changes. With wardrobe changes, it may depend on the subject. Perhaps one or two is all that is necessary for a young child or a maternity session, while I would expect more with a Senior. If you have at least 3-5 wardrobe options, I’m sure we will have enough alternatives to work with. With posing, it is simply whatever works during the session, and I will ask you to make several different poses, taking multiple photos of each.

    Note on posing: I will look for different facial expressions to pull out the subject’s personality, such as serious, laughing, shy, etc. Something that I often ask of my subjects is what I call a “soft” smile. This is where the mouth is closed in a smile, and no teeth are showing. The reason I do this is because it often has a softer effect on facial expressions (i.e., less wrinkles), and without the brightness of teeth, your attention is focused on the subject’s eyes ­ where the personality comes through. I find it is especially helpful with young children who tend to offer a “fake” or “forced” smile when asked to smile for the camera. The soft smile solves this issue pretty easily.

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  7. Is there anything special about your services to Seniors?
    Yes ­ a couple things! First, my original career path was to become a high school teacher. My student teaching was with Seniors, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! It is such a great time when these young adults are more comfortable with who they are and enjoy expressing themselves. Not to mention their excitement to begin a new and very important chapter in their lives.

    The second item to note is time. I fully expect to spend quality time with my Seniors, usually not less than 2-3 hours. While I like to get indoor portraits at your home, we will most likely go on location, too. Seniors — It is your day, and it’s all about you! If you need help with wardrobe, let’s go through your closet. If you need help with posing, I have lots of ideas and will probably think of some new ones once I get to know you as posing and personality go hand-in-hand. If you have your own ideas, I definitely want to hear them. Because in the end, you need to be happy with your photos.

    Third, I never forget who’s paying the bill. Parents — while your Senior may want 100 photos taken with his cherished car, I will encourage him to scale back on the one idea and allow for other photos, too. I will be sure to capture beautiful, traditional portraits in addition to the fun ones. While I want my Seniors to enjoy showing friends their photos, I make sure there are photos that you will also enjoy and be proud to display on the living room wall or at work.

    Last, but not least, individuality. Isn’t that what it’s all about with Seniors? Who wants to see a head shot with the same red colored background that ten other Seniors had done in a studio? Or the same pose of standing on a ladder with one foot on a step? Does that really have any meaning to you? Part of the reason I like to go to clients’ homes is to capture your surroundings ­ it’s part of what makes you different and your photos original. Only your front porch looks like that, and nobody else has that great leather chair. In addition to your home, we will most likely go on location. Whether it’s a place familiar to you or a place I’m familiar with that offers great natural backgrounds, we can capture more interesting poses and beautiful outdoor photos in addition to the traditional indoor portraits.

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  8. What is your wedding photography style? What can I expect to see in my album?
    My style of wedding photography could be described as photojournalistic. The majority of the photos will be candid shots of the preparation, the ceremony, and reception (depending on the service you’ve selected). There will also be a significant amount of time spent with you as a couple and with your family members, capturing multiple poses. All in all, I may take anywhere from 300 to 600 photos, depending on the day.

    Your album, which is included in both wedding service fees, will contain a chronological story of the day’s events. I look for those special moments that may otherwise go unnoticed, such as a groom’s expression at the first sight of his bride, an escaping tear on a mother’s cheek, or a sleeping flower girl at the night’s end. I try to be the eyes everywhere you can’t be. We will also capture all of the traditional portraits that you desire. With so many family members gathered together, it only makes sense to take advantage of it. You will receive a list of typical portraits to help you identify groupings ahead of time, and we will discuss what you are most interested in prior to the big day. If you have any special requests, be sure to discuss them with me.

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  9. Is there an additional charge for locations outside a 20-mile radius of the Fox Valley?
    Yes. Simply because of gas prices these days, I need to apply an additional charge when traveling more than 20 miles outside of the Fox Valley area. Currently, the rate determined by the IRS for 2006 is $0.45 per mile. This will be charged for miles in excess of the 20-mile radius. For example, if I were to travel to Green Bay, and it was approximately 40 miles from Appleton, I would charge an additional $18.00 to the session fee (total extra 40 miles; 20 miles each way).

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  10. What kind of longevity guarantee is included with the photos?
    The 4x6 original proofs have a guarantee of no color fading for approximately 25-27 years. Enlargements and reprints have a guarantee of 70+ years. As a photographer and the copyright owner of all photos taken, I keep all negatives from my sessions for an undetermined amount of time. I also keep digital files of all photos on CD as a backup. This means that if something unfortunate happens to your photos, I will be able to offer you new prints.

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  11. When will I see the original proofs from my session, and how long does it take to get the ordered prints?
    If possible, you will see the original proofs within a week, usually because I can’t wait to see them anymore than you can! The timing of the reprints depends on the size of the order, of course. But generally speaking, it takes about 2-3 weeks to receive prints once you have placed an order, including any special retouching or finishing that is done.

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  12. What are copyright laws and what do they mean?
    Basically, this means that if you wish to have reprints or enlargements made of your photos, they must be ordered through the photographer. Copyright is a form of protection, authorized by the United States Constitution, that gives individuals such as photographers the exclusive right to use, reproduce, prepare derivative works, distribute, and display the work publicly. Exclusive means only the photographer who creates a work is the owner of the copyright for that work, not just anyone who has access to it.

    The use or copying of any work without permission from the owner of the copyright is a violation of a federal law, the United States Copyright Act. The unauthorized use of a copyrighted work is called an infringement. The Copyright Act provides stiff penalties for infringing copyrighted works. Under appropriate circumstances, penalties can include monetary damages, all profits earned by the infringer from the unauthorized use of the copyrighted work, and attorney’s fees. A court can also order the destruction of all infringing copies.

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  13. Is there an additional charge for special finishing, and what services are available?
    Yes, there is an additional charge for special finishing, depending on the size of the print. This covers special finishing services such as watercolor, canvas, and hand painting. Please ask about the pricing associated with these special services as they vary by finishing type and print size.

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  14. What is your professional experience as a photographer? What kind of equipment do you use?
    I began taking photographs three years ago with the purchase of a professional SLR 35 mm Nikon N80. I also have a Nikon D70, which is a digital 35 mm SLR with 6.0 megapixels. I have attended several photography workshops to increase my knowledge of lighting, exposure, and composition. With a backdrop stand, multiple backdrops, and lightweight tripod, I am able to easily set up a temporary photography studio in your home to provide convenience and comfort to you and your family. If requested, we can conduct your photography session in my home studio or on location. I hope to continue to increase my client base and create long-term relationships, providing you and your family with beautiful photos throughout the years.

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Capturing the Stories of Our Lives

© Life in Progress, Photography by Kellee 2008.
All negatives and images are property of Life in Progress, Photography by Kellee.
Images may not be scanned, copied, or printed without written consent of the photographer.
Preferred Vendor in the Appleton, Wisconsin Photographers Directory at SnapToIt.com.
Also listed on WeDJ.com