What if I'm SUPER camera shy?

I know it's easier said than done, but don't panic! Lots of people are, but there are plenty of things we can put into practice to ensure the experience is as painless as possible and –while you might not believe it – actually kinda fun.

Not only do I have over a decade of experience as a portrait photographer, I've got a whole lot more as someone who used to struggle hugely with camera shyness and self-image myself. Should it be of any help at all, I've written a blog detailing a series of tried and tested tips and tricks for alleviating photoshoot anxiety which you can read right here.

In addition to the above, I'm more than happy to arrange an informal natter over Zoom with you so you can decide before booking whether we'll be the right fit.

Sound good? Get in touch to get the ball rolling!

What's the process here? How do I book a photoshoot?

• Say hello! Pop an email over to ellylucasetc@googlemail.com or use my contact form here. I'd love to hear a bit about you and your album / project / business, and if there are any particular themes, concepts or general vibes you'd like to put across. If you're a musician, links to your music are always welcome too! If you've got a moodboard on the go (Pinterest is brilliant for this), I'd love to see it.
• Book an initial chat over Zoom (recommended) or over the phone if you'd rather. Here we can chat through some potential ideas and you can decide whether I'll be a good fit for your project. I'll email over a tailored quote after this call.
• If you'd like to go ahead, get in touch to book a date for your shoot! A non-refundable booking fee of £75 will be required to hold the date, which will then be subtracted from your final bill if the shoot goes ahead on the original date. If you cancel with less than 14 days' notice, you'll need to pay the booking fee again to secure a new date.
• Have a smashing time getting some new photos taken.
• Receive your low-res previews after the shoot.
• Pay your invoice (minus the booking fee).
• Receive your shiny new hi-res photos!

Is the booking process different for album artwork / design?

Steps 1 & 2 are the same, but if you decide you'd like to go ahead with your artwork I'll require 50% of the quoted price up front to cover part of my time spent working on it. The remaining 50% will be due upon completion.

Whereabouts are you based?

I'm based in Glasgow, Scotland.

Are you happy to travel?

As long as my expenses are covered (£0.35/mile plus accommodation if necessary) – absolutely! I love that my job introduces me to lots of new people and places.

What do I get for the price?

Included in a promo shoot are 10 hi-res edits licensed for promotional use in print and online.

Included in an album shoot are 15 hi-res edits licensed for promotional use in print and online, as well as for your album and any relevant merchandise. Additionally, you'll receive a selection of extra detail & texture images (perfect for backgrounds etc) to help keep all the design work relating to your album as cohesive as possible.

Why do I have to choose a selection of photos from the low-res previews for promo / album shoots?

The low-res previews you receive from promo and album photoshoots have just had some simple batch colour correction applied – they're by no means the final product. A lot of extra work and time goes into the final creative edits, hence the need for a selection to keep the base price as accessible as possible.

Can I share the low-res previews online?

As mentioned above, the low-res previews aren't the finished product (and the low resolution means they won't display nicely if you do), so I'd politely ask you not to. If there are a few fun outtakes that you'd like to share without the full edit treatment, by all means give me a shout and I'll send them over optimised for sharing on social media.

Can I request more hi-res edits from my shoot?

Absolutely! Additional edits are available for £15/photo.

What's your process for creating album artwork? How collaborative is it?

Collaboration is super important when it comes to your artwork! I want to make sure we create something which feels authentic to you and your music. To that end, we'll always start the process with a Zoom call to chat through any strong themes / title concepts. You might already have a strong idea about what you'd like to achieve, but don't panic if not! It's something we can develop together as I find out more about you and your music.

Once I've got an idea or two about what sort of thing you're after, I'll pop across a few initial sketches for your approval before I start cracking on everything properly. We'll usually work on the front cover first - once we've got the vibe nailed there, it's much easier to make the rest of the artwork tie-in.

Can I license some of your original art / personal work to use for my album artwork / other design projects?

Absolutely! For use on album / single / EP covers: pop me an email to ellylucasetc@googlemail.com to discuss rates. For any other commercial use: a selection of my work will soon be available to license through Cavan, Picfair and Arcangel.

Where do I even begin with my album artwork?! What do I need to send you?

I've written a step-by-step blog for you right here. Anything you're unsure of, just give me a shout!

What else do I get as part of your design service?

As well as the layout &/ artwork itself, I'll send you a Dropbox folder containing a series of the design assets I've created for your project. This includes any useful textures and illustrations, a PNG of your name as it appears on the cover, a hi-res RGB JPG of the cover itself, and any other bits and bobs which might be useful to you in creating a cohesive web / print presence for your project.