before the shoot, the planning stage
Congratulations! You have made the decision to capture priceless memories of you and your loved ones. You have researched photographers and you have landed here on my page. Welcome! My name is Tiffany Torres and I am a hobbyist photographer who specializes in families of all shapes and sizes, maternity, newborn, couples, individuals, and everything inspired by love.
Planning a photo shoot can seem like a large task. There are so many things to do! First, you have to find a photographer, (that’s where I come in :)) then you have to schedule a time and date, you have to find outfits to wear, prepare your family, find a place to take pictures, the list goes on and on…all of this before you actually get to take the pictures. There are so many details to iron out and it can seem overwhelming at first. However, a great photographer can make this process easy and fun! (Who doesn’t love shopping!?!)
Step One: Tell me you’re interested!
To work with me, the first step is to reach out and get in touch with me. This can be done in a few ways. First, you can go to my contact page on this website and fill out an inquiry form. This will send me an email stating you are interested and I will get in touch with you in whatever method you prefer: email, phone call, or text. Second, you can email me directly at loveinspirationsphotography@gmail.com with your information and what kind of photo shoot you are interested in or any questions you may have. Third, you can call or text me directly at (970) 518-1182. I try to answer all inquiries within 48 hours. Once we have connected we will talk about your ideal photo session and when and how we can make that happen. Sometimes taking the leap to reach out can be the hardest part!
Step Two: Ironing
Once we get connected we can iron out the rest of the details in one easy conversation! First, we will go over who will be part of your session and go over any fun or creative ideas you have. We will talk about your loved ones, including their likes and dislikes, and how to get genuine smiles out of them. I am not afraid to talk about Spider-Man for the whole session and have previously had to make sure we didn’t fall into quicksand during a photo shoot! Next, we will decide when and where to do your photos. This can be outdoors or in a local studio. I am happy to send you examples from previous locations I have used! We will pick a day that works for both our schedules and pick a time. The ideal time for pictures is called the golden hour. This is the hour before sunset and the hour after sunrise. This guarantees, the softest light, best skin tones, and a radiant golden hue in your pictures. Finally, we will talk about what you and your loved ones should wear for your photo session (coming soon: What to Wear for your Spring Photo Sessions!). For those who love shopping, this is the best part! For those who don’t, I guarantee you there are things in your closet that will look amazing, no extra shopping needed! I am happy to help you find color pallettes, go over wardrobe choices, or help you shop online. Together, this will be a fun and smooth process.
Step Three: The Contract and the Reminder
After we iron out all of the details, I will send you a contract to sign via email and an invoice. This contract goes over the plan, previously agreed upon price, expectations, cancellations, photography rights, and more. As much as we all don’t like reading contracts, it is so important to read the whole thing. It protects you as the client and me as the photographer and it makes sure we are both on the same page. Finally, as we get close to the day of your photo session, usually the week before, I will send you a reminder email or text with the details we discussed to make sure we are still on the same page and know when and where to meet each other. Then, all you have to do is show up on time and ready to take your pictures!
Colorado is beautiful from local parks to high up in the mountains!
the day of, all the smiles and laughter
This is the day we have been planning and looking forward to! It’s ok to be nervous, I still get butterflies of excitement before every session. Just know ahead of time that it is supposed to be fun! (Coming soon: Lifestyle vs. Posed Photography) When you arrive we will take anywhere from 15-20 minutes to get more acquainted and to look at the specific spots we will be taking pictures. Typically I will get there a little early to make sure we have great light and hopefully, a great background. I do this even if I’ve been at that location previously. This helps me make the most out of our time together when I’m already prepared when you get there. Sometimes there will be a few spots that I have chosen and sometimes there is only one, but it is a great one. It all depends on the light. When I go on location, the first thing I am looking for is open shade. I want you in the shade, but able to see the sky. Direct sunlight makes people squint, pictures hazy, and puts funny green spots in your pictures from the sun glare. None of us want this for your pictures! Second, I am looking for a few other key things that will make your pictures AMAZING, things like even light and pretty backgrounds. If you see something along the way that you like, or that you want in your pictures, I will do my best to make it happen for you. However, sometimes the light in that area may not cooperate and we might have to come back to it at the end of your session before the sun goes down. I am always up for new adventures and always up for fresh ideas. Playing in the water, walking through sunflowers, climbing rocks, I’m usually up for anything, so definitely throw your suggestions out there! During the session, I will usually have a few poses that I will put you and your loved ones in. If something isn’t working, we will try something else. Sometimes kids (or spouses) won’t smile or look at the camera and that is OK! We might just have to meet them on their level and change things up. Most of the pictures I take are portrait style, this means I have an idea of how I want you to stand and what I want you to do. However, I like to add in a few lifestyle moments like tickle fights, playing pretend, or even just letting kids be kids. Once the sun goes down we are all done! My goal at the end of your session is for it to be the most fun you’ve ever had taking pictures.
the waiting stage, are they done yet?
Once we have had our session, we are now in the waiting stage. The most anxiety causing stage there is! The first thing I do after your session is go home and upload your pictures. My goal is to get you a sneak peek of at least 10 pictures within 48 hours. I strive for 24 hours but also want to make sure I give you the best sneak peek possible with a variety of images from your session. Your sneak peek will be delivered via email and I will usually let you know in a text message when it’s on the way. In the email will be a link to your gallery and a download pin. Before you download all of your images and get them printed, keep in mind that sometimes your sneak peek images might be slightly altered to make sure there is consistency in your entire gallery or to make minor changes.
Now comes the longer waiting game, it takes me anywhere from 2 to 3 weeks to edit a full gallery. Because photography is my hobby, I have another full-time job, and I am also a wife and mom, this is the timeframe I have given myself to make sure that my clients know what to expect and so I give myself enough grace to take my time on your gallery and give you pictures you are proud of. Every once in a while it’s faster than two weeks, but sometimes it’s closer to three. Once again, when your gallery is done, you will receive an email with the link and download pin and I will let you know via text message when it’s on the way. This email will be long-winded. It contains information about sharing on social media, printing your pictures, sharing your link and download pin with others, and when your gallery will expire on the website. After you have taken the time to look at your pictures (I know that’s the first thing you’ll do!), I ask that you return to this email and read it thoroughly. I consider myself a more true to color editor, tend to air on the brighter side of pictures (dark and moody isn’t typically my style but I know another photographer who is AMAZING at this style if you need her name), and also, I do not alter bodies. I cannot, and will not, change anything on your body that I would consider “permanent.” I believe you are beautiful the way you are and do my best to show that to you with posing and in the angles I take pictures from. However, I know sometimes pictures can be stressful and I believe we are our own worst critics. So if you wake up with a giant pimple on your forehead, I will edit it out for you, so don’t stress about that too much.
After you review your gallery, I want to know what you think! I am just as excited as you are and I want to hear your thoughts. If any pictures need adjusting, let me know. I’m happy to help. Sometimes things can look different on my computer than they do on yours. I have not had this happen yet, but know photographers that have, and adjustments can usually be easily made. If everything looks peachy keen, we are all done! Congratulations, you made it to the end and have a full gallery to show for your hard work! On that final note, I appreciate each and every client that comes my way. I hope you take the time to write a review, refer me to friends and family, and I hope you will return to me in the future for your photographic needs. Thank you for your time and your business!
