Frequent Questions
If I have the DVDs what prevents me from printing my own photos?
Nothing. You are welcome to do so. Your DVDs are the full resolution files with no watermarks or restrictions. I do recommend ordering through my online proofing for important photos for your album or framing. When you order though my online proofing you receive the highest quality professional toning, color correction and processing from a professional lab. With consumer photofinishing and home printing you may not get professional results. Most home printers are not archival and the photos may not last more than a few years.
Do you work with a second photographer?
Yes, with some packages I use a second associate photographer for the getting ready photos and ceremony. This way I can capture the guys and girls getting ready at the same time as well as allowing two camera angles the ceremony. With weddings in more than one location I think this is crucial to capture all that is going on. With smaller weddings in one location there is less need for a second photographer but many couples still request a second photographer. I can talk more with you in person about whether your wedding would benefit from having a second photographer.
Why is wedding photography so expensive? (Okay, no one actually asks this, but I know everyone wants to) I have two answers-one from a business standpoint and one from a creative standpoint…
- The business standpoint… You are not hiring a photographer for the 9 hours of the wedding. The time spent at the wedding is just the tip of the iceberg. You are hiring a photographer for about a week, it takes 30-40 hours to produce a wedding from the first consultation to shipping the album. A photographer also maintains tens of thousands of dollars of camera equipment, computers, lighting gear, and hires assistants, pays for insurance, and all the other expenses of being self-employed. Great photography takes a lot of time and investment.
- The creative standpoint… For the past 17 years, I have gotten out of bed and gone to work with a camera in my hands. I’ve been tested in every imaginable way. As a newspaper photographer I’ve photographed everything from hurricanes and riots to professional sports, and as a wedding photographer, I have photographed over 200 weddings in 16 states and 5 countries. To put it simply, I am a professional; I come back with good photos no matter the situation.
Do you want a check list of photos?
Those dreaded lists published in bridal magazines are for cookie-cutter traditional photographers. Photojournalism is all about creative spontaneity. Of course I will photograph all the key moments in the wedding I don't need a list. The best photos I take are the ones that everything came together in seconds totally unexpectedly. The only list I use is for the approximately 60 minute posed photo session after the wedding.
Do you shoot any black and white?
I give you a mix of black and white and color photos of all your wedding photos. Black and white is a beautiful medium often overlooked by brides. I spent time as a photo editor at newspapers and I have a very good eye for what will look better in black and white. I will choose some of your wedding photos to convert to black and white so you have a nice creative mix of color and black and white.
How long will it take to get my pictures?
I take pride in filling print and album orders as fast as I can and post your wedding online in a timely fashion. I have a busy wedding schedule that takes me out of town often, But I try my best to meet the below deadlines. On rare occasions I might be a bit slower than others, but I'm often faster depending on the workload at the time...
Your wedding will be posted online within 1 to 2 weeks.
You will have your DVDs and proofs within 2 or 3 weeks.
Print orders are filled within 2 to 3 weeks.
Flush mount albums and coffee table books are completed in about 3- 4 months.
Would you feel comfortable photographing my wedding if it is a Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist; Muslim or same-sex wedding?
Absolutely! I enjoy different cultures and ways of life and love photographing them. I have photographed all kinds of Christian faiths, Jewish, Hindu, a Native American and even a Wiccan wedding. I am a true photojournalist and I thrive on experiencing the world through other people's eyes. So I love to photograph weddings of different faiths, ways of life and cultures. I'm an open minded person and I embrace everyone of different faiths, ethnic backgrounds, race or sexual preference.
How long have I been doing photojournalism weddings?
I have been a photojournalist for 10 years at newspapers prior to becoming a freelancer doing weddings. I have been photographing weddings full time since July of 2003. Being my approach to weddings is purely photojournalism, I haven't changed much of anything in my transition to weddings. I still use the same photojournalistic eye. See Cameron's bio for more information on my background.
Have you photographed a wedding in my venue before?
I have photographed weddings everywhere from California to Alaska and the Caribbean and everywhere in between so I'm often in a new venue. It never really presents a problem. As a newspaper photographer I have photographed in riots, hurricanes, scuba diving 100 feet underwater, hanging out of helicopters, wading knee deep in the Everglades and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to name a few of the difficult situations I've photographed. I doubt there is anything about your venue that I won't be able to deal with.
What kind of camera equipment do you use?...
(This is for you camera junkies... usually the groom) I use the latest Canon cameras, a 5D Mark II for my wide angle camera and a 7D as my long lens camera. These newest releases from Canon have incredible low light capabilities making using a flash unnecessary most of the wedding day. (Usually only during the reception) Digital has come a long way. My second photographer carries two Canon 5D's, also great cameras in low light with excellent resolution.
The cameras are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to quality photography, a wide selection of quality and fast lenses are even more important than the cameras. At most weddings between the two photographers, we carry about 8-10 Canon lenses, everything from a 15mm to a 300 2.8. All my telephoto lenses are image stabilized to help keep the images sharp even in the lowest light and none of my lenses are slower than f2.8. My favorite is the Canon 24mm 1.4. There are much cheaper lenses that photographers use, but I spare no expense when it comes to lenses. Weddings almost always take place in low light at some point in the day, so having great lenses is paramount.