Frequently Asked Questions

Start by filling out my contact form or emailing hello@emilyfinger.com. I'll send over my pricing guide and we can hop on a call or exchange emails to make sure we're a good fit. Once you're ready, I'll send a contract and invoice through my client portal — your date is reserved once the retainer is paid. No pressure, and I'm happy to answer questions along the way.

Yes — a non-refundable retainer is required to book your date. For most sessions it's 50% of your collection total, and for weddings it's a $2,000 retainer with the remaining balance due 30 days before the wedding. This holds your date on my calendar and lets me start planning your experience.

I accept credit cards, debit cards, ACH bank transfers, and checks. All payments are processed securely through my client portal. Payment plans are available for wedding collections — just ask and we'll set up a schedule that works for you.

Senior portrait sessions start at $1,500, branding collections start at $1,500, equestrian sessions start at $1,200, and wedding collections start at $6,500. Every service includes planning, professional hair & makeup, and a curated gallery. For the full pricing guide, fill out my contact form or email hello@emilyfinger.com.

Yes — every session and wedding includes a contract that outlines what's included, our timeline, payment terms, and my policies. It protects both of us and keeps everything clear. I'll walk you through it before signing.

Every session starts with hair and makeup, outfit finalization, and a quick chat about what we're going for. Then we head to our location and I guide you through every pose and expression. You don't need to know how to model — that's my job. I'll tell you where to put your hands, how to angle your chin, when to laugh. Most clients tell me they were nervous beforehand and couldn't stop laughing ten minutes in.

After you book, I'll send a style guide with outfit inspiration tailored to your session type, location, and time of year. We'll also have a styling consultation where we plan every look together. I recommend 2-4 outfits — a mix of dressy, casual, and something uniquely you. You'll also have access to my client closet with jackets, accessories, and statement pieces to pull from.

Yes — professional hair and makeup is included with every senior, wedding, and branding session. It sets the tone for the day and makes a real difference in how confident you feel in front of the camera. For senior sessions, moms are welcome to get a blowout or touch-up too if they'd like to jump in for mother-daughter portraits.

Yes! For senior sessions, I love when moms come along — they often jump in for a few portraits together. Best friends are welcome too and it makes the session more relaxed. For branding sessions, team members are welcome if group photos are part of your brand strategy. I just ask that we keep the group small so we stay focused.

It depends on the session type. Senior portrait sessions run 2-2.5 hours including hair and makeup. Branding sessions range from 1-3 hours depending on your collection. Equestrian sessions are usually 1.5-2 hours. Wedding day coverage is 8 hours in most collections with options to add more. I keep things relaxed — no rushing.

Senior, branding, and equestrian galleries are delivered within 2-3 weeks. Wedding galleries take 6-8 weeks due to the volume of images. I'll send a few sneak peeks within 48 hours so you have something to hold you over. All galleries are delivered through an online proofing platform where you can view, download, favorite, and share.

It varies by session type, but you'll always receive a curated gallery. Senior sessions deliver 60-80 images, branding collections 30-60+, equestrian sessions 40-60, and wedding galleries 500-800+ depending on coverage hours. I cull carefully — every image in your gallery is one I'm proud of. No duplicates, no filler.

Yes — I offer fine art prints, framed pieces, gallery wraps, and custom-designed heirloom albums through a professional print lab. The quality compared to consumer printing is a different world — archival paper, true-to-color calibration, and finishes that last generations. Wedding album collections range from $1,200 to $1,700. I'll walk you through the options during your reveal and ordering appointment.

Every collection includes a personal print release, so you can print and share your images however you'd like — social media, holiday cards, wall art. I retain the copyright (standard in the industry), but you have full personal use rights. I may use select images from your session for my portfolio and marketing with your permission.

Every image is professionally edited for color, exposure, and polish in my signature bright and colorful style. I do light skin retouching on close-ups — evening out skin tones, removing temporary blemishes, softening under-eye circles. I never over-edit or make you look like someone else. Additional retouching like body sculpting or background swaps is available as an add-on.

You don't have to figure this out alone. After you book, we'll have a styling consultation where we plan every outfit together. I recommend 3-4 looks — a mix of dressy, casual, and something that's just very you. You'll also have access to my client closet with jackets, accessories, and statement pieces. I'll send a style guide with color palette inspiration tailored to your session location and time of year.

Yes — every senior session includes professional hair and makeup on the day of your shoot. You show up, get pampered, and feel confident before we even pick up the camera. It makes a real difference and photographs beautifully. Moms, you're welcome to get a blowout or touch-up too if you'd like to jump in for mother-daughter portraits.

Senior sessions run two to two and a half hours — enough time for professional hair and makeup, 3-4 outfit changes, and multiple locations. No rushing. Sessions include a pre-shoot styling consultation, the full shoot day with hair and makeup, and a reveal and ordering appointment where you choose your favorite images for prints, albums, and digital files. Investment starts at $1,500.

Most seniors book 2-3 months in advance, and fall sessions (September through early November) fill up the fastest. I'd recommend reaching out the spring or summer before your senior year to lock in your preferred date. If you're interested in the Spokesmodel Program, applications open in early spring. If you're booking later, don't worry — I always try to make it work.

On Chicago's North Shore, I shoot in Winnetka, Lake Forest, Highland Park, Wilmette, Evanston, and Glencoe — lakefront parks, downtown streets, gardens, golden-hour fields. In South Florida, we have beautiful beach locations, tropical gardens, and urban backdrops in Tampa and the surrounding area. During your styling consultation, we'll pick locations that match the feel you're going for.

Wedding collections start at $6,500 and include 8 hours of coverage, a second photographer, a complimentary engagement session with professional hair and makeup, an online gallery with print rights, and more. Collections with a custom-designed keepsake album start at $7,750. I also offer engagement and anniversary sessions starting at $1,575 and proposal coverage starting at $975. Reach out for my full pricing guide — I'm happy to build a collection that fits your day.

Yes — I split my time between Chicago's North Shore and South Florida, so weddings in both areas are included with no travel fees. I've photographed at venues like Armour House in Lake Forest, Michigan Shores Club in Wilmette, and Bella Cosa in Florida, among many others. For destination weddings outside these regions, I add travel costs.

Every wedding collection includes a full engagement session with professional hair and makeup and access to my client closet. The session runs 60-90 minutes at a location that's meaningful to you. It's where we get comfortable with each other before the wedding day — by the end, we're friends, not just photographer and client. You'll also walk away with images for your save-the-dates, wedding website, and guest sign-in book.

Most couples book 10-14 months before their wedding date, but I've had couples reach out as early as two years ahead for peak-season Saturdays on the North Shore. If your date is coming up sooner, still reach out — I may have availability. The most important thing is finding a photographer who feels like a genuine fit, so let's chat and see.

I offer rehearsal dinner coverage, bridal portrait sessions, boudoir sessions, extra hours of coverage, and custom-designed heirloom albums ranging from $1,200 to $1,700. I also photograph proposals if your partner is planning something special. Everything is customizable — your day is unique and your collection should reflect that.

Every branding collection includes a pre-session planning call where we map out your brand goals, target audience, and content needs. From there, I build a custom shot list and style guide for you. On session day, professional hair and makeup is included. You'll receive a full library of edited images — working shots, lifestyle portraits, detail shots, flat lays, and environmental images — designed to fuel your website, social media, and marketing for months. Collections start at $1,500, and most clients invest between $2,500 and $3,500.

I handle the heavy lifting. After you book, I'll send a planning questionnaire about your brand, audience, and goals. We'll hop on a call to collaborate on locations, wardrobe, and a shot list tailored to how you actually use images in your business. Bring 2-3 outfit changes and any products, tools, or props that tell your story. By session day, you'll know exactly what to expect.

Most branding sessions run between one and three hours depending on your collection. You'll receive a minimum of 30 fully edited, brand-aligned images, and most clients walk away with 40 to 60 — enough to refresh your website, fill weeks of social content, and update your marketing materials. I also offer add-ons like additional outfit changes and secondary locations if you want to expand your library.

I come to you. Most sessions happen at your barn, training facility, or an outdoor location near your property. I'm based between Florida and Chicago, so I'm most active in Wellington during equestrian season (January through April), throughout Ocala and South Florida, and at barns across the greater Chicago area and upstate New York. If you have a specific location in mind — a field, a historic barn, a beach — I'm happy to travel.

Not at all — I understand the concern. I was an equestrian my whole life, so being around horses is second nature. I know how to move slowly, read body language, and give your horse the time and space they need. I keep sessions calm and quiet. Most horses settle in within the first few minutes once they realize I'm not a threat. Your horse's comfort and safety come first, always.

After booking, I'll send a planning guide covering wardrobe suggestions based on your horse's coloring and the location, grooming tips for session day, and a timeline so you know what to expect. I recommend scheduling during a quieter time at the barn and having a handler present so you can focus on being in the moment. I handle all the creative direction — you just show up and be with your horse.