Wedding FAQ
Do you require a deposit? Contract? Do we pay in full?
Yes! I require a 25% deposit at the time of booking (though I am flexible). I also require that a contract is signed by all parties involved to ensure the safety of everyone. The total amount of the wedding package is due before I do any labor. I prefer it be paid the day before the wedding to make the day-of a bit less stressful. As always, if you absolutely need accommodations, those can be considered.
When will we receive our wedding gallery?
One to two weeks post wedding day. You may be thinking that timeline is a bit too good to be true. It’s absolutely not! I get so excited about every single wedding and I just can’t keep myself away from the photos. I’m sure my husband gets annoyed with me for being a hermit for the full week after a wedding, but it’s so worth it!
How many photos will we receive?
That completely depends on the length of your wedding package and how busy your day is. My repeat clients know I like to say, “You receive all the successful photos.” So what I mean by that is - you will receive all the photos that are not dulpicates, out of focus, or unflattering. I tend to take three to five photos of the same subject because the tiniest movement can make or break a photo. All in all, I end up taking seven to ten thousand photos in one wedding day. Out of those, you can expect to receive six hundred to one thousand.
Below is a good example of how I tend to select my photos.
Do you back up our photos?
Yes yes and yes! My initial upload goes into two external hard drives plus my Lightroom catalog and the final images are uploaded to another external drive plus the ‘wonderful’ cloud.
Do we need a second shooter?
I highly recommend it! Luckily, a second shooter is included in my two most popular wedding packages. A second shooter is a second hired photographer who works under the supervision of the lead photographer. My husband works as my second shooter and assistant on wedding days. He fell into it when we were dating and now I wouldn’t have it any other way. Our skills compliment each other perfectly.
Should we do a first look?
There are two different sides to this coin. Let’s look at both.
Not doing a first look is the more traditional route. This saves the special moment for the guests to share with the bride and groom. If you’re a bride who has alway pictured yourself entering through the towering doors or walking down the grand staircase to your groom for that magical moment, a first look may not be for you. If you choose not to do a first look, please make sure your timeline allows for family and couple portraits after the ceremony.
If you’re a more private person and want to share that special moment with only your groom (and your photographer wink wink), a first look may be for you. First looks do allow for the bulk of portraits to be taken before the ceremony. This saves time after the ceremony so that you don’t keep your guests waiting too long, but that is truly not something you should worry too much about. If you’re leaning towards a first look but can’t quite decide, a first touch may be the best option for you. This is when the bride and groom touch hands around a corner, door, tree, etc and are able to chat without seeing each other. Do what feels right for you and your partner.
Do we need engagements?
My answer to this will always be yes. An engagement session is a great way for me to get to know you and your partner before the big day. Hanging out with you both will let me see how you interact together and how you respond to different prompts. It’s not just for my benefit though. You also get to see how I work and get comfortable with my shooting style so that you know what to expect day of. Not to mention - you get some great photos to display at the wedding!
Do you take family photos on the wedding day?
Yes! While almost every wedding photographer will tell you family photos are the most stressful part of the wedding day, I cherish them. They are a lot of work. Sometimes getting Uncle Bob and Aunt Julie to sit still long enough for a photo can be challenging - it’s worth it. I always suggest five to ten different family portrait groups so that we don’t take too much time and everyone can go celebrate.
Do we need reception props?
Handing out props during your reception is a great way to get the party started and get some awesome movement in your photos. I’ve seen glow sticks, fiber-optics, wands, and everything in-between. You use what fits your party vibe best!
Do we have to cut a cake?
Absolutely not! You do what fits you and your partner best. If you think cutting a cake is cheesy and that’s not something you see yourself doing, don’t do it. If you are out of the box and still like the idea of kicking off the dessert table - cut your favorite dessert. Whether you opt out, choose to have pie and donuts, or go traditional - be yourself.
What if it rains?
Embrace it! Whatever happens on your day, makes it your special day! This is the day you’ll tell your children about. There will be things that don’t go according to plan and that is completely ok. If it rains, we are more than able to get creative inside the venue or we can get out in it! As your wedding photographer, I will do everything in my power to make sure your day goes as smoothly as possible.
We are ready to book!!
Amazing! I’m so grateful that I get the opportunity to be your wedding photographer. If you’re ready to book, head over to my contact page. I can’t wait to get to know you!