FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What types of photography do you do?

Portrait Seniors, grads, headshots, fashion, branding, couples & any other fun reason for a portrait! Family All ages & family structures welcome! Maternity Individuals & couples — whatever your vibe! Inclusive of all forms of love! Personal Events Birthday parties, graduation parties, baby & wedding showers, gender reveals, family reunions, & other personal events! Events The grander gatherings in your community— festivals, concerts, parades, road races, corporate meetups, etc!
How would you describe your photography style?

Warm, candid, emotive, human, & overall captive of the moment. :) I want you looking back at your photos in 10 years feeling as if you were back in that moment in time— not feeling distracted by a trendy editing style.
How much are your photography services?

Check out my Photography Services page for pricing, or contact me for a personal quote.
When do I pay you?

Upon receiving your final edited photos. I'm also happy to accept payments in weekly/monthly increments if that's something that is helpful for you!
How do I pay you?

Payments can be made via Venmo, Cash App, PayPal, or check. Or if there is another payment method that works better for you, just let me know— I'm sure we can make it work!
How long does a photo session take?

That depends on how long you book it for 😉 Short on time? I offer packages as short as 20 mins! Need coverage of a full day event? Book me for 10 hours! I gotchu! For family/portrait sessions, session lengths of 40 mins - 1.5 hours are typical. Check out my Photography Services page to scroll through different package options.
What can I expect at my photo session?

A fun, laid-back, & welcoming environment! Want music? Let's play music! Have a photo idea? Don't be shy! Lemme know and let's make it happen! Don't know how to pose? I feel you, lol. I'll guide you though it (my photo sessions are judgement-free zones)! Your kids are a little fussier than normal? Don't worry! I love kids and don't mind being flexible with my time if needed. I'll make sure we get some smiling pictures!
Any tips for my photo session?

Relaxxx & be yourself! Authentic, candid photos are my fav! As far as clothes: Wear clothes with minimal prints or patterns Wear coordinating (but not matching!) outfits if there are multiple people BUT an outfit that makes you feel best is what is most important!
How long after a shoot until I receive my final photos?

Usually about 2 weeks. But I try to get you a sneak peek photo or two within a couple of days after the shoot! If this time frame differs for any reason, I'll give you a heads up!
How many final photos will I receive?

It depends on the package you choose! You can also purchase additional photos for an extra fee. Find the number of final photos included with each package option on my Photography Services page.
What kind of editing do you do to your photos?

Color & lighting adjustments and minimal retouching. I will edit out any temporary blemishes, stray hairs, dust on your shirt, drool on your baby, etc. :) I will not modify your body in any way or edit any permanent marks on your skin (scars, freckles, stretch marks, vitiligo, etc.) unless you specifically ask me to.
Do you share the RAW unedited photos with your clients?

No. I typically do not provide RAW images, as they are unfinished and do not represent my final work. But I promise I’ll put lots of time and effort into editing and enhancing each photo to ensure they meet my standards of quality and style! If there are specific edits you are looking for, I’d be more than happy to help accommodate your requests!
Who owns the rights to the final photos?

You & me! As in: You are free to share your final photos wherever you'd like & are not obligated to give photo credits (though I'd love it if you did!) I am free to share your final photos on my portfolio site and freelance social media pages (though I always confirm that this is okay with each individual client prior to doing so!) I will not sell your images to anyone else. (Exceptions to be discussed on a case-by-case basis)
Are there any rules for sharing the photos you took for me on my social media?

Not technically, no. However, I'd of course appreciate a tag (@ellamariesigns) if you'd be so willing! And I kindly request that you do not add any additional filters or otherwise modify the photos I share with you when posting them to your social media. I spend hours editing each batch of photos that I take in order to curate a professional, high quality photo gallery that not only am I proud of, but that my clients come to expect from me. Slapping an Instagram filter on my edited photos cheapens the quality of that final image and just crushes my heart 💔
Where are you located?

Sunnyvale / South San Francisco Bay Area, California. But I LOVE to travel & would be so excited to travel for a shoot! If this is something you're considering, contact me and we can work out the logistics! Note: I currently charge a travel fee of $0.70 per additional mile outside of a 10 mile radius of Sunnyvale for photoshoot locations that are a drivable distance away. I can get you a travel free estimate upon inquiry.
How do I book a shoot with you?

Fill out my contact form and I'll get in touch with you to work out the logistics of your photo session! You can also DM me on Instagram or Facebook, or shoot me an email (my email address is on my contact page) :)
What types of graphic design do you do?

Logos Marketing Collateral Flyers, posters, brochures, digital banners, stickers, etc. Social Media Graphics OOH Banners & Signage Billboards, banners, A-frames, way-finding signs, window signage, pole banners, etc. Business Cards Menus If you need help with a graphic design project that is not listed above, feel free to inquire with me about the project and I'll let you know if it's within my wheelhouse :)
How much are your graphic design services?

Check out my Design Services page for pricing, or contact me for a personal quote.
Do you offer any package deals?

Yes! Have multiple projects you need design work for? I'm happy to cut you a package deal! Inquire through my contact form.
When do I pay you?

Upon receiving your final design files. I'm also happy to accept payments in weekly/monthly increments if that's something that is helpful for you!
How do I pay you?

Payments can be made via Venmo, Cash App, PayPal, or check. Or if there is another payment method that works better for you, just let me know— I'm sure we can make it work!
How long is your current waitlist?

At the moment, you can expect me to begin your design project within 2-3 business days after confirmation of your booking. If this differs for your project for any reason, I'll let you know!
What is your design process?

Communicate with you. I'll ask you a handful of questions to help me understand the look you are going for. Brainstorm & sketch out my initial concepts using ProCreate Perfect the initial concepts using Adobe Illustrator Send the concepts to you for feedback. Give me all the criticisms, I can take it! The more you communicate with me, the more confidence you can feel in the final design 😎 Revise the designs based on your feedback Repeat steps 4 + 5 as many times as indicated in your selected package / as needed Send you your final design package! 🎉
How can I be confident I'll like the final design?

Communication in key! My design process is very interactive with you as the client. We will be communicating back & forth via email throughout the duration of the project. You can send me inspiration, give me feedback, and instruct me to make revisions. I'm also happy to hop on a video call with you to talk your project through face-to-face if that is something you'd prefer! I'm confident that by the end, we will have created a design that we will both be happy with :)
How long until I receive my final design files?

Short answer: a couple of weeks Long answer: it depends on a few things: The magnitude of the project The number of revisions needed The length of time between our communications (i.e. if you want a quick turnaround, be sure to respond to my emails quickly so I can begin to implement your feedback in the most timely manner 🤓) Plan for 3-4 days following our initial Q&A until I deliver your first round of concepts, and an additional 3-4 days between each round of revisions.
What kind of files will I receive?

File types: Primarily pdf & png (jpg if needed). Additional file types can be requested for free. Color spaces: Both RGB & CMYK — unless it makes sense to deliver in only one color space (ex: social media graphics would be delivered only in RGB unless otherwise requested). Sizes: Scalable vector files (pdfs) + pngs/jpgs in relevant sizes (ex: square Instagram graphics sized to 1080x1080px // posters sized to 11x17in, 18x24in, etc).
Do you share the .ai (Illustrator) files with your clients?

If specifically requested, yes! Though in most cases I'll already be sending a working pdf file to you :)
Who owns the rights to the final designs?

You & me! As in: You are free to share/print/post/display the final graphics wherever you'd like & are not obligated to give design credits (though I'd love it if you did!) I am free to share the final graphics on my portfolio site and freelance social media pages (though I always confirm that this is okay with each individual client prior to doing so!) I will not sell the work I created for you to anyone else. (Exceptions to be discussed on a case-by-case basis)
Where are you located?

Sunnyvale / South San Francisco Bay Area, California. But I work with clients from anywhere in the world! 🌎 (no difference in pricing!)
How do I book a project with you?

Fill out my contact form and I'll get in touch with you to begin the design process! You can also DM me on Instagram or Facebook, or shoot me an email (my email address is on my contact page) :)