Dance photo FAQ. Please reach out if you have a question that isn’t answered here. holly@magnoliacny.com
Do I have to place a preorder?
Yes and no.
Yes: ONLY if you are using studio credits to pay for some or all of your photo order or if you need to pay with cash or check. You can only use those payment methods with a preorder.
No: if you are paying with a card. All credit and debit card orders can be placed at any point, through a preorder or even after receiving your gallery link and viewing the images. You can add on items if you placed a preorder, after you see your images and decide you need one more print or an extra pose, etc. but that must be purchased with a card because preorders with cash/check will be closed.
Why do I need to be so specific with info on the preorder form?
The site uses some fantastic software to organize your dancer’s images into galleries that are specific to you. Your name, email address and your dancer’s name on the preorder form need to be exactly as they appear with SDS info so the system can match up that info and properly sort your child(ren) into galleries that are attached to you. If you aren’t preordering, the same thing will happen because your info is already entered into the system and you don’t have to do any work besides choose what items and poses you want.
Who can view my dancer’s photos?
Only you or anyone you share the link/password with (well, and of course SDS staff and Magnolia Photography). Any dancers in the group photo will be viewed by all those dancers’ parents or guardians as well, because the group photo is part of your gallery. But other than that, you will only have your own child’s photos in your gallery/galleries and this should make for a simple selection process.
What if my dancer(s) takes multiple classes, or I want a sibling photo?
You may combine poses or even classes in your order, and you may combine siblings in photos/orders. This can be tricky if not done properly, but, if you choose a multi pose package (print package C or D, or digital images), or multiple a la carte items, then it shouldn’t be too hard once images are in galleries. You will have access to all your dancer’s images/galleries when selecting poses for your order after photo week, or when placing an order after receiving the gallery (if you do not preorder). If for some reason it will not allow you to toggle between galleries for image selection, let me know and I will make some changes to the gallery images to allow it to add those photos to your order.
When is my child being photographed?
The preorder form has your dancer’s photo date for that class displayed as the “event date,” and we will start the first week of May! Your dancer’s photo day is the same day of the week that they normally have class, but may be some very slight changes to the time. You will be notified by Miss Meg if there is a change to your time. Please arrive on time, as we aim to get the group shot first so dancers who aren’t ordering individual photos can leave afterward the group photo.
When will the galleries be ready?
This greatly depends on editing and my current workload, but, proof galleries are usually ready within 3 weeks after the end of photo week.
What if I placed a preorder but don’t select my image before the deadline?
If you place a preorder and have not chosen your image when the deadline is approaching (about 10 days after galleries are ready), an attempt will be made to contact you. If there’s no reply soon after, then your pose will be chosen for you in order to submit all the package/print orders to the lab at once. It is a volume lab so they only take large orders and it’s necessary to send them all at once. Please be mindful and if you want to choose your image, do so as soon as you possibly can once you receive the gallery invite for selection. Don’t hesitate to reach out for assistance with this! If you simply prefer that your image is chosen for you to save you from that decision, indicate so on the preorder form. If you are ordering after receiving the gallery, then you’ll have to select the image to be able to check out.
When are my photos going to be ready?
Usually, some really basic retouching is used (skin smoothing, background fixing), which does slow down the editing process but makes for a beautiful final image. This year, we are using a dark background so the editing should go a little quicker! Once that part is done, digital images are made available for download right away. Print orders are submitted all at once in a big order near the end of June and once they are printed and arrive, they will be delivered and available at SDS for pickup during the summer. We try to work this out for pickup during registration week to help everyone consolidate trips to the studio.
You absolutely can! However, they will come from a different lab since it won’t be a bulk order, and the finish may be slightly different, wallets likely won’t be die cut, and prices could possibly change a bit. You also should expect to pick them up at Magnolia Photography’s studio in Cortland instead of SDS, because it may not work out easily for Miss Meg to have to distribute photos that were ordered later.
What if I want to order prints after the cutoff date?
Can I have a photo order shipped?
Of course! You would simply be responsible for shipping charges, and that does vary based on the size of the print(s). The range is usually $5-10 but would be higher for large or heavy items (like wrapped canvases or 16x20+ size prints). If you want/need photos shipped, please contact me directly and we can discuss your order and the shipping price, etc.
What if we cannot make it to photo day? Is there a makeup day?
The current expectation is that there will be no makeup day at SDS, so please plan to come. In the case of costume arrival delays, Holly and Miss Meg will decide a makeup day for that class, of course.
In the event of illness or you’re just unable to come for any reason, you can contact Holly to set up a session at Magnolia Photography’s studio in Cortland for a makeup photo session. (Your group photo would not be able to include your dancer in this scenario).