Where are you located? Where do you travel?
I'm located about 15 minutes north of Philly. Most of my weddings are in the Philadelphia, Allentown, New Jersey, and Delaware areas. I'd love to travel for destination weddings, as well. I'm up for anything!
What do your packages include?
My base packages begin at $2,500, which includes two photographers, nine hours of coverage, online proofing of your images, and a proofbook. Most clients end up spending between $3,000 and $4,500 on average for a more complete wedding package. If you're interested, you can contact me for a package listing.
Are packages customizable?
Yes, all of my packages are customizable. I have three main packages that I've organized based on what clients typically are looking for, but you can always add items in and swap items out.
What are the payment terms for your packages?
I ask for 50% of the package price up front as a non-refundable retainer to save your date, and the remaining 50% is due two months before the wedding.
I'd like a CD of images - can I print them/put them on Facebook?
If you purchase the CD of high resolution images for your wedding, you can absolutely print them and post them online! You'll receive a Digital Release, which gives you personal rights to your photos, meaning you can print them, put them online, etc. The only thing you CAN'T do is sell them. Not sure why you'd want to though.
I just retain the copyright so I can use them on my web site and marketing materials.
Why should we do an engagement session, and when should we schedule it?
I love engagement sessions! These sessions are great because it gives you a preview of how I work and what to expect on your wedding day. It also gives us a chance to get to know each other a little better before your wedding.As far as when the session is scheduled, that's 100% up to you guys. Some people want to schedule their sessions right away so they can use images for the save-the-dates. I've had other brides want to lose weight for their wedding, so they waited to do the session right before the wedding.It's all your preference!
Where should we take our engagement photos, and what should we wear?
I send my couples a "get to know you" questionnaire before the session, which sometimes gives me ideas to suggest as far as a location for the shoot. I prefer when the couples pick a spot, somewhere that means something to them as a couple. If you can't think of anything, I recommend heading into center city - it's my favorite shooting location! As far as outfits, I recommend wearing color (try to stay away from white or black), and avoid loud patterns such as bold stripes, etc. You two definitely shouldn't "match", just "coordinate".
What is a First Look?
Oh how I looooove when my clients choose to have a First Look.This means the bride and groom opt to see each other before the ceremony, and the first time they see each other on the wedding day is a private, intimate moment. There are lots of benefits to the First Look. Here are just a few:
- The moment you see each other for the first time is JUST between the two of you - hundreds of eyes won't be staring at you. You'll be able to hug and say things to each other that you wouldn't be able to if you were at the altar.
- The groom has a more genuine reaction on his face when 200 people aren't staring at him.
- The bride is less stressed after she sees the groom.
- No playing "hide and seek" with the groom before the ceremony.
- We'll be able to get ALL photos done (bride and groom, bridal party, family formals) before the ceremony, meaning you can actually be a part of your cocktail hour and enjoy it!
- You spend A LOT of time and money on the reception details - centerpieces, cake, name card table, etc. If we have all photos done before the ceremony, that gives me adequate time to document all those details, rather than trying to rush to get those pictures done right before you're announced into the reception.
- There's 99% less stress on everyone involved in the wedding day.
How much time should we allocate for photos?
I suggest starting a first look about two hours before the ceremony. We'll spend 30-45 minutes with the bride and groom, 30 minutes with the bridal party, and 30 minutes for the family formals. That way you still have about a half hour before the ceremony to freshen up and relax.
How long does it take to receive my wedding images?
Wedding images are typically edited and uploaded to the online proofing site within 4-6 weeks.
Ulimately, how do I choose my wedding photographer?
There are lots of great photographers out there, but I always give potential clients two things to consider when choosing their wedding photographer. First, make sure your personality "clicks" with the photographer. Lots of people don't think about the fact that the photographer will be with you ALL day for your wedding, so just make sure you choose someone with a personality you like.Also, ask photographers to see an entire set of wedding photos. Any photographer can make their top 50 images on a blog look amazing, but how will the other hundreds of your photos look? I strive to make ALL images you receive look as amazing as my blog images, so what you see is what you get...this isn't the case with all photographers, so make sure to ask!
