Frequently Asked Questions...
Q. How does the pricing work for my destination wedding photography?
A. It’s actually quite easy. We charge the same fees for the wedding photography package, and we add our travel expenses and fees. These additional costs could include plane tickets (if flying is required), rental car, hotel for 2 nights minimum, basic food, gas, etc. We always prefer to drive vs fly if possible due to the added ease of moving our equipment around, and because getting somewhere on time driving is usually more of a sure thing than flying.
Q. How far in advance should I book my wedding photography with you?
A. Our couples typically book with us anywhere from 6 to 24 months in advance, but we have honestly booked weddings within 3 months and up to the actual week of the wedding. There could be a variety of reasons for late booking as sometimes unforeseen things happen, and sometimes a couple may not want professional wedding photography right at first, but they then realize how important it is to have. We’re always happy to look at any date for your wedding!
Q. Can we book both of you (Dan and John) for our wedding?
A. Yes! Any opportunity for us to get together to photograph a wedding is appreciated! Obviously, this requires a bit more logistical work and costs, but we have done this many times before!
Q. Are you willing to travel elsewhere to photograph my wedding?
A. The simple answer is ABSOLUTELY!! While all of our packages shown on the pricing page include local areas within one hour of Rochester, Michigan (48306) and East Islip, New York (11730), we more than willing to discuss your wedding plans for whatever area that may be. For example, we have photographed weddings in Key Largo, Newport Beach, Ashville, Traverse City, The Hamptons, Montauk, Manhattan, Louisville, etc… And we love checking out new areas as well! Please feel free to inquire about ANY location.
Q. Can we bring our dog to our engagement session?
A. Definitely! It’s always fun to add in your fur baby to the session. The only thing we ask is that your dog remains under control, and that any doggy mess is taken care of. We feel silly saying this because we have not really met many irresponsible doggy parents, but we’re sure you can imagine some of the things we’ve seen over the years…
Q. My aunt is a professional photographer.
A. Buick is a professional car company and so is Ferarri. The term professional just means someone does something for money. It is not required for someone to actually be good at something in order to sell that service. Our level of quality, creativity, and dependability is extremely high, and it’s not really in the same category as someone who “owns a nice camera”.
Q. How do we book you to photograph our wedding?
A. Just tell us you’re ready, and we will prepare a contract for all of us to sign. We require a non-refundable retainer which is due upon signing, and this is how we reserve the date for you.
Q. Do we need a second photographer for our wedding?
A. Generally speaking, no. But we do offer this as an option for you. 90% of the weddings we’ve photographed have only had a single photographer, and this really comes down to knowing how a wedding flows and how long things take. With that said, you may absolutely request this if you want a few additional angles, or there may even be a case where the bride and groom are getting ready in locations which are quite a distance from each other.
Q. Can you cover the prep without a second shooter?
A. Absolutely! It’s all about the planning ahead of time.
Q. What happens if I need to change my wedding date?
A. We understand things happen, and we’re very flexible with our couples as things come up. Our standard policy is to apply your retainer to the new date at no additional charge, PROVIDED THAT DATE IS OPEN. We strongly recommend you do not book a new date with venues, churches, or food vendors before checking in to see if we have the new date available. Additionally, we’re able to give you a variety of open dates to help you with the date change, but again, it’s very important to check in first.
Q. How much will my photos be edited before you deliver them?
A. Every wedding photo needs a touch of style editing to bring out its full potential. We will polish the images for things like color temp, contrast, density, exposure, style, etc… We do not include what is considered retouching which means editing things out of the background, removing someone, fixing skin, opening eyes, weight loss, etc… With that said, we’re more than happy to edit and retouch any image for most reasons for a small fee, and we usually will include, at no charge, a moderate amount of retouching on any images that will be a part of any tangible products you order from us.
Q. Can you edit to make me look thinner in those photos?
A. This is a little more complicated than the previous question. We would never make assumptions about how someone should look or how they want to look. As such, we would NEVER just start editing out features on someone unsolicited. You’re more than welcome to ask for specific edits, if need be, but we do charge a fee for this service. Also, while we try to keep an eye on things during the day, it’s very hard to watch out for every wrinkle, posture, and blowing strand of hair. Generally speaking, we’re photojournalists who capture your life on the day of your wedding. If something is a tiny bit out of place, it was just the way the day flowed. We’re very relaxed and hope you’ll feel the same.
Q. How do you deliver our wedding and engagement photos?
A. We’ve become big fans of cloud storage vs USB drives these days. When your photos are ready, they will be uploaded to a gallery site which you (and anyone you send the link to) will be able to view and order prints and such. We also provide a Dropbox folder with the high-resolution images for your records and use.
Q. Can you help us plan some things out for our wedding?
A. Having photographed hundreds of weddings in a very photojournalistic style, and being as observant as we are naturally, we’ve seen things that work very well and things that do not work at all. If you do not have a wedding planner, we can help with as little or as much as you need from a timeline and a “things to do and not do” perspective. If you have a planner, we’re more than happy to attend any zoom meetings with this person if our schedule permits.
Q. Do you recommend we do a first look to save time?
A. It really depends on the entire timeline and your own preferences. If the timeline is tight but the moment of seeing your bride walking down the aisle is something very important to you, we will make the day work. There are a lot of misconceptions about the amount of time it takes to photograph certain things. For example, we can photograph a “fashion session” with the couple and their bridal party in 30 minutes and give you over a hundred photos from this. On the other hand, it’s nice to have a little additional time if possible. Keep in mind that the only thing a first look really saves time on is your “fashion / portrait” session.
Q. Do you shoot table shots of each table during the reception?
A. No… but if you REEEEEALLY want them, we could possibly be persuaded to do so. : )
Q. Should we tell our families to not bother you?
A. Absolutely not! We are there to document your day, and that includes your mom asking for a photo with her work friends. If there is something going on when your family asks for the photo, we will just let them know we need a minute to photograph that thing, and that we will be back shortly. Our “art” is not so pretentious that we cannot photograph people standing side by side saying cheese. So please, tell your families to ask away!
Q. Do you dress in all black like other professional photographers?
A. No. We generally dress in wedding appropriate attire and look like one of your guests attending your wedding. If you’re having a casual barn wedding or backyard wedding, we will look more casual. If you’re having a black-tie affair, we will also blend into that style.
Q. How much equipment do you carry on our wedding day?
A. We both tend to pack lightly for weddings. But with that said, we bring at least two of everything so that we have a backup plan in case of an emergency. Things happen, so it’s always best to be prepared.
