Where is the studio located?

The studio is in the Green Lake neighborhood of Seattle at 6416 Latona Ave NE. There is free street parking on all surrounding streets.

Can we shoot outside or at my home instead of the studio?

Of course! Sessions can take place anywhere in the Greater Seattle area and Alyssa loves getting to photograph in new locations. Popular local spots are Green Lake, the Arboretum, UW campus, Magnuson Park, Discovery Park, Golden Gardens, Gasworks Park, Volunteer Park and Olympic Sculpture Park. Something as easy as your own backyard can be a perfect location, especially for photographing dogs off leash.

How and when should I book a session? What if I need to reschedule?

Fill out the contact form via the website and include any helpful information about who will be photographed and if you have an ideal session date or time of day. Alyssa will respond within 48 hours to answer any questions, schedule a time and location for your session and send over location options and investment information. We recommend booking at least 2-3 weeks in advance, 4-6 weeks in advance for sessions Sept-Nov. We understand that surprises can happen and people can get sick so if you find you need to reschedule your session please email Alyssa asap to do so. If your session will take place outdoors, we will keep an eye on weather reports and reschedule if rain or high winds will derail our session plans - believe it or not, it rarely happens that we need to reschedule to rain! Gray skies are great for photos so a sunny day is definitely not a requirement for great outdoor photos.

How long will my session last?

Most sessions last about one hour, larger families or groups can take up to 1.5 hours. Single pet sessions can sometimes be as short as thirty minutes as they come in jazzed and burn out quickly and newborns can take up to three hours depending on how much baby needs to eat and be soothed. Ordering sessions last around 30-60 minutes depending on how quick of a decision maker you are.

What should I expect after I am booked to prepare for my session?

Alyssa will send over a pre-session consultation via email so she can better get to know your family, kids or pets and make sure we don’t miss any important photos for you. She will also send over clothing suggestions and what to expect throughout the portrait process so you know exactly how to be ready for your session.

What should I bring to my session?

You will be sent details after booking on exactly what to bring but generally toys and treats for any pets, snacks/water for kids if needed, check or credit card for your session fee payable at the time of your session and your calendar so we can schedule a time for your viewing and ordering session.

What should I expect during my session?

Mainly, you should expect lots of fun! We aim to make sessions laidback and stress-free. We know it can be a lot of work just to get clothes for everyone and out the door on time! Alyssa does not expect kids and pets to immediately perform and always listen - as a mother of two young boys and a long-time portrait pro, she is fazed by very little and has plenty of tricks up her sleeves to get kids listening while they have fun, natural smiles and ears perked on dogs. She knows that kids sometimes don’t listen, toddlers meltdown, shy kids and dogs need time to warm up and dogs sometimes just need to follow their nose for a little bit. Just let her take the lead and have some fun! For pet sessions, your dog knows and listens best to you so please plan to help out with tossing a ball, getting your pup to sit or work through any of their commands. Due to Covid and distancing requirements, you may need to help support getting your kid or pet in poses or positions from Alyssa’s verbal cues.

How and when will I get to see my photos?

After your session we will schedule a time to come back to the studio for your viewing and ordering session. This is the time for all decision makers to view their edited images and place their final print order, so sit back and enjoy your slideshow on the big screen while you enjoy a beverage and snack. After that, we will talk through all printing and product options for your photos before we narrow down your session to all your favorite images you can’t live without. Don’t worry, Alyssa is a pro at helping you narrow things down and make your final selections in a streamlined process with little stress.

How can I get my final images? Prints, wall art, albums, digitals?

All of the above! You can view more information on our investment and product pages to see photos and details, but our most popular options are digital packages, stretched canvas, framed wall prints, metal prints and albums. Our panoramas including 4-5 images from your studio session are one of our signature products. Due to the custom nature of portrait sessions, final orders cannot be refunded once sent to print or digitals received. We take the utmost care with our prints, canvases and albums to assure you are receiving the highest quality product possible. If a final product is damaged upon receipt, please contact Alyssa for a replacement.

What kind of camera equipment and lighting do you use?

Alyssa is a Canon girl for life and has recently upgraded to the Canon R6, a mirrorless camera, and her wrists are thanking her for the much lighter load. She also uses a Canon Markiii as a backup and a variety of RF and EF lenses, most often her 24-70mm and 70-200mm lenses as she is a big fan of the zoom option with active dogs and kid sessions. The studio has Paul C. Buff strobes and Godox lighting. Outdoor sessions are shot with natural light and supplemented with Godox and Canon flashes when needed.

Anything else I should know?

Congratulations, you made it to the end of all the faqs and actually read them all, we’re impressed! We are looking forward to seeing you in the studio and can’t wait to meet your family!