Frequently Asked Questions for Beach Photography
Where is your beach photo studio located and do you travel?
We live in Destin, Florida in the beautiful beach area of Miramar Beach. Our location of choice is on the beach in the Seascape Golf Resort near the Whale's Tail Restaurant.
GPS address our beach location:
Whale's Tail Restaurant
1373 Scenic Gulf Drive Miramar Beach FL 32550
As destination photographers and will travel to you within an hour of Destin, FL. (see our Session Rates page for details.)
We serve the beaches of South Walton and Hwy 30A, Destin, Navarre, Ft. Walton Beach, Sandestin, and Panama City Beach. A larger minimum order is required for areas more than an hour away including Pensacola Beach, and Gulf Shores, Alabama.
Do you have a business license or permit?
Yes, we are fully licensed and insured with an approved beach vendor permit for Walton County Beaches and business license for Okaloosa County and Ft. Walton Beach.
We have been in the portrait photography business for more than 35 years and know the area, rules and regulations well. Beaches located in South Walton County require photographers to attend training and to purchase an annual beach vendor permit.
How do I book a beach portrait session? Do you take reservations?
Instead of a session fee, each session includes your choice of either a select few digital images or can be used toward your print order. You can add to your order by selecting more digital images or printed products after the session. Each session type can be prepaid and will reserve your session. We accept all major credit cards including Discover & American Express, PayPal and checks and cash with prior arangements. *Receive 2% off your order total for paying with a check or cash.
Reservations can be made by calling the studio, sending an e-mail, or texting me. As the season progresses, our sessions will fill up quickly, however we may have last minute sessions available. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us! 850-654-8895 or txt 850-687-0198 [email protected]
Can I cancel my beach session?
All cancellations must be done 48 hours prior to the date of your session. We will gladly give you a full refund. We will decide on the day of the session whether or not we try to photograph due to bad weather. We reserve the right to cancel due to inclement weather or other issues and will give you a full refund. ***NO day of the session refunds. We reserve the right to charge your card for the amount of your session rate in full if you wish to cancel the day of or do not show up, or will not refund your paypal account.
Do you sell digital images on a CD, flash drive or digital downloads?
Yes! We sell our digital images and they are considered to be our most valuable product and are sold in collections. Your session deposit does NOT include all of the digital images. Our digital images are high resolution files that can be printed as large as wall portrait sizes. They come with a print release letter for your own printing and include basic retouching and editing. Digital images are now delivered as digital downloads once your order is complete (allow 6 to 8 weeks for final delivery) or we can mail you a flash drive USB for a fee.
How will I view my beach pictures after the session?
The most exciting part is seeing the images! You may view your proofs on our password protected gallery within a week after your session. Friends and family can view them with your password and can contact us with their own orders. Each session will be on view for 30 days only. Clients needing more time, may request another 30 days for a fee..
How do I order?
As a tourist with limited time, we do not require a sales presentation, however if you would like to meet for coffee to see our product samples that would be great. You may place your order by simply sending me an email. Feel free to call us for a consultation on what to choose. We require all orders to be paid in full when the order is placed.
No sales tax for tourists! Florida residents please add 7% sales tax.
All sales are final on Digital Images, no refunds. As we cannot guarantee the quality of printing from other labs, our images are calibrated to our pro labs. All prints and wall portraits ordered from us are fully Guaranteed.
Can I get my photographs edited or retouched?
Yes, All of our printed products and wall portraits are professionally retouched or edited and our digital images have basic retouching included. (Basic retouching on digital images- we remove people from your background, enhance the water and sky color.) Retouching fees are applied to digital images to soften wrinkles, remove stray hair, fix blowing hair, whiten teeth, enhance eyes, remove bruises and scratches, stains off clothing etc.
Extra Retouching: For a fee, we can swap heads, smiles, and even create digital weight loss and slimming. We can remove acne, braces, eye glass flare and lighten darkened eye glass lenses like transitions and change ocean water color, remove sea weed, change sky, even add and remove people. Just let us know what we can do to make you look fabulous!
What can I get if I choose the print credit?
Dreaming of the possibilities? We want to help you design that beach portrait wall you have always wanted. Take a look at our print and gift selection and you may use your session deposit toward any item or on several smaller ones. We stand behind all of our photography products printed by pro labs in America. Looking for a luxury piece? We offer hand painted heirloom oil portraits and museum size canvas from your family beach session. Maybe you are looking for an entire wall grouping or display. We can create something wonderful for your walls.
When can I expect my portraits or digital images to arrive?
We know you are excited to get your images! Please allow 4 to 8 weeks for delivery of your portraits and digital downloads or flash drive. Your print order will be shipped via Fed Ex and is based on the size and weight with a minimum of $30.
Guaranteed Christmas Delivery....Place Your Order by December 15th. Orders can still be placed after this date--however rush fees may apply.
Important! Please order by December 31st. Any deposit left on account will become a session fee.
Do you take Surprise Proposal Engagement Photos?
Yes! Florida and the beach is the perfect place for a surprise proposal photography event! We will help you plan the details and capture the moments that you will both treasure forever. Call or Email us your engagement ideas and let make this a memorable and romantic surprise. Our engagement sessions can include just the two of you or you can invite the entire family and make him or her think you are "just getting family photos" made as we capture images of the couple and the family! See our engagement prices and session types.
Do you photograph beach weddings?
We are no longer taking beach weddings. We will photograph your elopement, or wedding portraits in wedding attire on the beach. We are still accepting anniversaries and vow renewals and wedding attire portraits. If it is just the couple and an officiant we will consider it provided your date is available. We love to capture those special memories after the wedding too! Contact us for your wedding and formal attire beach portraits.
Contact us to book your beach photo session today!
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Beach Portraits By Design reserves the right to use our images for display or publication including our website, blog, advertising, and product samples.
COPYRIGHTS
All of our images are copyright protected by Federal Copyright Law. It is illegal to scan, copy, screen shot, print, download, email, share, publish or reproduce them in any way without our written permission unless you have purchased the rights from us. Printing releases are for personal printing only and clients cannot sell or profit from our images in any way including art, contests, or advertising.
A SERIOUS NOTE!
BEACH FLAG WARNINGS! DO YOU KNOW WHAT COLOR THE BEACH FLAG IS TODAY? MAKE SURE YOUR FAMILY STAYS SAFE. DO NOT ENTER THE WATER EVEN IF ARE A GOOD SWIMMER ON RED FLAG AND DOUBLE RED FLAG DAYS. THE RIP CURRENT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS TO ALL SWIMMERS ...AND LOOK OUT FOR PURPLE FLAGS...JELLYFISH!! OOOUUCH!!