Cardwell Aukerman Photography has always celebrated those who like to think for themselves and don’t follow the crowd.
We only accept a limited number of seniors each year because we want to provide our clients with a one-of-a-kind completely customized storytelling experience. We specialize in the highest level of service and quality in order to personalize every detail of your experience.
We believe you deserve exceptional art to display in your home and images that reflect every part of who you are. We strive to provide you with an unforgettable experience that will always be remembered each time you look at your images.
How much should I plan to spend, and what does ‘minimum investment’ mean?
When budgeting for your Cardwell Aukerman experience, you should account for both the session fee and the minimum investment. The final amount that you ultimately invest is entirely dependent on you, as everyone’s individual preferences for displaying their final images may vary and our services are completely customized to you and your needs.
The ‘minimum investment’ is the minimum requirement that you must invest in your final images at the Premier Ordering appointment. This amount is determined to help our clients establish and prepare a budget for the complete experience well ahead of time. This allows us to allocate the time and quality of service required to consistently deliver the highest level of personalized experience to every one of our clients.
What does the session fee cover? Does it include any images?
The session fee is paid at the time you book your experience and is non-refundable. This fee covers the personalized consultation, the planning and preparation for the session, the time and talent of the photographer during the session, the hair and makeup artists, the image preparation and the Premier Ordering appointment where you view and select your images and products.
The non-refundable session fee does not include any images or products and is required to secure your consultation, session date, and sales appointment on our calendar.
When is the minimum investment due?
You are making a commitment to the minimum investment required for your session when you book your senior portrait session at Cardwell Aukerman Photography.
We must turn down other clients in order to dedicate our time solely to you throughout the entire process in order to provide you with the level of experience we strive for. The minimum investment must be paid in full at the sales appointment as compensation for services rendered, whether or not product selections have been made.
Do you photograph in your studio or on location?
There is no limit to where we photograph our clients, as every part of the experience is customized for them. We may photograph in studio, on location, or a mixture of the two depending on how your story unfolds. Every opportunity is available to you to ensure this is truly authentic.
How many outfits will I get to wear?
You will wear several outfits during your session with Carol. With most sessions, you are not limited in the number of outfits, only by the amount of time purchased for your session. Therefore, the faster you change, the more time you have in front of the camera and the more outfit changes you have. We will ensure that we select the best variety in order to show every part of your story and personal style.
When will I get to see the images from my session?
We set two booking dates when you choose Cardwell Aukerman Photography for your senior photos:
• The session date
• Your Premier Ordering appointment
Your premier ordering appointment is the time where you will come to the studio to view the images from your session and make your final selections to purchase. As such, we require that all decision makers are present at this appointment. This appointment is typically scheduled 7-14 days after your session.
When you schedule these appointments, please be sure that every decision maker will be able to attend ahead of time, as our calendar books up months in advance and last minute reschedules typically cannot be accommodated. In order to ensure the best experience possible, and the highest level of satisfaction, we will not proceed with a sales appointment if all decision makers are not present at that time.
During the sales appointment, we ask you to relax and let us guide you through the process as you see your images life-size in our viewing room for the very first time. This is a very exciting time that is full of emotion, and you can rest assured that we are highly trained in helping you put together the best possible ways to display and enjoy your final images.
During your consultation we will help you prepare for this appointment so that you are able to confidently make these selections with our guidance and expertise.
When will I get my order?
Depending on your final selections, your custom products will be ready 4-6 weeks after the premier ordering appointment. We will call you to schedule your pickup appointment as soon as your images are into the studio and deemed 100% perfection!
Payment for your order is due at the sales appointment. We accept ½ or full payment at the time of your order. However, please note that digital web-sharing images are not released until your order is paid for in full.
How long do you keep my images?
Non-ordered images are removed from our system the next morning following your sales appointment. We do not keep or archive any files which are not ordered. All ordered images are archived for a period of one year from the date of the sales appointment.
Can I use my pictures in my school yearbook?
Any purchased image may be used in your school yearbook. We will provide these images to your school or yearbook advisor upon payment in full for your order. We require a two-week notice before providing your senior portrait to your school.
What happens if I need to reschedule my session (or an appointment)?
We understand that sometimes unexpected emergencies arise that prevent you from keeping your original scheduled appointment (such as illness, weather or travel issues, or other emergency situations). If this happens, we ask that you email us a minimum of 48 hours prior to the scheduled date to reschedule.
We can only reschedule one time. Additional rescheduling will require a fee of $150 per occurrence and are subject to schedule availability. Your session fee is non-refundable, however, you may apply it towards your rescheduled date if completed within 6 months of the original date.
Can I make a copy of my image to print?
All images remain the property of Cardwell Aukerman Photography, LLC, and Carol Cardwell, and are protected under U.S. Federal Copyright Laws. Duplication in part or in whole (including, but not limited to, screen capturing or reprinting) is strictly prohibited and may incur fines up to $10,000 per image as defined by law. This includes posting scanned images that were not provided to you by Cardwell Aukerman Photography to social media sites.