Q: When will I have my engagement session?
You will get a engagement session survey to fill out in your email, please do not schedule engagement session more than 6 weeks out. Please give us a list of six dates both you and your fiancé are available for an engagement shoot. Please understand that due to the nature of wedding photography, weekends are a popular time so Saturday’s are not open for engagement sessions.
Please state the exact date and the day of the week, Example: Sunday, 11/6/2015. Once the survey is complete your photographer will email or call you to confirm the date, place & time.
Q: What should I wear to the engagement session?
We will send you an email a week before your engagement covering this information. However, if you would like to be super prepared, here is our advice:
What to wear:
The important thing to note is that what you wear should help enhance your best features, and make the focus be about you. You don’t want to wear anything too distracting.
Do’s:
Make this session special! Go for casual chic or something you are comfortable in. We don’t want you to feel uncomfortable, so please wear something that fits your personality—but spice it up. It will probably be a while before you get another chance to get all dressed up (except for your wedding—of course) for professional pictures, so please take this chance to bring out your Sunday’s best.
– Coordinating outfits are great, but avoid getting too “matchy”. You can, instead, choose accessories that compliment each other. Wear colors that work well on you. Nothing that might wash out your complexion. Clean lines look really good (i.e. avoid bulky clothes).
Things to avoid:
Matching white tops. We want to avoid the “whiteboard” effect. Not to say that white tops look bad… but try to break up the white with some punch of color, through accessories. Also avoid busy prints or big logos, shiny fabric, or wearing something you wouldn’t normally wear. We can’t photoshop discomfort.
Tips for great photos:
Always get as close to your finance as you can, without squishing cheek. Squished faces don’t look good on anybody! When kissing for a picture, avoid fish kissing…you know the fish kiss…pouted lip against pouted lip—fish kisses do not look as good as relaxed lips in a kiss. It might not be the way you regularly kiss, but for the purposes of a great photo…relax those lips.
Relax and have fun!
If you are “camera shy” or hate the way your smile looks in pictures, practice laughing. I guarantee that it may start as a “fake” laugh, but quickly turns into a true smile/chuckle and it’s guaranteed to make your partner laugh as well. This method has been tried and proven. If you want to incorporate a lift or a dip in your shots, practice with the finance at home. Makes for a great night at home!
Q: When will we be able to see our pictures?
Your engagement pictures will be available for online viewing 30 days after the engagement session & your wedding pictures will be available for online viewing 30 days after the wedding date. You will be emailed a link to your gallery within those 30 days.
Q: When would we be able to talk/meet with our photographers?
The photographer will check in with you after booking. They will also call the week of the wedding to review your worksheet, all wedding details, and shot list so it is all fresh in their mind.
Q: How soon before the wedding do I need to fill out the wedding day work sheet?
No later than 60 days before you wedding if possible!
Q: Will our photographers follow a shot list?
Yes, we will have you fill out a wedding day worksheet asking for your choice of shots. We also have a standard list we try to capture. Remember that we shoot in a photojournalistic style, so although we will get all of your requested shots, the rest of the day we try to capture candidly to tell the story of your wedding day.
Q: Do I need to feed the photographers?
It is customary that you do feed the photographers, most venues have what’s called a vendor meal.
One of the questions that will pop into your head as your wedding approaches is “to tip or not to tip”, so we did some research and compared numerous guides to give you the most reasonable list.
Wedding Planner: 10% to 20% of fee
Delivery/Set-Up Staff: $5 to $10 per person
Photographer/Videographer: $50-$200 per vendor or 15% of fee
Hair/Make-Up Artist: 15% to 20% of fee
Transportation: 15% of fee
Officiant: $50 to $100
Musicians/Band: $15 to $20 per member or 15% of fee
DJ: $25 to $150
Reception/Catering Staff: 15% to 20% of fee
Remember: Tipping is optional but it is always welcomed and shows that you appreciate all of the hard work that was put into making your wedding memorable.
Q: My Venue requires an insurance certificate. Do you have insurance?
Yes, we have over $1 million in liability insurance. If you get us the details of what they require at least two weeks before your event we can provide a written certificate if required.