FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
click on a heading to take you to each section
What do you need to officially book?
Do you have insurance?
Do you accept credit cards?
What if you fall deathly ill and can't make it to our wedding?
Do you need a meal?
What kind of gear do you use? Do you bring in a bunch of lights for the reception? What about backups?
Will you do a site visit before the wedding if you haven't worked at our venue before?
business details
Do I need an engagement session?
Where and when should we schedule our engagement session?
Do you have any suggestions of what we should or shouldn't wear to our engagement shoot?
Can I bring my dog to my engagement session?
What do your albums look like?
Do I really need an album?
What kind of print options do you offer?
engagements & products
Do we get digital files and printing rights?
How many photos will we get?
How about the raw negatives?
What about the outtakes? Can I see all the photos you took, just in case there were any funny ones or ones I like better?
How soon after the wedding will I get to see my photos?
deliverables
Do you shoot alone or with a second photographer?
Who will our second photographer be?
We probably only need the second photographer for a half-day, can we add one for only 4 hours?
We are having an intimate celebration and only need a photographer for a few hours. Do you offer a smaller package for this?
We have significant downtime or travel time in between locations, how do you charge for that?
Can I send you a list of photos I'd like taken?
I want to do a large extended family photo, or a large photo of everyone who went to my college.
Do you do "table shots"?
When will you have time to photograph the reception decor and table details?
wedding day coverage
Why should we hire you over another photographer?
Where are you based?
What is your photographic style?
What about your editing style?
Can you airbrush my face? Or make my arm look slimmer? Or delete the tree in the background?
I've seen many photographers describe themselves as a "natural light photographer", is that you?
Do you offer video?
Do you have recommendations of videographers?
My DJ package includes lighting, will this affect our photos? Or, we have chosen only dim bistro lighting for our reception, is that enough for you?
style & basics
Q. Why should we hire you over another photographer?
A. Let's start with the million dollar question! You should hire me if you are looking for a photographer who will focus primarily on real, candid, and fun moments throughout your day, with less of a focus on posed and "set up" shots. Not to say I don't take those! I love a gorgeous detail shot and I will absolutely make sure we get some beautiful formal posed photos, but I pride myself on making that part of the day as quick and painless as possible.
You should also hire me if you think our personalities will vibe! We will be spending a lot of time together on the day and I really think one of the most important factors is hiring someone you are going to get along with. It's weird to say this about myself but I don't know how to otherwise put it- I'm a pretty chill person. I have been told by past clients that they really enjoyed having me as a calm presence amongst the chaos. 5 years of photographing weddings has given me the experience I need to be firm and direct when necessary, and also fade into the background at other times as the situation dictates.
Q. Where are you based?
A. I'm based in Boston, Massachusetts in the summer and Palm Beach, Florida in the winter, although I photograph weddings in both places year round. There will not be a travel fee for a wedding in either of these areas, any time of year. I photograph weddings in the greater coastal New England area. Many of my Boston based weddings are on the South Shore, including but not limited to the towns of Duxbury, Marshfield, Kingston, Cohasset, Scituate, Plymouth, and Quincy, as well as the north shore. I also travel to the surrounding states of Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. I also photograph the greater Palm Beach area, including but not limited to West Palm Beach, Manalapan, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Boca Raton, and Singer Island. I am happy to travel further south to the Ft. Lauderdale and Miami areas as well.
Q. What is your photographic style?
A. I pretty much covered this above in why you should hire me, but my style is photojournalistic at its core, with elements of classic, timeless wedding photography. I follow the events of the day and shoot spontaneously, capturing moments without intruding. I will rarely interfere and ask you to "look at the camera and smile!" I find that this method allows me to capture the emotion of the day in the most natural, realistic way possible, allowing you to revisit those emotions for years to come!
Q. What about your editing style?
A. You may not even realize that photographers have different editing styles. Mine is clean and timeless. I edit photos to be very true to life, avoiding any editing trends that will make your photos look dated in the years to come. I will always include some black and white edits in your set.
Q. Can you airbrush my face? Or make my arm look slimmer? Or delete the tree in the background?
A. I can, but there may be an extra fee depending on how extensive the particular request is. For your full online gallery, I make basic edits such as color correcting and exposure adjustments. Anything beyond that scope is referred to as retouching. For any photos that will be printed in an album or if you order prints through me, I will do some retouching, but it is usually minimal. I will remove blemishes, delete an exit sign from the background, etc. I try to keep these to a minimum though because I want you to look your best but I want you to look like YOU. Any extensive requests beyond this might incur an additional fee.
Q. I've seen many photographers describe themselves as a "natural light photographer", is that you?
A. That's not a phrase I would ever use to describe myself. I love taking advantage of beautiful natural light from the sun when I can, but on a wedding day half of the day is probably going to be indoors and/or at night. I am not afraid of pulling out my flash at any point during the day if I think the situation warrants it, but I always try to keep the lighting of the photographs feel like it did in real life. For example, if your reception is in a dark dramatic industrial space with only some twinkle lights or candles, I will keep the dark and dramatic atmosphere while adding a bit of light to your faces. If your reception is in a bright white ballroom, I will still add light but I will bounce it around the entire room to keep the photos looking bright, light, and true to life. It all depends on the scenario. Even if we are outside and the sun is out, not all natural light is created equal and I will occasionally add light to improve the photo while keeping the ambiance.
Q. Do you offer video?
A. I stick to what I'm an expert at- and that's photography. Video requires an entirely different skillset and I like to leave it up to those that are experts in that field. That being said, I'd be happy to provide some names of amazing videographers that I work with regularly.
Q. Do you have recommendations of videographers?
A. Yes, I have a list of amazing videographers that I have worked well with in the past and I'd be happy to provide this upon booking. I highly recommend going with one of these choices, because the photographer/videographer relationship is very tricky. If you decide to go with someone else, try to make sure they have a similar documentary style as me. If you hire a videographer who likes to set up a lot of shots and move people around, then it becomes impossible for me to capture natural candid moments which is probably what you hired me for. There's nothing wrong with either style, they are just different. One more thing I will say on this topic is that as with most things in life, you get what you pay for when it comes to wedding videography. It's important to note that hiring a cheap videographer can negatively affect your photography as well.
Q. My DJ package includes lighting, will this affect our photos? Or, we have chosen only dim bistro lighting for our reception, is that enough for you?
A. First let me answer this by saying that I am comfortable working in any lighting scenario, and have worked in many different lighting scenarios over the years, from brightly lit all white ballrooms to dark barns with only some dim bistro lighting. Your photos will be properly exposed and beautiful either way. Go with the lighting that you love for your reception and don't worry about photography. I try to keep the lighting mood that you have chosen for your photos, so if it's a dim room lit only by candles I'm not going to make it seem like it was all bright and well lit. If you have chosen a lighting package from your DJ with purple uplighting, you will see purple uplighting in the background of your photos.
style & basics
Q. Do you shoot alone or with a second photographer?
A. It depends! There are many weddings I feel comfortable shooting alone, but if you have a large wedding, several photography locations, or think you'll need multiple things photographed at once (ie. bride and groom getting ready), I will suggest we add a second photographer to your package. If any of the following scenarios apply to your wedding, I will most likely require a second photographer.
1. If you plan to have 180+ guests
2. If you require photography at 3 or more locations throughout the day
3. If the bride and groom are getting ready at different locations and you'd like photography of both. (Even if the locations are just a 5-minute drive down the road, I am unable to cover both, it creates too much strain on the timeline in my experience.)
4. If there is no first look and we are going straight from getting ready at one location to the ceremony at another location. (The reason for this is because I will most likely be with the bride up until the moment she leaves the getting ready location, and I need someone to be at the ceremony site in position and set up since I will be arriving last minute right before the ceremony starts.)
I've come up with these criteria after many years of experience with all sorts of scenarios, and I promise it's in the best interest of everyone. It's best to talk it over if you're unsure and I can help you decide. A second photographer is also great because you'll get to see multiple angles of your ceremony and other events throughout the day, and you will end up with more photos overall.
Q. Who will our second photographer be?
A. I won't know until a couple of months before the wedding. I have several people all of which are professional wedding photographers themselves, and I will wait and see who is available on your date. It will be someone who I have worked with before, who has a similar style to me, and who I trust.
Q. We probably only need the second photographer for a half-day, can we add one for only 4 hours?
A. It depends but probably not. As mentioned above the person I hire is a professional wedding photographer themselves, and there are only so many wedding dates in a year, so I can't ask them to give up a wedding date and then only work a half-day. I might be able to if it's a weekday or offseason.
Q. We are having an intimate celebration and only need a photographer for a few hours. Do you offer a smaller package for this?
A. I love photographing intimate celebrations! The answer though is it depends. If your wedding is on a Monday-Thursday and/or not during peak season, I can definitely offer you a smaller package. If it's on a Fri-Sun during peak season, I might be able to offer you a smaller package if it's within a few months of your date. Please reach out with specifics and I'll be able to give you an answer.
Q. We have significant downtime or travel time in between locations, how do you charge for that?
A. My coverage is always continuous, so if you book 8 hours of coverage, it starts from the moment I begin shooting at the first location and ends when I finish at the end of the evening at the last location. Downtime between ceremony and reception (which hardly ever ends up being downtime) or travel time in between locations is included in the 8 hours.
Q. Can I send you a list of photos I'd like taken?
A. For the formal family portraits- yes! I'll send you a standard shot list a couple months before your wedding to get you started, and you can edit from there. Typically I request about a half-hour for family photos and a half-hour for photos of just the bride and groom, minimum, so keep that in mind when scheduling your day. I recommend keeping these shots to just immediate family and keeping the list to only the essential combinations, because the time will start to add up.
I don't accept full shot lists for the entire day. You may have found one online on a blog suggesting you share it with your photographer, and it might include things like "A shot of the rings, a shot of the bride looking in the mirror, a shot of the bride and bridesmaids toasting..." etc. Hear me out on why! The first reason is that many of these things are part of my typical workflow for capturing anyway. The second reason is that some of these things might not even occur. (If I don't see you naturally looking in the mirror, do you want me to ask you to do it for the sake of the shot list?) And if you give me a list to work off of, I will be more focused on capturing those things and I might miss actual genuine moments that are occurring in front of me- which is why you hired me! That being said, if you have something special in mind that I otherwise might miss, please feel free to let me know ahead of time!
Q. I want to do a large extended family photo, or a large photo of everyone who went to my college.
A. Awesome! Instead of taking this during family portrait time, let's save it for the reception. Have your DJ or band leader make an announcement to have everyone come to the dance floor. Also, be sure to let the DJ or band leader know about this ahead of time, so they can help decide when the best time would be. If you're looking to do a photo of everyone at your wedding (this typically only works if it's on the smaller side!) let's do it right after the ceremony. Have the officiant make an announcement for everyone to stick around. Keep in mind that it will take at least 15 minutes to organize this, and works best if there is a deck or balcony I can shoot from.
Q. Do you do "table shots"?
A. Table shots used to be a common practice back in the day and sometimes parents or grandparents request these or ask about them. It's when the photographer goes around to each table at the reception and takes a photo of everyone sitting there. I do not do this unless specifically requested, for a number of reasons. First of all they are just usually not going to end up being great photos. Most likely there are plates of food and other items strewn across the table. Logistically I have to take one side of the table and then the other, or I have to make half the table get up and come around to the other side. There is a very small window of time where everyone is sitting and not eating, and I have to make sure no one is in the bathroom or up at the bar. It takes a lot of time to get around to every table, make sure everyone is present, get the shot(s) I need, and in the meantime, I might be missing out on the naturally occurring moments that I pride myself on capturing and that you hired me to capture. If you specifically request table shots, I will take them but please know that I can not guarantee getting every single guest in a photo, and that I might miss something else. The best way to do them is for me to follow you around as you greet each table, and you can take a photo with each group.
On a similar note, even when not doing table shots I will try to get as many photos of your guests as possible, but (depending on the timeline, how many guests you're having, and whether you have added a second photographer) I most likely won't be able to get a shot of everyone. For lots of photos of your guests, I recommend renting/hiring a photobooth and/or getting some Instax cameras and doing a photo guest book!
Q. When will you have time to photograph the reception decor and table details?
A. If you are doing a first look and all photos before the ceremony, I will have plenty of time to cover the reception decor during cocktail hour. (The room is usually not fully set up until cocktail hour). If you are not doing a first look and I am alone I do my best to cover this at the very end of cocktail hour after portraits, but I will only have about 5 minutes. Also depending on your venue, guests might have already started wandering in to the room during cocktail hour, so I might not get a shot of the room without anyone in it, but I do my best! Some venues close the room until the reception officially begins, and some let guests in during cocktail hour.
If you are not having a first look and reception decor is important to you to be extensively covered I'd recommend we add a second photographer to your package and she will cover cocktail hour and photograph the reception room while I do the portraits.
wedding day coverage
Q. Do we get digital files and printing rights?
A. Yes, all packages include all digital files and printing rights. You will receive high-resolution (ie. full size) jpeg images via an online gallery link. If you'd like to see a sample gallery just ask and I'd be happy to share a link. You will receive a download pin that you can use to download from the site directly, and you will also be able to order prints and artwork through the gallery if you choose.
Q. How many photos will we get?
A. A very rough estimate is that you can expect about 50 photos an hour with 1 photographer. This number varies depending on how big of a wedding you have and how many events are happening. You will receive more if you opt for a second photographer. I don't guarantee a certain number because every wedding is different and I work best if I can be free to shoot as I see things happening without worrying about reaching a certain shot number.
Q. How about the raw negatives?
A. I do not release raw negative files because they are unfinished work. A huge part of the "magic" is in the editing! Also you would need special software to view and edit RAW files.
Q. What about the outtakes? Can I see all the photos you took, just in case there were any funny ones or ones I like better?
A. I deliver absolutely every photo worth seeing. The only photos I delete are true outtakes- meaning exact duplicates, eyes were closed, I caught someone mid-sentence and they were making a really unflattering face, someone walked in front of the camera as I was taking a shot, I accidentally took a shot of the floor while adjusting my settings (this happens a lot). If someone is making a funny face and I think there's even a chance you might want to see it, rest assured I will include it in your gallery.
Q. How soon after the wedding will I get to see my photos?
A. I will send you a sneak peek of 5-10 photos within a few days, and the full gallery will be available within 6 weeks.
deliverables
Q. Do I need an engagement session?
A. No, but they are really nice to have! Engagement sessions are a great way to get comfortable in front of the camera in a relaxed environment, and basically practice for the wedding day. The photos are also great to have for save the dates and showing off as decor at the wedding. Also, they are a lot of fun and we get to know each other better! That being said, plenty of couples choose not to do an engagement session and you will not be at any kind of disadvantage by not doing one!
Q. Where and when should we schedule our engagement session?
A.
Where- anywhere you'd like! If you have a special place in mind I'm happy to hear it. If it's more than 40 miles outside Boston there may be an additional travel fee. Here is a list of some of my favorite Boston engagement session locations if you need ideas!
When- Engagements can be scheduled for Mon-Thurs and we usually start around 2 hours before sunset. (This can be around 4pm in the fall, or around 7pm in the summer). I have a couple Sundays a month available that I open up for scheduling about 6 weeks in advance, just because I need to reserve them for wedding bookings first. If it rains don't worry! We will reschedule your session.
Q. Do you have any suggestions of what we should or shouldn't wear to our engagement shoot?
A. Your engagement session is a special occasion and I recommend dressing up! Definitely wear something you feel amazing in, because that will show on camera. Other than that, try to stay away from clothes with logos or distracting patterns. Solids work best. Also, it is most visually appealing if you and your fiancé are coordinating (ie. colors from the same family) but not matching. I have a full engagement session style guide that I will send in preparation for your shoot, that I have been told is super helpful.
Q. Can I bring my dog to my engagement session?
A. Yes! I love dogs, but I do require that you bring a friend or family member as an extra set of hands to help out with the dog, even if he/she is really good and well trained. I also suggest taking him or her for a very long walk beforehand, and don't forget to bring treats!
Q. What do your albums look like?
A. The albums that I offer are some of the highest quality professional albums available. They are made with archival materials that will last a lifetime and beyond without fading or deterioration. There are 2 options available, a 12"x12" genuine leather album or a 10"x10" linen album. I take extreme time and care in selecting photos and designing a beautifully well thought out book that tells the story of your individual day. My hope is that they will become a family heirloom to be passed down generations. Here is an example of a real wedding album.
Q. Do I really need an album?
A. In my opinion, yes! Digital files are great, which is why the high-resolution files are included with all of my wedding packages, but there is nothing like holding a beautiful, heirloom album in your hands. I remember sitting on the couch with my mom and dad and looking at their wedding album, and my grandma's wedding album as well, perfectly preserved for years to come. If you have an album on your coffee table friends can easily flip through it when they come over and ask to see some wedding photos. An iPhone screen isn't really going to do your photos justice. Also, technology is advancing so fast we don't know what's going to happen. I used to deliver photos on a CD, then I switched to a flash drive, and now I offer digital downloads. Who knows what will be next? One thing is for sure though, paper lasts forever and is definitely worth investing in.
Q. Speaking of paper, what kind of print options do you offer?
A. Prints and other artwork can be purchased directly from the online gallery link that you will receive after your wedding. I use a professional print lab that provides a quality far beyond what your local CVS or Walmart can offer. Check out this blog post on professional print quality to see some examples of prints ordered through my lab versus CVS. You are allowed to take your files to be printed somewhere else, but the benefits to ordering them through me include convenience (they are already uploaded!), they will be high quality and the colors will match exactly how they were intended, they will also be archival quality so they will last forever without fading, and I will personally check each one over to make sure it's perfect before printing and do any necessary retouching or crop adjustments. If you do order your own prints, please don't take them to CVS. There are some online labs that are much better quality (Nation's Photo Lab is a good one!) Your wedding photography is an investment and your photos deserve better!
engagements & products
Q. What do you need to officially book?
A. I require a third of whichever package you decide on as a non-refundable retainer along with a signed contract to hold a date on my calendar. The first couple to put down a retainer and sign a contract locks in a date. In fairness to other couples, I can not hold a date for any amount of time without the retainer and contract. The second third will be due 60 days before your wedding, and the final third will be due 7 days before your wedding. I do not have a maximum time in advance that I book dates for, I just require that your venue is booked and your date is set.
Q. Do you have insurance?
A. Yes of course! And can of course provide proof to your venue if they require it.
Q. Do you accept credit cards?
A. Yes, all payments can be made online with a credit card and contracts can be signed electronically. I also accept checks.
Q. What if you fall deathly ill and can't make it to our wedding?
A. First, let me stress that I would have to be on my death bed to miss your wedding. If it were to happen and you have a second photographer, the second would take over as lead and I would do my best to find a replacement second. If you don't have a second photographer, I would do my absolute best to find a replacement. I am in several networking groups of local photographers and feel confident that I could find someone to cover for me if necessary.
Q. Do you need a meal?
A. I request a meal for weddings over 5 hours. I'm on my feet all day and a hot meal ensures I'm refueled and at my best for the entire evening! If I have a second photographer, they will need a meal as well.
Q. What kind of gear do you use? Do you bring in a bunch of lights for the reception? What about backups?
A. I use professional Nikon camera bodies and a wide assortment of lenses and lighting equipment. I also bring with me 1 or 2 backups for every piece of equipment I use. Typically for your reception, I will set up one flash on a light stand, somewhere out of the way (typically next to a DJ speaker). As far as backing up your actual images, I use a camera that shoots to 2 memory cards simultaneously creating an instant backup of the files, and then when I get home I back up all your photos and make sure they are in 3 places before going to bed.
Q. Will you do a site visit before the wedding if you haven't worked at our venue before?
A. Even if I have worked at your venue, I will arrive early on the wedding day to scope out the property and see if anything has changed and how they have things set up for the day. If I have not worked at your venue before, I will arrive extra early for this. It is part of my job to know exactly what kind of conditions I'll be working with, have the best camera and lighting set up for all of them, and provide you with the best recommendations for portrait locations. After many years of doing this I am able to assess a location and make these decisions very quickly, and do not find it necessary to make a separate trip ahead of time. I MAY opt to do a site visit ahead of time if I am in the area and think it will be beneficial, but this is not official, I just pop by on my own time when I am in the area.
business details
Reach out and I'm happy to go over specific questions pertaining to your wedding!
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