WEDDING INFORMATION AND FAQ
Congratulations, and thanks for visiting my website! Your wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event. After the flowers have faded and the menu has been forgotten, your photos are what will remain. That’s why it’s important to choose the right photographer: one whose vision lines up with yours, who’ll deliver good value for your money, and whom you’ll feel comfortable hanging out with on your big day. The best way to figure out if we’re a good fit is to sit down and spend a few minutes together. Call or e-mail and we’ll set up a convenient time and place to meet. In the meantime, here are a few frequently asked questions that may help you sort things out.
How would you describe your photographic style?
Clean and classic. I don’t use trendy editing filters or pre-packaged Photoshop actions. When your kids and grandkids look at your photo album, I don’t want them to say, “What was that guy thinking?” I’m comfortable shooting with natural light (when it’s awesome), and then augmenting it with off-camera lighting (when it makes you look better).
Do you take posed formal portraits, or use more of a photojournalistic approach?
Both! It really shouldn’t be an either-or proposition. I will capture events as they unfold and expressions as they happen – sometimes without you even knowing I’m there. But part of telling the story of the day is making sure you remember the important people who were there by doing the traditional group shots and portraits.
How much coverage (time) do you recommend we plan on for wedding photography?
Ideally, I like to start at least two hours before the ceremony begins – more if possible. This allows time for those getting-ready shots of the bride and groom and wedding party. This is also when we would do some “first-look” photos of the two of you. After the ceremony it’s a good idea to allow 45 minutes to an hour for family and bridal-party portraits. How long we go depends on your reception plans. If you’re planning a special exit (sparklers, bubbles, etc.), I’ll stay ‘til the end. Otherwise, we can wrap up the photography sometime after the traditional reception events (cake-cutting, bouquet toss, etc.) are done.
Do you use a second photographer or assistant?
Yes. For any wedding day of six hours or more, I have a second shooter. This helps ensure you get the best possible coverage and nothing is missed. We usually split up before the ceremony and cover the guys and girls separately.
What do your packages include?
My Classic Collections (six hours or more) include all the fully edited digital images provided on a disk (or USB drive); an actual, honest-to-goodness printed wedding album, along with print credits you can use to upgrade your album and/or purchase prints or canvases; plus an online gallery to share with your family and friends.
Do you charge for travel?
Weddings that are more than an hour’s drive from Jacksonville may be subject to a travel fee.
Do you have insurance?
Yes, I have liability insurance as well as coverage on my equipment.
What if we’re having a really small wedding?
My Basic Packages offer coverage from two to four hours and are great for small weddings and elopements. They include all the digital images, with print rights.
What are your albums like?
They’re awesome – let me show you! All my albums are printed on actual photographic paper and bound in flush-mount spreads (seamless, lay-flat pages). Every one of them is custom designed. My lower-priced collections include fabric-covered albums. You can upgrade by adding pages or selecting from two different lines of leather covers. The leather albums have pages that are mounted to rigid matboard for the ultimate in durability, and are printed and bound using the finest in bookbinding techniques.
How many photos can we expect to receive?
If we’re shooting with two photographers, I’ll deliver somewhere around 50-60 final, edited images per hour of coverage. Quite often it’s more than that. I don’t promise a minimum number, though, because every wedding is different and because I’m more concerned with quality than quantity.
How soon will our photos be ready?
I post sneak peeks on Facebook as soon as possible – usually the next day. I also blog most weddings within a week or two. The full gallery of final images are ready within 6 – 8 weeks. Albums, once designed, take an additional 4 – 6 weeks to produce.
Do the photos you give us include printing rights?
Absolutely. You’ll have full personal-use rights to print as many as you want, as large as you want, forever. I do retain the copyright to the images so I can continue to use them in my portfolio and for other business purposes.
Do you offer engagement sessions?
I sure do, and I think they’re an excellent idea for every couple. Not only do you get photos to use on your wedding announcements or save-the-date mailers, we also get to spend an hour or so getting to know each other better. Plus you get to see how I work and get comfortable in front of my camera, and that makes for a more relaxing time on your wedding day.
How do we get started?
Give me a call or shoot me an e-mail (contact info here) to inquire about your date. The next thing is for us to meet up and talk about your plans. We can do it at your place, or mine, or your favorite bistro or coffee shop. I’ll show you sample albums and prints and we’ll figure out which collection will best meet your needs.