Thursday, December 4, 2008

FAQ

Time for a long overdue update of the FAQ!


Why is it important to meet with a potential photographer before you book them? (I get this a lot when I suggest the importance of scheduling a consultation.)

You spend a ton of time on your wedding day with your photographer. It's important to choose someone who you can relate to and enjoy being around! If you're comfortable with your photographer, you'll be more comfortable in front of the camera and it will show in your photos.

What style of photography do you do?
In addition to the traditional posed portraits I document your wedding day as it unfolds. From the smallest detail to the strongest emotion, I strive to capture it all.

Do you shoot film or digital? What kind of equipment do you use?
I'm a 100% digital girl and shoot with professional grade Canon equipment. Many pros shoot with Nikon equipment and I equate the Canon vs. Nikon debate with the Coke vs. Pepsi debate. Both are good, it's simply a matter of personal preference.

Can I view an entire wedding’s gallery or two?
Absolutely! I think that this is critical when selecting your wedding photographer. Viewing an entire wedding from beginning to end gives you a sense of what I present to my couples. Shoot me an email and I'll send you the access code for some complete galleries.

You do a lot of travel, how does that affect your weddings?
The short answer: it doesn't! The long answer: If I have a wedding booked, I'll turn down a travel job if it occurs during the same time (been there, done that, never regretted it!) Airplanes are great for editing, so I'll take a set of images with me to edit on the road (leaving several backup copies at home, of course!) Lastly, I may not always have the best phone service or email access when I travel, but I return all messages as soon as I can while I'm on the road (and I've always got an auto-reply and a blog post so you know when I'll be back).

When are payments due?
A signed contract and a retainer are required to reserve your date. The balance is due 30 days prior to your wedding.

How do I pay?
Credit card, personal check, and cash are accepted.

It seems to be a lot of money for some photographs.
Long after the flowers wilt and the food is eaten, photos are the one tangible reminder of your wedding day. In addition to the 6-10 hours I spend photographing your wedding day, I spend numerous hours after the wedding editing through the images I shoot and then color correcting and retouching them as needed. There's a lot more that goes into photographing a wedding than most people realize.

Are you insured?
Absolutely! This is an important one. If your photographer inadvertently causes damage at your wedding venue, s/he ought to have liability insurance to take care of things. In fact, your wedding venue may require liability insurance of any outside vendor that you hire.

Do you have back-up equipment?
Another very important question! I bring back-up equipment with me to each wedding. If, in the unlikely event that my camera were to stop working, I have a spare with me at all times. The same goes for all of my equipment.

What if something happens and you can’t be at my wedding for some reason?
This has never happened (knock wood!) but should something happen to me, I'd do everything in my power to find a suitable replacement photographer (I have a great network of local photographer friends) who would then be approved by the couple. My contract states that there is the option to refuse the new photographer and be granted a 100% refund of all monies paid.

What if I require services not included in the options?
Just ask! In most cases your request can be accommodated.

Will you be the actual photographer on my wedding day?
Yes! I do not subcontract my weddings out to other photographers. If you book your wedding with me, I will be there photographing your day. For all weddings, I also utilize a secondary photographer to provide complete coverage.

How do we know exactly what to expect from you?
You can expect professionalism mixed with fun! I'm hard working, yet easy going and I give it my all to capture the beauty of your wedding day. The images you see on my web site and my blog are a representation of the style of images you can expect to see.

What area do you cover? Do you charge travel fees?
Have camera, will travel! I'm based in central Florida, but will gladly travel anywhere! Please inquire for specific pricing regarding Destination Weddings.

How many photographs will you take?
A lot. Honestly, there is no easy answer to this one, it really depends! After the wedding, I edit the images down and show you the best which tell the story of your wedding day.

Do you retouch the photographs?
Each image I present to you is inspected, color corrected, and exposure balanced if needed. Images that are ordered (either as prints or in an album) will be treated to basic retouching. Specific retouching requests can also be made.

Can we request specific shots?
Absolutely. I even provide you with a list of suggested shots to get your brain working. It's also very important to have a specific list of formal family portraits that you would like taken on the wedding day. This helps the photography process and really the whole day, flow much more smoothly!

Are there extra fees for multiple locations?
No. You book me for a fixed length of time and we can cover as many (or as few) locations as you like during that time!

How soon will the photographs be ready?
I try to get a few teaser images on my blog within 48 hours of the wedding. Your online viewing gallery will be available within 4 weeks from your wedding. Prints take 2-3 weeks and album creation takes 6-10 weeks.

Can you provide black and white images?
Yes, black and white and sepia toned images are available.

What do you wear to the wedding?
Generally I wear a black pants and a dressy black blouse, but this depends somewhat on the wedding. If you're having a black tie affair, just let me know and I'm happy to dress accordingly!

Got questions you don't see answered here? I'm but an email (or a phone call) away!

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