Why I Do What I Do
A question that I anticipate some of you might be curious about is “Why Jane Photography?”, so let me briefly explain. I rebranded my business in the summer of 2015, and I completely renovated the name and design of my company. When trying to choose a name, I played with many different ideas along the way. I was looking for something that was personal, but also purposeful. After trying a few different things, Jane Photography came to my head. I liked it because it was personal, as my middle name is Jane. But it seemed to be lacking the purposeful side of things. It meant something to me, but what would it mean to others? So I began researching the name Jane and the meaning behind it. What I found nearly made my decision for me. I discovered that Jane means “grace and mercy”, which are two of what I believe to be the most powerful and impactful attributes of God. He is full of grace and mercy, which He pours out onto us daily. So at this point, I decided that Jane Photography was the direction that I wanted to head. It was both personal AND purposeful.
For anything that I do in my life, I firstly strive to honor and glorify God. In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul writes, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” He has given me this ability to see things differently and with that ability I want to praise Him. It is never my desire to bring eyes upon myself, but rather to turn eyes toward Him. Aside from that, I opened this photography business because it is my goal to capture images that will last you and your family a lifetime. I truly believe that some moments can only be documented clearly by photographs. As someone once said, “We take photos as a return ticket to moments otherwise gone.”
Booking Process
Why I Do What I Do
Booking Process
Picking a Date & Time
Choosing a Location
Young Children
What to Wear
Props
All About Your Session
Events
What Happens Next?
Printing
You may be wondering what booking a session with me looks like. Maybe you have never before booked a photo session with a photographer and wonder where to even begin. Let me tell you. At this point, you have most likely already initially inquired by sending either an email, text, Facebook message, or simply talking to me in person. I will then email you all of the information regarding a session and include this resource file for any questions that you might have. Once you feel that the time is right, you can then contact me by either phone, text, email, or in person about the date and time of your session. We will then discuss and pick one that works best for both of us. A week before the chosen date, I will send you an email reminding you of your upcoming session.
Picking a Date & Time
Before picking a date and time for your session, it is important to choose what season of the year you would like your photos to be taken in. Spring, Summer, and Fall are the most popular times of the year for family and senior photographs. I am open to taking photographs in the Winter, as long as you are willing to brave the cold Michigan weather.
Once you have chosen a season, the next step will be picking the date. It is up to you on whether you want a weekday or weekend. I am pretty flexible when it comes to dates, as long as I am not on vacation or have prior plans. Either way, weekday or weekend, any outdoor session should be planned for earlier in the morning or later in the evening. I don’t typically take photographs in the mid-day sunlight, unless there is no other choice. This creates overexposed photos, which you may not enjoy looking into the sun for, and I definitely won’t enjoy trying to edit. The best times of day depend largely on the time of year, as the sun is always going down at slightly different times.
Choosing a Location
When choosing a location for your photos, it is important that you think ahead to what type of photos you hope to achieve. For example, if you would like more urban looking photos, than downtown would be a good choice. If you are looking for more rural photos, old barns or a park might be a better choice. The choice is ultimately up to you, but if you need suggestions or would like help choosing, I am always open to help. A few of my favorite locations to use are Ella Sharp Park, Downtown Jackson, and my grandfather’s old barns. However, I am always open to new places that you might have.
Note: I would recommend that you have a secondary location in mind, in case there is an event at your first choice.
Young Children
If you have young children that will be involved in your session, believe it or not, there are things that you can do to help keep them interested. Depending on the age, I would definitely encourage you to bring along props or fun things to keep them occupied. Also, snacks can be a great help to keeping them engaged and entertained during the session.
While on the topic, I think it is important that I explain what my goals are when photographing children. Sometimes when you see photos of children, their smiles can look forced or fake. Instead of forced smiles, it is my desire to get true smiles from children.
What to Wear
If you haven’t had professional photos taken before, you might have the question of what to wear. When determining what you will wear for your session, it is firstly important to always keep weather in mind. Sometimes, it could be windy, chilly, or super warm. You never know what you’re going to get with Michigan weather. I would also recommend that you keep your comfort in mind, especially when it comes to shoes. Depending on the location of your session, it could be a lengthy walk.
For seniors, you are welcome to bring along multiple outfits. However, it is required that you have a place to change, whether it be your own car or your parents’ car. Having variety of outfits is important for having variety of photos. If you think you may have too many outfit changes, please contact me ahead of time and ask. I would be happy to answer or give my opinion.
For families, I would recommend that you plan your outfits prior to the day before your session. When it comes to matching and coordinating, it is best to work around a color scheme. Remember to be careful of clashing patterns and colors. I recommend choosing either khakis or blue jeans. If you have any other questions regarding outfit coordination, feel free to contact me.
For couples, it is best to match, but not too closely. What you choose to wear is completely up to you, and you can find many ideas on Pinterest of what works best when it comes to matching. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me prior to the session.
Props
When it comes to props, it is completely up to you on what you choose to bring. I would ask that you please keep your props to a minimum so that they don’t take away from the main focus of the session (you). If you have questions regarding any of your props, you can contact me prior to your session.
If you are planning to have sports photos taken during your senior or individual session, please let me know ahead of time.
All About Your Session
For many people, a photography session can be a nerve-wracking thing because they are unsure of exactly what they should be expecting when they arrive at their session. It is my goal to make you feel comfortable and knowledgeable about what it is that will be taking place during your session with Jane Photography. Prior to any session, I take time to study photography poses so that during your session it will be more comfortable for both you and I. Throughout your session I will guide you and often show you where I would like you to pose. However, if you would like to have more control over what poses you get, you can always do research ahead of time as well! A great place to get inspiration for poses is Pinterest. I also love to talk and have conversation with you as we walk along and stop for pictures. I enjoy the social aspect of my business almost as I enjoy the photography part.
The length of a session can vary, but will often range from 1 hour to 2 hours. It largely depends on how many people there are or how many locations you would like included in your session. Payment will be accepted at the end of your session (cash or check).
Events
If you have booked an event with Jane Photography, all event information must be sent to me prior to the event. This would include the date, time, location, and description. If you have a list of desired pictures that you would like, those should also be sent ahead of time. I cannot promise that I will capture every photo on your list, but I will do my absolute best.
What Happens Next?
After your photo session or event, I begin the editing process. If all goes well, this typically begins on the same date of the session because I am usually eager to look at the pictures on my computer. After I have finished editing, I will post a preview on Facebook, which can be found on my page. If you do not have Facebook, I will email you a link to the page so that you may view your photos. Approximately 1-2 weeks after your session, I will have your photos and release form ready to be delivered to you. We can then schedule a time to either meet conveniently or for me to drop off your photos.
Printing
You might be wondering what exactly “Release Form” means. A release form is simply a document giving you my permission to print your photos. Typically, printing locations will not ask for a release form, but it is better to be safe than sorry when printing photos. I would recommend taking this paper with you when you go to print your photos, just in case.
There are a few different locations in the Jackson area that offer printing of photos. My highest recommendation would be Picture This Jackson, located on Wisner Street. They offer high quality printing as well as high quality service. If you would like a possibly more convenient option, Meijer, Walmart, and Sam’s Club also offer photo printing. If you have any questions about printing, I would be more than happy to answer them.