Photo Session Guide
SEE MAP OF THE FARM AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE
We are no longer accepting bookings from the general public. You must be a photographer if you are booking with us moving forward. We also ask that any photographers booking time on our farm stay with your clients at all times. You must be the last one in the area you are photographing to ensure our facilities are left the way you found it. At no time can clients stay in a photo area on their own. If you have issues we are on the farm and can help you if you run into problems.
The clients coming to get their photos can not bring anyone else on the farm that is not part of the photoshoot. If they do they are to stay in the vehicle in the designated parked area. Nobody is free to roam our farm. This is our personal home and farm so you need to respect our privacy and property. Please relay this to your clients so there is no misunderstandings. All in all we have had a wonderful experience with everyone that have come but we want to remind everyone this is our home and the crops we grow is income to us that needs to be cared for. We are so happy to share our space with you and will continue to do so if the rules are followed. Thanks for understanding and please read the information below.
Our Location
We are located at 4310 Waverley Street, La Barriere, Manitoba. (Depending on the maps you use it may also be called Waverley Road.) We are on the same street as La Barriere Park and situated just North of the park. You will see a large sign with our name “Charlie May Farm” so you shouldn’t miss it. La Barriere Park is just south west of St. Norbert about 5km from the perimeter.
Where to Park
The main shop is the best spot to park for Flower Garden Sessions.
We will greet you when you arrive and let you know where to go from there. We will only be greeting the photographer upon arrival and go over everything with you. Then we will move out of the area so we do not interfere with your client/photographer relationship. But we will always be close by in case you need help with anything.
Photographers make sure you give your clients clear instructions where to park.
Alternative Parking:
For the Greenhouse, clients can park in front of the shop and as they see people leave they will notice 2 parking spots close to the greenhouse that they can utilize so they are closer to walk to it. If your clients have babies they are even welcome to come right up to the greenhouse to drop off then proceed to the 2 stall spot facing the horse stalls. Let them know to not park right at the greenhouse as it will interfere with you photos.
Winter Truck Photosessions: Parking is usually best BEFORE the main shop depending on the sunlight and snow fall we have a few spots available to park in the winter so let your client know that parking may be decided when they get there depending on where you prefer the truck. If weather permits we also park the truck close to the greenhouse along the fence line. In that case they can park by the greenhouse area if they don’t see the truck up front along the main driveway.
If you are here for the full farm experience parking by the shop is fine. We can direct you further where to go depending on where you want to start and finish the photos.
Pets
We are happy to welcome your pets on the farm so you can take photos with your furry family members
Please keep them on a leash when walking to your location spot. We have many other farm animals and possible clients with other pets before or after your session so we want to avoid any accidents or harm if your pet runs off. You can take them off leash only when you are at your location of photos and know they will stay close to you and not run off while you are taking photos with them. If your pet is a runner then this is probably not the place to have them off leash.
Pets are not allowed in the flower gardens, but they are welcome at our truck, greenhouse and along our forested paths.
Thanks for your understanding and cooperation.
A Few Rules…
Please arrive at least 10 minutes earlier so you are ready for your scheduled time.
For the Vintage Truck: You are welcome to sit inside the truck as well, but please do not touch the gear shifts, radio, or gas pedals. Everything is vintage so it can break easily and it’s very hard to replace. Turning the radio on or blinkers can drain the battery. Let one of our staff or your photographer who booked the session know if you accidently turned something on so we can turn it off promptly and not drain the power. Thanks in advance for you cooperation and thoughtfulness.
If the weather is not cooperating the day of your truck session you always have the option to use the greenhouse instead if you want to keep your bookings or if you prefer we can reschedule another date for you on the truck. Using the greenhouse as a back up no longer applies for summer sessions as the greenhouse isn’t available in the summer unless it’s a custom 4+ hour session with an additional greenhouse set up fee.}
Footwear on the Truck: Please do your best to not wear dirty shoes on the truck or stand on the blankets unless your shoes are clean. We want to prevent dirtying the blankets and pillows so the props look great for everyone.
Props on the Truck/ Greenhouse: Please do not move any large props off the truck/greenhouse. If you would like to bring any props of your own you are welcome to. If you move any of the smaller props around just put it back after your session so it’s ready for the next group.
Back to Back Bookings
If you booked more than one appointment back to back on our scheduling system you will notice that there is a buffer of time in between your two bookings. That time is yours to use. You’re Welcome!
Safety on the Farm
Safety concerns to consider and relay to your customers when they arrive.
Things to consider:
1) Farm Animals- we have a few farm animals on the farm, please do not allow children to put their fingers through fences as they could get unintentionally bit if the animals think it is food. We have a cat that could be roaming outside especially in the summer. Our dogs are kept on a leash during your time at the farm and/or indoors. If any clients are bringing dogs for their photo session they must be kept on a leash. Please ensure parents stay close to their children and don't allow their kids to run up, or pick up any animals. Our cat can get scared and could scratch if she gets surprised or picked up too quickly. We don't want cat scratches or any other mishaps before a session that could really put a damper on their photos. Our farm animals are all super friendly, and love to be pet just approach them calmly and know that if there is any interaction with the animals, Charlie May Farm is not liable for any accidental mishaps.
2) Watch for the barb wire fence along all fence lines and again be careful children don't get scratched.
3) Winter sessions can get icy on the driveway. We do add sand to help but use caution walking around.
4) As the photographer, please stay with your clients in the photo session area you booked. You should be the last one to leave. Do not at any time leave clients alone. This can be an issue if you have booked back to back mini sessions and plan to use one area first then head to another. Give yourself and your clients time so that you are not leaving them alone in order to get to the next spot.
Bathrooms
We do not have outdoor bathroom facilities available, so plan accordingly. There is a public bathroom 1 minute away at La Barriere Park if you need to make a pitstop before arriving. We understand especially with small children you may still need a bathroom. If you are by the greenhouse our house is close by and we can direct you to our washroom. There is one in our shop too if you are closer to the shop in the flower garden or at the truck. Just ask for assistance and we will direct you.
Photographer
If you are a photographer booking a block of time for your own mini sessions, please forward this information to your clients.
Sharing of Photos
We can’t wait to see you and can’t wait to see your photos!
If you don’t mind us sharing with our followers, please tag us on Instagram or Facebook and we will repost! On instagram, when tagging us, you will get a prompt to invite collaborators, if you click on it and add us we will be notified and once accepted it will go straight to our post too. It’s so quick and easy and the post is displayed exactly the way you want it to look! And we LOVE sharing your work done here. So don’t be shy, we would be happy to promote you!
Please Note: By adding us as a collaborator you as the photographer are authorizing Charlie May Farm to share your photos onto our social media account. We are not liable for any photos you have shared that are in direct violation to your clients photo contracts. You must get authorization of sharing photos of any of your clients before adding Charlie May Farm as a collaborator. By adding Charlie May Farm as a collaborator the photographer has taken the precautions and has got permission to share photos of their clients or any other photographers work.
The Greenhouse
The Greenhouse is not heated. Although it is always warmer compared to the outdoors, especially on a sunny day, I would plan how to dress accordingly. It will possibly be a few degrees warmer on cloudy days and on sunny days as much as 10 degrees warmer. No pets allowed on the furniture.
The Truck
You are welcome to take photos around, in the back of the truck and inside. Pets are welcome on the back of the truck as well just not inside. Please be extra careful of all the buttons and gear shifts inside the truck. It is old, very delicate and very hard to replace. Do not allow your children to be pushing any buttons or moving gear shifts on the dash for this reason. The steering wheel and horn is fair game, let them get their smiles honking the horn or pretending to steer.
Photo Session Reschedule Policies
We can’t wait to see you at your scheduled time for your photo sessions. Although due to the fact that we are at the whim of Mother Nature, if the weather is not cooperating we would be happy to reschedule a time for you. We will reach out to you if we see the weather isn’t looking good or you are welcome to reach out to us as well. If your scheduled time happens to be at the end of a seasonal session, we will offer you a credit that will not expire so when you book for another seasonal session we can add that credit. This will offset the added credit card fees of cancelling and scheduling over and over. If this still doesn’t work just reach out to us. We want you to enjoy your time here and hope that you will come back, so we will work with you to make that happen!
If you give us 48 hours notice that you won’t be able to make your scheduled time for any reason whatsoever, we will also be happy to reschedule your session for another time.
No shows and no notice cancellations will not be refunded or rescheduled.
Outdoor sessions in the garden or on the truck can always be switched to the greenhouse if weather isn’t cooperating that day. Or you will also have the option to reschedule. We never have more than one session running at one time so you have the freedom to switch if you need to due to weather.