What will we receive when you cover our wedding?

On your wedding day I will devote my full attention to you, your families and guests, spending up to eight hours shooting as much as necessary to fully document all the various facets of your celebration. That can include photographing the bride getting ready through to the last goodbye wave as you drive off.

You’ll get all the pictures I shoot during the day, except for the handful of frames I accidentally snap of my feet. I’m talking about hundreds of images. Then I’ll personally select a custom portfolio of enlargements showcasing the highlights and very best images from your wedding, which can be displayed in a variety of albums and other formats.

I will also make an engagement portrait of the two of you prior to the wedding and present you with a framed enlargement that can be displayed at your at your event if you wish. If you need an image for a published announcement I can provide you with that too. Just let me know before we shoot, and I will be happy to have those prints made for minimal expense.

It is possible to have me stay for extra hours if you need, and there are some additional options that you may wish to consider, such as coverage of your rehearsal dinner or getting your pictures on CDs.

How much does it all cost?

I modify my services from time to time, adding new options and products and also discovering ways to save you money by doing things more efficiently. If you contact me I will be happy to send you the most current information on costs.

What if we don’t need all the stuff you offer?

It is possible to customize each package somewhat. For instance, some couples aren’t as interested in having an engagement portrait made, and taking that out does bring down the cost of each package by 10 percent.

Every wedding is different, and I’m happy to try to put together a plan that matches what you’re looking for. At the same time, I do need to keep things somewhat standardized because I’m doing all this work myself. That’s one way I can ensure that I’m giving you the very best product that I can provide, while also ensuring delivery to you in a timely way.

Can we keep our negatives?

Yes. I have no desire to be in the reprint business. Plus I don’t think it’s right to charge you a princely sum for an enlargement when you can get that done cheaper and faster on your own. When I can, I will offer suggestions on good processing labs in your area where you might want to go for reprints.

Do you use an assistant?

Yes, the assistant is included in my coverage fee. My assistants are very valuable in making your wedding images turn out well, because they allow me to concentrate on shooting. If I don't have to worry about moving my lights around or keeping an eye on the equipment that I am not carrying at any given moment, I can pay attention to what you and your guests are doing. Assistants are not there to serve as a second photographer, but instead to help me.

Do you use digital cameras?

After years of shooting only film I have now made the transition to digital photography, and I'm actually surprised by how much I love it. My main hesitation was that the quality of the images wouldn't be as good as what I could achieve on film, but my experience with the latest generation of professional cameras has erased those fears entirely. For couples who still want their wedding shot on film I'm happy to do that, but my own preference currently is in favor of digital. One of aspects I find very appealing is the instant feedback I get while I'm shooting: it allows me to modify my technique if necessary (in the past I didn't know about that until I got the film back, long after the wedding was over) and even lets me push the creative envelope.

How many pictures will you shoot?

That depends on how much fun I’m having. Usually I shoot at least 20-30 rolls (or the digital equivalent of that many rolls) at any wedding and I have shot much more than that. But there’s no way to predict ahead of time. If things are really jumpin’, I’ll probably shoot more. If all your guests are sitting around reading, maybe I won’t shoot as much.

Will you shoot black & white?

Yes. Unless you specify a preference, I will shoot a mix of color and B&W that generally favors color by roughly 2:1. Should you desire, I can try to weight that ratio in whatever direction you indicate. Please take a look at Wedding Photojournalism for more on this topic.

Can we tell you what to shoot?

I do encourage couples to share information about who and what’s important to them — special people who might be attending, or ways they have customized the ceremony or reception — and I will pester you for that in the final days before the wedding.

However, I don’t want to give you the expectation that this information is like a recipe or shopping list where your wedding just won’t be complete if every photo isn’t there. For one thing, I might be in another room with you when something from your list is going on. Also, if I get too involved in shooting these “must-haves” then I’m liable to miss photographs of special moments and the good time being had by all.

From our conversations, I’ll have a good sense of what you may be hoping for. On the big day I’ll be paying very close attention to everything that happens, armed with that information you've given me. When you react to people and events I will be able to interpret what’s important to you pretty easily. As a rule, you won’t need to tell me what to shoot, but anytime that you want to grab me to have me fire off a frame of your buddies or some other aspect of the celebration, feel free.

As the wedding approaches I’ll be in touch to determine what “formal” photographs we’ll be arranging. I’ve found that most people can be fully represented in fewer than ten groupings. Having a list of those groupings helps us to do this work quickly and efficiently, so that you and your guests can get on with enjoying the day.

Why do you select the portfolio of enlargements from our wedding?

All my training and experience is in telling stories with pictures. As a news photographer for more than two decades, I have had to go into unfamiliar situations day after day and figure out how to deliver the most information — in the most interesting way — using a limited number of images. My many years as a photo editor honed those skills even more sharply.

One thing to bear in mind is that you'll hire your photographer because you like the way they make photographs, and a big part of that is how they are presented. I’m not referring to albums here — anybody can put pictures in a pretty box — but rather to the selection of images. The key to having an interesting story told about your wedding is to edit out all those photographs that don't help the story along and don’t have that special “spark.”

When you interview a photographer, you might see only a few photos from any given wedding. Those pictures represent that person’s vision: what he or she thinks are the best photos as seen through the viewfinder. Essentially, you are seeking to have your photographer bring that vision — their experience and talent — to your wedding so that they might produce those same kinds of images. The key to that vision is how they choose the best photos from all the choices.

By making the selection, I offer you the highest level of service I possibly can; bringing my vision of your wedding to its fullest fruition. I tend to think that photographers who don’t take it to this level aren’t really doing what you hired them to do.

I’ve had couples tell me they were grateful they didn’t have to do this themselves, especially once they see how many photos there are to go through from their wedding.

Can you provide references?

I’m happy to put in you contact with other brides and grooms who may tell you about working with me. None of these people have been bribed or coerced in any way, except that I tried to make really nice pictures at their weddings. But that’s something I do at all of them.