Session Info and Pricing
Family
““Dragana came to our house to take pictures of our family including our 2-month old daughter. She was energetic, creative, and full of fantastic ideas that wove movement and shape into the photos. She captured our young family and our baby’s personality and beautiful little parts. The photos that she took were stunning, especially in terms of the colors and composition. I highly recommend hiring Dragana if you are looking for a photographer to capture your family and your kids!””
Location: After you book your session, we will decide on a location together. I will ask you some questions about your style, your vision for the photoshoot (what you hope to accomplish) and your family’s background, and provide a list of possible places that will work best for your family in the given season. The importance of location is easy to overestimate. If your day is not going well, or if you have children who are hard to wrangle at new places or are much more comfortable at home, or if planning stresses you out, I always suggest that we do a home session. All we need is good light. I have shot some of my best photos in pretty un-scenic places, and it is very hard to tell.
Time: During the summer, the best time to take photos is two hours before sunset or early in the morning. The rest of the year in Seattle we are more concerned about rain than hard light. Fortunately, while it does rain a lot, the weather changes a lot throughout the day. I rarely cancel sessions because of the weather. I find that simply waiting 1-2 hrs or sometimes as little as 30 minutes is sufficient to catch a break in the rain. Every once in a while we need to move the session to an earlier or later time due to rain or meet at another location because of the weather. Rain is a small issue compared to an over-tired child, so I always suggest trying to schedule for the morning or after naps.
What to wear: Once you book your session, I will send you a document with some styling suggestions. I am happy to help along the way, too. I have had families send me pictures of their outfits beforehand or bring several outfit options to the session.
What to bring: Bring a change of clothes for children, some snacks and water! Photoshoots can be intense for the little ones. I always prefer to take more time to gain the cooperation of children rather than push through at any cost. Some downtime to refuel and be present for them is sometimes all kids need to regain interest. I don't typically use generic props to stage scenes, but I love using meaningful items in your photos. Let's call them "props 2.0": bring lovies, favorite toys, tricycles, tutus, bubbles, kites... They all help capture the family dynamic, genuine interaction and natural expressions.
Post-session: Most of my work begins after I upload your images onto my computer. I love processing as much as I like shooting for the artistic freedom it allows. You can expect to receive your images in 1-2 weeks via an online gallery. If after you view your images you'd like to consider some prints and products, I will schedule a 30 min online or in-person consultation session to guide you through an array of products and help your find something for your walls and your budget.
Newborn
Location: The best and most natural and doable place to photograph newborns is at home. This works best both for tired parents and sleepy babies. Occasionally, we will go out into the yard to get some beautiful light or fresh air. My intent is to capture their special place in the family and the home. One of the biggest concerns parents have is getting their house cleaned and clutter-free. Unless you’d really like to have a picture of the nursery in its entirety, your home decor and mess will not feature prominently in the photos. It is light, and not decor, that I am after. I also have some great tricks and poses that will help the eyes focus on people and relationships instead of the background. My favorite place to take photos of newborns is in the parent's bedroom: a large bed with solid color bedding works great for taking photos of baby with siblings and parents.
Times: I want to capture newborn babies both asleep and awake. This is typically not an issue since in those early days they spend so much time sleeping, but it is always good to wait to feed them after I arrive. Babies typically fall asleep after eating, so this will ensure that we have a mellow or sleeping baby for a while. Consider their feeding, sibling naps and available light at your home when booking.
What to wear: Newborns looks best without much clothes or dressed very simply. It is easy for them to seem overdressed, which makes the photos look unnatural and staged. Wearing just bloomers or a onesie would be perfect! You will have an opportunity to change their clothes and experiment. We want to capture their smallness and the best way to do that is by photographing little bare feet and arms.
Post-session: Most of my work begins after I upload your images onto my computer. I love processing as much as I like shooting for the artistic freedom it allows. You can expect to receive your images in 1-2 weeks via an online gallery. If after you view your images you'd like to consider some prints and products, I will schedule a 30 minute online or in-person consultation to guide you through an array of products and help you find something for your walls and your budget.
Portraits
Booking info: Choose the type of session you'd like: Environmental portrait or a headshot? High school senior or working professional? Email me and we can discuss your specific needs!
Location: Locations vary greatly depending on what kind of portrait you need. If you need an environmental portrait, then we will shoot at your work or places that suggest what you do. Headshots can be done anywhere with good light. For more studio style shoots, I use a modern and crisp looking gray backdrop which I can set up at your home or outside. Playing with light and composition is my expertise, so I can make any place work.
What to wear: Once your booking is confirmed, I will send you a document with a list of styling ideas.
Post-session: You can expect a 7-10 day turnaround on your portrait session. The images will be delivered via an online gallery.