How do I book in?

Drop me a message on the contact page or email kate@katemcdonaldphotography.co.uk and I'll get back to you with my live calendar link where you can select a date and time that suits you best.

Where is your studio?

Shoots take place at my home studio in the picturesque coastal town of West Kirby on the Wirral, Merseyside. It is a purpose built garden studio, with separate access and toilet facilities.

How do I get there?

There are regular, direct trains to West Kirby from; Liverpool (30mins - direct)

Manchester (55mins) and just a short 10 minute walk from the station to my studio.

It is also an easy to drive to West Kirby, with off street parking when you get here. There is a beach and many cafes and restaurants if you wanted to make a day out of it or if you are traveling with family or friends and they wanted to enjoy the local area.

Once you've booked in and paid the deposit I'll send you all of the on the day info you'll need.

Any general tips to prepare?

Stay hydrated, drink plenty of water and try to avoid alcohol the day before the shoot. We all lead very busy lives and sometimes tiredness is unavoidable but do try to get at least a good couple of nights sleep leading up to the session if you can. This shoot is the perfect excuse to take time out for a bit of self-care. All fairly straight forward things, but they make a huge difference on camera and in you feeling good on the day.

What should I wear?

As a general rule, wear outfits that you feel comfortable and confident in. Take a look at other portraits for inspiration. Remember this is about you - for some people keeping it simple is best whereas other people love to express themselves with their clothing. This is your shoot, but here are a few suggestions as a guide.

Classic V-neck or round neck tops always works well.
Coats (smart structured collar) or jacket (denim or leather) to layer up for different
looks.
Texture – an often-missed element. Different textures of tops/dresses can give different looks so have an experiment and see what’s in your wardrobe. Colours - what suits your skin tone? As a general rule, avoid white as this can wash out - maybe opt for cream, or utilise layers over a brilliant white top to break it up; blue always works in whatever shade and maybe bring a brighter colour option. Avoid - tops that have large lettering or branding.
Make-up - natural is best. It's always wise to touch up as needed rather than have to remove during the shoot.
Hair - There are plenty of plug sockets for hair dryer/straightener's/curlers. If you have facial hair think about if you're going to shave or not. There is a sink and mirror for a wet shave.

How do I pay?

When you enquire I will send you the details to pay a £50 deposit to secure your booking. Remaining payment is cash or card on the day or bank transfer the day before.

What happens after the session?

After the session – you will receive a gallery of all images taken in the shoot. I do some quality control and go through to check for any unusable ones (if I’ve caught you blinking or mid chat!) I use a programme called Photo Workflow. The gallery allows you to individually short list and view your favourite choices to help you whittle them down. Once you’ve decided on your final images you simply add them to the order cart (little shopping trolley icon at the top of each image) and press send. I get the notification and can start working on your images.

Retouching – subtle is the key word, I only remove non-permanent fixtures such as blemishes, dark circles etc. I do not remove freckles, moles, scars, lines. I mainly focus on colour correction, exposure, stray hairs or any other rouge elements such as fluff on clothes if needed.

Can I pay extra to get more pictures retouched?

Yes, extra retouches are just £15 per image.

How do I book in?

Drop me a message on the contact page or email kate@katemcdonaldphotography.co.uk and I'll get back to you with my live calendar link where you can select a date and time that suits you best.

Where is your studio?

It is also an easy to drive to West Kirby, with off street parking when you get here. There is a beach and many cafes and restaurants if you wanted to make a day out of it or if you are traveling with family or friends and they wanted to enjoy the local area.

Once you've booked in and paid the deposit I'll send you all of the on the day info you'll need.

Any general tips to prepare?

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What should I wear?

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Classic V-neck or round neck tops always works well.

Coats (smart structured collar) or jacket (denim or leather) to layer up for different

looks.

Make-up - natural is best. It's always wise to touch up as needed rather than have to remove during the shoot.

Hair - There are plenty of plug sockets for hair dryer/straightener's/curlers. If you have facial hair think about if you're going to shave or not. There is a sink and mirror for a wet shave.