A: Wedding photography is a passion. You spend so much time planning for one day, and then it is over in a blur, all that you have to be able to relive that day for years to come are your photos. The opportunity to document one of the happiest days in a couple's life together is an honor, and the relationships we build from photographing weddings are priceless.
A: We offer a variety of styles, both formal (posed) shots and informal (candid) shots make up our portfolio. We try to get a variety of creative angles and styles while focusing on capturing all of the details of your day in the way that you want. Our candid images are more photojournalistic in that we capture things as they happen, if we aren't doing the formal shots we won't ask you to stop what you are doing so we can shoot, we will capture the laughter, the tears, the hugs and all of the emotions that make up your day. A guest at a recent wedding described us as "effortless" when we asked what he meant; he said "you were always where you needed to be to capture the action without interfering". That is how it should be, your wedding day isn't about the photography, it is about creating memories. The photography should be about your wedding, not the other way around.
A: We will do our best to work with the restrictions given to us. It is your responsibility to negotiate the restrictions if we determine that they will be detrimental to your photos.
A: Absolutely! There are many companies out there where you don't meet the photographer for your wedding until the day of! We believe in building a relationship with you, we want to get to know you, in order to create the best possible experience for your wedding day.
A: We shoot with Canon EOS-5D's fitted with professional quality image-stabilized lenses; the camera uses a full-frame sensor that allows us to capture the maximum amount of light possible, and captures 12 megapixels of image detail which usually allows you to have your photos enlarged to poster size. Our professional lenses allow us to work in lighting situations that an ordinary point-and-shot shoot camera would have a very difficult time with. We shoot on multiple storage cards to ensure that photos from your day will not be lost. We have redundant Canon digital SLR bodies. All of our professional lenses and accessories are interchangeable with our primary and backup equipment. We are very comfortable with all of our equipment, including our backup cameras. As part of our regular equipment checks, we take a series of test shots with our backup camera bodies. This ensures that in the unlikely event we have to use our backup equipment, you will still receive the highest possible quality images.
A: Why? In a word…flexibility. We are able to shoot far more images in digital than we would be with film. We have far more processing control over our images by shooting digital. We have shot with film before, and we have an understanding of the developing process which gives us a firm foundation in photography and carries over into our digital work.
A: There are so many wedding venues out there, we would be more than happy to tell you whether we have shot at your specific venue before, or at least show you a venue that features similar lighting characteristics.
A: Any opportunity we have before the wedding to meet with you is a chance to get to know your style a little bit better, it generally makes you more comfortable with us, resulting in better wedding day photos. The other reason we like to do a venue walk-through before the wedding is that it allows us to start thinking of good places for portraits, and different or unique angles we can use for your ceremony and/or reception. The walk-through isn't mandatory, we understand that sometimes there are reasons that it isn't possible, in those cases we will make every effort to show up early on the wedding day so we can "scout" out your venue before everything starts.
A: Yes, we are. When we are not photographing, we are processing images, marketing or working on continuing education.
A: Generally, we photograph one wedding in a weekend. Sometimes we may book a Saturday and a Sunday wedding (depending on how late the Saturday one is, and how much time we are spending at it). We never book more than one wedding in a day, that way if you need additional time we are flexible to make sure that you are taken care of.
A: As we said before, we only book one wedding per day. If you pay for a four hour package and decide you need one or two more hours on the day of, not a problem.
A: We can certainly go to more than one location with you. Generally there is not an additional charge, it is just counted "against" your package time. The only time we may charge is if there is a significant travel distance between sites.
A: It depends on the package you choose, and how you want the time designated. We will have at least two meetings prior to your wedding (either on the phone, or in person) to setup a timeline for the day, if you find that things are running late and you need more time for the reception, you can add that on your wedding day.
A: Most weddings can be covered thoroughly with 6-10 hours of coverage, some may be a little more or less. We can help you put together a draft timeline so you can establish how much time you'll need.
- How much of your getting ready time would you like covered? (getting hair and makeup and then getting dressed, or just the final dress zipping)
- Plan for at least 30 minutes of "time out" (bride and groom alone) portraits, if we are traveling to different sites to do photos, more time may be needed.
- How many group portraits do you want? (look at how large your wedding party is, how many parents, grandparents, siblings, cousins etc you will want photos of) plan at least one hour of formal group portraits.
- Plan 30 minutes of "down time" before your ceremony. If your ceremony starts at 2:00 then everyone should be spending from 1:30 to 2:00 touching up, and relaxing before the ceremony, it is a good time to calm nerves. This means that any pre-wedding portraits should be finished at 1:30, if you are doing all of your portraits before the ceremony they should start around 12:00 or earlier to be done in time. It is better to build in some "buffer" time here and there to allow for people running late or anything else that may change the time line.
- Generally, for your reception: you would want your entrance, greeting guests, cake, toasts, special dances (first dance, father/daughter, mother/son etc) garter, bouquet and any other special traditions captured, followed by some shots of guests dancing, the amount of time can vary based on how many guests you are going around to greet, how long your dinner takes (people getting through the buffet line, or a multi-course sit down meal), and how late you have your venue.
Most people do not need or want their whole reception covered, but it is entirely up to you, and we can discuss what your thoughts are at your consultation.
A: We shoot in RAW. JPG photos are far more compressed than RAW and don't allow for nearly as much processing control, doing basic things like fixing imperfections on skin, improving color saturation and many other tasks are far more difficult with an image that lacks visual "data". That been said, anytime we deliver "high-resolution images" to a client, they are in JPEG format with compression set to the lowest setting possible.
A: Nope, it can actually add an interesting dynamic to the photos and give them a fun feel.
A: There is a charge for any time you need beyond your package inclusion. The amount will be outlined in your contract. Please ask what the current prevailing rate is.
A: We do a complimentary rehearsal observation (with mileage restrictions), which gives us a chance to see where everyone is standing and a chance to meet the wedding party, which again makes people more comfortable on the wedding day. If you want us to photograph your rehearsal and rehearsal dinner, we can give you a quote and add it to your wedding package.
A: Certainly! Your wedding day is about you, we will shoot as many portraits as you'd like, we do offer a couple of tips for making this go as smoothly as possible.
- Make a list of the group portraits that you'd like (include names), this allows us to call out names and check off each of the shots to make sure we get all of the group photos you want. Some tips to make sure you get all of the formal portraits you want, and making them go smoothly.
- Prioritize, make your list so that your highest priority photos are on the top and you work down, usually the highest priority photos are: wedding party, bride and groom with parents, grandparents and siblings. We will make every effort to get all of them, but we understand that often times things run late. Lower priority photos can often be taken quickly at the reception.
- Make time for you. Too many couples put themselves last on the photo priority list. The photos of the two of you alone are the most important photos. Make sure you designate at least thirty minutes of time either before or after the ceremony for portraits of the two of you.
- Plan for at least some of your photos before the ceremony, it can ease the stress and tension, and the more portraits we can do before the ceremony, the faster you can get to the reception afterwards. Keep in mind that most weddings start late, with all the planning in the world, something can still keep you from starting on time, doing portraits before the ceremony eliminates some of the potential for some portraits not getting taken due to lack of time.
- If you are okay with seeing each other before the ceremony, we can plan a "first look" shoot to capture the look on both of your faces when you see each other for the first time. This can easily transition into your private photo session, followed by bridal party and immediate family. Additional family photos can then be taken after the ceremony. We have other options available for those who don't want to see each other before the ceremony.
A: Sure, we don't want to interfere with your wedding day. We understand that many of the people around you have watched you grow up and want to capture those special moments as well. The only time we ask that family and friends refrain from photographing is when we are taking posed "formal" shots of you, your family and the wedding party. This measure is to make sure you get the absolute best portraits possible, we don't want eyes looking in different directions. This also allows photos to go much faster.
A: Certainly, this is the best time to do these portraits since your hair and makeup are fresh.
A: Definitely, it is a lot of fun to do in-studio (or on-location) bridal sessions with the bride before the wedding day, this is a great chance to plan a day to try out your hairstyle, and makeup style before your wedding day.
A: Sure! We have a "must have" shot list for you to mark off and write in shots that you absolutely must have, or ideas you have that you'd like us to incorporate. We will take a lot more shots than you outline, but it is YOUR day, we want to capture the photos you want.
A: Your prints will be printed by our professional photo lab. They will be printed on either Fuji or Kodak archival photo paper.
A: We generally print luster, but matte, glossy, and metallic are available if you prefer. Ask us if you have any specific requests and we would be more than happy to accommodate.
A: This can depend on a variety of factors, including travel time, amount of time that portraits take, and any other possible delays. Generally you can expect 80-120 processed, color-enhanced images per hour of shooting with two photographers.
A: We do online digital proofing of all of your images. In addition all of our wedding packages include a "print catalog" which will include thumbnails of every processed image we took on your wedding day.
A: You do. We can change an unlimited number to black and white or sepia if you are receiving a disc of the images. Our online ordering system allows you to choose whether you want your prints in color, black and white or sepia. If we make the artistic decision to change a photo to black and white, sepia or partial black and white, the original image will generally be available as well.
A: We will color correct and enhance your images. We will choose some to do "selected-coloring" with. We can do select coloring to your choice of images for a per image fee (you are not charged for the images we decide to selectively color). We can clean up/remove pimples, tattoos, scars, braces and scratches for a per image fee. If you have a specific request, we would be happy to discuss it with you.
A: We offer a variety of packages that will allow you to either get a CD or get a print credit (or both), this way we can accommodate a wider range of budgets and make sure you only pay for what you want.
A: We can do coffee table style books (matte pages, hard bound or leather bound), flush mount albums, and traditional albums.
We also have several options for albums that can be used for gifts for parents, as well as smaller albums that are easy to carry around in your purse so you can show off your amazing wedding photos to everyone you run into!
A: Because there are two of us, in the event of illness or injury we will get a second shooter so you can still have one of us. Otherwise, we will assist you in finding a photographer who will be close to our style and rate structure, in this case your deposit would be refundable.
A: We promise no more than three weeks, however we generally like to have portraits available on our digital proofing website no more than one day following the wedding and the rest of the photos three to four days after. This can vary based on the size of your wedding and number of photos to process. The print catalog can take up to four weeks to come back from the printer, depending on seasonal volume.
A: If you have a print credit, it may expire six months after the wedding. Otherwise you can order whenever you'd like.
A: We will make every attempt to keep the original files stored off-site indefinitely, but do not guarantee access longer than 12 months. We would love to have our work become part of someone's 50th anniversary slideshow.
A: This really depends on you. We generally designate time for the posed shots (see above: "Will you shoot formal posed shots?") and then the rest of the day we capture as it happens.
A: We appreciate it if we can receive some sort of food and drink at your reception. It doesn't have to be a full meal, but we don't want to have to take a "lunch" and leave to find food. We generally try to eat when you do, since we know you probably don't wants pictures of yourself eating.
A: Feel free to call or email and ask about it. There are so many different things out there that it would be absolutely overwhelming to include them all in our price lists. We will do our best to accommodate any requests.
A: We will generally try to fit in with your theme and level of formality while also dressing comfortably to move around and do our job. Make sure you let us know if you have specific dress requirements that you'd like us to adhere to.
A: 50% of the package price is due at the contract signing. We offer flexible payment plans if necessary as well as a bridal registry. We can take cash, checks, credit cards and paypal.
A: The remaining balance is due on or before your wedding day. We encourage you to pay the balance at your rehearsal so that you don't have to deal with one more thing on your wedding day. We have yet to see a wedding dress that has a pocket big enough to store a checkbook.
A: We currently do not charge travel anywhere in Thurston and Pierce counties, however this is subject to change without notice. Please confirm your exact locations with us at the time of your consultation/booking.
A: Due to demand, we cannot hold dates. Your date will be secured once you sign the contract and pay the deposit.
A: We will either setup a meeting to sign the contract and get the deposit paid, or you can email or fax the contract and mail the deposit(or pay it online with a credit card or paypal). From there we will schedule the venue walkthrough, and any other necessary meetings.
A: Ok, we have attempted to answer many of your frequently asked questions (and maybe some that you didn't even think to ask). If you've made it this far, there must be something you like about us, if that is the case then send us an email or call us for a no-obligation consultation, we'd love to talk with you about your wedding day and create a customized package for you. oh, and about that cookie.. It would be our pleasure to bring some of Patricia's fresh, homemade chocolate chip cookies to you at the consultation. Be sure to remind us if you're interested.
