Family Portrait Booking Guide
Welcome
Thanks for considering Tone Photography for your family session! Whether you’re hoping for something timeless for holiday cards or something fun and candid that shows off your family’s personality, I’ll capture images that feel like you.
This guide walks you through the simple booking process and what to expect when working together.
Booking Overview
Initial Inquiry
Secure Your Session
Session Planning
What to expect and delivery
Step 1: Intro Email or Call & Deposit
We’ll start by responding to your inquiry email or a quick call to hear your ideas and see if we’re the right fit. You can fill a contact form out here.
Once you’re ready, we’ll send an invoice for a 50% deposit and a contract. When that’s paid, your date is officially locked into our calendar!
Agreement: You’ll receive an agreement to review and sign. It covers all the essentials such as session time, location(s), number of included images, deliverables, add-on options, policies.
Agreement Information: Please send us this information to create your agreement!
First and last names of parents:
Email address:
Phone numbers of parents:
Please list name of kids and ages:
Deposit Payment Options: A 50% deposit is required to book your date.
Hawaiʻi GE Tax (4.712%) applies to credit card and Venmo payments. Credit card payments also have a 3.5% processing fee. Venmo and cash do not have a processing fee.
Option 1: Credit Card
Pay 50% by credit card to book.
Pay the remaining 50% by credit card 3 days before your event.
GE Tax + 3.5% credit card fee apply.
Option 2: Credit Card or Venmo + Cash
Pay your 50% deposit by credit card or Venmo.
Pay the remaining 50% in cash on the day of your event.
Paying the remaining balance in cash saves you the credit card fee and GE Tax on the cash amount portion.
Option 3: Venmo
Pay 50% by Venmo to book.
Pay the remaining 50% by Venmo 3 days before your event.
GE Tax applies.
No credit card processing fee.
Choosing Your Session Time:
Morning Hours: Morning sessions typically give you bright blue skies, vibrant colors, and a more tropical look. The tradeoff is that the sun is stronger, which can create harsher shadows and brighter light on faces. We can absolutely still create beautiful images, but the overall look tends to be more bright and colorful rather than soft and romantic. It can also be a little more challenging for anyone with sensitive eyes, since the brighter sun can make it harder to keep your eyes fully open and relaxed in photos.
Midday Hours: We don’t offer sessions during the middle of the day because the overhead sun creates harsh lighting and strong shadows that aren’t flattering for most people or locations. We want your photos to look their best, and mid-day isn’t the ideal time for the style and quality of images we want to deliver.
Sunset: If we photograph during sunset, the light becomes much softer, flattering, and cinematic. You'll get warmer tones, softer shadows, and that glowy look that many couples are drawn to in engagement and proposal photos. This is generally my preferred lighting for portraits.
Neither option is wrong, they simply create a different look and feel. Morning sessions tend to be bright, colorful, and vibrant, while sunset sessions tend to be softer, warmer, and more romantic.
Step 2: Planning & Scout Photos
Once your booking is confirmed, we’ll send you scout photos of potential locations so you can visualize what your shoot might look like. Whether it’s at the beach, a dramatic cliffside, or a lush garden, we’ll help you choose the perfect backdrop and best timing for light and privacy.
Step 3: Style & Prep Guides
You’ll also get our what to wear guide (including what to avoid) and prep tips so you know exactly what to bring for the session. Check out the guide - CLICK HERE.
Also, if you’d like to create Pinterest board for inspiration feel free to do so and send over.
Step 4: The Family Session
On the day of your shoot, simply show up and enjoy. We’ll guide you through natural posing and candid moments, no modeling experience required. Just your family being yourselves.
Step 5: Sneak Peeks and proof gallery
Within a few days, you’ll receive a handful of sneak peek photos shared via social media only so you can relive the excitement right away! We will upload all the photos from your session to a digital proof gallery. From there you can select your favorite images for us to edit.
Step 6: Final Gallery
Your full, high-resolution engagement gallery will be delivered digitally within the agreed-upon timeline (typically 3-4 weeks). You’ll be able to download, share, and order prints with ease.
