How Many Photos will I receive from my mini-shoot?
The number of photos that you receive will be dependent on the package that you choose.
For example, if you have selected the "Bite Sized" Package from the Event Mini Shoot Packages, you will receive a total 3 fully edited photos.
If you have selected the Pivotal Paws Event Package, then you will receive a total of 6 fully edited photos.
You will also have the option of adding in additional photos at an additional cost dependent on whether or not you'd like the additional photo(s) to be fully edited or just lightly edited.
You can add an unlimited number of additional photos to your package.
How do I go about Booking a "Standard on location in Auckland" Mini-Shoot?
That is quite simple! At this time, simply send me a message via one of my social media platforms, or an email, and we can set something up.
Standard "on location" mini-shoots in Auckland will mainly be available either when I am taking a break from agility over a weekend or when I have a day off from my day-job.
Do I need to pay a deposit for a mini-shoot?
This depends. If you are booking an "Event Mini Shoot" then you will not have to pay a deposit as these mini-shoots will take place at the event grounds when we have some down time, and so, aren't 100% scheduled.
If you are booking a standard on location in Auckland mini-shoot, then this will require a deposit to be paid. The deposit required is the equivalent of our smallest package: The Petite Paws Package, which is $40.00.
This deposit amount does not bind you to the Petite Paws Package, and if you do wish to upgrade your package, based on the photos from the collection, then you will only need to pay the outstanding balance.
How will I receive my photos?
Your purchased photos can be received via the Pivotal Paws Photography website using a special download link and code.
How you wish to receive your photos is entirely up to you, though. I am happy to accommodate whatever method is easiest for you.
How Long will it take for me to receive my photos?
At the moment, for mini-shoot photos, the post processing can take anywhere between 5 business days to 21 business days. This is dependent on the number of photos you have requested and/or what package you have purchased, and the number of photos that are currently on my list to edit.
For general event photos, these can take anywhere up to 10 business days for post-processing to be completed.
These time frames will depend on a variety of external factors including how busy my real-life day job is at the time, as well as how many photos have been purchased already and are awaiting post-processing.
How do i pay for my photos?
Once you have selected your photos, or messaged to book a mini-shoot, I will send through an invoice through my HNRY account which will contain information regarding the payment due and the payment method (either via bank transfer or you can pay by card but that does have an added surcharge).
The details will be found on the invoice.
What if my dog doesn't have a good sit and/or wait?
Guess what? That is okay! Your dog doesn't need to have a perfect sit or wait to have their photo taken! If you would feel more comfortable having your dog on leash to stop them from moving around, I am able to remove the leash in the fully edited photos.
You can also still get beautiful photos of a dog that won't sit still and it may just require some thinking out of the box or maybe it may mean we won't be doing the "standard" portrait. But also, sometimes patience is the answer and under most circumstances, a lot of dogs start clicking after they have settled!
Sometimes "on leash" photos are best for the safety of your dog, and you should not feel shy to opt for this.
I have more than one dog, will I be able to bring both/all dogs to the mini-shoot?
Yes! I am a multi-dog owner and am happy to photograph the whole furry family in a single mini-shoot. I know how hard it is when wanting photos of all of your pets but having to pay extra or order another shoot for multiple dogs.
I will not charge extra for extra dogs (or other pets) being brought along, but the same amount of photos will be provided as per the mini-shoot package that has been selected.
Do you include humans in your photos? Can I get photos with my dog(S)?
Yes. I will happily take photos of the whole family, humans included. So, if you're wanting to update your family photos or are just wanting a special keepsake with your pup, I'm happy for you to get involved. Often enough, simple candid interactions with our dogs make for the most heart-felt loving photos!
What do you mean by Fully Edited and Basic/Light Edited?
These are terms used to describe the different layers of editing that a photo can undergo during post-processing.
The fully edited photos are the photos that have been put through the basic/light editing in Adobe Lightroom to adjust light, etc., and are then processed further using Adobe Photoshop to create what some people call "fine art". This editing process takes a bit longer than just the basic editing and results in a slightly more "artsy" photo than the standard "original" or "more real" photo. This style of editing is usually reserved for the portrait style photos vs the action shots.
The basic/light editing is when the photos are processed through Adobe Lightroom only, and while the photos are still touched up and edited, the editing is far less intensive and in depth compared to the highly edited/artistic photos. All agility photos will come with this type of editing.
Do I get to choose which photos I get in a mini-shoot package?
Absolutely! You have two options when it comes to the final photos.
If you prefer a bit more mystery and look forward to being surprised at the final photos, I am able to select some of my personal favourites from the collection of photos taken and edit those up according to the number of photos received in a package. After that has been done, I will upload them to a collection gallery on the website (alongside the unedited photos that did not exactly make my "top picks") and you will receive a link to view the folder. If you decide that you would have preferred a different photo, I will happily go back and edit that one instead of what I have selected.
If you would like to choose your own photos straight off the bat and aren't too concerned with any surprises, I will upload all of the unedited raw photos to a collection gallery where you will be able to choose the ones that you would like to be a) highly edited and b) lightly edited, and we will go from there.
Either way, you will be a part of the process!
In What format do I receive my images?
All images will be provided as the default .jpg files; however, if you are printing the photos to frame or add to a canvas, please let me know and I will send through the larger, high quality .png files too.
The .png files are what I would recommend be used for any printing.
And just an FYI, all going well, I am hoping to add the option to get a photo printed straight from the website in the future. So, watch this space!
Are the prices per image on top of a sitting fee?
You may notice in our Prices section that there is a "single edited photo" for $12.00. This is completely different to the mini-shoot. The mini-shoot is dedicated to you and your dogs, whereas the single edited photo is generally if you have found in an agility album a portrait shot of your dog that you'd like to have edited further than the basic light-touch editing used for agility shots, then this editing will cost you a bit extra as opposed to the "single photo" option.
I hope that is a bit clearer?
Event Mini Shoot vs Standard "on location" auckland mini shoot?
Which mini shoot package do you opt for here? Well, first off, you need to ask yourself - Am I going to an Dog Spots Event? If the answer is "YES", then the Event mini shoot packages will apply to you. This is because the event mini shoot packages are based on the premise that I will be on location at the event myself, so there's no extra travel needing to be arranged. We simply find a time when we're both not running our dogs where we can find a nice area of the event to do some pretty photographs.
The "On Location" Auckland mini shoots are basically for those weekends when I am free and available in Auckland. They will have some travelling involved as we'll aim to meet up at a mutual location for photos so we also need to consider things like petrol costs and time etc. Hence the price differences!
How Long are the mini shoot sessions?
I have no time limit put aside for mini shoot sessions; I am happy to shoot as long as is needed to ensure that you have a sufficient amount of photos to choose from to meet the minimum amount of photos for a package.
If this is an event mini shoot, it may require us to have multiple smaller sessions throughout the day as I understand it can be quite time sensitive when we're all out there running our dogs; or we can opt for a longer session at the end of the day. The choice is up to you. But, I never want you or your dogs to feel rushed. Sometimes, we have to be patient to capture those beautiful moments!