FAQ'S
Helpful Information
WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED?
We are conveniently located in Downtown Columbus.
Smith Studios
85 E. Gay Street Suite 508
Columbus, OH 43215
WHAT SHOULD I BRING TO MY SESSION?
Grooming Products:
Brush/comb
Lotion/moisturizer
Proper undergarments
Robe (Maternity clients)
WHEN WILL I RECEIVE MY IMAGES?
Processing usually takes 2-3 weeks.
Expediting is available for an additional fee.
HOW WILL I RECEIVE MY IMAGES?
Your images will be delivered to you by Pixieset; an online image gallery. Flash-drives are available upon request, for an additional fee.
RAW FILES: Photographer will not under any circumstances release RAW, unedited images to the Client. Proofs may not be shared on any social media platforms.
DO YOU OFFER PRINTS?
Yes!
It’s here! Our print store is now live!
Dyonna James Photography, LLC is now offering professional and quality prints.
Bring your photos to life on the finest-quality paper designed to be enjoyed for a lifetime. Printed on Kodak or Fuji professional-grade archival paper for increased color gamut, excellent skin tones, sharpness and brilliant image quality.
You can order prints directly from your photo gallery and we will notify you when your order is available for pickup at the studio!
Prints lasts a lifetime, and often times longer. Invest in your portraits!
NEWBORN/INFANTS/TODDLER PHOTOGRAPHY
We do not photograph children under the age of 16; unless being photographed during a family portrait session.
HOW DO I PREPARE FOR HEADSHOTS?
1. Preparation
Preparation is everything when it comes to your headshot.
There are lots of things that can affect the end result, from making sure you get enough sleep the night before, to taking a few minutes to compose your thoughts and clear your mind of the worries of the day before you start.
Deciding what to wear is a big part of that preparation. Getting it right will have you feeling positive and upbeat but getting it wrong can have you feeling uncomfortable, hesitant, and tentative.
2. Persona
First of all, think about the persona and tone you’d like to project. Depending on the culture of your company/business, you may want to convey an air of formality, knowledge, and trust. Or, maybe the look you want is creative, friendly, hip! Either way, decide the tone you’re going for before the day of the shoot to nail down the feeling you’d like to convey for your company.
3. Comfort
Make sure the outfit you choose is something you love and feel completely comfortable wearing. Something that’s comfortable in the fit as well as comfortable with the look and style.
Ill-fitting clothes can make you look heavier than you really are, especially if the fit is too loose or too tight.
If the clothes are too loose, your shape will be lost in the photo. Even in a headshot, it will make a difference to the look of your shoulders and neckline. Too tight, and you risk showing button holes pulling and seams stretching.
4. Patterns or Plain
It’s of my opinion that strong patterns should be avoided on the day of the shoot. Most of the time, they only serve to distract. You want the viewer of the headshot to see your facial expression, not the expression of your clothing, so wear something that only adds to the tone you’re trying to convey.
5. Colors
MID-TONE PLAIN COLOURS are universally flattering and help the image stand out on a page. They convert well to black and white as well.
BLACK is sombre, guarded, and safe. It probably doesn’t portray the traits you are wanting to project. If you usually wear a lot of black, try substituting it for richer, more neutral colours. Colours such as navy, chocolate, maroon, or dark green.
PASTEL COLORS, cream or beige, are often similar to flesh tones and can look week, washed-out, and unflattering to your skin.
6. To Bear Arms or Wear Sleeves
Avoid sleeveless tops, as bare arms highlight the contrast between the tone and colour of your arms in contrast to your face. You also risk showing your armpits in certain poses, and that should be avoided unless it falls in line with the tone you’d like to convey for your company.
7. Jacket On of Jacket Off
It’s an easy way to create 2 different looks — Jacket on or jacket off.
A crisply ironed shirt by itself will give you a look that works well across many different sectors and looks great under a jacket too.
8. Hair
If you want to vary your hairstyle during the shoot, please do!
We can try some shots with your hair tied up and some with it down. When it’s tied back, it will look better with volume rather than being pulled back too tight. And please remember to bring a hairbrush for last-minute adjustments.
9. Makeup
Stills photography, unlike film or video, requires a much lighter hand with the makeup brush. Keep it light and natural and remember that it’s the eyes and mouth that the person viewing your photo will focus on.
If you’re susceptible to shiney skin consider bringing translucent powder which will reduce shine, make your skin look even and your pores look smaller. Avoid products with sparkles!
Please remember to arrive with your makeup complete. And if you like the idea of a professional makeup artist, you’re not alone! I often work with them and I can recommend a few options if you’d like to book one for the shoot.
Bonus Tip: Glasses
It’s fine to wear glasses for your shoot. If they’re part of you, then they need to be included. But they need to be spotlessly clean because any fingermarks or dust will show up on the final image. If you wear them at your desk but won’t be wearing them for the photos, please make sure that you take them off at least half an hour before the shoot. The last thing you want is those little red marks on the side of your nose showing up in the photo!
WHAT IS YOUR CANCELLATION AND RESCHEDULE POLICY?
Arriving 15 minutes late or more to a session may result in cancellation or reschedule.
Sessions may be rescheduled as a one time courtesy, if there is at least a 48hr notice given to photographer. A new date must be provided to photographer within 7 business days, or a new booking and deposit will be required. Reschedules and cancellations given within 24 hours or less of your scheduled session, will result in a new deposit or refusal of future services. In the event, a second reschedule is requested, we will require a $100.00 rebooking fee.
Deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable.
This means that once a deposit is made, it cannot be returned under any circumstances, nor can it be transferred to another person or session. This policy is in place to secure resources and allocate time specifically for your session.
We understand that unforeseen circumstances might arise, but kindly note that our policy remains consistent for all clients. We believe in maintaining fairness and consistency across the board.
Should you have any questions or concerns regarding this policy, we are more than happy to discuss them with you. Our goal is to provide exceptional service while being transparent about our terms.
WHEN SHOULD I TAKE MATERNITY PHOTOS?
We recommend scheduling a maternity photo session within 28 to 36 weeks of your pregnancy. That’s as early as the seventh month, yet no later than the end of the eighth month of pregnancy. This period around the third trimester is the best time frame to show your round baby bump! During the 28 to 36 weeks window, you will typically still feel fairly comfortable, so it’s less taxing for you to stand or pose when taking photos. It’s also late enough in the pregnancy for you to very clearly look pregnant, with a nice round belly to show off! We encourage you to book in advance, to secure your preferred date.