Frequently-Asked Questions
In the last little while, TONS of people have asked me some of the same questions, so I thought it might be useful to set up a little FAQ page!
1. What's your name?
My name is Adriana Villela, and I LOOOOOVE photography! I really do. Just ask my family. :) For more about me, check out my about page!
2. What the heck is an "Ümla"?
A lot of people have asked me this question. I guess photographers typically use their names for their photography businesses, but that's not really my style. I like that Ümla has a life of its own, and is both playful and catchy.
"Ümla" is a totally made-up word that comes from another made-up word, umlakafarfoo. Umlakafarfoo was born almost 10 years ago, when my husband and I were first married. One day, after waking up and getting ready for work, my husband turned to me and asked, "How'd you sleep last night". I said that I could sleep for another few hours, and he gave me this really weird look. And then said, "Umlakafarfoo? What the hell is that?" How he ever came up with "umlakafarfoo" from "I could sleep for another few hours" is beyond me. But it somehow stuck, and we used to jokingly say "umlakafarfoo" to each other whenever we'd wake up from a too-short sleep (i.e. pretty much all the time).
Fast-forward a few years later, and I was on the market to buy a domain-hosting package to host a blog that I was running at the time. It came with registration of three free domains, so just for kicks, I registered umlakafarfoo.com. Then, when I started to build my photography business, I thought it would be fun to call myself Umlakafarfoo Photography. And because I think that umlauts are awesome, I made it "Ümlakafarfoo Photography". I ran under that banner for about 6 months before realizing that not only was the name difficult to remember, it was a nightmare for most people to spell. So I shortened it to ÜmlaPhoto, bought the appropriate domain, and the rest was history.
3. How much do you charge?
I offer three types of packages, in addition to a few add-on bundles. Packages start at $650, and most clients spend an average of around $850. All prices are subject to HST. For more information on packages and pricing, please feel free to contact me, and I'll send you more information!
4. I love your work, but your prices are outside of my budget!
Never fear! You have a couple of options, if your budget does not allow for a custom photography package. One option is the mini-session. Mini-sessions take place a few times per year, at a place and time chosen by me. Although minis are shorter, you get fewer images compared to a regular session, they are discounted. To keep an eye out for which mini-sessions are currently being offered or will be offered, check out the Upcoming Events page. Mini-sessions do tend to fill up fast, and sign-up is on a first-come, first-served basis.
I also offer Anytime Minis for clients who have booked me for a full session in the past calendar year or to any client who has booked and paid in full for a regular session scheduled in the next calendar year.
Alternatively, if you would like to invest in a full session, I have a payment plan available! For more details on payment plans, be sure to contact me!
5. Why do you only edit 30 photos?
Making decisions is really tough, and having to sift through more than 20 awesome photos to pick your favourites is even harder. Believe me, because I often have a hard time narrowing down the 30 best photos from a session! I also find that 30 is just the perfect number to tell your life's story. Edited photos included in mini-sessions, promo packages, and bundles may vary.
6. Can you edit any additional photos for me besides the 20 that you provided?
Although I typically edit 20 photos to present to a client at a proofng & ordering session, I can, upon request, look through a client's session photos and edit some additional ones if they meet my high quality standards. Since editing does take up additional time, there will be an additional charged if I look through your gallery and determine that there are additional images which you may like. Please note that the 20 edited photos applies only to standard ÜmlaPhoto packages. Edited photos included in mini-session and promo packages may vary.
7. I remember you taking photos of us doing xyz. Why weren't they included?
I have very high quality standards, and I only want to include the best of the best photos in your proofing & ordering gallery. Sometimes there's a photo that you remember me taking during your session which just doesn't meet my high creative standards. If that's the case, then I won't include it in your gallery.
8. Why don't you provide a disc of all of the session images?
The Ümla-experience is a boutique photography experience. You are getting my unique photographic and artistic vision both from a composition standpoint, and an editing standpoint. I will never sell a disc of all unedited session images because not all images from your session are up to snuff (i.e. my high artistic standards). Similarly, I will never sell unedited versions of the images that I include in your proofing & ordering gallery. The image is a combination of composition and editing, and that is what an Ümla-photo is all about. That being said, I do offer packages that include the full set of high-res, hand-edited digital images from your proofing & ordering gallery. Please contact me for a price quote.
9. Can I have the original RAW file?
A raw file is the unedited, straight out of camera file, and I never sell these. An Ümla-photo is a product of composition and creative vision, which includes how the photo is edited.
10. What does "Hand-Edited" mean?
All photos presented in your proofing & ordering gallery are hand-edited. This means that I take the time to edit each photo in my photo-editing software so that it looks its best. This includes anything from color enhancements, removal of blemishes, and removal of distracting background objects as needed, to ensure that your photo looks its absolute best when it is presented to you.
11. What is a Print Release?
When you purchase a digital image file from me, it includes a print release. In a nutshell, this is a document that gives you permission to print the photo for personal use. This means that you may print copies for mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, and any other family member and/or friend, many times over! Yay! If you'd like to e-mail out copies of the file, I include a complimentary web-ready copy for each digital file purchased. This is a specially-formatted file that is sized for web display and is perfect for e-mailing out, as it is small enough to not clog up your inbox. It also includes a watermark for your protection when posting online, as it deters would-be image thieves from taking the image and posting it on some random stock photo site.
12. Do you do any commercial work?
Yes! I photograph classes (e.g. yoga) and events (e.g. Baby & Me Fitness Launch Party). I have packages that are specially-tailored for events. Digital images purchased from these events are specially-licensed for commercial use.
13. Do you offer gift certificates?
I sure do! To purchase a gift certificate, please complete the PayPal form found here. Once you've completed your purchase, I will make arrangements to deliver the gift certificate to you!
14. What should I wear?
15. Do you use props?
My photographic style captures candid family moments, so I don't tend to have any over-the-top props. Please don't expect to see your child propped on some vintage rocking chair in a field. That is not my style. :) My usual props for outdoor sessions include bubbles, a ball, a kite, and a stuffed animal. The idea is to get you to play with your child/children as they interact with the props, so that I can capture everyone's candid moments. Please feel free to bring along any favorite toys that your children have! Indoor sessions usually take place at a client's home, so in that case, your home is one big, giant prop! For at-home sessions, I encourage all of my clients to go about their normal day-to-day activities. This can include cooking breakfast, reading stories, and playing, both indoors and outdoors!