Where are you located and do you charge travel fees? We are located soundside in Jarvisburg and beachfront in Kitty Hawk, but we serve a vast area of the OBX. We do not charge for travel within our primary service area of Southern Shores, Duck, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, and Nag’s Head down to the Bodie Island Lighthouse. Outside our immediate service area we charge $25 to Corolla, $50 to Rodanthe, Waves and Salvo and $75 to Avon, Buxton, Frisco and Hatteras for our round trip. PLEASE NOTE – WE WILL WAIVE TRAVEL FEES FOR GROUPS OF 10 OR MORE. Also, if you are staying outside our immediate service area and would rather travel to any location within our service area, we would be happy to find a good spot for your photographs so you can avoid the travel fee. Just let us know what works best for your family or group!
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Is a deposit required to reserve a date? Yes, an initial deposit of $100 is required at the time of booking in order to hold your session time. The remaining balance of the session fee will be due at the time of your session. All the details for payment methods will be on your Reservation.
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How can I pay? For the initial deposit to hold your spot, we accept Venmo, Facebook or Meta Pay, CashApp, Zelle or good old-fashioned checks in the mail. Once you book, you will receive a reservation with directions on how to make the deposit. On the session date, we accept all forms of electronic payment or cash and will issue a receipt for your records.
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What if I have to cancel? We understand life can be unpredictable and we want to be as fair as possible! The $100 Initial Deposit is non-refundable (except in certain instances – see below) as we have held the date and may not be able to rebook. This is applicable for cancellations of Couples, Families and Groups photo shoots only. For Weddings, one half of the deposit (25%) will be forfeited as we schedule entire days for weddings and may have a difficult time rebooking that day as many full days book up a year in advance. IMPORTANT EXCEPTION: IF YOUR SESSION HAS TO BE CANCELED due to Hurricanes, Nor’easters, National Emergencies or area Evacuations that are out of your control, YOUR DEPOSIT WILL BE REFUNDED IN FULL!
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What if the photographer has to cancel? This would be exceedingly rare! Mary K. looks forward to photo shoots the way a child looks forward to their birthday! Unless it is an emergency, she WILL NOT cancel. In fact, she has never once canceled in her 10+ years! However, if an emergency ever was to occur, please rest assured that she would make all efforts to find a replacement photographer for your event – especially if it is a wedding or other one-time event. If we are unable to find a suitable replacement photographer, a FULL refund will be issued.
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What if it rains? This is the most commonly asked question we get and the one thing we have no control over and must deal with on a continual basis. Please do not worry, though! Your photographer, Mary K. will be in touch with you by text prior to your shoot and will make sure you are aware of any imminent weather conditions. Weather is highly unpredictable in the OBX and though we can do nothing to change it, we are aware of common patterns and monitor wind and radar conditions closely. We may keep your shoot scheduled if it rains earlier in the day and clears up or we may choose to do it earlier than we had originally planned if possible and will be in contact with you to see what works best. Sometimes the most beautiful shots happen just before or after a rain! We don’t throw in the towel just because we see a few clouds – We have caught rainbows, double rainbows and some amazing cloud formations in many photos, so as long as it is safe, we will always try. We will NEVER put you or ourselves in harms way for a photograph! Safety is ALWAYS our priority. Also, please note that if it is actively RAINING, we will need to reschedule as our equipment is very expensive and we must protect it from water damage. If your shoot is canceled, we will do our very best to reschedule your shoot before you leave town! This is one reason why it is important to choose a photographer who does not “Overbook” themselves! Mary K. always reserves time in her schedule each week just in case of inclement weather. Her motto is “No stress while you are in the OBX!”
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How will my photos be delivered? You will receive a password protected link via email with a unique Password to your web-sized and HIGH RESOLUTION images. This link will allow you to digitally download all your photos and store them on your computer, phone or other personal storage device. You can share your Password with family and friends so they can access and download the photos as well. Your album will be available on our site for a minimum of 180 days and there is no limit to the number of times your photos can be downloaded during that time. You will also receive a USB with copyright release in the mail as a backup!
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Will my photos be posted on the photographer’s social media or websites? Mary K’s Photography respects your privacy, therefore we will never post your photos without your consent. However, if you would like to grant us permission to use your images, we will be more than happy to share them on our website, social media platforms and other advertisements!
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Can I share my photos online? Absolutely! And please do! We love seeing our clients’ photos on social media! Feel free to tag Mary K’s Photography, OBX as well. We love that!
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How long will it take to get my photos? You won’t have to wait months on your photos! Mary K. is a very diligent editor and she is as excited to deliver your photos to you as you are to get them. Most albums are processed and delivered within 2-3 weeks. During the height of the summer season, this process might take a little longer, but rest assured that we take great pride in our work and work very hard to ensure your photos are delivered in a timely manner. We will never rush as we refuse to sacrifice quality for speed, but we promise not to make you wait any longer than absolutely necessary!
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Does your company offer same-sex photo shoots? Of course! Mary K’s Photography does not discriminate on any basis. We respect everyone. Our job is to take amazing photographs.
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Does your company offer photo shoots for people in wheelchairs or those with limited mobility? Yes. We do not discriminate on any basis. If you or a loved one are in a wheelchair or require special assistance in order to participate in your photo shoot, please reach out to us. We are aware of local area beach accesses with wheelchair accessible ramps, etc. and will be happy to help find the best place for your needs! Everyone deserves beautiful photographs!
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Do you have any tips/tricks to help us get the best photos? Yes! We have found that it is best to avoid anything geometric or large, busy patterns/tie-dyes/overwhelming prints. Families and couples do not have to dress alike, but if you choose to, some timeless classics include khakis or jeans with white, black or navy blue shirts, white- or pastel-colored dresses, or floral dresses that work well with the wind. Different shades of blue also work well. Coral, peach and other beachy colors are always flattering and work well with the scenery. Cotton candy colors are great. Yellow is a beautiful contrast to the sand and sky as well. Mary K. recommends hanging or laying clothes near a window or outside to see how the colors look together in the daylight as opposed to indoor lighting. It is best to wear shoes like flip-flops or something easy to remove as we will likely be doing most of your session barefoot! (Yay!) Also, GENTLEMEN, PLEASE remember to leave your cell phones and bulky items like wallets, etc. in your cars or at your rental home as they do not look good in your pockets and you will regret having them there! Trust us on this! Your photographer will have a carry case to put your car keys/remote in if needed, but it is best to leave phones and other items behind if possible. The outline will show through your pockets! You may also want to forego the sunglasses and hats! We want to see those handsome faces! Ladies, you may want to consider wearing your hair up or pulled back on the sides as wind ruins more photos than anything else! We will position you facing the wind to minimize this, but we are outside, so we will need to deal with the elements. And last, but not least, please do not stress! Stress will show in your photographs! Your photo shoot is meant to be a fun, creative process and Mary K. will do everything in her power to ensure it is, so no worries! Also, it is best not to schedule your photo shoot on the same day you plan to arrive in town or on the day you plan to leave as it’s just too stressful. We have found that photo shoots a couple of days into your vacation are optimal and tend to work best as everyone is excited, hopefully no one has a sunburn yet and we still have time to reschedule later in the week if the weather does not cooperate with our plans! We also understand it is easy to feel overwhelmed, especially when you just want to get good photos of everyone while you’re here, but try to relax and enjoy the process. We promise to always do our best so you and your family will have priceless photos that can be looked back on and enjoyed for many years! We’re excited to be working with you and we look forward to seeing you through our lens!
Do you have a child who is interested in having a Mermaid session done while you are here? We would love to help with that! We have multiple sized Mermaid tails and tops to choose from (please bring your own bathing suit bottoms to wear underneath!) We will provide a pop-up changing tent for privacy and help make your little Mermaid’s dreams come true! (Please make sure there is someone in your group who is able to lift the child and help position them as they can not walk once the mermaid tail and monofin are on!) This option is available as a stand-alone package (See Children’s Photography Page under Mermaid option for details)
OR this option can be ADDED to any family session for an additional $75 ($25 more for each additional mermaid in group, so if you have 2 mermaids it’s $100.)
(This option will add an additional 30 mins to the session time and you will have a minimum of 10 final-edited Mermaid photos per mermaid included in your album!)
