Utah Wedding & Portrait Photographer

Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.

A. My most recent kinds of jobs are engagements, headshots, families, and wedding photography

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

A. As you go about choosing you wedding photographer, looking over pricing, styles, quality etc be sure to ask yourself, is this me/ us? Will this style fit for what I would hang on my wall or post to facebook. Also it is very important that you and photographer have a sort of chemistry. Not romantic lol! But just a chemistry for lack of a better description. Do you see yourself at ease or able to be yourself around your photographer. Does he/ she make you feel comfortable or do you see yourself putting up any kind of wall. The last thing you want for any kind of portrait, or wedding day photo is a fake smile:)

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. When I hired my wedding photographer I wish I would have asked how much touch up would have been done to the photos later. As a wedding photographer I never give out raw images. I love color. I love a vibrant sharp look. If however we are going for a softer, vintae sunkissed look then I will apply some suddle effects to even those pictures:)

Q. What important information should buyers have thought through before seeking you out?

A. If you are currently seeking a wedding photographer, then there are a few things that you should know or start to figure out so you know how much it will be and if our services are right for you.

1. The amount of time needed, and what is needed ro desired.
2. The style that fits you and your fiance best.
3. The locations. What travel would be needed and what fees might apply.
4. How soon will you need your pictures by. How much time have you alloted yourself to get everything ready for invites, prints, etc.

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

A. I offer high quality, a large quanity but most of all once we are done shooting your pictures, they ALL get edited and you get to keep them. You own the rights. At least 100+ pictures come edited in 2 different styles with your engagement or bridal session. 75+ For families, headshots, etc...

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. I love getting to meet so many awesome people. It is fun to get together and simply have fun while we take your pictures. I love making people laugh, whether at me or maybe at themselves at little:) Whatever seems to do the trick to bring out the fun unique smile!

Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A. How long have you been doing this? Well... the passion has been there for much longer, but as a business we have been around since 2009.

Q. Do you have a favorite story from your work?

A. Too many to share! But here's one ... each day of my job is always as unique as the people I meet. One wedding I shot had a bride with a lot of bridesmaids with children. The reception place that we were at had a very large brides room and grooms room. At one point while shooting the bride and bridesmaids getting ready there were about 6-8 children all crying! None of them wanted to get dressed in the fancy attire and all of them were 3 or under. Very entertaining and interesting to shoot. There are moments in life when you simply have to step back from seemingly stressful situations and laugh!

Q. What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?

A. It's a LOT harder than it looks or seems! DSLR camera's are becoming more accessiable to the average user. And although the technologies constantly becoming of age are amazing and always baffle me, the camera does not make the photographer! In order to trully have professional photography it is wise to hire a professional and not a hobbiest with that new camera they got for Christmas with little to no education in the subject.

Here is what sets professional photographers apart from the average camera owner:

1. An eye for the art. - Education in composition, lighting, color temperature, photoshop, angles etc...

2. Product Knowledge - Lens, camera bodies, lighting equipment, software updates etc...

3. Being a people person with a good strong voice

4. Simply knowing how to capture a moment, rather than just clicking a button. A true photographer studies peoples movement, they move with the motion and rythm of a bride and groom to know when the best moment to click is, they move with the laughter, the joy etc.

5. Imagination. As a photographer I innovate new fun ideas for photoshots, whether that be planning a full on fashion shoot with a spefic theme, or an engagement shoot with a different genre, or even as simple as the small ways I capture detail shots with the rings of the bride and groom. Photography is an art that requires a lot of creativity.

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

A. I have always been very passionate about film and photography. I once was previewing some homevideos when I was a small child and I smiled to see that even then I was the one with the camera. I have such a love for capturing and creating somthing beautiful. I love color, I love light, and just as I love to share those things I love to share that passion for other to share with their loved ones. As I got older I shared that passion, developed it, educated myself in it and soon enough people started to pay me for my work!

Q. Tell us about a recent job you did that you are particularly proud of.

A. I recently shot a bridal session the capitol building in the dead of winter. Though I love shooting near dusk with that warm sunkissed look, I aimed at mixing it up a bit shooting inside with my own light is this big beautiful building. In the end we captured some gorgeous shots that blew the bride away. She was shocked that it was her and proud of the way that she looked! I really enjoy making a bride feel such beauty by simply showing her how to pose, moving my light around, making a few small edits and whelaa! ( no idea if I spelled that right lol)

Q. Do you do any sort of continuing education to stay up on the latest developments in your field?

A. I am currently in my last semester at the University of Utah. After which, yes I do plan to continue learning, online, at seminars, researching, studying, etc. Photography is such a cut throat, quick paced business that it is very important to stay ahead by making sure your style and quality doesn't slack off!

Q. What are the latest developments in your field? Are there any exciting things coming in the next few years or decade that will change your line of business?

A. Every technology that comes out things get sharper, brighter, more vibrant and it is important I keep up with that as much as possible. Who know. Come a decade there will be 3D still shots to somehow post on your wall. We'll see... after all it is now 2011 and according to Back to the Future we should be flying around in our cars and skateboards right! :)

Q. Describe your most recent project, what it involved, how much it cost, and how long it took.

A. My very most recent project was for my portfolio. It was an ice queen fashion shoot. Over the period of a few weeks I make some unique adjustments to an already made dress to "ice" it up. I purchased about $100-$150 in various things to add to the dress. I made scheduling arrangements with me, my model, and hair stylist/ make-up artist. The day of it took about 4 hours total. 2 to get the model ready, 2 for the shoot. It was so bitter cold we kept going back inside to warm up! In the end we capture some very unique, stylish and gorgeous pictures!

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

A. My pricing is set up as packages. The most popular wedding package is the Saphire package which includes everything, start to finish. My packages are completely customizable, so if you want to add something or take somthing away I am all for it! See website for details.

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

A. There are a lot of people out there with cameras, a small portfolio of pictures they have taken of there friends and family and a big idea about how "easy" it would be to start a wedding photography business. If you are %100 passionate about it and willing to put in the extra effort required than go for it. But just know this business is no walk in the park. If you are willing to educate yourself, promote youself and devote yourself completely to your clients with the many unforseen hours a wedding photography business requires then go for it. If not I would highly suggest another avenue.

Q. Write your own question and answer it.

A. Will I own my pictures when we are done?

YES! I include ALL your pictures edited and put on a cd along with the copy right release which means you own all your pictures in their highest resolution from the get go.