What to expect.

Before: How to prepare for your photo shoot

1. Share your ideas. If you have a vision for the end result, share it with me. I keep an active Pinterest Board of photos to try on my next shoot.

2. Know what you want, but be open to an interactive conversation with me.

3. Ask me anything! I want to ensure you are comfortable with the process from beginning to end. Please note if you don’t hear back from me right away your message is in que and will be answered between my business hours MON-FRI (9:00 AM- 4:00 PM PST) I deal with a high volume of clients and inquiries and I appreciate your patience with this.

4. Plan accordingly. This goes for your wardrobe as well. Dress to flatter, not to distract. Let's work together on some options.
   -SIDE NOTE: We are often shooting in remote locations or spaces that do not have change room or bathroom access. Please be prepared to change in your vehicle or outside if necessary.

5. Understand the process. It is the clients responsibility to familiarize themselves with Elite Ambitions Instagram, Facebook, and webpage gallery to understand the theme and artistic style of how photos are shot and edited. Client understands that their package will be similar to the style presented on Elites social media AND online gallery, Elite Ambitions is an established brand with a defined aesthetic and as such is indicative of what will be delivered from your shoot. Elite retouches and enhances facial areas, corrects skin texture/continuity, clarity, colours and lighting. Professional standards are integral to the Elite brand and all photos will be edited with this standard.

6. Choosing Location. This is something that we will do together. Once you’ve reviewed my Pinterest board and/or have shown me images that you were looking to re-create or capture a similar vibe of, I will be able to give you a list of locations that we have available to us. I will make my recommendation based on the composition of the references you send me. Sometimes thankfully we have access to certain spaces for free, some do charge by the hour because they are totally separate entities from Elite. If we are shooting in the spring summer or fall season, we always have access to utilizing creative outdoor locations for free. Below is a list of indoor venues available for rent in Kelowna;

   1. THE FILM FACTORY: this studio in downtown Kelowna has a white cyclorama wall, and can accommodate rentals through Elite Ambitions Photography on an hourly rate. Please check out their venue here

   2. THE SPEAK EAZY BOUDOIR LOUNGE: this studio is on the west side, located approximately seven minutes across the bridge. It comes with an array of seductive and moody vibes, like a typical old fashion speakeasy. Please check out their venue here

   3. PEERSPACE LISTINGS: Peerspace is like an AIRBNB app for studio rentals. There are multiple venues listed in Kelowna on an hourly rental basis. You book directly through the app by making an account. Venues available on peerspace can be found here

   4. THE FLAMINGO ROOM: Open concept and industrial style space in downtown Kelowna. View and book the space here

   5. VINTAGE KELOWNA LOFT: In the heart of downtown Kelowna there is a vintage loft with a unique pattern floor and colourful radiators that add an element of sass to your gallery. Below are a few photos of the space; if you’re interested in booking it let me know and I will request it if it’s available. It is a very affordable hourly rate rental for this space.

   6. ELITE AMBITONS STUDIO: Currently under renovations. Thank you for your patience with this: the studio room will be available again estimated Oct 2024.

   If you are booked with me on a travel destination location (anywhere outside Kelowna), I always book and provide a venue. I will be in contact with you a few weeks before your shoot to discuss which venue I have booked from my arrival to your city.

   If you are booked with me, locally in KELOWNA, I will always be in contact with you a few days before your shoot. Please keep in mind that I am an extremely busy individual. Over planning your shoot and being in constant contact for weeks prior is not necessary. It’s OK to be nervous and excited in the planning process, but keep your trust in me. You booked with me for a reason!

7. To Do Checklist. Your skin will be easier to retouch if you’re freshly shaven and moisturized with lotion prior to your shoot. Ensure your nails are freshly done, or left bare and natural. Cracked and chipped nails/old polish is not photogenic. This counts for toenails as well. If you’re wanting hair and make-up done by a professional make sure you book it and make them well aware of your shoot time to ensure you’re not late. FOR A LIST OF REPUTABLE SERVICE PROVIDERS PLEASE CLICK HERE.

8. Spray Tans. THIS IS THE FASTEST WAY TO RUIN YOUR SHOOT. (Self tanner falls into this category as well) Bad spray tans are not only time consuming and impossible to edit, but the colours can go severely orange, green, or red in photoshop leaving a very unnatural and uneven edit to your skin. I have seen so many awful spray tans that it is my general advice to avoid getting one unless you absolutely have too, or have a very trusted tech. (Please contact me for a list of trusted and approved techs) If you decide that you can’t live without one, you must get your spray tan 2-3 days before your shoot and wash it off before hand to avoid unfixable inconsistencies around your joints, palms and skin fold areas.

During your session

1. Arrive on time. This goes for me, too! The scheduled time starts at the booked shoot time, so please arrive in your first look so we can get started upon meeting at the set location. If you’re not arriving in your first look and prefer to change into it quickly on set, please ensure that you’re in loose fitting clothing. This helps to reduce the amount of lines or indents on your body (please remove all watches and hair ties from wrist as well). If you arrive more than 20 minutes late to your shoot it will be considered cancelled and your deposit will not be returned. (PLEASE Bring a small amount of oil to apply to your skin.)

2. Breathe. It is sometimes nerve-racking to be in front of the camera so remember to take your time and relax. Don't worry, I'll guide you through where to look, and how to pose to look your best. I GOT YOU!

3. Communicate. I like to keep things pretty light. Talk to me if something is on your mind. I really do want to know.

4. Keep it real. Bringing positive energy with real expressions will show in the results.

5. Have fun. Maybe this one should go first. The more you look like you're enjoying yourself, the better the images will be. I will be posing and directing you the whole shoot so there is no pressure for you to come up with posing ideas. I GOT THIS!

After your photography session

1. Delivery. I will send your raw gallery the same evening of your shoot for you to begin reviewing.

2. Review. Once you have the images, pick out your favorites that you want to have edited! I love feedback and honest reporting on your images and which ones you love the most. Additional edits may take place based on your request!

3. Final Gallery. Once you send me the selected images you want edited I will have you the polished edits within 7 business days!

4. Posting. When sharing your images on social media platforms, please make sure to tag Elite Ambitions Photography. Please use and post only your high resolution downloads, if you screenshot and post the resolution and quality of the photo looks extremely poor and I will ask you to correct it! We didn’t do all that work for nothing right?! MOST IMPORTANTLY please do not modify your own images, I can always tell when an image has been altered on a mobile app, and I will not repost it to my page. If you want some thing changed, please reach out to me!

5. Referrals. The greatest compliment you can give is to tell your friends and family about me or to book another shoot. I've had many repeat clients over the years and a long-standing relationship is my goal.

How to pick the best images to be edited:

1. Make sure your eyes are open, facial expression is on point, and if it is a full body image that your limbs aren’t cut off anywhere!

2. Make sure you are crisp and in focus; sometimes the camera can back focus. Make sure that the flash fired and lit you appropriately if we were using flash.

3. Don’t shy away from picking images because of acne, cellulite, rolls or bulge. So much can be corrected in photoshop! Ask me if you need clarification on anything.

4. Choose a variety of different poses. You want a diverse and unique gallery right? Don’t pick 3 photos where you’re essentially in the same pose but you turned your head an inch. Push your comfort zone and pick something different!

5. Give me the ELIT# of the ones you want edited and please remember; don’t take longer than 5 days to pick!

DISCLAIMER: If you send me image numbers that I do not think are BEST to edit from your gallery I reserve the right to swap them out with others to provide you with the best quality gallery possible. Letting clients choose images is something NEW that I am trying, but ultimately my name and art is attached to these photos and I hold them accountable to a certain standard of work. Elite Ambitions Photography is an established brand with a defined aesthetic and having these professional standards are integral to the brand.