Question 1

What is involved with booking/doing a shoot?

Accepted Answer

It's super easy! Here is how we bring your dream session to life:

Step 1: Pick Your Vibe.
 Check out our collections page and choose the portrait experience that makes your heart skip a beat. Finish this FAQ & browse the galleries to start daydreaming about your perfect shoo.

Step 2: Reach Out.
 Drop me a line through the contact page. We’ll chat about dates and set up a custom prepayment plan if you want one!

Step 3: Lock It In.
Once we pick a shoot date,  we will set a consultation (either in person or via email depending), you'll sign some paper work and put down your $300 deposit and the dream shoot
has officially became a reality!

Step 4: The Planning Phase.
If your collection includes an in-person consultation, you'll come to the studio to plan your sets and pre-pick your wardrobe! If not, no worries—we will design everything seamlessly over email. And picking wardrobe day of is no problem. You are welcome to bring your own as well if you want! I have a huge size inclusive wardrobe so there is something for everyone (as long as you are into more feminine styles!)

Step 5: Shoot Day!
Arrive ready to be totally pampered. If you booked our optional stylist, come with a clean face and dry hair so they can doll you up! I will pose you from head to toe—no modeling experience required.

Step 6: The Big Reveal.
Right after your shoot, we’ll take a short break while I load your images. Then, you'll get to see your gorgeous portraits on the big screen right then and there! I'll help you pick your absolute favorites to bring home, I always shoot more than the number of portraits you take home in your collection so you have plenty of options! Also there are options to add on to your collection if you decide you love more than you originally comitted to (with flexible payment plan options!)
We can also collaborate on any retouching requests so you are totally in love with your final portraits. There is very little I can't fix in an image, so if you love it but there's a couple of those "This (insert any insecurity we all deal with here) really bothers me, even tho I know no one else on the planet will notice/care..." things in an otherwise epic portrait: Point it out to me. I got you, 100%
With zero judgement.

Step 7: Art is Delivered.
I professionally retouch your chosen portraits within 1 to 3 weeks. You’ll get a digital album to approve (or as for extra tweaks!), and then your stunning, high-resolution custom art is yours forever!

Question 2

Is Hair and Makeup Styling included?

Accepted Answer

Professional styling isn't automatically baked into every shoot, but it is incredibly easy to add on as an upgrade! Just let me know you want it when you inquire so I can check our stylist's schedule. You can book just hair, just makeup, or both! Lashes are always included with makeup styling!
Note: Styling is available for all packages except the Lily collection.

Question 3

Is wardrobe included? (And do you have my size?)

Accepted Answer

Yes! Our incredible studio wardrobe is completely included with every single session!**
I carry a gorgeous, size-inclusive femme wardrobe ranging from sizes XSM to XXXL, plus some children's pieces.

No stress planning: If we aren't doing an in-person consultation to pre-pick outfits, don't sweat it! We will figure it out on shoot day. I have a 100% success rate—every client finds pieces they absolutely fall in love with.
  Want to look ahead? Take a peek at my online galleries. If you see an outfit you love, screenshot it and email it over. I'll let you know if it's available in your size!
  Feel free to bring along any personal wardrobe pieces you want to incorporate, too!

Question 4

Is Modeling Experience Required?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely not! Most of my clients have rarely, if ever been in front of a camera, let alone to this scale. You can come in without any idea what to do and I promise you'll be totally fine! I will guide you through each pose, adjusting you as we go from head to toe.

Question 5

Can I do more than one theme? Like Pinup and Fairy?

Accepted Answer

Yes, let’s get creative!
If your chosen collection includes more than one look, we can easily do two totally different themes.

Styling Tip: If you add on our professional hair and makeup, we will design a versatile base look that beautifully compliments both styles. We can also easily swap out wigs or transition your natural hair between sets to completely change up the vibe!

Mix and Match: Want a Vanity Fair editorial glam look and a painted goddess? A forest fairy and a 1920s dark vampire vamp? A modern boudoir look and personal branding portraits? The options are endless. Let's look through my galleries and Pinterest together to map out your perfect combo.

Question 6

Where is your studio? I don't see an address.

Accepted Answer

I run a private, boutique home studio located on the east side of Lansing, Michigan!
 The main studio, styling room, and reveal space are completely dedicated to my clients (you won't find my husband lounging on the studio couch during your day!).
Because it is a private residential space, a few quick things to know for your comfort and safety:
  Pet-Friendly Prep: The back half of the house is entirely blocked off for our sweet resident cats. They are never allowed in the studio or styling spaces while clients are here. If you have pet allergies, let me know ahead of time! We give the entire studio a thorough sweeping before you arrive, and most allergic clients do great with a standard allergy pill.

The "Studio Husband": My husband Kevin works from home in his outside shop and is a pro at staying quiet, so you likely won't even notice he's there! If I need his muscle to help move a massive, heavy set piece, I'll give you a pre-shoot heads-up so you can grab a selfie break in the styling room while we quickly change your set around.

Health & Safety Policies: To keep our community, loved ones, and resident cats safe, we ask that all guests follow two simple studio rules:

1. Masking: Because we work closely with high-risk individuals, and myself and family are high-risk as well, my stylists and I mask for your safety, run air filter's in each room, and clean touch points. We ask that clients arrive masked for consultations and shoots. If you are getting professional makeup done, you can remove it as soon as your makeup styling begins. If you are coming with makeup shoot-ready you do not need to wear a mask BUT please put one on for the portrait reveal.  I always have individually wrapped masks available so don't worry if you don't have one with you.
To keep our studio intimate and safe, we ask that you do not bring along outside guests who are not actively being photographed (with the exception of a parent/guardian for a minor, or if you need someone to attend for accessibility reasons).

2. No Outside Shoes: To protect our space, outside shoes are left in the entryway cupboard. If you have specific shoes you want to wear for your portraits, just pop them in a bag and bring them along—I'll give the soles a quick wipe down and you are good to go!
  
Easy Rescheduling: If you or anyone in your household is feeling under the weather, or if driving conditions get dangerous, we will reschedule your shoot for zero fees, no questions asked. No one needs to risk their health or safety for a photo shoot!

A Note on Pets & Florals: While I love animals, we cannot accommodate outside pets or real lilies inside the studio due to strict household health protocols. If you want portraits with your favorite critter, let's book an incredible outdoor location session instead, or find a space to rent to make you're pet shoot happen! (Service animals are of course welcome in studio.)

Question 7

Can I shoot with my friend/sister/kid/fam/mom??

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! Anyone you love is welcome to join the fun.
Because standard collections are custom-tailored for one person, there is a small additional fee to add people to your session.
  Group Sizes: To ensure everyone gets premium attention and styling time, I accommodate small groups up to 3 adults total (or up to 4–5 people max if the group includes kids). Drop me an email with what you have in mind and I’ll give you a custom quote!

Question 8

I'm a small business owner/performer/author/etc...what can you do for me?

Accepted Answer

I absolutely LOVE collaborating with self-employed people, artists, and creators!
Whether you are an author, musician, burlesque dancer, influencer, independent professional, or business owner; high-end custom imagery is a powerful tool to scale your brand. Best of all? Since these are used directly to promote your income, this entire luxury experience is typically a tax write-off! (Be sure to double-check with your tax professional!)
We can create:
 * Premium Personal Branding & Headshots
 * High-End Social Media Content & Promos
 * Album Covers, Book Jackets, & Editorial Art
 * Custom Product Photography
Your Commercial Rights:
Every image you order includes a professionally retouched, high-resolution digital file with personal printing rights plus comprehensive publication rights. You are fully cleared to use them for websites, business cards, LinkedIn, social media, fliers, book jackets, and magazine submissions. *Commercial resale licensing (e.g., printing the image onto merchandise or selling autographed prints at a show) can easily be added to your order

Autumn Luciano Studios

Lansing Michigan's Classical Fantasy Portrait Studio

Frequently Asked Questions