The disc comes with an official photography release, allowing you to take the image to any photo processing counter or send the images off to any online printing service with my full permission. It is important to me to mention the value of the disc and release form.  There are actually families out there that are not aware that they aren't supposed to copy professional images without the photographer's permission.  It is my job in this profession to educate everyone that the PPA (Professional Photographers of America), of which I am a very active member, works hard to make sure stores and online services ask for a release form if the portrait appears to be a professional image. I have had clients cell phone me from Costco or Target saying that they weren't being allowed to pick up their prints without a release because the images on the disc they made themselves from scanning my professional images appeared to be professional and that they needed me to fax something in. This sort of scenario is just kinda awkward for everyone involved, so I try to let everyone know that my artist is absolutely reproducible with the minimal investment.   Very few established photographers release their images....because it is technically loss of future revenue. I offer the disc, along with other complimentary products for ordering at certain amounts, because it is just a nice thank you for those making a substantial investment.  I believe that my clients deeply appreciate this feature, and will be back and again and again over the years because of my offering it. I try to make the disc an attractive option by placing on every image you ordered in gift portrait or enlargement form...these images absolutely include any retouching I happen to have done, as well any editing or tinting you have paid for when you ordered those images. The signed release allows you to do any non commercial thing you want with it! I do not however include on the disc the images that required super specialized custom art creation like collages, cards/announcements or my Baby Bits images. Due to the extensive work that went into creating them, it is important that they are the products I only sell.  I am sure you understand.
 
So having the disc it a great thing!  It will produce an image way better in quality than one you scan anyway.  This disc will print up to 4x6 images beautifully!  You can also use the disc to pop into your computer to e-mail images or create a screen saver with as well! So for the moms who scrapbook...this is a dream come true! For those with a ton of family...a big savings! For those that like to make their own cards and announcements, a big help!
 
The PPA (Professional Photographers of America) works hard to educate about US Copyright Laws, and comes down hard on establishments that do not ask for the release form when printing up what appears to be a professional portrait whether it be on disc or your actual real portrait . Copying images without my permission just isn't ethical, and is against US Copyright laws, just like pirating music and movies off the internet...actually only worse, because I am not a giant conglomerate company able to absorb such big losses. I am sure you understand.  As for the non-ordered images on disc, I do not release them... I like to only give you the retouched, color corrected, and appropriately cropped versions of your images so they print out beautifully! 
 
Years ago I used to offer all the images from the session on the discs...meaning every portrait you taken...but ran into two unexpected problems. Even though it was clearly stated that the disc contained all the final corrected versions of the portraits ordered and then all the other, unretouched portraits that weren't cropped or color corrected, clients were printing them all up and calling saying that they just didn't look as good as the corrected versions next to one another in a frame. The unretouched images were never intended as a replacement for ordering, they were more of a memory disc so that years down the line a parent could look through them again and smile at over a hundred images of their little ones at a particular moment way back when. This happened over and over again, so I just stopped doing it. The second dilemma came with those that would print up the unretouched portraits that weren't color corrected, cropped, etc. and have them enlarged well beyond the 4x6 resolution they came in, and put them in a frame next to the corrected versions and not notice the difference. I just really take such pride and delight in my final images and want everyone who sees them at your home, workplace, or scrapbooking night to be dazzled and ask where you had them done! 

Hi-res versions of the images are not available so please do not ask.... selling them would really defeat the purpose of being in business, and I work so, so hard to offer what my studio features. It is heart breaking to me that there are non professional photographers out there that do what is called in the professional industry as "shoot and dump", which is taking pictures and handing their clients the full disc of their uncropped, non-color corrected, unretouched images. Avoid photographers like these like the plague...they ruin the industry....they are just trying to make a fast dollar and are not invested in proper education for themselves to become a professional and do what they do because they can't be bothered with the hours of customer service our industry strives to provide for each client.

I am often asked if I do any unposed portraits, and my answer is yes...I do all the time.  Many of my session require images that are more photojournalistic and spontaneous in feel, particularly my outdoor sessions...where I capture your kids climbing trees, throwing leaves, jumping off rocks and building sandcastles. For studio portraits, it depends upon what type of theme we are doing at the time. Some themes, such as formal portraiture, ideally have a serious look or slight smile. That is something we decide upon when planning your session, and I set the tone to achieve that look during our time in studio. I like to start with those, because once I get kids laughing...there is usually no going back. Some of my themes like Funny Faces or other themes that lend themselves to having a Fun Art Collage Creation done, definitely need serious expressions, as well as a host of other non smiling ones. Those sessions also require jumping or dancing...kids just being kids....the more varied images on a collage, the better!!  For the majority of themed studio portraiture though,  I go for the big grins, as that what this type of photography suggests...playful and fun! Years of acting dorky and fun with my own children has lent itself to my being able to fascinate babies, make toddlers giggle  and bigger kids roll with hearty laughter in front of me. That is what I do best. If there is one thing my Customer Comments section is full of, it is the recurring compliment on my ability to offer portraits that show the true smiles from their children... I find a way to let their playful, giggly self pop right out. It is my absolute favorite part of what I do, and I get the greatest feeling when I see that first giant smile.

Of course, for some babies and children that tend to be low-key in personality, or have special needs, the whole high-energy thing just doesn't fly. I am clearly aware of this...I can usually immediately sense before we start if your child would prefer a more traditional approach and happily switch into a totally different gear!

I have finished my accreditation training from the SKPA (Special Kids Photographers of America) to further my abilities to work amazingly well with children that are differently abled. I have several parents that love that I am so confident in my ability to find comfortable poses and appropriate themes for their special children. On a personal level,  you may find it helpful to know that my oldest son has Bipolar Disorder. I live day and night with the many components of his disorders, so working with children that require extreme patience and less common approaches comes second nature to me! I will be fully certified with the SKPA as soon as I get the moment to send in examples of my work with differently abled kids.  It is on my giant to-do list.  ( Sigh. )

Click below to see a list of
Frequently Asked Questions
that explains my policies in greater detail.