Frequently Asked Questions
About your next photography session…
A photography session with Lucille Khornak in The Hamptons, New York City, Florida, or any other destination around the world is designed to feel effortless and to matter long after the day is over.
Before becoming a photographer, Lucille spent years as a professional model. She understands what it feels like to step in front of the camera and creates an environment where clients feel at ease, confident, and quietly guided.
With an intuitive eye for connection and presence, Lucille captures images that feel natural, refined, and deeply personal. The images are photographs that reflect who you are and become part of your family’s visual legacy.
Baby on towels
When should I book my photo session?
The best time to schedule a session is before life changes, because it always does.
Families often wait for a “perfect moment,” only to realize how quickly children grow, dynamics shift, and seasons pass. Any time of year can be meaningful, and every stage is worth documenting.
To allow for thoughtful planning and a relaxed experience, we recommend booking your session at least three weeks in advance. This ensures ample time to discuss vision, location, and how your photographs will ultimately be displayed or preserved.
If you’re thinking about it now, it’s usually the right time.
What does preparing for a photography session entail?
Preparation is simple and thoughtfully guided.
We begin by selecting a date (and a rain date, if needed), followed by choosing the location and overall vision for your session. From there, we discuss wardrobe, styling, and the desired result, whether your photographs are intended for framed artwork, a coffee table book, or both.
Lucille and her team guide you through each step, ensuring the process feels effortless and well considered, so you can arrive relaxed and ready to enjoy the experience.
What kind of clothes should I wear for our session?
Lucille’s work is known for its timeless, refined quality. For most sessions, we recommend simple, understated clothing so the focus remains where it belongs—on you and the connection being photographed.
Neutral tones, clean lines, and minimal patterns tend to photograph beautifully and age well over time. If your session calls for a more fashion-forward or editorial approach, this will be thoughtfully discussed during the planning process.
You’ll never be left to guess—Lucille will guide you so your clothing supports the final vision and enhances the finished photographs.
What kind of makeup should I wear?
For most portrait and family sessions, arrive wearing your everyday makeup—the way you feel most like yourself.
The goal is a timeless, polished look rather than heavy or trend-driven makeup. Unless your session is specifically styled as a glamour, fashion, or artistic shoot, natural and understated makeup photographs beautifully and keeps the focus where it belongs: on you.
We do recommend bringing a small makeup bag to the session for light touch-ups,lip color, powder, or blotting papers, so you feel fresh and confident throughout.
If your session calls for a more elevated or styled look, Lucille will guide you during the planning process.
WHAT DOES LUCILLE RECOMMEND FOR GROOMING?
Thoughtful grooming makes a meaningful difference in how relaxed and confident you feel in front of the camera.
As with makeup, the goal is to look like your best, most natural self, not over-styled or unfamiliar. If you’re planning a haircut or trim, Lucille recommends scheduling it about a week before your session, allowing it to settle naturally.
For shaving or beard grooming, the closer to the session the better—either the night before or the morning of, so everything looks clean and polished.
Simple, well-timed grooming ensures a timeless result that photographs beautifully and never feels dated.
Will I receive all the digital files from the photo session?
Lucille does not release all unedited digital files from a session.
Each image that leaves the studio represents her name, her eye, and decades of expertise. Delivering every file. unfinished and unrefined, would not serve the integrity of the work or the experience you are investing in.
Every high-resolution digital image you order is individually selected and perfected through Lucille’s white-glove process. This includes professional retouching to Lucille Khornak quality and, when needed, specialized refinements such as head selections, background adjustments, and tonal balancing.
The result is a curated collection of finished portraits that are timeless, polished, and worthy of becoming part of your family’s visual legacy.
How many people can be included in our session?
Please let us know in advance how many people you plan to include in your session.
Lucille is experienced and fully equipped to photograph families of all sizes—from intimate portraits to larger, multi-generational groups. When extended families are involved, additional planning or an assistant on location may be required to ensure the session flows smoothly and receives the attention it deserves.
Sharing this information early allows the experience to be effortless and the final images to be beautifully executed.
How does Lucille feel about dogs, cats, etc.?
HOW DOES LUCILLE FEEL ABOUT DOGS, CATS, AND OTHER PETS?
Family portraits often feel most complete when every member is included—and that can certainly include pets.
Lucille regularly works with animals and welcomes dogs, cats, and other beloved companions into sessions. If you plan to include a pet, she recommends bringing an extra set of hands to assist—helping your pet shine on camera while also allowing them to relax comfortably off-camera.
Some of Lucille’s most memorable images come from moments shared between children and their animals. One of her most iconic photographs captured a quiet, magical interaction between a young boy and his frog, an image remembered for its intimacy and soul.
Lucille works seamlessly with subjects across species because she is deeply attuned to energy and connection. Her focus is always on capturing moments that feel soulful, whimsical, and alive.
HOW LONG IS A TYPICAL PHOTO SESSION?
Most family sessions last approximately one to one and a half hours. This allows time for everyone to settle in, relax, and for moments to unfold naturally rather than feeling rushed.
Shorter sessions, such as professional headshots, typically require less time, while fashion, branding, or more creatively styled sessions may extend longer depending on the scope and vision of the shoot.
Every session is thoughtfully paced to ensure the experience feels calm, enjoyable, and beautifully executed.
What if I feel really uncomfortable in front of the camera?
There are so many things that can make us feel uncomfortable in front of the camera:
Hair
Face
Weight
When it comes to dealing with these thoughts and concerns, trust Lucille! As a professional model, Lucille knows how to work with the features that make us feel uncomfortable unlike any other photographer. She will help you reach the most helpful angles for your image, and deliver a really clean look for a beautiful photograph you will absolutely love.
In what locations is Lucille available for a photography session?
Our operations are based in New York City and The Hamptons, and Lucille travels often throughout the tri-state area, across the country, and around the world for her clients.
How often should we book a photography session?
Most Lucille Khornak Photography clients choose to book at least one session a year, as it makes for a rich documentation of family love, growth and relationships. You may, however, prefer to book more than one session a year.
May I bring my camera along?
Of course our lives are filled with many Instagram-worthy snapshot moments, however, the purpose of a photography session with Lucille Khornak is to capture those truly priceless moments that stand the test of time. Our request is that you enjoy this one entirely irl :). Please refrain from bringing additional cameras, or taking snapshots with smartphones or tablets.
How do I prepare my children for the session (mentally)?
Prep your kids for the session just as you would for family fun, because that’s exactly what this is! As a child photographer, Lucille works best with pure, uninhibited energy, and the best way to get this is to allow children to be children and have fun!
OMG. What. if. it. rains. ?
Sometimes the weather can be unpredictable! Lucille does her best to plan around this, so whether that means pencilling in a rain date, or having a backup location in mind, we will find the perfect solution for setting off your session without any issues from the weather.
Can I print hi-res files?
Absolutely! Hi-res photos are treated with the full attention of a print. Of course, we recommend ordering your print with us to protect the ultimate quality of the photograph, however, when a client orders a hi-res file, they are at liberty to work with any printer of their choosing.
What is the difference between Hi-Res and Low-Res photography?
Hi-Res files are fully retouched and color corrected photos. We give them the same treatment as our prints (minus the actual printing of course). Low-Res digital images are developed in a much smaller size -usually used for smaller phones and social media.
“What is so special about Lucille Khornak’s black & white photography?”
We have mastered the art of black-and-white photography. Lucille Khornak black and white prints are delivered with a timeless and classic feel. Our prints have a warm nostalgia, whereas prints from other printers have a cold greenish hue. View her portfolio here.
“Who is on the team at Lucille Khornak Studios?”
The team in our Long Island City studio consists of retouchers, designers and printing technicians, working on your images with a high level of expertise. From custom-designing books, holiday cards, and wall layouts to masterfully retouching photos with beauty and realism, we at the Lucille Khornak Studio can do it all for you. We can customize your photos, designs and prints to any level you desire.
How much do you charge?
Prices vary. Depending on the type of shoot you are looking for and the purpose for which you would like to use the photos, we have a menu of general packages- each can be tailored to your specific needs.