Session pricing
Family sessions start at $350 for up to five people. Larger families, extended-family groups, multiple group combinations, extra locations and more complex plans receive individual quotes.
Shift One Portraits · Tracy + Josh
People first. Photographs that feel like them.
Family, newborn, children’s, senior, maternity, engagement, individual and lifestyle portraits based in Mendota, Illinois, serving the Illinois Valley and surrounding region. Sessions are shaped around the person in front of the camera.
The portrait side of Shift One
Tracy leads the experience.
Tracy brings eight years of experience photographing school portraits for Shutterfly, a natural connection with children and a calm, thoughtful approach to portrait sessions. She knows how to get children comfortable and engaged. Depending on the session, she photographs independently or works alongside Josh, helping keep the experience relaxed and personal.
Portrait Photography • Creative Direction
Tracy Carnana graduated from the Art Institute with formal photography education and attended Paul Mitchell beauty school, where she trained in hair, makeup, styling and presentation. Her trained photographic eye and attention to styling contribute directly to the finished visual quality of the portraits.
Before and during photographs, Tracy guides posing and expression, checks clothing and jewelry placement, adjusts hair and styling details, and helps with makeup touch-ups when appropriate. She pays attention to comfort, natural expression and overall presentation so each person looks polished and feels at ease.
Her Paul Mitchell background supports wardrobe, styling, touch-ups and creative direction during sessions.
Not a fan of being photographed?
You don’t have to know how to pose.
If being in front of a camera feels awkward, we understand. We keep sessions relaxed, conversational and fun, with enough direction that you know what to do without holding a stiff pose. Josh and Tracy adjust to your personality and help you settle in.
We want you to open the finished gallery and think, “I actually really like that picture of me,” even if that is rarely how you feel about photos.
Sessions
Different milestones. The same relaxed approach.
01
Newborns & children
Patient, child-led sessions with room for feeding, settling and the unpredictability that comes with little people.
02
Families
Guided enough to look intentional, loose enough to leave room for actual personality and connection.
03
Engagements
A collaborative session shaped around the couple, the location and how they naturally interact.
04
Seniors & individuals
Portraits built around your interests, whether that means a dirt bike, a car, a sport, an instrument or a place that matters to you.
Portrait work
People looking like themselves.
Like what you see?
Plan a Portrait SessionScope before packages
Built around what you actually need.
Some clients want a fully planned session and a broad finished gallery. Others need a shorter session and only a small set of strong images. Tell us what you are trying to make and we will quote the real scope instead of forcing every family into the same package.
That flexibility does not mean cutting corners. Every finished image still receives the same professional attention.
Shift One Portraits
Portrait sessions and starting prices
- Family sessions
- From $350
Standard family sessions include up to five people. Larger families, extended-family groups, multiple group combinations, additional locations and more complex sessions are quoted individually. We agree on the session plan and finished gallery before booking.
- Senior portraits
- From $350
Bring your bike, car, sports gear or instrument, or choose a location that feels like you. Extra locations and more extensive sessions are quoted separately.
- Maternity
- From $350
A planned session with room for individual portraits and photographs together. Edited final images are included.
- Newborns
- From $450
Extra time for setup, feeding, settling and breaks. The session moves at the baby’s pace, with an edited final gallery included.
The written quote confirms session length, the number of edited images, turnaround, location and any travel before you book. Individual, lifestyle and engagement sessions are also available by quote.
The session, clearly planned
What to expect.
Reserve your date
Once we agree on the details, a 50% booking retainer reserves the date. The remaining 50% is due upon arrival, before photography begins. The retainer is non-refundable under the booking agreement, subject to its cancellation and rescheduling terms. An inquiry does not reserve a date.
Your finished photographs
A typical full portrait session includes approximately 10–20 carefully selected, professionally finished images, depending on the scope. Your written quote confirms the deliverables. We select the strongest photographs; unedited images, RAW files and every frame captured are not included.
Delivery
Finished galleries are normally ready within 7–10 business days after the session. Larger or more complex projects may have an agreed alternative turnaround. We may share 1–3 previews when practical, but previews are not guaranteed.
Our photographic approach
Lighting, weather, location, composition and the people in front of the camera shape each session. We finish each photograph to suit it; black-and-white treatments, color, contrast and tonal choices are part of our artistic process.
Retouching
Standard professional editing is included. Extensive appearance alterations, face swaps, complex object removal, composites and other substantial retouching are outside the standard session and may be quoted separately.
After your inquiry
A plan before you book.
01 / TALK IT THROUGH
Tell us what you have in mind.
Share the type of session, number of people, possible dates, location ideas and the look you want. Questions or concerns are welcome, and you don’t need all the details worked out.
02 / AGREE ON THE PLAN
Choose an approach together.
We can talk by email or jump on the phone if that is easier. We recommend an approach, confirm availability and give you a price before booking.
03 / RESERVE THE SESSION
Half to book. Half at the shoot.
Once we agree on the session details, a 50% booking retainer reserves the date. The remaining 50% is due upon arrival, before photography begins.
Before your session
Portrait questions, answered.
Do you have a studio?
We don’t operate a traditional indoor portrait studio. We do have a rustic old barn setup in Mendota with a bench, old wagon wheels and seasonal props such as pumpkins. It can work especially well for mini sessions.
For regular sessions, we can recommend a location, photograph at your home or property, use a place that matters to you or explore somewhere you’d like to try.
What if my kids do not want to cooperate?
Tracy has eight years of experience photographing school portraits for Shutterfly. She has plenty of ways to help children feel comfortable, get involved and stay engaged. We allow room for breaks and changes of approach without expecting children to stand still and perform perfectly.
Do you help with posing?
Yes. Josh and Tracy give direction throughout the session, so you don’t need to know how to pose before arriving. Tracy watches posture, hands, expressions, hair, wardrobe, jewelry and styling details while helping everyone look natural and feel comfortable.
How many finished images do we receive?
A typical full portrait session includes approximately 10–20 carefully selected and professionally finished images, depending on the session scope. The written quote confirms your agreed deliverables before booking.
Can you help us choose a location?
Yes. We can suggest locations based on the look you want, use familiar local areas, photograph at your home or property, or consider somewhere you already have in mind.
How does payment work?
Once we agree on the session details, a 50% booking retainer reserves the date. The remaining 50% is due upon arrival, before photography begins. The retainer is non-refundable under the booking agreement, subject to its cancellation and rescheduling terms. Submitting an inquiry does not reserve a date.
What happens after I contact you?
We discuss the type of session, who is being photographed, possible dates, location ideas, the look you want and any questions or concerns. We can do that by email or phone, then recommend an approach, confirm availability and give you a price before booking.
Can we talk on the phone first?
Yes. You don’t need every detail figured out before contacting us. Call 815.408.0205 or send an inquiry and let us know you’d prefer to talk.
When will we receive our photographs?
Finished galleries are normally delivered within 7–10 business days after the session. We confirm any different turnaround for larger or more complex projects in advance. We may share 1–3 previews when practical, but previews are not guaranteed.
Can we request different editing styles or color versions?
Shift One Photography makes the final artistic decisions, editing each photograph to suit its subject, lighting and composition. Alternate color, black-and-white or other treatments are not automatically included. We will review genuine technical errors and correct them appropriately.
Do you provide every photo taken?
We curate the strongest photographs and professionally finish the agreed gallery. Test frames, near-duplicates and photographs that do not meet our standard are left out. Unedited photographs, RAW files and every frame captured are not included.
What if we have a larger family?
Standard family sessions start at $350 for up to five people. Larger families, extended-family groups, multiple group combinations, additional locations and more complex setups receive custom quotes. Tell us the approximate number of participants and combinations you would like photographed.
How should we download our finished photographs?
Use the download option in your delivery link to save the original high-resolution files. Screenshots, gallery previews and images saved through social media or messaging apps may have reduced quality. Keep the downloaded originals for printing and future use.
What if we need to reschedule or cancel?
Please contact us when plans change. Your written booking agreement explains the non-refundable booking retainer, rescheduling, cancellation, photographer-initiated cancellation and any applicable exceptions. We will refer to that agreement and explain what applies to your session.
Thinking about a session?
Let’s make it easy.
Tell us what you have in mind, even if you’re still figuring out dates or locations. We can talk by email or phone.