Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ'S

How Long have you been in business and shooting weddings?

I have been photographing professionally over 15 years. I dabbled in shooting weddings for friends and family, very part time, when I first started. Then I interned for a professional photographer for 3 years and she taught me everything I know to this day. I’ve developed my style throughout the years.

What do you love about wedding and portrait photography?

Weddings are moments in time that are filled with so much joy, tears, laughter, and anticipation. I experience such joy in capturing all these moments. Observing and capturing the bride walking down the isle with her dad, or groom having moments with his groomsmen, or when the groom sees his bride for the first time is exciting and lovely. I guess you can say I am in love with love and what better way to capture that amazing emotion than with wedding photography.

With portrait photography I love capturing the essence of the person. My end result is to capture the beauty within. I want people to see the beauty I see in them. I have great joy when people view their photos and a gush over their pictures-- it makes my heart happy. Some clients like to work with an idea, and I like that because it gets my creative juices flowing. We create a concept that works for them and I make it happen. Its invigorating when the ideas come to life through a portrait.

What is your photography style?

I consider my style timeless. I love creating beautiful portraits that are posed but I also love capturing little moments in between. My editing style is also timeless. I apply black and white filters to some of my photos for enhancement, but I do not go overboard on filters or presets. I may use some presets on certain photos but certainly not the whole gallery. I like to keep my images true to color as possible. I love moody portraits, but I like to create that with lighting not a preset. I want my work to be liked and viewed with love today and 20 years from now-my goal is for it not to looked dated.

What sets you apart from the competition?

This question honestly is a hard one for me. I can tell you is that my experience in the wedding and portrait business for over 15 years sets me apart. I know my lighting to choose during each season. I am not afraid to work with natural or external lighting, I use both. But its not all about lighting or style either, it’s a way to work with clients. It is how to give your client the best experience you can give them. I consider my clients like friends or family and always want what is best for them when they are working with me. I love to hold a bride’s hand and walk her through what needs to be done in order to get the shot or just listen to a client concerns about a double chin or one being taller than the other. What makes me different is experience with people how to handle situations and just being a good listener.

I also have a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Photography. To keep current and fresh in the photography world, I take workshops in the field and join photo associations.

Do you provide video services?

I am a photographer not a videographer it is a completely different medium that deserves someone with passion for it like I have passion for photography. However, I have worked with several videographers, and I am happy to refer those people to clients. Over the years I have worked with one specifically well and we have put together a price list to help our potential clients to have a one stop shop. I would be happy to send that pricing info if anyone would like it.

How far are you willing to travel?

Simple answer is I am willing to travel far and wide. I live in California Bay Area and traveling up to two hours to a location is not unheard of. I love going to far off places for weddings or portraits. If it is a location that is 4 hours or more away than it has to be an overnight stay and the client needs to pay for overnight accommodations or if it’s out of state or country, then flight and stay accommodations have to be compensated. I am willing and looking forward to photographing far away weddings and portraits.

Do you charge a travel fee?

If the wedding or portrait session is around 2 hours or longer, I charge a fee for gas. If it’s longer than 2 hours or over 4 hours or more, then gas plus overnight accommodations are required. Anything 2 hours or shorter no travel fee.

Do you have insurance?

I do have insurance. It is imperative to protect equipment while on location- you can never be too careful. It also is geared to protect the client as well. If something happens to the images, knock on wood, the insurance will cover this. I try my absolute best to make sure equipment does not get damaged or lost but its always good to have protection. Also, I back up my images when I get home on different hard drives and I try not to erase the card until I am completely done with the wedding I am working on.

How many photos do you take on the wedding day?

I do not limit myself on how many pictures I take on the wedding day or portrait session. I do not have a specific number I shoot because some weddings run longer than others. Some have special events during their weddings, some have bigger families and so forth. I can only give a rough estimate you would receive for a small micro wedding between 400-800 images. For a 6-to-8-hour wedding you will receive between 800-1200 images. On a portrait session, an engagement or high school senior you will see about 200 images. A portrait session in studio, about 50-100 images. I am an over shooter, what can I say, I love what I do.

How long will it take to see my images?

Everything you see will be edited meaning it will be color- corrected and density corrected. I do not show anything unedited so for that reason it will take up 3-4 weeks for a wedding during the off season and 4-6 weeks during a busy season. Engagement sessions and portrait sessions take 1 to 1.5 weeks. You will view these images on a password protected gallery for you and family and friends to view if you decide to share them.

Do we get all the images?

All wedding packages come with high resolution JPEG files without a watermark. You will be directed to a website to download your images. For portrait sessions, it depends on if you decide to purchase files or not. Engagement sessions you get to keep about 30 high resolution files and if you wish to purchase more you can.

What type of camera equipment do you shoot with?

I think all cameras are amazing in their own ways I have shot with different camera systems, but I am a Nikon shooter and lover. I have a Nikon d850 camera body and Nikon d600 camera body with a multitude of lenses Nikon lenses: 24-70 2.8, 70-200 2.8, 14-24 2.8, 105 2.8 macro, 85 1.8, 135 2.8 Sigma art lens. I also have many flashes and lighting equipment.

Do you photograph church weddings?

I have shot many church weddings. The beauty of today’s cameras and lenses we can shoot in exceptionally low lighting.

How do we book you for our wedding?

Once you are sure you would like to use my services you can call me, email me or text me and we can meet up and fill out a contract and take care of the retainer to book your day. I can also send you the contract via email and you can send it back to me and call me with a credit card, number for the retainer, or send me a check or PayPal me- whichever is the easiest for you.

What happens if we must cancel?

Sometimes there are unforeseen circumstances that nobody expects to happen, and one has to cancel their wedding or postpone it. After signing the contract there is a requirement of a retainer which saves your wedding date specifically for you. In the event you have to cancel that retainer is forfeited unless another wedding wants the same day then the retainer is given back. If you have to postpone, I will be more than happy to change the date for you, if that day is still open in my calendar.

What happens if I have to cancel?

This is very rare- almost never- but things can happen like a death in the family, or a severe illness. If this occurs, I will have a replacement photographer for you with similar style to mine.

When and how do we book you?

As soon as possible. Photographers normally book between 6 to 9 months ahead, so the faster the better.

Once you have decided then we can meet in person to sign the contract and take care of the retainer, or it can be emailed to you whichever is the easiest process for you. The retainer can be paid with by PayPal, a credit card or a check can be mailed to me, if preferred.

(Wedding Day Questions)

Should we do a First Look?

The answer is, it’s up to you if you would like to do a first look or not. I don’t like to push couples to do them if it’s a summer wedding because we would have large amounts of time with sunlight. However, during the fall and winter seasons when the suns goes down quickly and/or if couple’s want a sunset ceremony, then I do like to push for a first look. My concern as a photographer is all about the lighting, so if we run out of light, then we can’t create beautiful, romantic shots. Unless your wedding will be in a city where the city lights can create magic. But if you have a country type setting, then you want to make most of the light to create beautiful sun set soft images.

Cons and pros to first looks: The great thing about the first look is when you see each other for the first time, only the bride and groom see each and it takes the edge off the wedding day ahead. It’s really a magical memory that only the two of you are experiencing at that moment in time. It also allows for you to do all your formal photos with the bridal party and family photos if you chose to do them prior to ceremony. This way friends and family can enjoy the cocktail hour and the couple can also, if they chose to do so.

The only downside to not doing a first look is all the formal photos of family and bridal party photos need to be done during cocktail hour and people get to be a little impatient because they just want to go and have fun. It also takes the couple away from the cocktail hour time.

Do we provide a shot list?

I do not need a shot list of every detail of the wedding day. I have worked on so many weddings and I have it memorized by now. However, I do need a list of important people that you want photographed and certain things that are extremely important to you that need photographed for example “my grandmas broach” or “my grandfathers watch” things like this that you do not want missed.

Can we request certain photos?

Yes, absolutely. If things are going to be happening at the wedding, its good to know when it’s coming down the pike, so that I am ready to take the photo. Or groupings of people you want to be photographed with. It would be appreciated.

how do you feel about people taking pictures?

I do not mind guests and family taking photos, and they should. I just do not want them to stand in front of me or my second photographer. I tend to move a lot when I am shooting so I ask that people stay around 10 feet away from me so I can move and do what I need to do. During the ceremony if they must take pictures that they remain in their seat and not go into the isle to shoot because you do not want pictures of people’s phones in the center aisle, its distracting.

If we get a package that does not come with an album, can we order one later?

Yes, you can, and I have had past clients that have done that. I do not delete wedding images of my clients, they are archived.

What do we wear for our engagement session/portrait session?

Engagement sessions are great ways for you to get to know how your photographer works and their personality. It’s also a good way for your photographer to get to know a little about you and discover your best certain angles.

Engagement sessions: I suggest simple solid colors no crazy patterns. However, sometimes us ladies enjoy lovely floral gowns, so in that case, make sure your fiancé is wearing solids. Or if he wears a striped shirt, make sure you have a solid color garment. For the engagement session, please bring props, if you like and extra outfits. Sometimes during the engagement session, we have tend to walk from one location to another I always recommend bringing shoes that are comfortable to walk in and ones to be photographed in.

Portrait sessions: I say bring comfortable clothes and dressy clothes. Bring both and we can play around with your outfits. Also bring at least 3 to 4 good outfits to change into. Also, any props that you may want to be photographed with, for example, if you like to play guitar- bring your guitar.

*Please contact me for further questions I may have missed. I would love to hear from you.