Why the name change?
I can’t lie. The main reason is because I married the most amazing man in the world and ended up with a super cool name–Ginger Ivey! If I’d been married to him years ago, then I’m sure it would have been my business name years ago, but my maiden name was Schovajsa and there’s just no point in trying to get clients to spell(or say) it, so my business became Gravel Road Photography…and while half my friends and clients wanted me to keep the old name, I just had to go with the new business name…I just love it!
Do you travel? How much do you charge?
YES!! We love to travel! For in-state weddings or portrait sessions we only charge what it costs us in gas to get there and for our hotel stay(for weddings) if it is more than 3 hours from the metroplex. For weddings more than 5 hours from the metroplex, airfare and rental car(if necessary) must be covered as well. BUT for destination weddings, we waive our regular price in exchange for plane tickets and 3 nights accomodations and you get your digital negatives for FREE! Ask about our destination wedding package–you’d be surprised what I consider “destination”!!
Where do you take portraits?
For most sessions we shoot on location. I use natural lighting as much as possible. Outdoor shots have the best lighting and for kids, they are usually more comfortable in their own element and you get much better images! We are open to any ideas you may have for your shoot location. Let us know what you want! We also now have a studio for babies and pregnant belly shoots!
What is the best age to photograph a newborn?
The sooner the better! If you are feeling up to it, I’ll be there the day after you get home from the hospital! As long as Mom is feeling ready, the younger the baby, the better ~ preferably 2 weeks or younger. Fresh newborns are the best because they are less likely to be disturbed while sleeping, they are more easily manuevered and less likely to have newborn acne(which typically flares up around 3 weeks old). For newborns, I can either come to your house, or you can come to my studio, whichever you prefer.
What do you recommend that we wear for our shoot?
We typically recommend that you have 2-3 outfits for your shoot, that way there is a good variety of images. For seniors, wear something that represents YOU! If you have props or extras that help portray you, let’s work them in. We want to capture your personality, so let us know if you have any exciting ideas–if you love to flip on a wakeboard, let’s make it happen! Couples and families–you don’t all have to match, but you can go with a certain color scheme…different shades of one color, etc. Try to stay away from lots of plaids and stripes. But layers and accessories are definitely a go!
How soon do we get to see our pictures?
For regular shoots, there will be a sneak preview blogged with a few of my favorites edited within a week of your shoot and your online gallery of all your images will be up within a week.
For weddings, a sneak preview will be edited and blogged within 3 weeks, and the rest will be up in your online gallery in 2-3 months after your wedding. Depending on the size of your wedding, we typically edit your pictures down to about 400-800 color corrected and edited images. Depending on the season, your cd of digital images will be ready 2-3 months after your wedding!
How far in advance do we have to book?
If I have availability tomorrow and you call me today, let’s do it! I LOVE shooting, so booking something last minute is not a big deal as long as I’m available.
Do you only offer the packages on the Prices page?
The packages I offer are not limited to what you see. I am all about serving my clients, so if you have something special in mind or different from what you see, let’s talk about it and I can give you a quote. My prices are subject to change, but your price is locked in when you book, so don’t worry about your price changing! (see main website for pricing details)
Do you require a deposit?
For weddings, there is a $500 deposit due to book and hold your date. For all other shoots, your payment is due at the time of booking in order to guarantee your date!
Do you take credit cards?
Yes! We accept cash, check, and credit cards!
What happens to our deposit if we cancel?
Your deposit books your date. If you cancel more than 6 months before the wedding, you will receive half of your deposit back. Any cancellations within 6 months of the date forfeit your deposit.
Do you teach any workshops?
Yes!! I have workshops for the beginner who just wants to learn how to use their SLR camera and how to shoot in manual, and I also offer a one on one day with me–for up and coming photographers who want to learn all they can from me. Anything goes! We’re working on a workshop page, so keep your eyes peeled…until then, just email if you’re interested in either one!