Frequently Asked Questions

I shoot in all seasons and every season changes the look of the pictures. I work really hard to try and navigate around the rain but sometimes, especially in the fall when the deadline for holiday pictures is fast approaching, we just have to embrace it. We'll grab those rain boots and umbrellas or move the shoot indoors.

Please keep the seasons in mind when you’re scheduling. If you know for a fact you don’t wan to deal with the rain, then let’s schedule you during our beautiful summer months!

• I suggest picking a color palette and then chose clothes for each member of the family that represents that color theme.
• You want to compliment each other without matching. Avoid having your children wear matching dresses, or everyone in a black top and jeans. You want the camera to be able to pick up the definition between everyone in your family.
• Try to have at least one pattern with one or two people in solid colors.
• I love dresses, they add so much movement to pictures!
• Embrace color! Richer, more muted tones with a lot of pigment are best. Wine, plumy, raspberry, mustard yellow, navy, royal blue, kelly green
• For guys, steer clear of narrow stripes or small checked patterns on collared shirts unless they plan to wear a solid color (like a sweater) over it.
• Please avoid shirts with logos, writing or characters on them.
• Layers, boots, scarves and headbands all work well for girls.
• Remember to keep your location in mind so that it looks appropriate for the setting.
• Clothing can add a lot to a session so don’t underestimate how they affect the final product.
• I’ve pinned a few ideas on my Pinterest board (@nicolehartphotography) with some color palettes and dresses that I like so feel free to check it out!

Yes, I do! I usually offer 1-2 mini sessions per year on a prescheduled weekend. Keep an eye out on my social media (facebook & IG pages) for event details. Mini sessions are not available on an individual basis.

Bribes work! I keep stickers among my gear when shooting with children in case they get restless but treats or a little present from Mom & Dad can work wonders in getting your little ones to cooperate. I do recommend leaving any treats out of sight, however, until after our session is over.

Senior photos are best done between July-October of their senior year. I find it helpful to get them done before their after-school activities start to put a strain on their schedule. Also, yearbook deadlines are surprisingly early so don't wait!

(Tip - make sure you check your yearbook deadline before contacting me so we know what our timeline looks like!)

Most of my sessions last anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour. In my experience, I find that children's interest level starts to wane around the 45 minute mark.

Senior sessions can take a bit longer usually 90 minutes to allow for outfit changes.

Newborn sessions usually take about an hour and a half. They can take longer if we have to stop down for a lengthy feeding or extra time to soothe.

The best time to photograph a newborn is within those first three weeks while they are still in that sleepy stage.  

Please note, I am no longer shooting posed newborn sessions at my in-home studio. I now shoot all of my newborn sessions in the comfort of your home. Lifestyle sessions are a more natural, organic approach with a focus on the baby and the family connection. There are no special posing or props involved and baby is dressed or swaddled the entire session.

For family sessions, my calendar is typically reserved 2-6 weeks out, with weekend dates booked 4-6 weeks out usually.  Fall in Oregon is the busiest time of the year, and I typically book up for October & November by early September.

I only schedule a few months out at a time. I open up my Spring calendar in December, Summer calendar in March and Fall calendar in June. I find this helps everyone, myself included avoid rescheduling as schedules become more fixed.

To ensure availability please call me BEFORE your baby’s due date so that I can get you on my calendar. I only take a limited number of newborn sessions each month so it’s best to get on my calendar early!

I will make note of your due date and then touch base with you as we get closer. If you have a planned c-section or an induction then we can go ahead and schedule the session.

Newborn sessions are usually shot during the week and I've found mornings to be the best time to catch a sleepy baby.

Yes. A $100 non-refundable deposit is required at the time of booking. It is applied to your final amount due.

The deposit will officially hold the date and time as yours and ensure I turn away other business for that time.

Until the contract and deposit are received back, please note that sessions are not officially booked and could be reserved by someone else.

Yes, several and I can send you a list of some of my favorites but I also like exploring small parks or neighborhoods that hold a special meaning to your family.

Unfortunately, rarely. I just don’t have the flexibility that I wish I did for shoots with long travel involved. I can occasionally make this work with ALOT of advance planning and will only do 2-3 a year. If you’re really dreaming of an adventure shoot to the beach or the Gorge - I have some amazing photographer friends of mine that I can recommend.

Please note that a travel fee is assessed for locations beyond 25 miles of Tigard, Oregon.

Yes, absolutely! If the location we’re shooting at allows pets so please let me know ahead of time.

Yes. Clients will receive $25 off a future regular priced photo session for every friend or family member they refer who books a photo session with me. Mini sessions do not apply. I am always grateful and honored when a client thinks enough of my work to recommend me to someone else. If you have referred someone that has booked a session, just let me know!

Referral credits are good for one year, so book your next session as soon as you hear your friend did!

Your final gallery will be ready within about 3-4 weeks after our session. During my busier months in the fall, it can take up to 5 weeks. I custom edit every single image from top to bottom and really take the time to perfect them for you.

Once your images have been edited, I will upload them to a private online gallery  from which you can download to your own computer. 

Galleries are available to download or make purchases from for 6 months upon completion of editing. After they expire, there will be a $50 reactivation fee per gallery.

USB Flash Drives are available for $8/per session.

It’s best if you can avoid using an auto lab (think drugstore photo lab) as the prints will have different coloring than you see on your computer. I custom retouch and color correct every image for the desired effect so I suggest using a lab that allows for “as is” printing. For the best results I recommend purchasing your prints directly from me or through mpix.