Artistic Wedding Photojournalism

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. I love photography! I'm perpetually excited about being a photographer; I eat, sleep, and breathe photos. The fact that I get to capture beautiful people, in beautiful places, at beautiful events makes me incredibly lucky.

Every wedding, I get to spend time capturing people on the happiest day of their lives. Who wouldn't love that? When brides, grooms, moms, dads, aunts, uncles, grandparents, or that friend of the family tell me how much they love the photos there really is no better feeling.

That's what I love about my job.

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

A. Do you [photographer] bring an assistant?
I will usually have someone with me to carry bags, get lenses, hold reflectors, etc. but as far as having a second photographer it depends. All weddings are different. From the venue, to how many guests you have, sometimes there can be too many photogs in one room. For a 300 guest wedding, I absolutely bring a second photographer, but I try to blend in as much as possible as to not be a distraction.


When does the photographer arrive?
That is up to the bride and groom. I personally like to show up early to photograph all of the “getting ready” moments. There is so much emotion, excitement, anticipation, and joy that happen in that time, I feel privileged to be there to capture it.


Do you shoot video too?
No. This is a trend that has started with the introduction of DSLR’s that can shoot high definition video in addition to still photos. I personally don’t like this trend. I think that photography and cinematography are two different art forms and should be treated as such. I think photographers should shoot photographs and videographers should shoot video.


How about backup equipment?
I always have a backup camera body, multiple lenses, multiple flashes, batteries, etc. I hate to think about equipment failure but it can happen, all you can do is be prepared. I shoot all weddings with Lexar Professional memory cards. After the wedding, I make multiple backups of all files.


How long does it take to get the photos?
This depends on the date of the wedding and how busy the season is. Usually estimating about two weeks but no more than four weeks for the online hosting and proofs, is a safe bet. Album times can vary. Between the couple picking which images to include in the album, the photographer designing the album, client changes and approval of album proofs, and album assembly there are too many factors for me to say an exact time. I can say once the album design has been sent to the album company (mine happens to be in Italy) it takes about a month for me to receive the album(s). Gallery wraps take a few weeks to arrive once ordered.




What do you wear?
I know this may sound like a weird question, but I have been to some weddings where I thought some of the other vendors were inappropriately dressed. If the B&G have stated that they are having a very casual dressed down wedding, then by all means, jeans and a polo shirt it is. I personally like to blend with the guests. Slacks, a dress shirt, and dress shoes would be a typical outfit you’d see me in on a wedding day.


Do I get a CD of images?
I offer a CD as an option in my packaging. I know some photographers don’t like to offer a CD until six months or a year after the wedding. That’s one way to do business, it’s just not mine. You need to decide if this is important to you.


Can I customize the wedding package?
My pricing is designed to be fully customizable. I start with a base package and add options a la carte. I used to have different packages, e.g. package a, package b, etc. but I found couples often wanting to swap this or that, or take out certain things. Doing my pricing a la carte, I feel, alleviates some of the decision making stress off of the couple. Anything can be added later.


What “style” of photography do you practice?
I’m not a huge fan of this question. It’s so hard to pigeonhole photographers into a set style. Most respected photographers try to hone their style and aesthetic to make a completely unique product. If I had to say what “style” I am, it would be wedding photojournalist with an artistic flair. For most of the day, I am capturing what is happening all around me. The time I get to take the B&G away, however, is the time I love to create images. As well as being a beautifully intimate moment between a bride and groom, this is also the time I get to direct, and sculpt scenes to create photographs.