Wedding FAQ
How far do you travel for weddings?
Is there an additional charge if my wedding is outside your range?
Do you offer a CD of digital negatives in any of your packages?
Does it cost extra to have the images edited?
Do you offer professional retouching services of blemishes?
Do you offer albums/prints in any of your packages?
Can I see an example of your albums/prints?
What can I expect to spend on my wedding package?
What if my family/friends would like to order the images online? Is there a website they go to?
What is the first look?
Do you make all of your couples have the first look, or is it optional?
How much time is typically needed to shoot a wedding?
Will you come for the rehearsal dinner?
How many photographers come with you on the wedding day?
Do you bring any assistants?
Do you have backup equipment?
What do you wear to your weddings?
Will my images be posted on social networking sites?
Is an engagement session included in any of your packages?
If I don't want something in a package can I remove it from the package?
What forms of payment do you accept?
How much is the deposit?
When is the remaining amount due for the wedding?
Do you offer a "pay in full" discount?
Do you offer a military discount?
Do you offer a Friday/Sunday wedding day discount?
Do you offer payment plan options?
If we would like to have several locations for the bride/groom and bridal party, do you charge for each additional location on the wedding day?
Do I have to use the wedding time coverage consecutively?
How far in advance do I need to book?
Can we meet before I book?
How would you describe your wedding shooting style?
How long have you been shooting weddings, and how many per year?
Do you use flash for any of your photography?
Are you a member of any professional photography associations?
Can you send me a list of references?
What happens if my wedding gets cancelled or I need to change the date after I've booked?
Do you offer annual anniversary sessions?
Do you typically shoot for the whole wedding day?
Do you work with any specific vendors?
Can you hold my date without a deposit?
How long does it take to receive my photos after my wedding?
How many photos should I expect from my wedding day?
How long does it take to get my albums?
Do you offer videography?
Do you offer slideshow presentations at the reception?
Do you offer live photo booths?
Do you offer save the date/thank you cards?
What happens if you get sick on my wedding day?
How many events do you typically shoot on a wedding day?
Does it cost extra for black and whites or to give a vintage look to my photos?
What will you do if something happens to my wedding photos?
Do you shoot with film or digital?
How far do you travel for weddings? I am happy to travel within approximately 60 minutes of my business address at no additional charge.
Is there an additional charge if my wedding is outside your range? Wedding locations farther than that will be subject to a mileage charge. If your wedding location requires an overnight stay and/or travel time beyond a 2-3 hour drive, additional Destination Wedding charges will apply.
Do you offer a CD of digital negatives in any of your packages? Yes, all of my collections offer the option for receiving the edited images either by download or custom flash drive. A flash drive of images can also be added to any custom collection.
Does it cost extra to have the images edited? No, the time for color correction and basic retouching is included in the hourly photography rate. Additional edits may require a fee depending on their extent. As a rule, we do not release any unedited images to clients.
Do you offer professional retouching services of blemishes? Yes! Most retouching will be covered in the standard editing process. However, if any of your favorite images require further attention I will do my best to accommodate your requests. Whether or not an additional editing fee would be needed is determined on a case by case basis.
Do you offer albums/prints in any of your packages? I adore wedding albums. It is my wish to provide an album to every couple (although you are not required to have one). My most popular collections include albums, and an album can be added to any custom collection, as well. Prints and canvases are also available.
Can I see an example of your albums/prints? Certainly! Contact me, and we’ll find a time to get together.
What can I expect to spend on my wedding package? Collections range from $900-$2100 depending on the length of your coverage and the addition of an album or flash drive. Courthouse weddings or elopements may qualify for an additional discount or smaller package.
What if my family/friends would like to order the images online? Is there a website they go to? Your images will be available to view in an online gallery. You may choose to keep access to your gallery private or share it with friends and family. Anyone who is granted access to the gallery will also have the ability to order prints.
What is the first look? A “first look” is when the bride and groom opt to see one another before the ceremony. If you wish, we can help you set up a time for the groom to see the bride in her dress at a specific time and place. Some couples choose a first look for practical reasons to allow more time for portraits to happen earlier in the day – or because they want a private moment together before the bustle of the day. Other couples prefer to stick to the tradition of waiting to see each other at the ceremony. Either way can be beautiful!
Do you make all your couples have the first look, or is it optional? Entirely optional! We will work closely together to plan the timeline for your day so that it includes whatever elements you want for your wedding, the way that you want to do them.
How much time is typically needed to shoot a wedding? Honestly, the more time the better. But you knew I would say that, right? The parts of the day that tend to be the most rushed are the in-between times: getting ready before the ceremony, first look, wedding party and couple portraits, and family formals. I don’t know any photographer who doesn’t wish for more time during those parts of the day! 8-10 hours is pretty typical for an entire wedding day. Things like the size of your wedding party, the number of family formal pictures, how much reception coverage you want, and the amount time/travel between events will all impact the way we build your timeline. Just know that when we inevitably beg you to build in more time early in the day, it’s only because we want to give you as many awesome pictures as possible!
Will you come for the rehearsal dinner? Although I don’t typically attend rehearsals, it can be a great way for me to get to know your venue ahead of time. I would be happy to cover your rehearsal dinner at my hourly rate, if my schedule allows.
How many photographers come with you on the wedding day? You’ll have either one (that’s me) or two photographers, depending on the collection you choose.
Do you bring any assistants? Assistants are not currently factored into my pricing, but occasionally I will arrange for someone to come along with me for the day, and I will let you know in advance if that’s the case. It’s helpful to me when I can have an extra set of hands to hold stuff for me and run little errands throughout the day. However, rest assured that I can do great work all on my own, too!
Do you have backup equipment? Yes – I always have a backup camera body and multiple lenses to work with so that if something malfunctions, I will still be able to capture great images for you.
What do you wear to your weddings? I typically wear a black or dark colored outfit. My goal is to be professional and comfortable at the same time.
Will my images be posted on social networking sites? Yes, unless you let me know in advance that you prefer not to share any images online.
Is an engagement session included in any of your packages? One of the collections has an engagement session included, and it can be added to any of the others. I love getting to spend time with a couple before the wedding, getting to know each other and practice working together. However, I know that some couples make other arrangements for their engagement photos or prefer not to have any, and that’s okay, too.
If I don’t want something in a package, can you remove it from the package? Usually, yes. The collections have been designed to save you money compared to buying all of the components individually. Some substitutions may affect the overall cost, but I will always do my best to customize your package to suit your needs.
What forms of payment do you accept? I can accept cash, checks, or credit cards; and payment plans are available.
How much is the deposit? 50% of the cost is due at the time of booking. That means I need your deposit plus a signed contract in order to officially add you to my calendar and ensure that no one else can book me for that date.
When is the remaining amount due for the wedding? The remaining 50% is due two weeks prior to your wedding date (or according to the terms of your payment plan).
Do you offer a “pay in full” discount? I do offer a 10% discount if you pay the full amount at the time of booking. (Cannot be combined with any other discount.)
Do you offer a military discount? I offer a 5% military discount. (May be applied in addition to other discounts.)
Do you offer a Friday/Sunday wedding day discount? I do not have a standard discount for atypical wedding dates, simply because my schedule does not always allow me to take on more than a certain number of weddings each month. However, if you feel that your wedding needs might be less than what is covered in one of my collections – either because of the timing or size of the event, please contact me so that we can talk about it further.
Do you offer payment plan options? Yes.
If we would like to have several locations for the bride/groom and bridal party photos, do you charge for each additional location on the wedding day? No. I would not charge any differently per location; however, the travel time from one location to the next does factor into the overall photography coverage time for the day. In other words, the cost to you is the same for 60 minutes of photography at one location or 30 minutes of driving + 30 minutes of photography at a new location.
Do I have to use the wedding time coverage consecutively? Yes. Your coverage time is based on one start and end time for the entire day.
How far in advance do I need to book? The sooner you book, the sooner your date and pricing can be locked in; so booking well in advance is always in your best interest. Booking 6-12 months in advance is great, especially if you are wanting to have an engagement session well in advance of your wedding date. There is no minimum time requirement however, and I will always do my best to work with whatever timeframe you need.
Can we meet before I book? Absolutely. I would be happy to set up a time to meet and get to know each other before you make any decisions.
How would you describe your wedding shooting style? I take a documentary approach to most of the day and a semi-formal approach to portraits. My goal is to create a set of pictures that show the story of your day and help you relive the feelings you experienced along the way. I will help with posing for portraits of you and your wedding party, and we will be sure to take pictures of the family groups that are important to you, but I will also let your day unfold naturally and look for candid and emotional moments to capture. I also love to document the small details of the day and the atmosphere of your event. My hope is that these images will work together to create an album that brings you back to the way you felt on your wedding day for years to come. I want to make you look your best without making anyone look artificial.
How long have you been shooting weddings, and how many per year? I have been shooting weddings as a third and second shooter for one year. Last year I covered nine weddings, working with three different lead photographers. At this stage of my life while my children are young and involved in lots of activities, I am intentionally putting a limit to the number of weddings I will shoot per year.
Do you use flash for any of your photography? Yes. I usually do use a flash both on my camera and on a stand for most indoor receptions. Flash during a ceremony is rare, but I may recommend it if the venue is particularly dark and if flash is not restricted. My camera also operates very well in low-light situations, so I am able to be flexible and adjust to meet the needs of your event.
Are you a member of any professional photographer organizations? I am a member of PPA (Professional Photographers of America).
Can you send me a list of references? I can put you in touch with other photographers that I have worked with, if you would like.
What happens if my wedding gets canceled or I need to change the date after I’ve booked? Once you have paid a deposit, that payment becomes non-refundable. However, if you choose a new date that is still open, I can reschedule for you at no additional charge so long as nothing else from your original package has changed (such as switching from a mid-week courthouse wedding on a Thursday to a Vegas wedding).
Do you offer annual anniversary sessions? I think that is a wonderfully romantic idea, and I would be happy to schedule anniversary sessions according to my regular portrait session rates. (With probably a small surprise anniversary gift thrown in because I really do love this whole idea.)
Do you typically shoot for the whole wedding day? Yes – except for travel time and a quick dinner break. I don’t mind telling you though that there is often point during a long reception when the dance floor pictures start to all look very similar to each other. We can talk more about it and how that might factor into your overall coverage needs.
Do you work with any specific vendors? As I gain more experience, I definitely am starting to notice that some vendors stand out as being especially talented and friendly, and I am happy to pass along those names to you.
Can you hold my date without a deposit? Once you let me know that you have decided to book your wedding with me, I will hold your date for up to 7 days. If I do not have your signed contract and deposit in hand by that time, I will have to release your date (until those items are received).
How long does it take to receive my photos after my wedding? The exact amount of time it takes depends on the number of images (see below), how busy I am at that time of year, and whether or not your collection includes an album layout. Generally speaking, I will be able to post a few sneak peeks on social media within a week and the full gallery within 6 weeks. I will always strive to beat those time estimates (it’s kind of like a challenge I set for myself to beat my best time), but I will always put the quality of your final images above all. If unexpected delays come up during the editing phase, I will be communicating that to you.
How many photos should I expect from my wedding day? As a rule of thumb, you can expect about 100 images per hour of photography coverage. If the event is covered by two photographers, expect 150 per hour. Occasionally, a wedding might generate slightly fewer images or somewhat more. Usually it is a matter how large the wedding party is, how many family formal groupings were requested, and how many locations were involved in your event. Also factor in things like whether your reception has a number of activities such as cocktails, dinner, toasts, special dances, bouquet toss, etc., etc. versus a strictly cake-and-punch reception. I would be happy to talk more about what you can expect for your own wedding. Please note that packages do not come with a guarantee of a specific number of images.
How long does it take to get my albums? The album process has three steps. First, I’ll design an album for you using all of the images that I think best tell the story of your wedding day. Second, you’ll have a chance to look it over and decide what changes you might like to make. This stage usually takes 2-3 times of back and forth communication and then you’ll approve the final album design and submit any additional payment, if necessary. Last, the album maker will print all of the pages, create your cover, and bind the book. Finally, I will pick it up and check it over myself before wrapping it up and delivering or shipping the album to you. This whole process can take anywhere from 3-8 weeks after your gallery and album design are first posted – depending on how many changes are necessary and how quickly we get through the revision phase.
Do you offer videography? Not at this time, but I can help you with referrals. And I will happily work with any videographers that you arrange to have at your wedding.
Do you offer slideshow presentations at the reception? I have not done that before, but if it’s something that you’re interested in we should talk more about it.
Do you offer live photo booths? I have run photo booths for events before but not in conjunction with wedding day coverage. Again, if it’s something you’re interested in we should talk through some options and/or I can help with referrals.
Do you offer save the date/thank you cards? Yes. I love customizing card designs!
What happens if you get sick on my wedding day? First off, I can say that I will be at your wedding ready to give it my all unless I absolutely, positively can’t. And if that should happen (never has yet, knock on wood), I would make it my mission in life to provide an equally or more-experienced photographer who produces comparable work to take my place. If I can’t do that, I would give a full refund. Please read over your contract carefully which also describes worst-case scenarios.
How many events do you typically shoot on a wedding day? The short answer is as many parts of the day as you want me to shoot. Typically, I will begin with pictures of the bride getting ready and sometimes the groom also, along with images of the wedding dress, shoes, and other details. After that, I often will do portraits of the bride and groom alone and with their wedding party attendants. We'll do the first look if there is one. Photos of the ceremony, of course, as well as portraits of the entire wedding party, the couple, and family groupings. Then we'll cover cocktail hour if time allows, and the reception. It's up to you how much of the reception you want to have covered. Typically, I will cover entrances, dinner, toasts, first dances, and tosses. Sometimes I will stay on for general dancing and mingling photos and perhaps a few sunset portraits or night photos. Whew! It can get to be a lot, but it sure is fun.
Does it cost extra for black and whites or adding a vintage look to my photos? Most of my standard processing is in color, what is called clean editing, occasionally with a slight matte finish. Some images will be provided as black-and-white, most in color, and some in both. I use my own judgment to deliver whichever version(s) I think will look best based on the image itself and what I know about your preferences. If after viewing your gallery, you would like to see another version of particular images done in a particular style, please let me know. Depending on the request it may or may not require a small fee to cover additional editing time. I encourage you to look through samples of my past work on my website so that you can see how well they match with your taste.
What will you do if something happens to my wedding photos? I will use multiple high quality memory cards during the wedding day to ensure that your eggs, so to speak, are not all in one basket when it comes to preserving your precious pictures. After the event, I will immediately download the images and back them up on a separate drive to ensure their safety. Opting for a package with two photographers on your wedding day is another way to make sure that there will be great images from every part of the day even if one person’s card gets damaged somehow. The possibility of anything happening to cause your photos to be lost is very slim, but it’s unfortunately not completely impossible. If I am unable to deliver all of the expected images you would receive a partial refund or other compensation. If all of the images were lost (which would take a pretty major catastrophe), you would receive a full refund. Please read over your contract carefully which also describes worst-case scenarios.
Do you shoot with film or digital? I shoot digital with my Canon 6D (*insert blissful sigh as I make heart-eyes toward my camera here*).