Frequently Asked Questions
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General Questions
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Current Office hours:
Monday 9am-3pm
Tuesday 1pm-5pm
Wednesday 9am-3pm
Thursday: Closed
Friday: 1pm-5pm
Saturday - Sunday: ClosedCurrent Studio hours: By Appointment Only
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Start by reaching out for a consultation where we’ll discuss your vision and I can share more about how my processes work. However, a consultation is not required.
To secure your session, a signed contract and retainer fee are required. Everything is handled easily online. -
Yes! I understand that professional photography is an investment and I offer flexible and customized payment options to make the process stress-free. Simply ask and we will do our best to accommodate.
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Yes! All sessions with Liz Cook Photography include high-resolution digital images delivered via an online gallery for easy downloading and sharing.
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Soft, neutral tones with quiet patterns and textures all photograph beautifully and keep the focus on your family. I offer wardrobe guidance and access to my curated studio wardrobe as needed.
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I offer maternity, newborn, milestone, family, individual portraits and business head shots in my studio, providing a timeless and classic setting.
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Most sessions last between 45 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the type of session and the number of participants.
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Each session includes a pre-session consultation, access to my studio wardrobe, professional photography and posing guidance, and an online gallery with high-resolution digital images.
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Absolutely! I will gently guide you into natural, relaxed moments rather than stiff poses. My goal is to create a comfortable atmosphere where you can focus on connecting with your loved ones—often forgetting the camera is even there.
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Our Scheduling Policies are as follows:
Newborn Sessions and Baby Milestone Sessions are scheduled on weekday mornings between 9am-1pm.
Indoor Maternity and Family Sessions are scheduled on weekdays and weekends in the early afternoon.
Outdoor Maternity Sessions are scheduled in evenings during the hour before sunset.
Mini Sessions (Fall Family Mini Sessions, The Santa Experience, etc.) information is sent to current email newsletter subscribers. To stay informed and for first access to these opportunities, please subscribe to our email newsletter.
Birth and Fresh48 Sessions are flexible in nature but I only secure one Birth client and two Fresh48 sessions during limited months, so please inquire as early as possible to secure your estimated due date. Retainer fees are refundable until you reach your second trimester.
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At this time, the procedure is to wait until approximately 2 hours prior to your scheduled outdoor session time before discussing rescheduling or canceling your session. This is due to Virginia's extremely unpredictable weather patterns. Unless we are in the midst of hurricane season or there is a storm traveling across the country, this is the way we usually handle undesirable weather.
If the weather forecast is undesirable for your session, your options are:
Select and secure a rain date before deciding to move forward with rescheduling. We won't reschedule if we cannot find a new date and time that works for both parties.
Shoot in the rain. This option is only available if there is a light drizzle outside. The studio has clear umbrellas available for use and we can make the most of the unique opportunity.
Move your session inside the studio. This is typically my last go-to option as the studio provides a completely different look than an outdoor session. However, it has happened that we start inside but the rain clears and we have been able to move the session outside for two different looks.
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Because of the nature of my job, and the exposure I have to brand new babies, I ask that if ANYONE in your family is sick, that you not bring them to your session. I work extremely hard to ensure that my home and studio remain free of germs and sickness, and take very seriously the health and safety of the newborns & babies that arrive in my studio.
If you need to reschedule due to a sick family member who would otherwise be present in your final pictures, there is no charge. Please try to let me know within at least 12hrs, if not 24hrs, of your session time.
Maternity Session FAQs
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The ideal time for a maternity session is between 28-34 weeks when your baby bump is beautifully rounded, and you are still comfortable enough to enjoy the session.
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Of course! I encourage partners and siblings to join in, as these sessions celebrate the entire family’s excitement and anticipation.
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I will work closely with you to finalize a wardrobe selections for each person who will be a part of your session. I recommend soft, flowy dresses and fitted gowns to highlight your bump beautifully. You’ll also have access to my studio wardrobe for a stress-free experience.
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Maternity sessions can be held outdoors during golden hour for dreamy lighting or in my studio for a cozy, intimate feel. The choice is yours!
Newborn Session FAQs
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Since due dates are unpredictable, I reserve flexible dates around your estimated delivery. Once your baby arrives, we’ll finalize the session date, ideally when your baby is 10-14 days old.
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Most Newborn sessions are held in my cozy studio, designed for comfort and natural light. If you prefer an at-home lifestyle session, I can accommodate that as well.
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Depending on your session selection, Newborn sessions typically last 1.5 to 3 hours, allowing time for feeding, soothing, and capturing those sweet, sleepy moments.
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Newborns and little ones are unpredictable, and that’s okay! I allow plenty of time for feeding, soothing, and breaks. My sessions are designed to be calm and baby-led, ensuring a stress-free experience for everyone.
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This is no problem at all. I understand that babies have their own timelines and always reserve space on my calendar for these situations. We will adjust as needed to ensure a perfect session.
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Absolutely! Siblings, parents and even grandparents are invited to be a part of our Newborn Signature and Newborn Lifestyle sessions. These early moments are just as special for parents and siblings.
Family Session FAQs
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Family sessions are best scheduled during golden hour (early morning or before sunset) for soft, flattering light. I also offer indoor studio sessions for a cozy, timeless feel.
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Don’t worry! I take a relaxed, playful approach to help children feel at ease, capturing genuine moments of connection and joy. If you have a child who simply refuses to be a part of the portrait experience (while this is extremely rare, it has happened once or twice), we can discuss additional options after your session is complete.
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Absolutely! I can offer recommendations based on your vision, whether it's a scenic outdoor location, a cozy at-home session, or my studio.
As you hopefully see from my work, I love to shoot at the field near the studio, indoor at the studio, as well as a few local venues.
However, I am open to travel for $1 per mile for locations outside of a 20 mile radius from zip code 24551.
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Coordinating neutral and soft tones photograph beautifully. I will provide guidance as well as a style guide to help you feel confident and put together well before your session begins.
Birth Photography FAQs
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Birth photography is the art of capturing your entire birth experience. From labor and delivery to your baby’s first kisses, snuggles and meeting family members... imagine those all encompassed in a photojournalistic and unobtrusive manner.
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Due to the unpredictability of birth, the cost reflects the service you receive as well as the time invested by me as your photographer. I will be on call for a month surrounding your due date, keeping my schedule clear of all travel plans. $500 is due at booking to reserve your on-call month. All pricing is subject to Virginia's 5% sales tax for Virginia residents.
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I arrive at your birth once active labor has started (about 5-6cm dilated) and stay until the baby is all clean and settled into your arms, usually a few hours after delivery.
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Absolutely. It is vital that we meet and you are comfortable with my presence during your birth. If we find that our personalities are not a good match, I am happy to recommend other local photographers.
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I ask that I am given as much notice as possible of impending labor (showing any signs at all) so that I can begin making arrangements for childcare, but I understand births happen at all hours of the day or night. You can call or text me at any time and I will be there as soon as possible, even if it is at 2am!
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I understand. If this is a big concern of yours, of course I am happy to respect your comfort level (which is of upmost importance during labor). We can talk in person about this and your limitations. I will be as honest as possible about whether or not I will feel your limits may restrict the outcome of your birth session.
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Emotions. Moments. The story. Prior to your birth, we will discuss what you are comfortable with me photographing. Don't worry, I won't get that shot if you don't want me to. This is something we'll nail down before you go into labor!
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There is a lot of activity surrounding a c-section that creates a story worth being told through photographs! I will come with you to the hospital and can catch all of the going on's as you prepare to enter the OR. If I am unable to join you in the OR, I will send my camera in with your parter (I will put the camera on auto). Once you are in recovery and reunited with your baby, I will continue to capture your birth story as you enjoy your first moments holding and snuggling with your new baby. I will process and deliver all of the images (even those taken by your partner).
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I will do my absolute best to be at your labor despite not being on-call. If I am able to come, I will of course be sensitive to the situation at hand and capture as much as I possibly can. If I were to miss your birth, it is possible to use your birth photography investment as a credit towards a newborn session, or any other type of portrait session.
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I encourage all serious inquiries to reserve their estimated due month with me as soon as they know they want to book me as their birth photographer. Your retainer fee remains refundable until you reach your second trimester. If something were to happen with your pregnancy during the second or third trimester that prevents me from fulfilling the services you reserved, your retainer fee can be forwarded dollar-to-dollar to another service or product of your choice. This credit will not expire.
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If I were to miss your birth during the time in which I am on-call (within 2 weeks of your EDD), you can use your birth photography investment as a credit towards any other type of baby or family session I offer.
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Please call or text me as soon as something begins to happen. This gives me a good heads up to prepare childcare for my children. Once you are in active labor, have your partner keep in touch with me and I will come right over as soon as I can.
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No way. Birth is beautiful and intimate, but there are plenty of images I can use on the internet to display the beauty of birth without showing nudity of any kind. That said, there may be a time after the birth when I ask if I can lay a blanket over you or the baby to help to keep the images conservative, but this is a very rare occurrence. If you decide you do not want any of your images shared publicly, I will absolutely respect your wishes for privacy.
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7 days before and 21 days after your due date - for a total of four weeks.
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Typically I stay for about 2hrs or so after delivery. This usually gives us enough time to capture all of the tiny events that occur during early postpartum wrapping up with you settling into your alone time with your baby. I will ask before I leave if there are any other photos you would like me to take to make sure you are comfortable with my departure time.
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You will receive a few of the best images of your baby in email within 48 hours of the birth. The rest will be delivered through a digital download approximately 30 days after the baby's birthday.
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I will assess the situation and make a decision in the moment. Most likely I will stick around for some time either until the situation has passed or until someone is able to update me. Then, I can use my experience to judge what my next step should be.
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I use all professional-grade equipment from the Canon line. I do have an external flash and I bring it with me to births, but I don’t often use it. I love to capture the true atmosphere of births to help tell an accurate picture story of your experience.
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Birth photography is not for everyone and I understand that! However, I would absolutely recommend booking some sort of baby photo session to capture these fleeting moments. A hospital session the day after your baby is born is a great substitute for birth photography. I do get asked from time to time to help potential clients choose between a hospital or at-home newborn session. Both session types have their own benefits, but if I had to choose, I would pick a hospital session, hands down. Those are memories that can never be recaptured and you cannot book a hospital session on a whim after you deliver. An in-home newborn session at two weeks or two months can always be scheduled after you are released from the hospital and can be similar. However, capturing the short season of your hospital stay and those first hours (literally) of your baby's life is a priceless investment you won't regret choosing.