WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

How much time will you spend at my wedding?
We usually spend about 1 hour with the bride and 1 hour with the groom before the ceremony to cover preparation shots. For our whole day packages, we cover the ceremony, do formal photos after the ceremony and cover the reception till the formal dance finishes.

How long should I plan for the post wedding pictures (formals)?
Depending on your choice of location, travel time and time of day (quality of light) between 1-3 hours.

Film or digital capture?
For wedding photography we use digital capture.

Do you bring backup equipment for your wedding photography?
Yes, we bring spare cameras for each of us, and a variety of lenses.

I want a combination of both colour and black & white for my wedding - is that possible?
Yes, as we shoot digitally, we select a variety of images and convert them into black and white. You will also still have those images in colour.

Some photographers ask that no one else take pictures during the formal photography. Is that reasonable?
We don't find it a problem that there are other people taking photos. The only problem then is that those being photographed don't know which camera to look at. The option is yours.

How can I reserve my date?
Simple. Just contact us via phone or email. We meet you to know your need, and explain our packages to you. You either choose one of our off the shelf packages, or we put together a custom package for you. We then sign a contract, and you put deposit to secure the date.

When do I pay the final balance?
The final balance is due - at the latest - 1 week before the ceremony. We accept, cash, cheque and direct deposit.

Do you do bridal and engagement portraits?
We offer both bridal and engagement portrait sessions. These sessions are included as part of some of our packages, or they can be purchased as separate options.

As a side note, we sometimes do bridal or engagement sessions (or both) for couples who are not booked with us for wedding services. For instance, some couples plan weddings in other cities or countries but wish to have their bridal or engagement sessions done locally before they travel to their wedding destination. In those cases, they may arrange to have us do their portraits, that being the only service that we provide related to their wedding.

What shooting style do you use for weddings?
We use a combination shooting style, mixing a candid photo approach (occasionally referred to as a photojournalistic style) with the more traditional posed formal photographs. Much of the style that we use is determined by the agreement that we reach with the bride and groom concerning the type of shots that they want us to use to tell the story of their wedding. We generally adjust our shooting style to some degree based on what the bride and groom want from us, and we are usually able to determine what the bride and groom want in our pre-wedding consultations with them.

How many photos do you take during the wedding day?
When we work together, both shooting, we can capture over 600 images at an average wedding. It is rare for us to shoot less than 200 photos at a wedding, even a small wedding of relatively short duration. A larger, longer, and more involved wedding could require 1000 or more photographs to cover all aspects properly.

The nature and number of candid photographs and formal photographs are based on the desires of the bride, groom, and family, as well as the photo package agreed upon. Certain critical moments are captured using more than one photo (for instance, a posed formal photo of the bride and groom following the ceremony, or a large, posed family group shot). For these situations, we might take two or three photos the same group of people in the same position. This helps to ensure that the best possible photo (especially in an important posed shot) is available for the final wedding album. For instance, if someone blinks during one of the posed formals, there is always a backup shot to deliver in its place. For candids, it is generally a one-time, one-shot photo: take the shot, and move on to the next shot or event. However, if the situation warrants it, we may take several shots of a given "candid" scene.

We feel that our shooting style leads to very thorough overall coverage of the events of the wedding day, and the resulting photos tell a very good story of the wedding day events.

Do you sell wedding digital images or negatives?
Some of our wedding packages include digital image files presented in DVDs as part of the delivery to you.

How soon after the wedding can the bride and groom expect to see the initial photos?
In most cases, the bride and groom can expect to see their initial photos in 6”x4” size presented in proof albums within 2 weeks following the wedding.

When will I receive my album and photos?
Your main album, 6”x4” photos in proof albums and the enlargements become ready within 6-8 weeks following the wedding. We deliver them to you either in person or by mail.

Do you travel to regional Victoria?
Yes. If you are planning a wedding beyond 80 kilometers of Melbourne, travel costs will be incurred. We welcome the opportunity to visit far off lands if you are planning a destination wedding.

Do you travel out-of-state?
This is negotiable upon request; travel expenses (e.g. airfare, accommodation) must be provided.

Is it important to have second photographer or an assistant?
If your wedding has 200+ guests, we always recommend having a second photographer or an assistant. In our case, we shoot weddings together most of the time.

PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY

How long will the photo shoot go for?
For the average family (e.g. 2 parents, 2-3 children) depending on location, the shoot will normally go for around 1 hour (not including travel time).

What are my choices for locations?
We offer family portraits in an outdoor setting; the choice of location is yours.

What should I wear?
In group photos uniform colour (e.g. White, blue, black, denim) tend to look better so the colours don't distract from the people.

What are your business hours?
We are quite flexible on time, when you call or email to organise a time for the photo shoot, we can set a time. Quite often, early mornings or late afternoons provide lighting conditions that are better for outdoor photos.

Can I have colour and black & white photos?
Absolutely, as we shoot digitally, I will select some of the photos to be made into black and white. You will still also get these in colour.

Do you have any payment terms and conditions?
Payment is to be made either prior to or on the day of the photo shoot.

How will I get my photographs?
You will receive your included enlargement (10x8"), plus any CD/DVD's or extra prints you have ordered. This can either be picked up or mailed out to you, normally within 2 weeks.