Q: There are a ton of wedding photographers. What are the main differences?
A: Yes, the market is pretty saturated with wedding photographers. But, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Each photographer is VERY different. We all have different styles, priorities, personalities, levels of professionalism, business practices, specialties, and different levels of camera knowledge/technical “know how”. Knowing how to take a well exposed image is just half the battle. Wedding photographers often end up doing much more than taking pictures…like organizing the wedding day, defusing “bombs” (when something has gone wrong), or wrangling family members during the family pictures. You’ll end up getting up-close and personal with your wedding photographer (whether you mean to or not). So, once you know you like someone’s style and you’re confident in their ability to produce well exposed images (and you know they are available on your wedding day); ask yourself a few questions: Do you trust them? Do they make you feel comfortable (this one ir really important)? Do they communicate well? These questions should help you narrow down the pool of photographers to help you find the one that’s perfect for you!
Q: I keep seeing lots of different photography styles; What is your photography 'style'?
A: I strive for a very clean, crisp, and ‘real’ look when editing. My goal is to produce images that will still look great in 5, 10 or even 50 years from now (so no heavy filters or trendy editing that might date your images). To me, if you need a gimmick to make an image look ‘artistic’ than you probably didn’t do a very good job when you were taking the image (in the lighting and composition department). All in all, I want to make well exposed images and focus on interacting with my clients to draw out emotion and real moments from them. This allows me to produce a more authentic final image, which is the ultimate goal!
Q: Do you recommend that we do a 'First Look' on our wedding day?
A: Yes I do recommend it, but its not mandatory. A First look is more intimate than you may think (since you're sharing that special time with just each other). They also help make the most of your hourly coverage while allowing you both to enjoy more of your reception- since most of the pictures are done before the ceremony. Overall, it makes the whole day run smoother!
Q: What if my wedding reception has bad lighting? Will the images look bad?
A: The truth is, most reception areas have bad lighting (especially since it's after dark). But no, that does not mean you’ll have bad reception images. I always bring additional lighting to my weddings in case we run into bad lighting. If you are worried about your reception lighting, feel free to email me and I will explain more about the lighting system I use (called OCF).
Q: Will you Photoshop my images to hide any unwanted spots, wrinkles, etc?
A: Minor edits will be made to all of your images, but I believe our imperfections are what make us beautiful & unique. If there are specific edits you want, we should discuss them before we take your images to see if those special edits require an additional fee.
Q: Does your camera have two memory slots (for backing up files as you shoot)?
A: Yes, both of my cameras have two memory slots (each) so as I am shooting, the files are being saved on two different cards (so if for some reason one card is corrupt, I would always have a 2nd set of your images). Think of it like insurance, its something you never intend on using but if something happen it's nice to know you are covered. Not every camera has this capability so this is an important question to ask photographers.
Q: Can you help us with our ceremony time? We want the lighting to be perfect!
A: Of course! I LOVE when clients ask this question! There are many factors that go into deciding the perfect ceremony time. Such as: time of year, will you be doing a “first look”, how long will the ceremony last, is the ceremony inside or outside, if it is outside- will it be in direct sun or shade, etc. I typically recommend having an outdoor ceremony start one hour before sunset IF you are doing a ‘first look’ and the ceremony is around 30 minutes long. Doing so allows you to start the ceremony a few minutes late (for those not-so punctual guests) and still gives time afterward for beautiful sunset/golden hour pictures of the bride & groom. If you would like more details about setting the perfect ceremony time, please email me and we can talk pros and cons.
Q: Do you use a 2nd photographer for your weddings?
A: Yes, but not for all weddings. I actually don’t think a 2nd photographer is always necessary. I would recommend talking this part over with your photographer so you know the pros and cons. In my opinion, it comes down to the following: size of wedding party, how many guests you expect, budget, and the photographer (some are use to spliting the work between 2 photographers and some can do everything themselves).
Q: How far in advance do couples typically book their wedding photographer?
A: Honestly, most couples book their photographer right after they book their venue. You want to be sure you’re able to book the photographer that is perfect for you (but you can’t do that until you have an official date- booking the venue solidifies your date). With that being said, most people book their photographer 8-18 months out!
Q: Do your packages include the edited digital images? And a print release?
A: Yes, all packages include editing of the images (wedding & portrait sessions). And those edited images also come with a print release for printing any print products you may want. To me, the edited images are one of the most important parts of the wedding experience. These images help to preserve the memories of your big day. IMO, a photographer is the most important vendor you will book for your wedding!
Q: How do we book you for our wedding?
A: To book your date, a $1,000 retainer & signed contract is required. This is the same no matter which package you choose. The remainder of your balance is due four weeks prior to your wedding date.
