Frequently Asked Questions
What is your photographic style?
I combine photojournalism with creative portraiture to tell the story of your day. That means that for most of the day, I will be hanging in the background capturing all of your wonderful moments as they happen. I do my best to be unobtrusive so that you, your wedding party and guests feel comfortable and your photos are spontaneous and natural. When it comes time for portraits, I am happy to do as many as you like. I will find the optimal lighting and location(s) at your venue then encourage you to just enjoy your time together and be yourselves…I want your portraits to reflect your personality as well as the emotion of the day, and I am always open to your suggestions.
How are my photographs edited? Do you run actions or apply effects to the images?
Each and every photograph you receive will undergo basic editing, which involves exposure/contrast/color correction along with cropping (if necessary). In addition, I do perform a little skin smoothing on the portraits, just to make sure everyone looks their best. In addition, any image included in an album or ordered on canvas will be retouched before it is printed. I love clean images and tend to stay away form trendy Photoshop effects. My goal is to clean create clean, vibrant, timeless images that look still great 25 years from now, long after the latest Photoshop trends are out of style.
I do provide a mix of black and white and color images in every gallery. If you have a particular preference towards or against black and white photographs, please let me know, so I can take that into account when editing your images. Color images can always be printed in black and white; however once they are converted to black and white, they cannot be printed in color.
How soon after the wedding will I get my pictures?
It’s always my goal to get your pictures processed as soon as I can. That being said, I insist on delivering the best images possible, and editing hundreds of photographs is very time consuming. It’s my personal goal to deliver all of your images via your online gallery within 4 weeks of your wedding and to post a preview to my blog as soon as possible.
How do I order prints or albums?
Once your images have been posted online, you (or your family, guests, etc.) may order prints or other products through your gallery. Payments are made online by credit card, and your prints are delivered directly to you in a few days. We also offer a variety of different albums. If you have chosen a package that includes an album, I will ask you to select “must-have” images from your gallery to include in the album. Then, I will assemble the pages and post a proof for your review. Once your album proof is approved, it takes roughly 4-6 weeks to print and be delivered to you.
How many photos will I receive? Can I have all of the files from my wedding? Can I have the raw files?
You should expect to receive at around 700+ photos (high resolution JPEG files) from a full-day wedding, but often that number is much higher. My first step in editing is to cull out duplicate images and photos where the subject’s eyes are closed, someone jumped in front of the camera, etc. The rest are edited and delivered to you through your gallery. When culling images, my goal is to provide you with every image that’s worth keeping; I’m never trying to edit them down to a certain number; if it’s good, you will get it. The outtakes are not archived, so they are not available after editing is complete. All images are provided in JPEG format. I’m sorry; I don’t provide clients with raw files.
What kind of equipment do you use? Do you carry back-up equipment?
I shoot with professional-grade Canon cameras and lenses. I carry 2 camera bodies throughout the day along with multiple lenses and flashes. I also bring a back-up body and lenses, just in case.
For camera enthusiasts who would like to know specifics: I work with 2 Canon 5d mark iii camera bodies throughout the day and 2 carry a 5d mark ii back up just in case. My favorite and most used lenses are the 85mm f/1.2 and 70-200mm f/2.8 IS ii lenses, followed by the 50mm f/1.2, 135mm f/2.0 and the 24-70 f/2.8 ii. I also use a 100 mm macro for ring and detail shots. My lighting set-up includes 4 Canon 600 ex-rt speedlights + back-ups along with a variety of modifiers.
How do you back up and store photos?
I carry a number of different memory cards with me to every wedding and shoot in duplicate on 2 separate cards at all times. After the big event, I download all of the images to my computer for editing and immediately save a copy of all of your photos to an external hard drive. As the images are uploaded to my computer, they are simultaneously copied to an online back-up service for extra security. Once I finish editing your images, they are uploaded to a proofing website where they are stored for a minimum of one year.
How do I book you to photograph my wedding?
A signed contract and a retainer of $1,000 are required to book your wedding. The remaining balance is due a week before the big day. I’m sorry, I can’t hold your date without a signed contract and a retainer.
What is the cost of travel?
I’m happy to travel within a 75 mile radius of my home in Stoneham, MA at no additional charge. Travel that is several hours away and/or requires an overnight stay (including Cape Cod weddings during peak season) is subject to additional fees, which vary based on the location. Please contact me with your venue information for a more specific answer.
What if you get sick, injured, or the unthinkable happens and you can’t make it to the wedding?
First, let me assure you that this has NEVER happened! Being a former middle school teacher, I have a hearty immune system and rarely get sick. I would have to be completely incapacitated to miss a wedding. Just in case the unthinkable were to happen, I do work with an assistant at most weddings. My assistants are talented photographers in their own right (rather than students) and are capable of photographing a wedding in my place. I am also part of a large network of professional photographers here in New England and have (literally) hundreds of capable colleagues I could call on to take my place in an emergency.
What is your refund/cancellation policy?
In the event of a cancellation of the wedding agreement by the client, the retainers paid are non-refundable. Cancellations must be made in writing and delivered by certified mail. In the event that I am able to re-book the date, your deposit will be returned.
Are you insured?
Yes, of course! I am fully insured. A copy of my insurance certificate is available upon booking.
