WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH THE CHICKENS?

"Chicken" has always been our nickname for each other, although neither of us is really sure why.  When we decided to start doing wedding photography together, we wanted a name that let people know we're a team, and that we're people who aren't afraid to be silly. When we started talking about how we'd be running a photo business as two little chickens in love, "Smitten Chickens" was born. We no longer photograph large weddings, so it’s usually just Sarah at the helm for elopement photography or portrait sessions. Chris remains a huge supporter of the business, so we are still two “Smitten Chickens” working together.

 I'm not in your area. DO YOU TRAVEL?

Unfortunately, not usually. We used to go anywhere in the world to photograph weddings, but since the birth of our daughter in January 2018, Sarah is shooting solo and we’ve limited our work travel. Generally, we do not photograph families more than a 35 minute drive from Tarrytown, NY. We know some folks who do travel, so we are happy to share their names if what you’re looking for is outside our travel range.

WHAT’s your photography philosophy?

We are big believers in photography without prejudice.  We are body-positive and LGBT friendly. We are outspoken advocates of marriage equality and lgbt rights, and we are more than happy to work with all loving couples and families. Our job is to freeze moments in time, and we want to capture you as you are. We prefer naturalistic portraits, so we don’t rely on set poses and composition.   However, we using our technical knowledge of photography to deliver beautifully lit and composed images.

IF WE WANT ACTUAL PRINTS OF OUR PHOTOS, WILL IT COST A TON OF MONEY? 

NO!

We very badly want you to have physical prints of your photos. A high-quality print will stand the test of time, and it can be enjoyed no matter how much technology changes.  We think it's really important to make prints from your files, so we offer prints 8x10 and smaller at cost.  We make absolutely no profit on these. We just want to make sure you have access to lab-quality prints you can afford. 

HOW DO WE BOOK YOU?

To hold a date, we ask for a signed contract and 50% of the final fee.  To keep things simple, the contract can be signed digitally, and we accept check or paypal for payment. 

HOW FAR IN ADVANCE SHOULD WE BOOK?

We work on a "first come, first served" basis, so we recommend reaching out as soon as you have a set date. Our busiest season is August through October.

That being said, it's never too late to ask!  If you've decided to get in a family session next Saturday, email us.  We'll see what we can do!

IS YOUR BUSINESS LEGIT?

Yes. Our official business name is Sarah Hoppes Photography, LLC, doing business as Smitten Chickens, and we ensure all our business practices are in accordance with local laws and regulations.

WILL THE PHOTOS BE RETOUCHED? 

All photos you receive will have gone through basic editing.   Some images will be in color and some may be in black and white.  Our goal in retouching is to make you look like the best version of yourself, so we might remove distracting elements from backgrounds and slightly retouch skin, hair, or clothing. However, we won’t make you look like an airbrushed stranger, because we think you are awesome exactly as you are.

HOW MANY IMAGES WILL WE RECEIVE?

We don't guarantee a set number of images for portrait sessions.  We sometimes take upwards of 250 photos, but we edit those down to send you the best ones.  On average, you can expect a minimum of 15 from a mini portrait session and around 50 from a standard session. High resolution digital prints and access to our print lab are included in your session fee.

WHEN WILL THE IMAGES BE READY?

We email you a sneak peek of your portrait images within 5 business days of the shoot, and you can expect final files 4-6 weeks after that.

HOW DO YOU DELIVER OUR FILES?

Photos are delivered through our online gallery. You can use the gallery to download all your photos with one click, share photos over email and social media, or buy prints.

DO WE GET THE COPYRIGHT?

The copyright stays with us.   What you'll get is a print release, which means you can make as many copies as the photos as you'd like, as long as they are for personal use.  You aren't permitted to sell the photos or give them to anyone who will use them commercially.  If your wedding vendors are interested in the photos or you have questions about use or copyright, just let us know. We're happy to help.

WE’RE PLANNING SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT . . .

We dig it. We're not afraid of veering off the beaten path. In fact, that's our FAVORITE path. Tell us more!