Frequently Asked Questions About Our Professional Photography Services

The retainer fee is non-refundable. Make your photography session a priority and clear your schedule. If you are a team representative, I encourage you to alert your team of your shoot date and book out if necessary. A cancellation will result in a retainer fee forfeiture.

Rescheduling is permitted if the request is made at least 48 hours prior (firm) to the start of your scheduled appointment. One rescheduled request is permitted.

Please be on time, as there may be clients scheduled after you. You are encouraged to map out the shoot location in advance and plan for traffic delays. Your shoot will start and end at the scheduled time regardless of the late arrival of the client. The retainer fee will be forfeited if your appointment is missed.

I shoot Sunday through Friday, and I’m typically available three to four weeks out from the current date. No appointments are available on Saturday.

For our portrait sessions, you'll receive a photography proof gallery featuring between 25 to 40 professionally edited images. From this selection, you can choose your favorites for delivery, ensuring that you only pay for the images you love. If you find additional images that you’d like to keep, we offer the option of purchasing them for $75 each. Event photography gallery includes between 40 and 75 images  of the very best photos to summary the entire event.

I will shoot until we capture the perfect shot of you. This ranges between 10-15 photos per look and a total of 30 to 40 images per proof selection gallery.

You can pay your non-refundable deposit during booking or I will send a payment request to you via email invoice.

Absolutely! At Tomiko's Photography, we believe in making our services accessible to everyone. That’s why we offer AfterPay as a convenient payment option. Once you book your session and pay the initial deposit, you can choose to settle the remaining balance through AfterPay or a customized payment plan tailored to your needs. Enjoy capturing your special moments without the stress of upfront costs!

You may schedule multiple shoot days; however, each session will be billed separately at the full rate. If hairstyling or shaving is a concern you will be allowed a reasonable amount of time to make changes between looks.

Yes, I’m currently working with talent age 1 and up. A timed shoot (45 minutes) is offered to young performers ages 1-14.

Phone consultations are available by request. If you’re unaware of how to prepare for your shoot or you’re not sure what you should wear, a consultation is encouraged

I do not offer refunds or reshoots. You will be allowed to see my work periodically during the shoot to make sure your photos fit your needs, and to be certain your hair, makeup, and wardrobe are what you envisioned. Be honest and speak your mind.

Retainers and appointments are non-transferable to a third party.

Yes. I do photograph groups.

An in-studio makeup artist is highly encouraged. I recommend hiring one of my preferred makeup artists. If you opt for self-application or hire an outside makeup artist, there could be noticeable inconsistencies with your finished photos and the photos you see in my website gallery.

Our primary goal is to enhance your natural features as opposed to changing them. We accomplish a natural look with light handed application of concealer and foundation to even skin tone and mask blemishes. Light powder is used to prevent shining and avoid the appearance of oily skin. For acting headshots an in-studio makeup artist will also be able to provide makeup changes between looks to ensure your makeup look matches your character types. For example, an elegant leading lady makeup looks versus a law enforcement makeup look.

No. Your assigned start time is when makeup application begins. If you decline to hire a makeup artist through me, you should arrive at your shoot hair and makeup ready.

Yes. A makeup artist provided by my studio can be dismissed prior to the completion of your shoot or hired to stay for the entire session.

The studio opens 10 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment. Ample time for unpacking and prepping is calculated into your shoot.

The studio is available by appointment only, two miles from downtown Birmingham, Alabama in Avondale, Alabama.

Each look will take about 30 minutes to complete. This does not include time for makeup application.

A look is the combination of a background change and a wardrobe change. Adding a jacket, removing a necktie, or adding glasses is not considered a new look.

Yes, please bring your clothing steamer to the studio.

You will receive a link to an online proof gallery of your photos within 2-4 business days after your shoot. Your online gallery will be viewable for 15 days.

Turnaround time for your retouched photos is currently 7 days. Your finished photos will be sent to you electronically through a file transfer email service. I will include print size and web size files in your transfer. Print size files are too large to send through standard email. I will also include a print release document in your transfer. This document is required by a select few printing companies if you’re having prints made.

Retouching is a careful edit of your photo. My goal is to keep all edits subtle, making sure that you look like your photo once my work is complete. This could include removal of skin blemishes, removal of flyaway hairs, slight teeth whitening, eye enhancement, and image color adjustments. A retouching preview will be sent to you for approval once my work is complete.

Yes, I offer professionally retouched image for each purchased photo. Additional photos can be purchased and retouched for $75 each.

Retouching is optional but highly recommended for a photo that you intend to use on professional platforms or social media.

Yes. Tattoo removal is quoted on a case-by-case basis starting at $10/photo.

Your shoot will take place during rain or shine. However, there may be a need for postponement if we’re experiencing an extreme weather event.

Actors should bring items that are consistent with character types you want to portray. Business professionals should bring work attire. An item that you love might not photograph well, so make sure you have lots of options. I recommend that you bring two to three wardrobe options for each look that you have purchased. Avoid tops with logos, slogans, or writing that could pull attention away from your eyes in the image.

Yes, feel free to create a playlist on Spotify and we can play your favorites on our sound system during your shoot.

I am the owner of the photos. I retain ownership simply to protect both of us from commercial misuse of the image. For example, a company or individual cannot take any photo that I have captured and place that photo on a product that is for sale, or on any other form of advertisement. The photographer and the subject must give consent and be compensated for this type of use of the image.

When it comes to printing your photos, I highly recommend ordering prints directly from Tomiko’s Photography through your personal online gallery. This ensures that your images are handled by reputable printing companies located in Atlanta, New York, and Los Angeles, which specialize in high-quality layout and printing. These professionals understand the nuances of photography and will deliver the best possible results for your images.

I advise against using pharmacies or document printing companies for your high-resolution photos, as they often lack the specialized equipment and expertise required for nuanced photography prints. Investing in quality prints is essential to preserving the beauty and detail of your images, so choosing a dedicated printing solution will make all the difference in showcasing your memories

I do not accept client requests to publish/post finished photos or promotional materials to my website or social media platforms. Photos that I publish are randomized and infrequent. I’m also unable to make agency referrals for clients seeking talent representation. If you are seeking talent representation, I’m happy to share a few helpful web resources with you.