FAQs
- Describe a recent project you are fond of. How long did it take?
I photographed the elopement of Christina and Brandon in South Lake Tahoe this past September and I will cherish their day for the rest of my life. Three generations of Brandon's family held their weddings at the same lakeside pavilion, spanning more than fifty years of history. His grandmother, mother, and now Brandon as well. Brandon's maternal family is Chinese, and before the Chinese Exclusion Act was repealed in 1943, it was very hard for Chinese people leave their designated areas of residence. Brandon's grandmother was able to go to South Lake Tahoe every year for religious reasons, because the pavilion is also the site of a Christian church camping grounds. As fate would have it, Brandon's grandmother met her husband at one of these church camps, and they were married soon after. His grandmother and grandfather continued the tradition of visiting the campgrounds every year, and some two decades later, Brandon's mother would marry his father at the exact same place. Brandon and Christina told me they knew right away they wanted to carry out the family tradition, and being there in the midst of it all, I could really sense how special and meaningful those grounds were to everyone present, even though we only spent three hours together. The weather was perfect, the food was delicious, and the pictures turned out magical.
- What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?
Ask a lot of questions, and request either a phone call, Skype session, or in-person meeting before deciding on your wedding photographer. Make sure all of your wedding expectations are clear to your photographer and let her/him detail every part of the way they do business with their wedding clients, and be sure to get it in writing. Many people have never hired a professional photographer before their wedding, and photography is one of those professions that even non-professionals find accessible. What I'm saying, is that every client has an idea in their mind of what they are entitled to, how they want the photos to look, and how they want to be communicated with during the process. Ask for specifics. For example, I once had a client who asked me if there was a limit to the amount of photos I take during a photo session. I replied "no," and she took that to mean that she would receive every single frame that was taken, even though she did not ask if she would receive them. What I meant, was that I would take an unlimited amount of photos during the time allotted for her shoot, but I would only deliver the best of the bunch. A small misunderstanding can lead to large disappointments from both parties- so be sure to ask, ask, ask! I truly believe 99% of client disappointments can be avoided with a clear questions and a good contract. This is another reason why suggest another point of initial contact besides email or text. I think chemistry is a huge part of creating successful wedding photographs. Photography is a technical skill, yes, but I promise you that the breathtaking wedding photographs you see on Pinterest, Google, Instagram, etc., all have that intangible element that makes wedding photography so special. Make sure you feel comfortable with the person you hire, to help your wedding day be as stress-free as possible!