About Jessi
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@JessicaArdenPhoto

I'm on a mission to make family photos fun again.

My clients are my priority. I’ll do everything I can to make your experience of working with me an enjoyable one. I will guide you on your way through the journey. And we will make some amazing images while we are at it.

Step 1

SCHEDULE YOUR SESSION

In order to reserve your date, you will sign some paperwork and pay a session fee of $295. If we haven’t already, the easiest way to compare calendars is for you to email or call me with a few dates that work for your family – I always try to be as flexible as possible, and once we find a date, I will send over your invoice and get you on the books. As you pull out your calendar, here are a few things to consider:

  • Given the beautiful colors and incredible weather, spring and fall are busy seasons for outdoor family photos in North Carolina. If you’d like a session during one of those times (ESPECIALLY if you want a weekend spot), please get in touch as soon as possible!
  • If you have a particular date or holiday by which you need prints or gifts (Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Hanukkah, Christmas, etc.), be sure to book a date at least one month in advance of that date to ensure sufficient processing and printing time.
  • Babies and young children are almost all happiest in the morning, which just happens to also be a great time of day for beautiful light. If you have children under five years old, I encourage you to consider a morning session.
  • If you are all grown-ups and/or would prefer the afternoon, I suggest golden hour or about 1.5 hours before sunset.
  • Beautiful photographs can be made in any kind of weather, but I understand that there are some downsides to being photographed in the pouring rain or the freezing cold. I can and do reschedule sessions for inclement weather, but I always love to photograph in my clients’ homes.

    • Step 2

    THE SESSION ITSELF

    Once we’ve decided on a time and date and officially put your session on the books, I’ll send you a getting ready guide that will walk you through everything from choosing outfits to strategies for getting kids to cooperate. That guide has been created and refined over years of experience, so it typically answers 90% of the questions that come up, but I’m always happy to set up a time to chat if you want additional help.

    A few days before our session is scheduled, I’ll reach out to confirm our time and location… at that point, if the forecast is questionable or someone seems to be coming down with something, we can talk about our rescheduling options. Otherwise, that’s the perfect time to ask any last-minute questions or let me know if you’ve come up with a fun idea we haven’t discussed.

    The day of the session, please block off 2-2.5 hours for your session. Typically we’re done within 90 minutes or so, but I don’t charge by the hour, so if there’s some kind of wardrobe malfunction or child meltdown, I like to stay flexible.

    Finally, take a breath and relax… I promise to give the grown-ups (and kids) breaks throughout the session as needed, and to make it as painless as possible for everyone involved. If it would ease tensions to crack open a beer before I arrive – or better yet, serve mimosas with breakfast – well then I say go for it!

    Step 3

    THE FUN PART

    Within just a couple of weeks of your session, you’ll receive an email from me letting you know that your photos are ready. Once you’ve had a chance to see them and marvel for a bit, you’ll let me know which collection you want to purchase. After that, you’ll have a full month to select the specific digital files and print items you want to use to fill that collection… zero pressure! If you’re like me and like to see and feel things like album covers and paper types in person, I have samples of all the physical products I offer at my home studio, and I’m more than happy to set up a time to have you come by. Dreaming up wall galleries and incorporating photography into your home’s aesthetic is honestly one of my favorite parts of the job!

    Collection C

    Collection A

    Collection B

    $750

    $1200

    $975

    photo of an adorable baby girl laying on a bed, located in Charlotte, North Carolina.
    A portrait of a father cradling his newborn baby son in his hands. Located in Charlotte, North Carolina.
  • Pre-session phone consultation
  • Family session prep guide
  • choice of 30 high resolution digital files with print release
  • $300 gift credit good toward your choice of anything in the gallery store: prints, frames, albums, digital files, etc.
  • Pre-session phone consultation
  • Family session prep guide
  • A complete set of high resolution digital files with print release
  • $700 gift credit good toward your choice of anything in the gallery store: prints, frames, albums, etc.
  • Pre-session phone consultation
  • Family session prep guide
  • choice of 15 high resolution digital files with print release
  • $150 gift credit good toward your choice of anything in the gallery store: prints, frames, albums, digital files, etc.

    • What you’re going to do with your images is perhaps the most important aspect to consider when you’re planning for a photo session, but it’s all too often the aspect that’s overlooked…

    all that time and money invested deserve a better return than photos gathering dust on a hard drive somewhere. You must print your photos. You’ll never get the same feeling looking at your photos on a screen as you will seeing them on your wall or flipping through the pages of an album, so I include a substantial print credit with every collection. Below is a sample of some of the items you can choose among.

    PROFESSIONAL LAB PRINTS

    CANVAS PRINTS

    FRAMED PRINTS