Frequently Asked Questions
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General FAQ
How do I book a session with Glerum Photography?
Start by reaching out through the contact form on my website. I'll respond within a day or two and we'll set up a time to talk — either in person, by phone, or over video — so I can learn about what you're looking for. From there we'll plan the details together and choose a session date. I don't do same-day bookings; every session starts with a conversation first.
Where is Glerum Photography located?
I'm based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I photograph families and seniors throughout the greater Grand Rapids area, including Grandville, East Grand Rapids, Jenison, Hudsonville, Byron Center, Caledonia, Forest Hills, and communities across West Michigan. I'm also happy to travel to the lakeshore for sessions in Grand Haven, Holland, Saugatuck, and other Lake Michigan locations.
What kind of photography does Glerum Photography specialize in?
I specialize in two things: family and children's portraits, and high school senior portraits. These are my focus and where I put all of my creative energy. I've photographed engagements, weddings, maternity sessions, newborns and a wide range of other subjects in the past, but families and seniors are where my passion lives.
What is your photography style?
I'd describe my style as natural, relaxed, and personal. I'm not a "say cheese" photographer — I want your portraits to look like you, not like a stock photo. I seek to use natural light whenever possible, but I am comfortable with off-camera lighting as needed. I favor real expressions over forced smiles, and work to create images that feel authentic to who you are. Every session is different because every person and family is different.
How far in advance should I book?
For senior portraits, I recommend booking at least two to three months ahead, especially if you want a late summer or fall session — those time slots fill up first. Family sessions are a bit more flexible, but fall is still the busiest season. The earlier you reach out, the more scheduling options we'll have.
Why should I choose Glerum Photography for my senior portraits?
Because your portraits should look like you — not like everyone else's. I start every session with a conversation about who you are, what you love, and what you want your portraits to say. From there, we build a session around your personality, your interests, and the locations that mean something to you. No two sessions look alike, because no two seniors are alike. I also share images with you throughout the session so you can see how great things are looking in real time, which helps you relax and be yourself.
Do I get digital files of my photos?
Yes. Every session includes full-resolution digital files with a release that allows you to print and share for personal use. Files are delivered through an online gallery where you can also order professional prints if you'd like.
Do I have to order prints through you?
You are not required to order printed photos directly through me, but if you wish, you can order professional prints directly through the online gallery. I offer assistance with creating your print order if needed.
Can I post my photos on social media?
Absolutely. Your digital files come with permission to share on social media for personal use. Most of my referrals are word-of-mouth, so I ask that you credit Glerum Photography when you post. Senior Sunday, holiday cards, profile pictures — share away.
Do you retouch your photos?
Yes. Every image I deliver is professionally edited and retouched. This includes color correction, exposure adjustment, and basic editing for families and children. Seniors receive skin retouching that looks natural — I want you to look like the best version of yourself, not like someone else. I don't do heavy Photoshop manipulation or body altering.
Senior Portrait FAQ
How does your pricing work?
My pricing is straightforward: one flat session fee, paid up front, and that's it. There are no minimum print orders, no confusing tiered packages, and no pressure to buy anything after the session. You'll receive your full-resolution digital files with a print release for personal use, so you're free to print where you want, share how you want, and decide for yourself what (if anything) you'd like to order beyond that. If you do want professional prints, albums, or wall art, I'm happy to help — but it's entirely your call.
What's included in a senior session?
Every senior session starts with a planning consultation where we talk through your interests, your style, and your ideas for locations and outfits. The session itself runs about two hours — usually enough for two locations and multiple outfit changes. Afterward, I professionally edit and retouch your images, upload them to an online gallery, and deliver full-resolution digital files with a print release.
Do you retouch acne in senior portraits?
Yes. Acne is temporary — your senior portraits aren't. I'll clean up breakouts, blemishes, and skin irritation so that your portraits reflect how you actually look, not how your skin happened to look on one particular afternoon. That said, I keep retouching natural. I'm not going to give you poreless, airbrushed skin that looks like it came out of a magazine. You'll still look like you — just on a really good day.
What should I wear to my senior portrait session?
Bring outfits that feel like you. I recommend three to four outfit options so we have variety, and we’ll talk through your choices during the planning consultation. Layers, textures, and solid colors tend to photograph well. Avoid large logos or busy patterns. And bring comfortable shoes for walking between locations — you can always swap into dress shoes for specific shots.
A quick practical note, especially for seniors wearing dresses or skirts: choose pieces you can move, sit, and pose in comfortably. Sessions involve a lot of movement — walking between spots, leaning on things, sitting on steps or the beach — and outfits that require constant adjustment pull your attention away from the session itself. Go with what you’ll feel confident and at ease in.
My general advice is to wear clothing you feel comfortable in. If you never wear short skirts or hate wearing a tie, dont wear one for your session — you won’t feel comfortable in it and that can show.
→ See my blog post What to Wear for Senior Portraits: A Complete Guide for more detailed information.
How long does a senior portrait session last?
A standard session lasts about two hours. That's usually enough time for two primary locations — for example, downtown Grand Rapids and a more natural outdoor setting — along with multiple outfit changes. If you need more time, sessions can be extended for an additional fee, or we can schedule a second session on a different day.
When is the best time of year for senior portraits in Michigan?
Late summer and early fall are the most popular — the light is golden, the lakeshore is gorgeous, and Michigan's fall color is at its peak. But honestly, every season has something to offer. Spring gives you blossoms and fresh green, winter can be dramatic and moody, and summer offers the longest golden hour. The best time is whenever feels right for your senior.
→ See my blog post When to Schedule Senior Portraits: A Season-by-Season Guide for more detailed information.
Can I bring a friend or pet to my senior portrait session?
Absolutely. A lot of seniors bring a friend along to help them relax and have fun, and friends are welcome to jump in for a photo or two. Pets are welcome too — dogs, horses, goats, you name it. If it's part of who you are, it belongs in your portraits.
Where do you take senior portraits?
Anywhere that fits who you are. Downtown Grand Rapids offers two distinct looks in the same few blocks — industrial textures like brick, weathered metal, and peeling paint, or sleek modern urban backdrops with glass and clean lines. For a small-town feel, Rockford and Ada bring charming main streets and riverside spots. Grand Haven and Holland give you classic lakeshore towns with piers, lighthouses, and beach town character. Millennium Park and Provin Trails offer natural woodland and water settings, and the Lake Michigan lakeshore delivers dunes and open water just a short drive away. But we're not limited to any of these — if you have a favorite spot, a family farm, a theater stage, an auto shop, or somewhere only you would think of, let's go there.
What if it rains or is 100 degrees on my senior portrait session day?
We'll keep an eye on the forecast as your session gets closer. Michigan weather can shift fast, so we usually make the final call the day of. A little rain isn't always a dealbreaker — depending on the location and how adventurous you're feeling, we might grab umbrellas and roll with it. Rain can make for dramatic, memorable images. Extreme heat is tougher — few people look their best at 95 degrees and 100% humidity. If conditions are truly unworkable, we'll reschedule to a date that works for both of us. It's never a problem.
How long until I receive my senior portrait photos?
I typically post a few preview images to social media within a few days. The full edited gallery is usually ready within two to three weeks. You'll receive a link to an online gallery where you can view, share, and order prints, along with full-resolution digital downloads.
Do you photograph both guys and girls for senior portraits?
Yes — I photograph senior guys and senior girls, and no two sessions look alike. I work with athletes, musicians, artists, dancers, and everyone in between. Guys' sessions are just as creative and personalized as girls' sessions. You can browse the Senior Guys and Senior Girls galleries on my site to see examples.
Families and Children FAQ
What should my family wear for our photo session?
Coordinate without matching. Choose a color palette — say, earth tones, blues and creams, or muted fall colors — and have everyone pick outfits within that range. Avoid matching t-shirts, large logos, and neon colors. Layers and textures photograph well. The goal is for everyone to look like themselves while looking good together. I'm happy to help with outfit planning during our consultation.
How do I keep my kids calm during a family photo session?
That's my job, not yours. I keep sessions relaxed and low-pressure, and I expect kids to act like kids — running, laughing, being goofy, maybe having a moment. All of that makes for real, honest images. Bring snacks, bring a favorite toy if it helps, and don't stress about perfect behavior. Some of the best family photos happen in the unplanned moments.
Where are the best locations for family photos in Grand Rapids?
It depends on the feel you're going for. Parks like Millennium Park, Townsend Park, and Provin Trails are great for natural, wooded settings. Downtown Grand Rapids offers urban textures and architecture. The lakeshore is beautiful for open, airy images. Your own backyard or a location that's meaningful to your family can be the best option of all. We'll figure out the right spot together during the planning process.
What is the best age to photograph children?
Every age has something worth capturing. Toddlers are wild and unpredictable and produce the most joyful, chaotic images. School-age kids are starting to show their personalities in new ways. Tweens are in a brief, beautiful window between childhood and adolescence that passes fast. There's no wrong age — there's just now, and now doesn't last.
Family Documentary Session FAQ
What is a family documentary session?
A family documentary session is unscripted photography of your family in your own space, doing what you normally do. Instead of posing and smiling at the camera, you live your life — making dinner, playing in the backyard, doing homework, reading bedtime stories, wrestling on the couch — while I photograph what unfolds. The goal is to capture the real texture of your family's life, not a staged version of it.
How is this different from regular family photos?
Traditional family photos are portraits — everyone dressed up, looking at the camera, captured in a single session at a location we choose. They're beautiful and they have their place.
Documentary sessions are the opposite. Nobody poses. Nobody performs. I photograph your family as you actually are — the mess, the mundane, the laughter, the small moments that feel unremarkable now but won't in ten years. Traditional portraits capture how your family looks. Documentary sessions capture how your family feels.
Why would I want a documentary session instead of portraits?
Because the day-to-day is what you'll miss most. The way your toddler climbs into your lap without asking. The chaos of a family dinner. The quiet of the morning before everyone's fully awake. These moments pass so fast, and most families never think to photograph them — they just live them, and then they're gone.
A documentary session is a deliberate act of preservation. It's the difference between a portrait that hangs on your wall and a visual record of a season of your life that you'll treasure forever. Many families do both over the years — posed portraits for the wall, documentary sessions for the soul.
How long does a family documentary session last?
Minimum two hours, though longer sessions tend to produce better results. Real life doesn't unfold on a schedule, and families need time to relax into being themselves while I'm present. The first thirty minutes are often the most self-conscious — after that, people settle in and the real moments start happening.
Sessions up to four or five hours are common, especially for families who want to capture multiple parts of the day: morning routines through breakfast, an afternoon of play, or a full evening from dinner through bedtime.
How much does a family documentary session cost?
Documentary sessions start at $400 for the first two hours, with additional hours at $100 each. That includes a planning consultation, the session itself, professional editing of selected images, an online gallery, and full-resolution digital files with a print release for personal use.
Where does a documentary session take place?
In your home, most of the time — that's where the real life lives. But sessions can also happen wherever your family spends its time: a grandparent's house, a favorite park, a weekend cabin, a trip to the zoo, a day at the beach. If it's somewhere meaningful to your family's rhythm, it's somewhere I can photograph.
Do we need to clean the house first?
No — and honestly, a little mess is part of the story. I'm not judging your dishes. That said, if clutter makes you uncomfortable, tidy what you need to for your own peace of mind. Just don't stage the house to look like a magazine. The goal is real, not perfect.
What should we wear?
Whatever you'd actually wear that day. This isn't the session for matching outfits or coordinated color palettes — this is the session for pajamas, worn-in jeans, a favorite hoodie, the dress your daughter refuses to take off. If you'd dress up for a specific activity, dress up. If it's a lazy Saturday, look lazy. Authenticity matters more than aesthetics.
Won't the kids act weird with a photographer in the house?
For the first little while, probably — but kids adapt faster than adults. Within 30-45 minutes, most kids forget I'm there and go back to being themselves. Younger kids are especially quick to settle in. By the second hour, I'm basically furniture.
Will you direct us or just observe?
Mostly observe. I'll occasionally suggest small things — "keep doing what you're doing" or "can you two sit over by the window for a minute" — but I'm not directing scenes or posing anyone. The whole point is to capture what's actually happening.
What kinds of moments do you look for?
Connection, mostly. A parent's hand on a child's back. Siblings fighting over a toy and then hugging five minutes later. A quiet moment at the kitchen window. Laughter over nothing. The everyday rituals — teeth brushing, hair combing, lunch being made — that your kids will remember as the texture of their childhood.
Is this a good fit if my family is going through a specific season?
Yes, and these can be some of the most meaningful sessions I do. Families sometimes book documentary sessions around specific transitions — a new baby coming home, a grandparent visiting, a child about to leave for college, a last summer before a move. Documenting these in-between moments captures something that can't be staged or posed.
How many photos do I receive?
Typically several hundred edited images from a two-to-four-hour session, delivered in an online gallery. The count varies based on session length and what unfolds during the session.
How do I book a documentary session?
Reach out through my contact form and tell me a little about your family — who's in it, what a normal day looks like, what you'd want to capture. We'll set up a planning conversation from there.
Other Kinds of Sessions FAQ
Do you photograph events?
Yes — documentary event sessions are some of my favorite work. Reach out with details about your event and we can discuss.
Do you do headshots or environmental portraits?
Yes. I no longer have a studio space, so headshots are limited to natural light and on-location settings — which often works beautifully for environmental portraits that show personality and place. Reach out and we can talk through what you're looking for.
Do you photograph engagements or weddings?
After nearly 20 years of wedding photography, I've decided to wind down that part of my business. I do still offer engagement sessions on request.
Do you photograph maternity or newborn sessions?
Maternity sessions, yes — I'm still happy to take those on. Newborn photography is a very specific specialty, and while I loved it during the years I did it, I've chosen to focus on other areas of my work.
Do you photograph other types of sessions?
If you have a session idea that doesn't quite fit the categories above, reach out. I'm always open to hearing what you're imagining.
Ready to get started? I’d love to hear from you!
Contact
Thank you for contacting me. I look forward to connecting with you soon!