Investment for Michelle Studios, local portrait photographer servicing the triangle area for nearly 20 years.

 

Portraits are not just a financial investment. They are also an investment into your future and your children’s future.  Photos help us to remember and share out lives.

                       I offer mini sessions year around. Thank you for considering my studio

Your initial investment when booking with my studio is a retainer of $150.  Retainer fees are non-refundable as they hold your spot on my calendar. The remainder of the fee is due prior to the session but may be paid that morning. I recommend printing with ProLab Express and a great product, one of my favorites is this gallery mount at Prolab Express there.  Click the links to go right to the page. They have great customer service, pricing is just right and products are amazing in every way.

Mini Session

1. $325: here at my studio.

2. $350: on location within 20 miles of my studio

Mini sessions come with 30 minutes of camera time.  I proof and show the 10 best images of which you will pick 7.  Mini sessions are great for your maternity, milestones and updated modeling head shots.

Magical mini sessions with the horses are truly a horse/ unicorn experience for your child, not just your typical shoot.   Sessions are 45 minutes which gives them time to pick a nice gown and get to know the horse/ unicorn that they chose for the interactive photo-shoot.  These experiences   are $460 in total.   $400 goes to my studio and $60 is paid separately to Tara Needham, the owner of the horses.  She grooms and trailers them to us while also handling them during our session.  I do not pay Tara, the owner as she is not my employee. Customers bring cash or a check for her the day of the session.  You will receive two invoices from my studio that total $400.  One is the retainer of $150 and the second is the rest of the fee which is $250.  The retainer is due the day you book to hold the spot.  The rest is due before we shoot but can be the morning of the shoot.  Please note, you will be expected to bring Tara’s fee separately.  She excepts cash and checks.

These sessions are very limited but so sweet.

I work directly with Tara Needham from STAMPEDE OF LOVE.  We both carry liability insurance.  Tara’s horses are therapy horses that are used to children and being in many different locations. Our unicorn experiences are geared towards children 9 and under as they horses are small.  The cutie in the pic below is 2… how cute….

Full Sessions: (non-newborn) 

1. $445: here at my studio. My studio size is appropriate for newborns, toddlers and children or adults for headshots. Ask about indoor family images when you call.  We can discuss what type of images will photo the best in my studio.

2. $470: on location within 20 miles of my studio.

( This session is great for children and family portraits. Additionally, it is appropriate for modeling headshots, as most want to see the child in a natural state without too much editing.  It is not edited for magazine submission)

3. $750: Glam (fashion) portfolio building sessions (styled, shot and with different goals in mind than a regular photo session.  Email for more information or follow the links TO MODELING PORTFOLIOS LIGHTS CAMERA ACTION. 

Full sessions include 1.5 hours of camera time and multiple outfit changes.  They may include  studio and outdoor images. If we use the studio we will pick one outdoor location if you wish to split the time in half.   I proof 20 images of which you will pick 15. You are welcome to purchase additional digital files at a rate of $45 per image or $200 for the full set of images (20)  proofed to you in your gallery. Upgrading is an option but not required or prepaid.

 Many people are interested in the fashion sessions for building a modeling portfolio. Please note that the family sessions and portraits sessions are shot with different goals in mind and fashion sessions are not shot during any family photo sessions. Please email for more information if you are more interested in portfolio building.  By law any images entered into contest or printed for any other purpose than personal use must have written permission from the photographer. There is a line in my contract for this purpose if this is the goal of your photo session.

Any submissions to magazines that involve a cost are paid by the client.  Some magazines require that I pay them in which case the client will send me the payment and I will pay the magazine.

Newborn Sessions:

1. $600 Parents and newborn. I offer clients the fairy garden images when the weather is appropriate.  See link for examples: FAIRY GARDENS.

2. $700: Newborn plus newborn with sibling/s (siblings will need to be brought in separately at the end of a newborn session as the newborn sessions are too long for a young sibling to wait for a turn. I do not recommend shooting sibling shots prior to any newborn session as they generally keep the baby from being able to settle.

Newborn session length  will depend on each individual baby. You should be aware that the session length is extended when adding fairy garden images. This is a because we are going in and out of the studio. Also, I must check each area prior to using it and set up any equipment that is necessary to block or filter light in that area at that specific time.  The images are worth the extra time spent.  I proof 20 images of which you pick 15. You are welcome to purchase additional digital files at a rate of $45 per image or $200 for the full set up images proofed to you in your gallery. Purchasing additional images  is an option but not required.

During a telephone pre-session consultation I will provide you with information about how I like to incorporate families, siblings, etc… into a newborn photo shoot. My council comes with more than 15 years of specializing in newborn photography in the Raleigh area. I am also committed to getting beautiful images for your family.

Corporate Head shots

$250 at Michelle’s studio

Discounted pricing for multiple people from one business.

                                        Pricing subject to change at any time but are guaranteed once booking is complete with retainer paid.

Please note that the thematic Magical Mini sessions that are offered during some months have their own investment structure. When they are advertised the fees  can be found under the Magical Mini Session tab of this site or in a Facebook advertisement. 

   

Magical mini sessions are specifically theme related and are advertised here and on the Michelle Studios Facebook page as they become available. Because of the nature of these sessions they are booked on a first come first serve basis. 

 When photographing children with one specific animal I only book only two mini sessions in a day. Although all of the animals enjoy the extra attention they do not wish to stand all day for photos.  I have always been an advocate for animals and although I  enjoy photographing them with children I must be conscious of the animal’s needs as well.  I never use animals like baby ducks and chicks that can be easily but accidentally hurt by young children.

As with any photographer, I own  the copy rights for all images taken during a photo session.  Images may be used for advertising, publications, social media and printing.  We will discuss if you have an objection to me posting images on social media.  Your investment will give you copy rights to the images as well.  Your copy right is for printing images for your personal use. Images should not be altered in any way other than cropping for print.  You should consult with me if you want to enter images into photo contests as this is part of my modeling portfolio session package.