How to reserve your wedding date?
The whole booking process is simple and painless. It can all be done online if you’d like! To get to know you better and answer all of your questions I prefer to setup a meeting at my office in Philadelphia. When you have decided which collection you would like, we will then go ahead and sign the wedding contract and you will make a payment of 1/3 the total collection to reserve your wedding date. The remaining balance is due 7 days prior to your wedding. You will have access to all of your billing/legal information on a web page that I specifically create so you can keep track of your wedding information. This way you won’t be confused about due dates or what’s in your contract.
Can you hold the date for me or call me if someone else is interested in our date?
Since we often get multiple calls for the same date, wedding commissions are taken on a first-come-first-served basis. The only way we can hold a date is with a signed contract and paid retainer fee. We encourage our potential clients to keep an open dialogue with us and understand that if they delay we may not be available.
What is your ‘Style’?
My goal is to push the boundaries of wedding photography. I continually seek new ideas, locations, poses etc. to satisfy my desire to innovate/create and make your wedding photos unique. My style is an evolving modern and traditional blend that has as much to do with my clients as it does with me. When you look at my portfolio, I want you to develop your own ideas and actively take a part in your wedding photography. Help me create images that have never been made before… With me the sky is the limit:)
What advice would you give a bride who is looking for a wedding photographer?
The two most important components to look for when deciding on your wedding photographer are 1. Their style and 2. Do you get along with them? If I was looking for a wedding photographer, I would need to be absolutely blown away by their images. You will be able to tell this by looking through their portfolio. The second factor just boils down to whether you personally get along with your photographer. You will be spending a lot of time with them so it’s important that your personalities don’t clash. Since my personality is very calm and relaxed I am very easy to get along with.
Can you photograph in difficult lighting situations?
My specialty is difficult lighting situations. I bring a dedicated assistant photographer to every wedding which enables me to create beautiful light that creates definition and depth to your images. I use wireless flashes on stands and held by my assistant to achieve my style. It takes a lot of work and knowledge to use flashes in this way but the results speak for themselves.
Do you use a second photographer at weddings?
I always bring an assistant photographer to every wedding I photograph. My assistant, Maureen, photographs as well as assists me with lighting on your wedding day. We have been working together since January 2011 and work seamlessly together. She knows exactly how I like to work and I rarely photograph a wedding without her. She does not travel separately from me so if you would like to have 2 photographers in different locations (For Example: Bride and groom getting ready in separate houses then traveling to the church) you will need to add a dedicated second photographer.
How has your experience in wedding photography helped you in difficult circumstances on a wedding day?
To me, weddings are all about controlled chaos. I very much enjoy the spontaneity of weddings and it fits my personality since I get bored doing the same thing day after day. In my experience as a wedding photographer, I have learned that anticipation and timing are everything. Experience has made the fundamental structure of a wedding become second nature to me, thus allowing me to focus on refining my photography. This means that I am paying attention to so many little details that would be overlooked by less experienced photographers, such as hand positions in photographs. I have told colleagues that it’s like creating a large painting where you initially outline your subject, then go back and fill in the details and refine the artwork. I am at the point in my career where I am paying attention to so much more than just the general outline and focusing on the minute details.
What’s your favorite part of the wedding day to photograph?
Group formals… duh?? No my favorite part is generally after the ceremony (or before) when I get to work with the bride and groom alone or with their wedding party. It’s just so much fun to go out to different locations and have fun creating unique photos with the bride and groom. It’s also (I think) the most fun for my clients since they just get to hang out and kiss each other!
What are your top tips for brides to help them get great photos on their wedding day?
My first tip for great photos on your wedding day is to have an engagement session with me. I love engagement sessions since they allow us to get to know each other and to create special and often elaborate images together. E-sessions also allow you to see what you look like and develop an idea of what you like and don’t like. Another tip is to leave plenty of time for photography by keeping in touch with me and asking for my input. I am always available to you if you have questions. Some more tips: Before the wedding make a list of photos for the group pictures and get a loud aunt to wrangle everyone together… walk down the aisle slowly and enjoy the moment… take a nice long kiss to give me more time to capture it… ask the pastor/priest to step aside before the kiss so he isn’t in the photo… JUST ENJOY YOUR WEDDING DAY!
How important is it to hire an experienced wedding photographer?
An experienced photographer will make your wedding day run efficiently and effortlessly (or as effortlessly as is possible). I am very good at developing and communicating my ideas and intentions before and on the wedding day. This means that I am able to give you advice on how much time we will need and help the day stay on schedule. Besides effectively managing the day, I will be able to adapt to the myriad lighting environments that present themselves in every wedding. Experience means that I will be able to handle whatever comes along because I’ve done it before.
Do you offer albums? If so, describe the albums you offer and why you think it’s important to provide albums?
Of course I offer albums! They are so important to me that I have contemplated including albums in all of my collections. Albums make sense because they are the most timeless way to preserve your wedding day. What I mean is that instead of getting 70-100 images randomly printed and displayed on your wall you could spend that same money to get all of the best images artistically woven together in such a way that it feels like your reading a book. In my mind, the last step in the wedding photography process should be me delivering your wedding album. Please meet with me and let me show you some of my work.
Do you allow other cameras at the wedding?
There’s no way that I could prevent your guests from using their cameras at your wedding and I would not want to do this anyways. Just try to let them know that my job is to take pictures and to please be discreet and respectful of me and my assistant.
When do we receive our photos?
I will have your entire wedding on my proofing site within two weeks of your wedding date. I mail the hi-res DVD four weeks after your wedding date.
What digital format do you deliver the wedding images?
You will receive hi-res JPEG files on your DVD(s). You will be able to print any size photos you would like from the disk.
Will our final images be watermarked or branded in any way?
Your hi-res images will be free of watermarks or any branding on the images. Web-res images which I include for facebook etc. have my website text along the bottom.
Do you bring back-up equipment?
I always bring backup equipment. I keep two camera’s on me and a third in my car with backup lenses & lighting equipment just in case.
How far in advance do you book weddings?
Most of my clients book me between 8-12 months.
Can you hold a date for me or give me a call if someone else asks for my date?