The Internet Says You Should Ask Me These Questions
There are a lot of wedding websites out there aimed to make your wedding planning easier. They also give multiple lists to bring along when you meet up with potential vendors. I have seen a lot of them and thought it might be easier for me to do a FAQ to help you decide if I am the right wedding photographer for you.
If you don’t see your question below, feel free to send it on over!
Here we go!
Will you be the one shooting my wedding? If not, can I meet the photographer who will be on-site?
Yes! Unless otherwise stated to you directly, I will be the primary photographer at your wedding. There have been a few times where I will have one of my associate shooters work with you if I am already booked for the weekend but still love our work.
How many other weddings will you photograph that weekend?
I will only cover one wedding a day, and up to two weddings on the weekend (I count Fridays as part of the weekend). That way, my team and I are entirely focused on your big day.
Will you have any assistants with you on our wedding day?
I do! Last year I started bringing an assistant with me as well as my associate photographer (if you chose that package), and it has made a world of difference. We can be focused on photography while they help carry equipment, round up people, and keep us on task! Assistants are not an additional charge to you.
My assistant generally hides behind you with a flash like this.
How long have you been shooting weddings? How many weddings have you photographed?
I started photographing weddings in 2014, but have been shooting landscapes since 2009 and portraits since 2012. For the number of weddings I have photographed, as of March 2020, I have captured 76 amazing couples for my own brand. I have also covered many more with local companies that have hired me as a contractor to them.
Heres a few images from my first wedding in 2014. That is my Brother-in-law, his awesome wife Kris. It’s their fault I fell in love with capturing weddings.
Do you often shoot weddings that have a similar size and style?
I have covered elopements to 250+ weddings. My style generally stays the same unless I feel the need to get SUPER creative for a shot or two.
Can we see the full galleries of a few of your recent weddings?
Absolutely! Once I find out a little more about your wedding, I can send over a gallery of a full wedding that may be similar to the time of year and such as yours. I may even be able to send you one at the venue so you can picture everything.
Have you ever shot a wedding at our venue? If not, do you plan to check the venues out in advance?
See above, just ask, and I will gladly send you a gallery if I have been there before. As for scouting beforehand, I generally wait until the day of to scout. I use to go weeks/months ahead of time, but I’ve found out many times that venues and lighting changes. So on the day of the wedding, my team and I arrive 30 – 45 minutes early and scout things out to find some unique spots and know where everything is. If you are getting ready at a different location, my associate photographer will generally head to the venue to get images of the site and scout.
Sometimes the “venue” is owned by a friend or family member. I can come to the rehearsal to see how everything is laid out and get an idea for some images. Wendi and John’s friend had this awesome bridge that we got to play on!
How would you describe your photography style?
This one is a little hard as I don’t consider myself light and airy or dark and moody. I say I’m right in the middle with making sure you are looking the best with proper lighting and color. No orange skins or blue dresses, just correctly captured so that your images are timeless and do not fit into a trend. Also, I call myself a “light bender”, as I use multiple flash units throughout the day as needed, which has some photographers calling me “contrasty.” Take a look through my portfolio and see that I aim to make sure your day looks its best and use multiple methods in doing so, even if that means hiking around various light stands and gear.
How would you describe your working style? Do you prefer to blend into the background to capture candid moments, or do you like to be more visible and take charge to choreograph images?
I do a little of both. For the majority of the day, I am a ninja. I hide in the background and let the day float beautifully. When needed, I step into the director’s chair to get those big formal family images that everybody wants. This makes me become more visible and take charge, but after that, it’s back to hiding in the shadows for my team and me.
Do you shoot digitally? With film? Or both?
I am digital only. One of the main reasons is that I want to make sure I capture everything and can deliver it to you. This is also a great time to mention that as I shoot, my cameras write to two SD cards. This gives me assurance that if one card decides to rebel, the images are still on another card.
My style also incorporates my love of landscape photography.
What is included in your standard package? What add-ons do the more expensive packages include?
My standard packages include wedding coverage, an engagement session, an online gallery, A USB with edited images, and a print credit. The more expensive packages include more hours, extra photographers, and more print credit. I also offer gorgeous albums as add-ons to your package.
Can I customize a package to fit my needs?
Yes! Everyone is different and you can easily modify a package to fit what you are looking for.
Do you include engagement photos in your packages?What about pre-wedding events like rehearsal dinners?
I include an engagement session with every wedding. I feel that this gets us all a little more comfortable working together. I have had a few couples choose to use the engagement session included for rehearsal dinners, bridal boudoir, and family sessions.
How many hours are included in each package? How much do extra hours cost?
My basic packages range from 4 hours to 8 hours. You can add additional hours for $300 per hour.
Engagement sessions are included in every package!
Do you offer a photo booth?
I do not have the capabilities for a photo booth, however, my wonderful friend owns Couve Booth and would be a wonderful addition to your wedding.
Do you offer retouching, color adjustment, or other corrective services? Are those included or an additional charge?
All delivered images are edited and adjusted before they are posted to your gallery and provided on the USB. If there is anything that you see that you wish changed, I do my best to accommodate your request.
Do you charge a travel fee? For what distance? What does that cover?
For anywhere within 60 miles of the Portland metro area, there is no additional fees. If your location is out side of this, fees vary depending on travel needed and if I will need to get accommodations for the night.
We love capturing destination weddings
Can we order prints directly from you?
Yes! In fact, your print credit that I provide with the packages is only valid through your online gallery. You can order your prints directly from there. I use a top quality print house that uses amazing materials that will have your prints last for a life time.
What type of album do you offer? Do you provide assistance selecting images and designing the album?
I offer albums from 4″x4″ up to 12″x12″ with cover materials varying from premium leather, eco-leather, and gorgeous book cloth. My online galleries allow you to pick your favorite images that you would like in the album, and I get to designing! Once I have everything put together, I will send you a digital copy of your album to approve. Once everything is good, I send it off to my supplier, who handcrafts every album here in the USA.
How long after the wedding will we receive the images? How will they be delivered?
My usual timeframe to have the complete wedding edited it 4-6 weeks after your date. However, I give a social media sneak peek a day or two after your wedding and send you the link to your gallery. As I edit, I upload to this gallery so you can have new images to enjoy and can see exactly where I am with everything.
Will we receive the high resolution digital images?
You will receive all edited images from me in high resolution both in your online gallery and on your USB.
From one of the albums I designed in 2019!
When will we receive the contract?
I will send the contract over digitally for us both to sign shortly after you have confirmed your booking.
How much of a deposit do you require? When is it due?
I request a $100 non-refundable deposit to hold your date, and it is due at the signing of the contract. Everything is handled online to make it simple.
Do you accept payments in installations?
I do! My invoicing system makes it easy to pay as you go in any amounts. I ask that the total of the wedding be paid for on or before the date of the event.
Do you have liability insurance?
I do! I am fully licensed and insured. If your venue requests a certificate of insurance, just let me know and I will send one over!
Do you carry backup equipment?
Yes! In fact, I usually have a backup for my backup. All of my cameras write to two SD cards to create redundancy, and when I get home, the images get put on 2 different hard drives in case of failure. The SD also does not get deleted until the final photos are delivered.
What is the backup plan if you are unable to shoot my wedding for an unexpected reason?
This has yet to happen, but I am part of a community of amazing photographers that have each other’s backs. If an emergency comes up, I have a few photographers that I can have someone step in and make sure your day is covered.
Can we request a list of specific shots we would like?
Absolutely, and actually, I encourage that you do! Please make a list of all the fabulous people you want in your formal images. One of the reasons I bring an assistant along is to get everyone together so that you don’t have to run around and find everyone! As for images of other parts of the day, please remember that they will be more of an inspiration than an exact copy of the image that you put on Pinterest. Light changes, dresses are different, and so many other factors that make it quite impossible to create the same exact image.
Will you be posting about our wedding on your website and social media? Will you be submitting our photos to magazines or blogs?
Unless you request that I don’t, I try to blog everyone. Why? So your friends and family can see how awesome you are! I’ve also submitted and been featured in magazines and blogs for my work. It helps other couples find me! But again, if you don’t want to be famous than let me know!
Whew! I think that is it!
If you have a question that you didn’t see on here, please, let me know and I will answer as best as I can!
