FAQ

Absolutely! We understand that every client is unique, so we offer full customisation of your session to meet your specific needs. Whether it's choosing a location, style, props, or special requests, we're happy to work with you to create the perfect experience. Please note that customisation might incur an additional reasonable cost. Please make sure before you make a booking. To ensure everything is arranged to your satisfaction, make sure to ask about customisation options before making a booking with a deposit.

No, walk-ins are not allowed. We operate strictly by appointment only, as we frequently go out for location shoots and client meetings. To ensure we provide our full attention to the clients we are working with at the time, bookings are essential. Text or email is preferred over phone calls, as we do not answer calls during client sessions.

We aim to respond to all inquiries by 5:30 PM on the same day. However, depending on our workload, some inquiries may be addressed the following day. While we greatly appreciate your inquiries and potential business, we prioritize our current clients to ensure the best service. This means you will receive our full attention and the best service when we work with you.

We love showcasing our work to demonstrate the quality of our services and attract new clients. Using real photos and videos helps us highlight what we do best, and your project could be a part of that. When making a booking, you have the option to use the coupon code "usemyimage" to grant us permission to use your images for promotional and marketing purposes. By using this code, you’ll receive a 10% discount on your session price as a thank-you. If you prefer to keep your images or videos private, that’s absolutely fine! Simply book at the standard session price without applying the coupon code. We’ll respect your preference and ensure your images remain private. If you have any further questions, feel free to reach out—we’re happy to help!

To ensure we provide our full attention to our clients, text or email is preferred over phone calls, as we do not answer calls during client sessions. We aim to respond to all inquiries by 5:30 PM on the same day. However, depending on our workload, some inquiries may be addressed the following day.

We deliver high-resolution image files that are suitable for printing in any size. We don’t include physical prints, as we want to give our clients the freedom to print at any retailer they prefer, many of which offer great quality at affordable prices. However, if you wish to print gallery-quality images, we can offer that service as well, though the price may be higher than what you'd find at local retailers.

Yes, you can bring additional models. However, there will be an extra cost of $30 per model per image, as this requires additional retouching work. Please arrange for this additional service when you make your booking to ensure we can accommodate your needs.

Please note that our street number can be hard to spot from the main road, so it's best to use navigation or Google Maps (link) when traveling to our studio. Once you arrive, give me a call or text, or press the first intercom at the gate, and I'll open it so you can park inside in front of the first house (limited to 1 car). If you can find parking outside the gate, it might be more convenient, as there's usually plenty of off-street parking available nearby. Thank you!

For passport photos, it's best to wear clothing that creates a strong contrast with the background. We typically use a light grey (not white) or absolute white background. To ensure you stand out, avoid wearing tops that are the same color as the background. If you need photos for multiple countries, it’s especially important to avoid grey or white clothing. Generally, a black top is a safe choice as it provides a good contrast and works well with most backgrounds. Additionally, for your hairstyle, keep it neat and away from your face. Make sure your hair doesn’t cover your eyes or create shadows, as this can affect the clarity of the photo and may not meet passport photo requirements. Simple and tidy hairstyles are best to keep the focus on your face. For children, please avoid long ponytails on the top or sides, as they can be difficult to crop to the required dimensions.

Even for sessions that include only one image, we put a lot of care into ensuring that it meets high standards. The time required includes not only the photography session itself but also the detailed editing process. This involves careful selection, color correction, and adjustments to ensure the final image is perfect and meets all specifications. We aim to provide a polished and professional result, which sometimes takes a bit longer to achieve. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to deliver the best possible outcome.

Glasses: If you wear glasses, try to avoid wearing them for the photo, as reflections and glare can affect the clarity. If you need to wear them, make sure they do not cause reflections and that your eyes are clearly visible. It's best to remove them if possible, but if you must wear them, ensure they fit well and don't cast shadows on your face. Some countries don't allow glasses at all. Hairstyle: Keep your hairstyle neat and away from your face. Ensure that your hair doesn’t cover your eyes or create shadows, as this can impact the clarity of the photo and may not meet passport requirements. Simple and tidy hairstyles work best to keep the focus on your face. Fashion Accessories: Avoid wearing hats, scarves, or other fashion accessories that could obscure your face. Minimal jewelry is acceptable, but large or flashy items should be avoided as they can distract from the photo's main focus: your face. By following these guidelines, you'll help ensure that your passport photo meets the necessary requirements and looks great.

Unfortunately, due to studio circumstances, we do not offer photography services for newborns (under one year old) or babies who cannot support their heads on their own. For newborn passport photos, it might be easier to lay the baby on a plain cloth (white cloth for Korean passports) at home and take the photo with your phone. Try to place the baby under bright lighting and take the photo when the baby looks straight up at the ceiling, rather than trying to capture the perfect shot in one go. We hope this helps. You might find additional guidance in this link: How to Take a Passport Photo.

We can prepare the print for you while you wait. The session time includes the time needed to process and print your photo. If you prefer, you can also choose to return later for pick-up, or we can post it to your address for an additional cost.

Yes, we can visit your shop, factory, or office to take product photos. This service is charged by the hour to minimize time waste during the shoot. The number of images we can capture per hour varies, but as a general guideline, we can photograph around 20 similar-sized, box-packaged products per hour. If you prefer, you can also send your products to our studio. In this case, the service is charged based on the number of products.

Yes, we can update your video as needed. We understand that details such as product names, prices, and availability can change over time. When you enter into the contract, we will inform you of any potential costs associated with updates, so there are no surprises and you can easily plan for any maintenance.

Yes, you will have full control over the images and videos you receive, except for selling them as stock images or videos. This is to ensure that the content is used appropriately and to maintain the quality and exclusivity of the work we produce.

We’d be happy to! We can visit your location to discuss how we can enhance your business with our services. This can include new product photos or videos, retouching your existing images, advice on how to display them effectively, and strategies for utilizing them on social media or your website. Many of our business clients find that our suggestions help them reduce costs and improve their overall presentation. We focus on providing the most effective solutions for maintaining and enhancing your business rather than suggesting ways that would continuously benefit us. Our goal is to offer valuable, practical advice to help you succeed.

The session time starts with the first shot and ends with the last. We also count time spent moving between locations or changing outfits, so we can all make the most of our time together. Don’t worry—we’ll plan ahead and give you a rough idea of the total hours to help things run smoothly.

Most of the time, yes. It’s a good idea to consult with us when deciding on the venue layout. If you're using our videography service, knowing the detailed layout is especially important so we can place cameras in the best spots. If we feel the layout might affect the quality of the results, we’ll let you know in advance. Discussing what compromises might be necessary due to the layout is an important part of the process, as we’re always aiming to deliver the best outcome possible.

Yes, we can come to your location. For baby and kids’ sessions, this can be an even better option, as the relaxation they feel in a familiar environment often leads to more natural expressions, giving us more opportunities to capture those special moments.

Yes, you can! Depending on the location, you might need to change in your car. Please keep in mind that time spent changing is still counted. We’re happy to advise you on the number of outfits that will work best for your session and whether a suitable changing area is available.

We can recommend a location based on the style you want. Most shoots within Auckland suburbs are free of travel charges. However, some locations on the West Coast or rural areas may incur extra fees due to longer travel times, as they could impact other client bookings.