ICONAPIX
Session FAQ
Pick your kind of shoot, then get clear on what to expect, wear, bring, and leave behind.
What to expect
Sessions are for everyone. Start with the shared notes below, then choose the shoot type that matches your day: portraits, weddings and events, families, or creative work.
Clear prep makes the day calmer. When you are ready, start a conversation below, or browse the gallery for a sense of the work.
For every session
ICONAPIX sessions are for everyone, regardless of gender, identity, relationship, or how you show up. The notes below apply across shoot types.
Who is welcome here?
Everyone. Solo clients, couples, families, chosen family, queer and trans clients, and mixed groups are all welcome. Tell me how you want to be named and framed: pronouns, presentation, and comfort levels. That way the session reflects you, not a default template.
Do you have a studio?
No. I don't run a dedicated studio anymore. Rising real estate and operating costs outweighed the value for how I work. I moved from the city to the country, to a beautiful home with plenty of space and land, which suits the kind of sessions I love far better than a rented room ever did.
Do you travel for sessions?
Yes. I'm based near Kingston in South Frontenac (Perth Road Village) and travel for shoots across different distance bands. See the coverage map on my About page for typical ranges and how travel is handled for each type of session. Share your location when you enquire and we'll confirm what's included.
Do you offer a consultation before the shoot?
Absolutely. I treat it as essential, not an optional extra. Knowing what we're shooting, how we're shooting, and where we're shooting matters. That conversation is where ideas get explored, concepts take shape, and expectations are clear before we pick up a camera.
How far in advance should I book?
As early as you comfortably can, especially for weddings, peak seasons, and weekend dates. Portrait and lifestyle sessions often book a few weeks out; larger events benefit from months of lead time. If your date is flexible, say so when you enquire; that often opens more options.
When will I see my photos?
After the session, images are edited with care and delivered privately behind your client access, not rushed to a public feed. Timing depends on the type of shoot and current workload; you will get a clear expectation when we book. Favourites and downloads live in your private gallery once the set is ready.
What don't you offer?
I don't offer passport or ID photo services. For almost everything else, ask. If it's a fit, we'll figure it out together.
What kind of shoot are you having?
Each type has different prep. Pick one to see the questions that actually apply.
Portrait sessions
Headshots, personal portraits, couples, and character-led sittings: paced, directed lightly, and built around you.
What should I expect on the day?
Arrive a little early if you can, then we ease in with a quick check-in on mood and locations, a few guided frames to settle nerves, and then a natural rhythm. You do not need to perform. Guidance is there when you want it, and quiet when you don’t.
How should I prepare beforehand?
Sleep well, drink water, and keep the morning simple. Choose outfits in advance and steam or iron anything that wrinkles easily. Leave time for hair or grooming so you arrive settled. Share any must-have moments or concerns ahead of time so we can plan for them.
What should I wear?
Wear what feels like you. Solid colours and simple textures usually photograph cleanly; fit matters more than fashion. Layers give options without a full wardrobe change. Coordinate with anyone else in the frame without matching identically. When in doubt, bring a second choice.
What should I bring?
Two or three outfit options that feel like you, plus a simple backup layer. A small personal kit helps: blotting papers or powder if you use them, lip product, a comb or brush, and any essentials you rely on. Optional: one meaningful prop only if it truly belongs in the story.
What should I leave at home?
Skip busy logos, neon colours that fight the light, and heavy accessories that pull focus from faces. Leave bulky bags and anything you will fuss with constantly. Strong fragrance can overwhelm small spaces, so go light. If something makes you self-conscious, choose something you forget you are wearing.
Any tips for makeup wearers?
If you wear makeup, aim for a polished version of your everyday self. Matte or softly finished skin usually photographs more kindly than heavy shine; build colour gradually so it does not look harsh under directional light. Stick to products you already know. If you do not wear makeup, that is equally fine; groomed skin and secure hair (wind happens) are enough.
What should I avoid during the shoot?
Try not to freeze into a “camera face,” and avoid checking your phone between every frame; it breaks the flow. Do not apologise for every expression; small adjustments are normal. Skip drastic last-minute hair experiments or extreme sunburn the day before. Good sessions leave room to breathe.
Weddings & events
Ceremony, celebration, and gathering days, documented with a quiet eye so the day stays yours.
What should I expect on the day?
I work with the timeline, not against it: key moments, quiet in-betweens, and the energy of the room. You will get clear guidance when portraits are planned; during ceremony and celebration I stay present without interrupting the flow.
How should I prepare beforehand?
Share the timeline, venues, and any must-have moments or people early. Assign one point person for day-of questions if you can. Confirm getting-ready locations and outdoor backup plans for weather. The less I am hunting for information mid-day, the more I can stay with the story.
What about outfits and changes?
Wear what the day calls for: formalwear, cultural dress, or whatever feels true to the celebration. You do not need a separate “photo wardrobe.” If there is a planned change, build a little buffer into the timeline so portraits do not feel rushed.
What should vendors / the wedding party know?
Hair and makeup (for anyone who uses them) should finish with enough time that you are not racing into first looks or ceremony. Let key people know when group photos are planned so we are not rounding everyone up twice. A quiet heads-up about family dynamics helps me stay respectful.
Any tips for makeup wearers on a long day?
If you wear makeup, choose a look that lasts under emotion, weather, and dancing; blot rather than constantly reapply heavy layers. Touch-up kits for shine and lips help; avoid products you have never worn before the big day. If you do not wear makeup, plan for comfort and longevity the same way: tissues, balm, and secure hair.
What should I avoid on the day?
Avoid packing the timeline so tight that portraits become a sprint. Try not to hide in phones during key moments you wanted remembered. Skip last-minute venue surprises that change light or access without a backup. Trust the plan you made, then leave room for real moments.
Family sessions
Parents, kids, chosen family, multi-generational groups: honest connection over stiff posing.
What should I expect on the day?
We keep things moving and light. Expect a mix of guided group frames and looser play so expressions stay real. Kids set part of the pace; patience beats perfection. Everyone in the frame matters, including caregivers who usually hide behind the camera.
How should I prepare beforehand?
Feed kids (and adults) before you arrive when you can. Talk briefly about the session so nobody is surprised by a stranger with a camera. Choose a time of day that matches energy levels. Share ages, accessibility needs, or anything that helps me keep the session kind and calm.
What should we wear?
Coordinate without matching identically. A shared colour story photographs better than identical outfits. Comfort wins: clothes people can sit, crouch, and play in. Solids and soft textures usually beat busy logos and neon. Bring a spare top for littles if spills are likely.
What should we bring?
Snacks, water, wipes, and any comfort item that genuinely helps a child settle. A spare layer for weather. Leave piles of toys at home unless one small prop is part of the story; too many options become a distraction.
Any tips for makeup wearers?
If you wear makeup, keep it familiar and durable enough for hugs and outdoor light. Soft finishes usually read better than heavy shine. If you do not wear makeup, you are not underdressed for family photos; tidy grooming and clothes you feel good in are enough.
What should we avoid?
Avoid bribing with phones right before every frame, over-correcting kids mid-laugh, or expecting toddlers to “sit still and smile.” Skip brand-new stiff outfits nobody has worn. Do not apologise for imperfect moments; those are often the keepers.
Creative & personal projects
Editorial ideas, personal narratives, location-led work, and sessions that need room to experiment.
What should I expect on the day?
More collaboration and exploration than a standard portrait loop. We may move locations, try variations, and leave space for instincts. Direction stays clear, but the session can flex when something better appears in the light or the moment.
How should I prepare beforehand?
Share references, mood notes, and non-negotiables early, along with what you are open to improvising. Confirm locations, access, and any permits. Decide whether wardrobe is part of the concept or secondary to place and light.
What should I bring?
Only what serves the idea: planned wardrobe pieces, a change if the concept needs it, and a small comfort kit. Props should earn their place. Travel light enough that gear and bags do not slow the creative rhythm.
What should I leave out?
Leave behind extras that dilute the concept: random outfit swaps “just in case,” unrelated props, and anything you will manage instead of inhabit. If it does not support the story, it stays home.
Any tips for makeup wearers?
If makeup is part of the concept, test it beforehand under similar light when you can. If it is not part of the concept, keep it minimal or skip it. Either way, choose finishes that match the mood (soft and natural, or intentional and graphic) rather than defaulting to “full glam” unless that is the brief.
What should I avoid?
Avoid over-scripting every frame so tightly that nothing spontaneous survives. Do not arrive with an unshared change of concept. Skip experimenting with brand-new products or untested outfits on the day if the look is critical to the project.
Still have a question?
Tell me about the session you have in mind: timing, location, and anything you are unsure about.