Wedding Photography - Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How would you describe your photography style?
A. Photojournalistic Documentary - but that really is just marketing buzzwords holding little meaning for photographers or their clients. Each photographer has their own style and editing techniques and hopefully mine will stand out to you. Rather than limiting myself to a definition or specific label, I prefer to describe what I do which is to document your wedding day as it unfolds. As a photographer, I am primarily an observer who is there to document what happens, rather than direct the day or the action. I focus on capturing events and moments from the normal course of the wedding day, emphasizing emotion, action and reaction, ambiance and detail while being unobtrusive. Have you ever been to a wedding where the photographer is standing in front of everyone and in the aisle during the ceremony? Well I’m the opposite of that. The wedding day is your day and I’m there to tell that story through my photography exactly as it happens.
Q. Do you still take posed family photographs and photos of the couple that you do direct or suggest?
A. Absolutely! Posed family photographs are a must, especially when friends and family come together at an event such as a wedding. And it is extremely important that you have photos of just the two of you as a couple on your wedding day. You should be committed to making time for just photos of the two of you either before or after the ceremony before the reception. As far as the posed family photographs, I believe that these photographs should only account for 15 to 20% of the total coverage. Taking too much time, especially with large families directly cuts into the time that I have to spend being creative with the couple or wedding party. I prefer casual and fun group groupings as opposed to overly posed ones and make every effort to make them fun, quick and easy. I encourage the couple to think about doing your posed photographs in unique and different locations, rather than just at the alter of the church if that’s where the wedding is, so that all the photo’s do not look the same and allows me to be more creative. Consider locations nearby where your wedding is held if it isn’t very scenic, like a nearby park or even stopping by a fun location or one that has special meaning to you on the way to the reception.
Q. What about the romantic shots of the Bride & Groom? How much time should we allow for that?
A. These are some of my favorite shots and allow me to be at my creative best. I suggest you set aside 30 to 45 minutes for these more intimate photos after the wedding party group photos. I encourage couples to do these before the ceremony so they are not rushed and you can get to the reception and get your party on. Many couples also arrange for a cocktail hour or hor'dourves following the ceremony before the reception that also allows for more time for creative intimate shots with just the bride and groom as well as any family groupings that were not done before the ceremony. Depending on the location of the ceremony, these shots may be taken at the wedding site, at the reception site, or somewhere in between. Think fun and outside the box for the most creative photography for these photo’s.
Q. Can we give you a shot list of photographs we want to have you take?
A. I am not a traditional or old-fashioned wedding photographer that works off or from a shot list. I would prefer to capture the day as it happens and if I am taking the time to work through a list it doesn’t allow me to be creative or to be paying attention to what is happening and photographing that. During the time before the wedding you can email me samples of photo's you like or a list of can't miss shots for you. You may also make a list of family that you would like included in the family portraits or if you would like a certain photo with just grandpa and grandma or a friend that can be done during the time of the group photo’s. It is also helpful if you can assign someone familiar to both families or a wedding party member to help assemble people for the group shots of friends and family. I also do recommend to the couples that they check out either my site or other photographer sites for fun exciting shots that we could put our own spin on. You can cut images out of wedding magazines and send them to me or email me the photos. This includes you in the creative process and gives ideas of what you like and how you would like your romantic couple photo’s to be. If there is a certain shot you really like then I can try to recreate that with you for your wedding.
Q. Why do you include an engagement shoot in most of the packages and what can we expect from it?
A.Have you and your fiance had a professional photo shoot of just the two of you that is fun and shows of your personalities together? This session is very relaxed and meant to allow you to get to know me and have a laid back and fun photoshoot together as a couple. I like to incorporate locations that are meaningful to you both and show off your personalities and get to know you before your wedding day while giving you a chance to get more comfortable in front of the camera and working with me as well. The engagement session is about an hour to an hour and a half and we can go to a couple different locations and you can bring clothing changes as well. From the engagement session I will design a signature quest book for the wedding with photo's from the engagement session in an album for the guests to sign at the wedding.
Q. Who will be photographing my Wedding?
A. I will be your photographer. I personally photograph every wedding. Sometimes I bring an assistant and will let you know before hand if I plan to. If you are interested in having a second shooter along with me than I do have a couple trusted photographers I can hire at an additional charge but I have yet to work with a second shooter and prefer that I be the one capturing all your moments and you are hiring me based on how you like the creative passion that I bring. I have yet to miss anything that I feel I would have gotten with a second shooter.
Q. How long after my wedding will I be able to see the photos?
A. Normally 3-4 weeks after the wedding I will post the edited photos onto a secure online gallery for you and friends and family to view and for ordering. I spend approx. 30-40 hours editing all the images from the wedding before posting them. The number of images posted and time it takes to edit will depend on the size of the wedding and the amount of hours purchased. The photo’s will be released to the bride & groom first where they are able to mark any private that they do not want others to view. You may then enter in the emails of friends and family and release it to them. If your package includes an engagement session then I will use one of those photos and I design a simple postcard that tells your quests how to view the images once they have been released. I distribute these at the wedding and I also do an email sign up sheet. This allows them to know how to view and order images from the wedding without having to contact the bride and groom for that information after the wedding.
Q. How many photos will you take and do I get every picture that you take?
A. The number of photograph’s taken will depend on the size of your wedding, number in wedding party, number of quests, and the type of events will all play a role in how many photo’s will be taken throughout the wedding day as well as how long your wedding day is and how long I am hired for. I edit each individual photo for color correctness, skin tone, sharpening, and add special editing to those I really like or feel you will really like. On a normal 8-hour wedding I shoot approx.1000-1100 images. Not all of those photos meet my standards for your viewing and usually gets edited down to 700-800. So you will get only the best images and those that meet my personal standards.
Q. Will you travel to photography my wedding?
A. I would Love To! Weddings within 50 miles from Portland, Oregon have no additional travel fees. Weddings 50 – 150 miles from Portland is $1 per mile traveled. Depending on the location of the wedding I can also do a custom package and work with the couple on the traveling costs. Weddings more than 100 miles away may be charged a lodging fee for (1) night depending on the length and time of the wedding. Email for a quote on your destination wedding.
Q. What is the online gallery?
A. The online gallery is posted to Pictage.com, which is a company I use for posting the events and the couple, friends and family ordering prints. It is a secure shopping cart, which allows viewing and ordering of the prints online. This will be linked to from your slideshow as well as on my website so you can send quests or friends to my site to view the wedding images once you have released them after viewing them first.
Q. Will all my proofs be online?
A. All edited photos from the wedding will be categorized and posted for viewing approx. 1 month after the wedding. You may go through and mark any private and lock any for viewing that you do not want others to see once they are released.
Q. Do I get to keep the digital negatives from the wedding?
A. Most of the upper tier packages include the digital negatives in a high-resolution format jpeg on a DVD customized disc for you. This will include everything you see in your online gallery in large high-resolution jpeg files. I will include a release for printing of the images to the couples but retain the copyright to the images and the right to use them for promotion purposes, competition, professional review, and advertising. If there is an image you would not like me to use for these purposes that can be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. I like my couples to keep in mind that any prints made will be a representation of my work and hope they take that into consideration when having any prints or using the negatives for their own use. I recommend high-quality printing companies (i.e. Mpix, Millers Lab, MyPhotoPipe) over inexpensive local companies such as Walmart and Target not only to give you the best colors and prints but to also show the best representation of my work. A list of quality printing labs will be provided with your disc of digital negatives for this purpose. Digital Negatives may also be purchased separately in custom packages.
Q. What type of equipment do you use and do you bring backup equipment?
A. I use professional grade Nikon digital cameras including a D700 and D300 as a backup. I have several lenses I use throughout the course of the wedding and bring backup equipment to every wedding. I also bring lighting equipment and backup sb-800 Nikon flashes and batteries.
Q. What type of clothing do you wear to the wedding?
A. I dress in a manner that is both professional and allows me to perform my job properly while remaining unobtrusive. In most cases I wear gray slacks and a gray dress shirt or lighter color if its an outside wedding and Dockers. I usually do not wear a tie so that it doesn’t interfere with my camera straps but can if the couple would like me to do so.
Q. Do you require a meal or food during the wedding?
A. I do ask that you provide me with a meal at the reception as I am with you most of the day and won’t have time to eat during that time. After you are seated and eating is when I usually will eat and can be finished around the same time the couple is and ready to move on to the next photos.
Q. Do you mind if other people take photographs during the wedding?
A. Not at all. I am not there to interfere with the happenings of the day. My only requests are that friends and family refrain from taking photo’s during the brief time I will be taking posed photographs of you, families, and your wedding party. This is to insure that everyone is looking at the camera and paying attention to me for these photos. The group session will also go much more quickly if I have everyone’s full attention. I also request that they do not stand and take photographs over my shoulder while I shoot as it can be very distracting. If someone does want a shot of the group then after I have taken my shot I will let them know and they can take one as well.
Q. Can we see samples of your prints and Albums and meet with you in person?
A. Of course! It is very important that we build a rapport together before the wedding and I like to meet my clients in a comfortable atmosphere for them at either a coffee or tea place and can bring samples of my work and go over the details of your wedding and any questions you might have at that time.
Q. I’m pretty sure I want to hire you, but I still need to visit one other photographer. Will you hold the date for me?
A. In order to be fair to everyone, I do not hold dates without a retainer and a signed contract. I accept bookings on a first come/first served basis only. However, I will be happy to let you know if someone else inquiries about the same date as your wedding.
Q. I love your work and I want to hire you – what do we do now?
A. I require a signed contract and a 50% retainer-booking fee at the time the contract is signed. This amount is fully applicable to the price of the coverage you choose and you can always upgrade your package but not downgrade. This retains me for wedding day and I will not book another event for that date. The remaining balance is due 30 days prior to the date of your wedding. If it is more comfortable for you, you are welcome to send installments as long as the balance is paid in full 30 days before the wedding. I also offer a 10% discount for weddings paid in full at the signing of the contract. I will either mail or meet with you going over the contract and upon receiving the retainer and contract will make a copy after I sign it, print a statement and invoice and mail it back to you for your records.
Q. Do you accept credit cards?
A. I rarely get requests to accept credit cards and as such it isn’t practical for me to maintain a merchant account allowing me to accept credit cards in the traditional manner. I can, however, accept credit card payments via PayPal with a service fee that they charge added to the amount of the package. Just let me know if you would like to pay via credit card and I’ll arrange to send you the necessary invoice.
Q. Another family member is helping us pay for the photography. Can you take his/her credit card or check?
A. Of course! Your family member can make payments towards your coverage using Paypal payment processing, by check, money order or cash. I want to be clear however that no matter who pays for the coverage, I consider the bride and groom to be my clients. It is the bride and groom who must sign the contract for services and it is the bride and groom who will determine the details of our contract.
Q. I think I may have to cancel or reschedule my wedding. Can I get my booking fee back?
A. No. The booking fee guarantees that I will hold your wedding date exclusively for you. This means that once you sign the contract and pay the retainer I turn down any other work for that date. The closer it gets to that date, the less likely I am to find another event to replace yours – and that means lost income. Of course, emergencies do happen and I am not unsympathetic to this. If you need to postpone the date, I’ll happily apply your booking fee or any other payments you have made to a new date if I am available.
