FAQ's

How far in advance should I book a session with you?
     I am generally booked  4 weeks in advance, so the earlier the better.  If you know you want a session in a specific season or for a specific holiday, then book as soon as you know.  It's never to early.  

Do you offer digital files?
     Yes!  I offer packages that include digital files as well as individual digital files to purchase. 

How far do you travel?
       I will travel within a 30 mile radius for free, anything beyond that will be charged at the current standard mileage rate per the IRS. 

​What should I wear?
     Check out my pinterest boards to look at a full guide on what to wear or the "What to wear page" here.   While it's based on own personal taste,  this guide shows suggestions on color palettes for those who would rather not READ about it! But in short: for family photos, pick three colors, one being a neutral (like white, black, beige, etc), then form everyone’s wardrobe around those colors (accessories included). Coordinated outfits often turn out better than identical outfits.

How long does it take to get pictures back?
     Unless it's a super busy time of  year or I have personal things going on with my own kids/family, nine times out of ten you will have at least a sneak peak by the following day.  I take great pride in the editing process and will not rush through an order to get finished products out quicker.  I do all edits in the order in which the sessions were taken.  The remainder of your photos will be uploaded to your online gallery within 1-2 weeks, sometimes sooner.  

How many pictures will we have to choose from in a session?
     This depends on the type of session and if children are involved, their mood.  On average for a normal session you can be guaranteed a minimum of 10-15 photos to choose from.  During a shoot, you may here my camera's shutter constantly going off, but during the editing session, I weed out the closed eyes, someone not looking, photo bomber, lighting issues :) etc

How many pictures are included in my session?
     I get asked this question a lot and I think it is different from the previous question. Unless stated in the specific package, no actual prints/digitals are included in the package price. Yes you will have many photos to choose from but at an additional cost.  The price of the package includes my time to travel to you and the location, the time of the actual shoot, extensive post session editing, online gallery hosting, order preparation and fulfillment.  
Where should we have our shoot?
     I prefer to shoot in natural light as it is the most beautiful in the finished product.  I like to shoot in places that have a personal meaning to the client.  Grandpa's farm, the place you first met, a child's favorite park, etc but if you don't have a place you'd like to shoot, I can always come up with something for you :)  I do have a studio connected to my home that we can also use.

Can we get the original unedited photos?
     Nope... I reserve the right to edit and release only the images that I deem creditable as professional in quality. That’s like a painter being asked to give his rough draft sketch... it’s weird and doesn’t do justice to the art, the model, or the artist. Most of my clients come by word of mouth after seeing my work in someone’s home or facebook, and I wouldn’t want a photo released that doesn’t represent my work.

Is there a time limit for ordering my photos?
     Yes, your gallery will expire 14 days from your gallery opening.  After this time if you need it reopened for any reason, there will be an additional fee of $20 to reinstate it for an additional 30 days.  

Is there a booking fee?
     Yes, it is not an additional charge, but taken off the balance of your session.  For Standard, Newborn, and Birthday sessions a  $50 booking fee is taken at the time you schedule your date.  Until this is paid, the date of your session stays open for anyone else looking to book for that date.  *Ask about deposits/payments for all other packages*

Why do I have to pay for a digital file and why are they so much more expensive than prints?
     Okay, this question is usually not actually asked, but I know it’s a thought question some people have had. When I was first researching prices of other photographers, and trying to figure out for myself what my work was worth, I wondered why other photographers would charge sometimes almost $1000 for just a cd. Now I understand. It is essentially the equivalent of a photographer giving away the negatives to their photos. For me, once a digital file is sold, I lose ALL future profit from that image, since the client now has the right to print from any vendor of their choice. I keep my price per digital file at the lowest possible price, however, I can not give them away for free. 

How long does a session usually last?
     This all depends on the type of shoot.  Couples, families with older children, adults, etc usually last up to an hour.
     Baby & child sessions typically last 1 hour. This gives your child time to warm up and also allow for breaks, snacks, outfit changes, etc. I strive to keep sessions laid back and fun so that I can capture the child’s true personality and joy.
     Newborn sessions can last up to 3 hours. Newborns often need several breaks for feedings and mommy cuddles, so I am absolutely fine with those needed breaks. I purposefully have cleared my schedule several hours so everyone can relax if the baby gets fussy. It’s not the end of the world if your newborn has a half hour meltdown, I’m a very patient person, and it often gives me a chance to cool off and set up for next batch of shoots anyway. 

What type of editing do you do on your photos?
     I consider my editing to be more of an enhancement of the photo. While I CAN change body type, color of hair, and so on, I WILL NOT do this to your photos. Edits generally include adjustments to contrast & lighting, slight smoothing of skin, getting rid of newborn baby acne or rashes, and so on.   If your child got a nasty bug bite on his nose or scratched her face on the day before your shoot, don’t panic! Those are the things that I easily edit out. I will not, however, edit things to change the real appearance of you or your child. If you don’t want your gray hair to show in the photo, dye it BEFORE your shoot... if you are unhappy with your unibrow, pluck it BEFORE your shoot. While I do my best to make your photo one you will treasure and love, please do all you CAN do before your shoot, and leave the last minute boo-boos and other enhancements for me to deal with.

When I order prints, will they have your logo on them?
     No, the prints you  purchase, will not have the MKP logo on them.  Digital files and ones that are used for online proofing and facebook sneak peaks will have my name and/or logo.

Will you upload my photos to facebook?
     I will not upload your entire session to facebook, but usually within a day I will have a couple sneak peaks for you to view.  Most clients are very eager and excited to view the moments we captured so I do try to get something up asap.

Do you ever offer any specials?  
   There are times throughout the year that I will hold "mini-sessions".  These will be advertised on my facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/MahiaKellerPhotography.   These are quick sessions, usually lasting only about 30 min with a set package price at a great deal!