FAQ

jump to:

Photo Sessions

Should I get my hair/makeup done beforehand?

Only if you wish. Many of my clients are very comfortable on camera as they generally appear in everyday life—and often that’s with a messy top-bun, glasses pushed up overhead, and just a dash of lip balm. Others feel that if they go au naturale, they will not like as many of the photos they receive back as they will if they have a little more of a professional touch.

I personally like to have my nails done the day before a shoot, but curl my own hair the morning of. More tips on what to wear and how to prepare in this blog post!

I’m awkward on camera. Will you guide me/tell me what to do?

Yes! Most people are a little uncomfortable in front of the lens, at least at first. (Even for those who take selfies often, it can be very different to meet a complete stranger for photos!) So you’re in good company.

I’ll take good care of you. My style is more to direct than to reach in and physically pose each part of your body just-so; I’m a fan of personal space, but I want your photos to come out so that you love them, too, so I go for a balance where I let you know when to “jouge” your hair, rest your weight on a different hip, lean forward, all that jazz, and then you find the interpretation of that direction that’s comfortable.

I can usually pick up on each client’s specific comfort level in front of the camera and I will gradually work my way up to more advanced direction as the shoot progresses—but don’t let that make you nervous! I’ve been told I set my clients at ease quickly and make the whole process feel fun and quick.

Here’s a post I wrote for those who are shy and self-conscious on camera, as well.

How many outfits should I bring?

I don’t set a limit on this, but I recommend no more than three per hour.

If you want a diversity of looks in your images, bring light layers and different accessories to change up the “look” of a single outfit—often just putting your hair up, swapping out a jacket, or adding a bold accessory can reinvent clothes you’re already wearing without eating up time trying to find a changing room (in outside-the-studio scenarios) and starting from scratch. This helps ensure you still receive the 25 or so photos per hour that I typically estimate clients will receive.

Do you have a studio where we’ll be working?

Typically for the kinds of images I capture, I’m coming to your location, whether that’s a town where we’ll snap you sipping coffee on Main Street or it’s your home office where we’ll get you typing away at your laptop.

However, I do have access to several customizable spaces where we can meet if you prefer. Reach out here and be sure to describe what you need so I can send over the best options for you!

Cost/What’s Included in a Shoot

How many photos will I get?

For headshots and simple sessions, I usually estimate 25 per hour. I don’t withhold any images that I think are acceptable, and all acceptable images are included at your flat hourly or half-day rate; no added charge for images “over” a certain number.

What rights do I receive with my photos?

All of them! Some commercial photographers will only allow you to use their images for one or two years, some will ask that you only post on social media unless you pay extra for print licensing… but I think if you paid for the photos, they should be yours to use as you please in your business for as long as you like.

The one thing my contracts do prohibit is alteration of the images—so no Photoshopping (as in to change your hair or eye color, make yourself appear a different pant size, etcetera) and no dramatic filters.

You do not have to give me credit on your social channels when you post (although I will come leave you some love if you do!), although I request a credit if the photos will be printed in any publications not owned by you. Please use/ask the publication to use the credit “Alexis The Greek” in full, rather than my first and last name.

You have the opportunity to review my standard agreement before your shoot and ask any specific questions you have before you sign.

Will I have access to the RAW images?

I sympathize with why you might want the RAW, untouched photos. I actually do not offer RAW images to my clients for the same reason that in a dine-in restaurant, raw ingredients are not offered: When you hire me, you are paying for a whole host of services that culminate in a final product that is meant for you to enjoy.

As my photography client, you are paying not only for my time on location with you, but all my training and experience cropping, lens-correcting, color-adjusting, and refining your photos. And just like a chef wouldn’t want his or her name on a dish you created with her ingredients, I would not want my name on a photo anyone else had re-touched after I captured it!

If you have a particular editing style that you would like to see used, we can discuss that on your complimentary discovery call.

Editing & Equipment

Can you make my [fill in the blank] look smaller/thinner?

Before your session, we will have a discovery call where we can discuss your overall goals for the shoot, and once we’re on location, I will try to ask if you have a preferred side of your face, as well as any features/body parts you are self-conscious about, and work with that information to produce images that exaggerate the things about yourself that you like and underplay the things that you don’t like so much.

I do not “Photoshop” my subjects to make them appear thinner. Every photographer has a certain set of parameters she works within in order to produce a consistent product that can comfortably fall within a set price point, and altering subjects to look vastly different than they authentically appeared in the moment does not fall within AG parameters.

Your camera looks kind-of small. What kind of camera is it?

I use a couple different cameras for brand photography sessions, though I primarily lean on my trusty old Sony NEX-5. This was one of the first cameras Sony released for photo and video crossover capability, and it was also made to be economy-sized so that it would be light and easy to pack for travel.

Sometimes clients are a little wary when they see my NEX-5, because it’s almost small enough to be a point-and-shoot camera, but I promise it packs all of the punch you’d get from my bigger, more standard-looking camera—it’s simply far easier to carry around. While some of the accouterments have been downsized or eliminated (for example, the NEX-5 does not have a viewfinder; instead I see what I’m shooting on an LCD screen), these ultimately don’t impact the final quality of your images, especially since I pair the NEX-5 with top-of-the-line lenses. Most of the images you see on this site were shot on the NEX-5, though some were shot on the Sony a7III.

Is your camera a DSLR or mirrorless camera?

Mirrorless. For some this is a controversial move, but more and more camera companies, even Canon, are veering in this direction. What I like about mirrorless cameras is that they take the guesswork out of shooting—what I line up for my shot is what I get in the final image. For DSLR cameras, what I’d line up would be close to what I’d get, but not exact!

Online Courses & Education

I’m interested in how you started your subscription photography Business! Can I buy you a coffee and pick your brain?

This is such a nice question to receive!—but I actually receive it so often that if I took up every person who asked, (a) I’d never get any work done, and (b) I’d be completely wired all the time from all that coffee!

If you reach out here and let me know you’re interested in learning more about my subscription photography model, I’ll get you a special discount to access the online course I created where I go over everything I did to get my program launched. I cover what I charge, how I get clients, the terms I made sure to put into all my agreements, how subscription shoots differ from regular hourly sessions and more.

I took your “What Phase of Business Are You In?” quiz and it told me I’m in one phase of business, but I want a class from another phase in your catalog. Is that okay?

Of course! The format of the AG course catalog is really just designed to help you decide between two programs or options when you have a limited budget and are conflicted. Depending on how far along you are in business, we estimate that some programs may be more helpful or profitable for you, but it’s not an exact science.

I forgot my password! Can you help?

We work with a company that has a built-in password-reset function, so if you ever lose your password, simply navigate to the course you’re trying to log into (all courses can be accessed here), and when the login box pops up, select “Forgot password?” and follow the prompts to reset!

Are your courses regularly updated?

Yes and no. When there’s a major change to a platform (for instance, the addition of Reels to Instagram, or a significant algorithm change that is addressed by the platform’s owner company via press release), we make sure that we address that in the applicable course that covers that platform.

That said, platforms are always evolving in minor ways, so you may enroll in a course and find that one or two details have changed slightly, or look different on the device you’re using—a button may be in a different place, or the shape of a feature may have changed. We do not make updates for all minor shifts/differences like this, because it just wouldn’t be sustainable.

Can I go through a course on my phone/tablet?

Yes! All of our courses, programs, and offerings are mobile-friendly unless otherwise noted (for example, the AG Desktop Presets are designed only for desktop use).

Are your courses live or evergreen?

Usually evergreen. When we release something new, we sometimes do a live version to get feedback or to be able to answer first-round student questions that may be important to future students. (The Pinterest Masterclass Recordings work this way.) However, we also know that most people need to take classes like these at their own pace, in between other pressing tasks and events in their lives. Therefore classes are designed to be taken and applied at the pace that suits your individual lifestyle.