FAQ

Of course! In fact this is usually the case for product photoshoots with me. Even local clients just leave the products with me and pick up when the project is complete. If you're not local, I can post your products back to you. I regularly receive products from all over the UK, and even If you're aborad, you can just post your products to me and I'll work to the brief!

Product images are usually ready to preview 3-4 days after the shoot date. Once they're approved, I aim to deliver within 1-3 working days, depending on the amount of any additional changes or retouching (which usually don't happen, as we plan well and streamline the whole process!). Please make sure to book a date as soon as possible and generally allow 6-8 weeks for any more complex projects If you can, so we can plan your photoshoot properly, arrange any props, models or location required. Headshots and personal brand photography have a similar timescale to small and medium product photography projects. Most commissions which don't include a high number of images or advanced graphics and video are delivered within 5 working days. If anything beyond images is required, the timescale will obviously depend on the complexity of the project and I can advise on a case by case basis.

Previews will be hosted on a private cloud folder, where you will be able to annotate and request changes. Final files are usually delivered through Wetransfer but other services might be used. I aim to make file delivery as smooth as possible for you.

File formats will depend on requirements. As standard, for images I deliver optimised jpegs for your web usage, with embedded metadata to help your customers find you online. Any additional usage should be discussed so I can deliver suitable files. Animated videos such as stop-motions can be delivered both as GIFs or mp4, with resolution depending on the brief. please let me know as much information as possible before our shoot so I can provide what best fits your needs.

I currently work between Central Scotland and Northern Italy and I’m available for commissions worldwide.

I calculate my fees based on time and skills required, usage of the final images, amount of post processing needed, and expenses/preproduction (advance site visits, other site preparation, ..). Creative Fee: This component reflects the time and skill it takes to complete the project, including preproduction tasks. It also includes standard editing and standard licensing rights (Website, Social Media (photo credit required)), typically for one year in the UK. Please request any additional media/time/country . Post Production Fee: Some images require expert retouching sessions to achieve the wished results, sometimes taking as long as the photo shoot itself. I will advise whether this is necessary and propose solutions. Licensing Fee: Where additional usage is required, additional licencing fees are charged to add to or extend the included standard licence. I prefer to tailor a quote to you and offer different solutions so I can give you the best value for your budget. I price on results, not hourly rates. I quote flexible bespoke packages where extra images are available at a very small fee, meaning you are free to expand your order to your needs and budget and that the more images you will like, the less you’ll spend for each. You might also want to share the cost of a project with other parties who will benefit from it.

I have a streamlined process to make this as easy and time effective as possible. BRIEF Get in touch by phone, email (info@sc-photographer.co.uk) or using the contact form. The more information you can give me at this first point of contact, the swifter I can advice, avoiding back and forth. Take the answer to the previous question as guide for the information I need (how many images to start with? where are they going to be used? any examples of similar work for style and mood? where are you located? also: when can we meet or talk?). ESTIMATE Once an estimate has been agreed, I will require an advance (typically 50%) before shoot commencement and advise on the timescale for delivery. SHOOT DATE For product photography, unless we have discussed shooting at your location, I can arrange to get your products picked up or you can send them to me. I’ll send you an email to confirm all details. APPROVAL AND DELIVERY I’ll keep you updated during production and upload previews to a secure online location, where you can evaluate and get back to me to finalise all details of your project. On average, expect previews ready within 4 working days from the shoot day, and after selecting final images, 2-3 days for delivery, depending on amount of changes and extra retouching requested. Most small and medium projects are delivered within a week. Once final images have been selected I will send you a final invoice and after receiving funds I will finalise images and deliver.

Just like purchasing software, where you essentially buy a licence to use it on a specific computer (example: You don’t actually “own” Microsoft Office, and cannot install it on your friend’s PC), I typically issue licensing to use my images. This means I retain the copyright of all images I create, and any use outside what agreed in the licence or third party interested in using the images will require an additional licence. This is where sharing the cost of a project will produce savings, as the shoot costs are split between all, translating into great savings. The standard licence included in my creative fee can be extended and added to.

Because I need to protect my name and how the images I have created are used. Retaining copyright gives me control over who uses the images and where, and helps me protect the people I work with from usages that could be negatively affecting them. Giving images away is also not beneficial to you, as the price will reflect unlimited usage anywhere in the world undefinitely, which is very rarely the case. So licensing is good news! It allows you to pay only for the usage you actually need at the time. After the initial period, you can decide whether to renew the license, or obtain new images. Hopefully your business will have grown and evolved and you will be able to create new content, and would have saved money on your previous images. I am a member of the Association of Photographers, who provides very helpful resources. You can read more about copyright and licensing on their website. https://www.the-aop.org/information/copyright-4-clients

Because of the bespoke nature of my work, I tend to create very specific images for my clients and don't release usage to other companies. However, not all images in my portfolio are commercial projects or tied to exclusive usage rights. If you have seen an image of mine that you love and would like to use, just get in touch with details about what images you are requesting and usage required. I also have a stock image section where you can download images to use for your business. Check it out!

FILL IN MY CONTACT FORM A good way for me to gather a good amount of information and give you a somewhat accurate estimate initially is by getting in touch through my contact form. For simple projects, this is quite often just what's needed to define a project. REQUEST A TEMPLATE Bigger or more complex projects require a brief to ensure images and videos are produced to expectations and without additional changes because we missed something at the brief stage. A detailed brief will allow me to propose a tailored set of visuals for your brand. The more I learn about you and your products/services, the more value I can deliver. I have compiled templates for you to fill in to help us define a full proposal. If you're willing to fill in a large amount of information to define our project in relevant way, please request a brief template. BOOK A STRATEGY SESSION We all hate filling in forms, and I love a more personal interaction: it brings extra value to the collaboration. I'm keen to take a deep dive into your brand and help you shape your visual communication in line with your brand image. Book a consultation and let's work on a brief together!