Wedding, Bridal, Boudoir & Maternity Photography

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. Do your research! There are a lot of photographers to choose from; some very professional, some of the 'couture' variety, others new to the business, and some who shouldn't be doing it. No matter who you are considering hiring, do an extensive look into their portfolio; ask to see an entire album from one wedding, not just the 'best of' images. This way you can see what you may be getting, start to finish, from the photographers you are considering.

Remember when you hire them that you are hiring them for the work that they have represented to you; don't expect them to do anything different. I've seen a lot of brides hire an inexpensive portrait photographer, then be disappointed with the results when they see that their album is lacking in photojournalism. Hire a photographer because you love their work! Don't hire them because they fit your budget, and then expect them to meet your expectations.

Meet with several! Chemistry is important, especially for wedding photography. You want to make sure that you click with them on a personal level, that you like their level of professionalism, and that they can answer all of your questions. The questions you should ask are a whole other article!

Read the contracts offered to you. I've seen a lot of brides, again, be disappointed when they found out after the wedding that a DVD of the images was not included in the package. These are things you should ask about before signing a contract.

As with all wedding vendors, be wary of any who want full payment up front! True professionals will ask for a deposit (10-50%, usually) and then payment in full in the final two weeks before your event.

I have been a part of the bridal industry as a bride, blogger, and vendor for years! If you have any questions about planning your wedding (photography related or not) I'm here to help.

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. We love to give our clients an 'experience'! A wedding or a new baby are two of the most important times in a persons life; it is such a privilege to us that others would trust us to capture those moments. As photographers, we love to not only preserve memories, but to enhance our clients experience by being friendly, welcoming, and developing relationships with each couple we work with. We want to get to know our clients, and to be there for them when the next big moment comes along.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. Seeing how each couple responds to each other in front of the camera. There is something so special about a bride and groom who are just minutes from the altar - that connection and excitement is something only the professional photographer at a wedding gets to experience. To be honest, I can't get enough of that!

Q. How did you decide to get in your line of work?

A. Both my husband and I have been shutterbugs since we were kids; when we met, I knew he had an interest in photography and so I quietly decided that it would be best if I just let that be 'his' thing. I had spent years shooting journalism and the like, but hadn't made the switch to digital media. At that point I had basically given it up; my husband was a phenomenal landscape photographer and I didn't want to tell him that I too had been shooting photos for years.

After my husband and I were married, my best friend asked if I wouldn't mind doing some maternity portraits for her. So, I 'borrowed' my husbands DSLR and we set out on a snowy January day. I hadn't shot SLR, let alone had to meter or decide aperture and shutter speed in years; but as soon as I started shooting it came back to me like riding a bike.

We came back to the house, loaded the photos on the computer (not expecting much), and found ourselves with our jaws on the floor. When my husband came home we showed him and he said 'wait, you took those?'

It all took off from there! That one maternity session, posted on Facebook, brought us endless leads from others who wanted to be in photos taken by us. We started shooting friends and family (including a wedding) for free, to build up our skills and portfolio; here we are a few years later and there is no question that we love what we do! Our styles mesh seamlessly, and with our different focus our clients find that they receive a wide range of images from us. My husband is the 'big picture landscapes' guy, while I love the details and romance.

Q. If you have a complicated pricing system for your service, please give all the details here.

A. We offer a basic wedding package that starts at $2500. It includes a 90 minute engagement session, 8 hours with two photographers on the day of your wedding, professional editing, event consultation, an online gallery of your images, a DVD of the images from your engagement session and wedding, and a $500 credit towards a custom album or prints.

Ala carte items include extra hours of photography, prints, albums, save-the-date cards, guestbooks, and discounted trash-the-dress, bridal, and boudoir sessions.

We offer 90 minute portrait sessions to non-wedding clients starting at $275, and clients who book a wedding with us enjoy ala carte sessions for just $200!

Q. If you were advising someone who wanted to get into your profession, what would you suggest?

A. Educate yourself! Being a professional photographer takes so much more than a camera bought from Best Buy, and many new photographers learn that the hard way. In addition to business, time, and equipment costs the competition is fierce. Marketing takes a lot of effort, and new photographers should concentrate both on creating their own unique 'style' and 'brand' in addition to honing in on their creative and technical skills.

The biggest mistake I see new amateur photographers make is to insult other professionals for 'charging high fees' and then use low, unsustainable rates to lure clients. It's important to get your photography and technical skills up to a professional level. . .provide imagery that your clients cannot do themselves at home, and then charge accordingly.

If you think you are serious about starting a photography business, start by doing a few portrait sessions (maternity, bridal) with friends and family who are willing to stand in. Shoot anything and everything that comes your way, learn how to shoot in different lighting situations, and experiment with different exposures and compositions - don't just copy the same poses you have seen everywhere else. Creating your own style is important! Post some of your work on a website such as the Digital Photography School and get critiques; learn from that and try again. Be your own harshest critic - view your work from another persons eyes and do not go easy on yourself. I can't count the number of potentially amazing images I have deleted because the focus point was off by just a hair, or because I didn't exactly nail the lighting.

Know that some professional photographers, in an effort to keep the pool of industry professionals high quality, may even be willing to critique your portfolio and eventually allow you to intern with them! I am always open to helping new photographers this way, please contact us!

Be prepared to invest. There is a great quote from photographer Scott Kelby: "There will come a day, mark my words, where you'll be holding your mortgage payment book in one hand and the B&H Photo catalog in the other, and you're going to be faced with a moral dilemma that will test the very mettle of your commitment to your spouse, family and friends."

While it's true that a good photographer will get beautiful photos no matter the quality of their equipment, there is a reason that pro-equipment is available for purchase. It's expensive, but it opens up the doors of creativity and quality in ways unimaginable. . .