Welcome 2014!

Wow, what a successful year 2013 was for CMD Photography! I shot 109 different sessions from a total of 69 separate clients - more than I EVER dreamed was possible. Nothing short of phenomenal in my opinion.

As most of you know photography started as a hobby and quickly transitioned into what is a thriving business. All the while I have still kept a full time job - which isn't changing. However, I did change jobs recently (I'm now the Marketing Director for Sanford Profile), but my photo business still remains.

That said, I didn't do the best job balancing my role as a mama/wife (first and foremost) with my full time job, teaching Zumba and being a photographer. I have promised my husband and boys that this year I would do better and in order to do so, I need to make a few changes. But I’m excited to see where this takes me!

In order to spend more time enjoying the family, I will be cutting down the number of sessions I take on. If you are a current client, this is where you will see the largest change in my business and here are the details:

• I will choose two weekends a month for photo sessions.

• The session times I have available will be shown on my Google Calendar.

• I will book time slots for my Milestone and Mini Milestone Baby clients first. After that I will open bookings to my current clients and if I have not filled the spots, I will then take on new clients.

• Each available time slot will read: VACANT SESSION

• Once you see the available sessions, you will email [email protected] with your top 3 date/time requests and if you would like to pay the retainer via PayPal invoice or check. (My Facebook Messaging feature has been disabled to allow all emails to come to one place.)

   o   In order to secure your spot, you will be asked to pay a non-refunable retainer of $75.00.  You can pay this via a PayPal invoice (you will incur a small convenience/processing fee) or you can mail me a check. Either option is fine, but your method of desired payment must be included in your email. (If you are part of the Milestone Package, this does not apply to your appointments after the initial retainer is paid.)

• I will fill the sessions in the order in which emails are received (after I have booked my Milestone & Mini Milestone clients). The time you are given will then read: TENTATIVE Jane Doe Session.
• Once your retainer payment is received, your booking is secure and will read: Jane Doe Session. If your payment is not received within 5 days from my email confirming your tentative time slot, your session time will become VACANT again and other clients will be booked during that time.

   o   If a session needs to be rescheduled, I must be notified 24 hours prior to the session or you will not be rescheduled. (This will be evaluated on a case by case basis and will have special circumstances - ie: weather and illness.)

   o   Once all sessions are full, your name will go on a waiting list and you will be contacted if a session is cancelled.

A few additional notes for everyone to be aware of:

• Due to a full time job, my turn around time will remain 4-5 weeks out. I do my best to turn all images around in that amount of time, but I do spend time on each and every photo to make them perfect, so I don't rush through editing. If the timeline will exceed this time frame, I will let you know before your session in case you choose to not participate. If that is the case, I will refund the retainer. (This will be the ONLY circumstance for refunding.)
• I am updating my print release policy. You will still be given all digital files, but you WILL NOT be given permission to print at big box stores like Walmart, Walgreens, Target, etc. My editing is color calibrated to professional printers and I cannot guarantee the quality once the digital files are turned over. That said, I highly recommend printing through my website or mpix.com for professional quality prints that are color accurate.
• I will continue to post Facebook images but will narrow the number of images shown to 8-10 of my favorite. All of your 18-22 digital images will be given to you in your gallery. This change will allow me to spend more time on editing vs saving files for Facebook.
• Lastly, please make sure you view my website for 2014 pricing updates.
  
  Thank you for being such amazing CMD Photography clients. I look forward to working with you in 2014!