“We had so much fun!”

“Courtney beautifully captured the spirit of our energetic family. She was patient, fun spirited and has a very detail oriented eye for capturing the perfect picture! We love the vibrant colors and frequently receive compliments on how gorgeous the pictures are. Thank you for making our session so much fun!”

— A.V.

FAQS

Before-Your-Session FAQS

Q. Where are you located?

A. Courtney is located in Chicago, IL but I travel all over the world! In Chicago, I am currently 100% on-location and come to you. I’m from Madison, Wisconsin so I do get back often for sessions in Southern WI too. Sessions, styling consults and order appointments occur in your home or at a designated meeting spot.

Q. Will you travel to photograph my baby/family/wedding/birth/birthday party/dog’s birthday party?!

A. Yes! Please inquire for more info.

Q. What’s it going to cost me?

A. Newborns and puppies are only newborns once, relationships are sacred and your family is only in THIS moment! You’re at the start of an incredible adventure and a wonderful time to document all of the “new” of your family. We’re all only in THIS moment right now. What I do preserves a moment in your life. By investing in professional photos, you’re investing in your family’s memories and the legacy of your family. Why not give yourself the best experience and high-quality heirloom products to preserve those moments?
The average total investment ranges from $1,000 - $5,000.

Q. What is included in the creative fee?

A. For most portrait sessions, the session fee includes the allotted time for your session plus a set of physical proofs & an artwork investment credit toward products.

Q. Can I just get the digitals?

A. I am a full-service photographer aiming to provide you with an experience from start to finish, which includes high-quality artwork to hang in your home or display in an album. I do recognize the convenience of having a digital file to share online so a social media file is provided with every purchased photograph.

Q. How far in advance do I need to book?

A. Typically this depends on the season, but generally I need about two week’s notice as my schedule fills up quickly. For newborn sessions, I recommend scheduling around your due date, and I make sure to leave wiggle room in my schedule around those sessions due to the unpredictable nature of births! In the slow winter months of January-March, I can typically squeeze sessions in on less notice. In the fall, however, it’s a different story. I recommend scheduling a month in advance, or as soon as you have a date in mind.

Q. Let’s talk style - what do we wear?!

A. I got you! During your pre-session consult, we’ll chat. Then I will send out a quick What-To-Wear guide in your welcome packet, and I can also come to your home for your style consult and you can show me your options. That way, you’ll have nothing to fret on photo day. Your style should shine through in your photos and my number one tip is: you should be comfortable! If you’re not, it will show! Confidence is everything when being photographed - what you wear should make you feel comfortable and amazing! Depending on your session type, you may be able to squeeze in more than one outfit!

Q. What is the best time of day to shoot?

A. Anytime! I typically prefer to photograph in morning or early evening light but every photo session is different. If your session is in-home, we can do anytime. If outdoors, we can still do anytime, but the best lighting is early morning or early evening. Right around sunrise and sunset. Anytime in between will do, though, as I can bring lighting with me if the lighting conditions are not up to my standards.

Q. Where should we shoot?

A. We will discuss this in your consultation but I only photograph on-location. I come to you! Whether that means in your home (100% for newborn sessions) or in a public location that we decide on ahead of time. If there is a certain part of the city that you love or are dying to explore, a place that has meaning to you or just a beautiful park near your home, we’ll discuss those as options too. Unique coffee shops are also great places to shoot!

Q. What happens if I need to reschedule?

A. If you must cancel your session due to illness or other personal emergency, please do your best to provide the studio with 48 hours notice so that your session time can be made available to other clients. Failure to provide adequate notice of a cancellation or multiple rescheduling will result in the forfeiture of your session fees, and another session fee payment will be required to hold your new date.

Q. What do we do if it rains or snows?

A. While I recognize that photographing in the rain may be a terrifying thought, and I’m with you 100% on not wanting to mess up your hair, I’d like you to have an open mind when it comes to your session. If it’s torrential raining, treacherous conditions or severe weather, we will obviously reschedule. But if it’s only a small chance of rain or snow on your photo day, we roll with it. Sometimes the most fun is had and the most magical moments are made in what a lot of people consider “bad weather”. See above!

Q. Can I bring my dog to my session?

A. ABSO-FREAKING-LUTELY! Please do!

Q. What can I expect my photos to look like?

A. While each and every session with CMP is unique and customized to your desires so each session will look different, you can be sure to receive photos that are similar in style with the photos reflected in my portfolio. All of the examples you see on my website are indicative of the photographs you can expect from your own experience with me.

During-Your-Session FAQ’s

Q. Do you help us pose?

A. I do! I aim to make everyone look their best and believe that requires direction and an effort in posing. While I do enjoy the fun nature of candid photos, I also recognize your desire to look great! I consider my style a greater take on photojournalism; candid and emotional yet directed and enhanced so you look your best. I’ll set you up, take a few photos of everyone looking at me but then I switch gears and let you get silly & candid, all while still posed and looking fly! I guide you, then let the magic happen. The in-between moments are often my favorite!

Q. Do you have any tips to help us during our session?

A. I sure do! Before your session, and during our consult, we’ll discuss what kind of photos you’re looking for, and what vision you have in mind for your session. Knowing that, I can customize your session and photograph based on what you’re looking for. Having said that, being comfortable with your photographer is the absolute most important thing in achieving natural photographs. Having fun & being playful and relaxed is the best way to ensure lovely images .

After-Your-Session FAQS

Q. What happens after my photo session?

A. All orders from your session will take place at a special appointment scheduled for two weeks after your session. This appointment will last about one hour, and you will be shown your images in a special presentation. These images will most artistically represent the essence of your family. You will be provided with some recommendations for artwork and keepsakes at your image presentation. Our ordering session will provide you with a vision for what is possible in decorating your home and creating heirlooms with fine art photography and you’ll see & hold samples of the products available.

Q. Do you retouch all photos?

A. Basic retouching is included. I believe you’re beautiful as you are, in this moment. I don’t want to alter your appearance so much and take away from your authentic appearance. Beauty retouching is billed at an hourly rate for removal of braces, digital slimming, wrinkle reduction, head-swapping, etc. Any image that is purchased will be fully retouched to include minor skin smoothing, teeth whitening (if requested) and blemish removal. If there are any characteristics on your skin that you would like removed, please let me know. I do not automatically remove scars, freckles, birth marks, etc.

Referral Program

You're Appreciated!

I hope you love your session so much that you sing about it to all of your friends and family! As a small business, referrals are one of the most valuable and appreciated gestures I can receive. It means the world when you share your experience.

As a sincere thank you for any referral you send my way, you'll be rewarded with studio credit to spend any way you choose. 

Inquire for details.

Policies

Before Your Session

Courtney Laper Photography maintains office hours of 9am to 5pm Monday through Friday. I answer emails and return phone calls throughout every weekday unless I am in a session. To ensure excellent service, please make sure all communications are via email or phone call only.

A pre-session phone consultation will take place prior to booking to discuss your portrait needs and to thoroughly answer any questions you may have about booking a session with Courtney.

The creative fee is due in full at the time of booking, along with your signed contract, in order to guarantee your appointment date and time. Once your payment and contract are received, you can expect a Welcome Kit from me to let you know about outfit ideas & other helpful tips for your session. Optional: After your session is confirmed, I will come to your home (if in Chicago) for a style consult and help you with wall art suggestions, wardrobe concerns, etc.

Your session will begin promptly at the agreed upon time. Please be dressed, made-up, and ready to begin at this time. (Because the session length is predetermined, any additional time required to prepare yourself or children once you’ve arrived will reduce the amount of time we can spend in-session, and further limits the amount of images captured.)

Outdoor/Weather/ Reschedule policy: If your session is scheduled for outdoors, in case of severe weather Courtney reserves the right to postpone the session but no more than two weeks out. I understand that things come up, especially with little ones, so sessions may be rescheduled once by the client. If more than once, the retainer will be forfeited.

After Your Session

I am committed to providing a full-service photography experience, from the initial booking through delivering high quality, heirloom albums and wall galleries. Order sessions are a key part of my process and are therefore required. While I am unable to provide online galleries in lieu of an order session, I am happy to work with you to choose a time for your order session within 2-3 weeks after your photo session. These are typically done in-person but may be done virtually also.

All orders from your session will take place at a special appointment created for this purpose, scheduled for two weeks after your session. This appointment will last one hour, and all individuals who wish to place an order (or have input into your family’s order) are encouraged to attend.

Your image presentation will show approximately 50 images from your session, depending on the nature of your session. These images will most artistically represent the essence of your family.

Once your order is placed and paid for in entirety, your custom art images will be delivered to you within 3 weeks. Please allow extra time for custom creations that may need revisions such as albums & specialty products.

Complimentary social-size files are included with any wall art or album purchases.

Due to the custom nature of the products and services provided by CLP, all sales are final. Items cannot be returned or exchanged. You may add on to your order at any time, but a sale is considered final at the time it is made.

Custom designs, layouts, and albums will be proofed to you within two weeks of your order. You are granted one opportunity to make changes within your layout. All requests for changes must be made at the same time, as only one additional proof will be created. CLP reserves the right to make decisions on artistic layouts.

Printing, copying, downloading or scanning of images without written consent is strictly prohibited.

Payment is due at the finalization of your order. Cash, check & credit cards are accepted. Payment plans are available.

I take the utmost care with respect to the proper exposure, retouching, and archiving of my digital images. In the unlikely event of data loss, camera equipment malfunction, or photographer illness that prevents the undertaking of the session, photographer’s liability will be limited to the refund of all session fees, or a new session can be scheduled at no additional cost to the client.