FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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What photographic experience do you have?

I took my first photograph back in the late 1960’s and have been taking photographs ever since.  I have been using digital cameras for about 20 years.

What equipment do you use?

I use Nikon professional digital cameras, lenses and flash units.

What happens if a piece of photographic equipment breaks down?

All my equipment is currently less than three years old and most of it is less than two years old.  In the unlikely event of a breakdown I carry a minimum of two camera bodies, two flash units and sufficient lenses to cope with a breakdown.  On larger assignments I carry four camera bodies, four flash units and again enough lenses to deal with any eventuality.

Are you insured?

Yes, I have public liability insurance and professional indemnity insurance.

Do you do engagement or pre-wedding photography?

Not as a rule, but I can do if required.

Do you do civil partnership photography?

Yes I do.  Anyone requiring their civil partnership ceremony photographed is most welcome to get in touch.  All my packages and prices also refer to civil partnerships.  For the previous three years I have been a Pink Weddings Ltd approved supplier.  Please see what Rob and Mike said on my comments page.

What is your style of photography?

If I was limited to one word it would be ‘casual’ or ‘relaxed’.  I work with a story book in mind building the story of your day as it happens.  My photographic style is modern reportage aimed at capturing as much of your special day as possible without causing any disruption.  Unlike many photographers, I try to leave the couple with their friends and family as much as possible and to record the day in a ‘fly on the wall’ manner.  Many previous clients have commented that apart from the obvious ‘posed’ photography due to my unobtrusive style they actually forgot that I was there.  This resulted in a very natural and relaxed set of photographs.  I also try to limit the number of rigid posed shots as many people are uneasy posing for a camera which can result in a very unnatural look.

My wedding is in Yorkshire.  Will you travel that far?

Yes, I travel throughout the UK.

Do we have a chance to meet you before our wedding?

Yes, I can arrange a no-obligation meeting at somewhere convenient to you and if you decide to book me to photograph your wedding I will arrange a further meeting nearer to the wedding day.

Your price seems very low.  Are you sure the quote is correct?

Yes it’s correct.  I try to make professional wedding photography affordable to as many people as possible.  When I started my business I carried out quite a bit of research and found that many photographers only offered expensive all day packages.  I found it hard to find the justification for these prices and have priced my packages to appeal, hopefully, to a wider selection of people.  I also realise that many people may only want part of the day photographed.  My Graphistudio wedding book prices are also very competitively priced and in some instances are half what some photographers are charging.  Please do not be put off by the low prices.

You have asked me for a deposit.  Is this in addition to the amount you quoted me?

No, the deposit amount is included in the amount I quoted you.  I have quoted you £500 and your £150 deposit is deducted from that amount so you will only need to pay £350 fourteen day before the wedding.

Irrespective of what package you book, from the moment you tell me you want me to photograph your wedding I turn  away any further enquiries for that date.  Accordingly, I ask for a deposit as a retainer.  Theoretically, without a deposit, a customer could pull out leaving the photographer having turned away other potential customers and on the other hand, a photographer could cancel a booking in order to replace it with a more lucrative job.

Can I pay the remaining amount monthly?

Yes, you can pay by monthly instalments.  I will divide the remaining balance by the number of whole months remaining.  You can set up a standing order to my bank account.  There is no charge for this facility.

Are all the photos on your website genuine wedding photos?

Yes, all the photos on my website are from my customers weddings.  I do not use models and staged images as they can give a false impression to what your actual wedding day pictures will look like.  Staged pictures take time to set up and, unless your wedding is taking place on a beach at sunset, images of you and your husband running up the sands or through the sea in your wedding outfits are not going to be possible.  The same applies to pictures of the bride and groom up mountains or in forests etc.

I want you to photograph me leaving home but I don’t want the evening photographed.  Can you change the package to suit?

Yes, the packages are not set in stone.  I can modify any package to suit your requirements.

What do the four elements of the day involve?

Bride at home – where possible I use a female photographer who will attend the brides house or room to photograph the brides final preparations, dress, shoes and jewellery detail.  The bride will be photographed departing for the ceremony.

Ceremony – I attend the ceremony location usually an hour before the ceremony commences.  This allows me time to photograph your flowers and decorations, to photograph the arrival of the groom, the best man and the ushers.  I also photograph the arrival of the bride and her bridesmaids.  Where allowed by the vicar or registrar I will photograph the key parts of the ceremony, signing the register and the bride and grooms walking back up the aisle. After that, group photographs at the church or registry office and photography ends when the bride and groom depart for the reception.

Reception – If I can get ahead of the bridal car I will photograph the newly wed couple arriving at the reception.  If necessary I also re-commence group or individual photographs.  I follow the bride and groom as they meet with guests and continue photography in a relaxed ‘candid style.  If required I photograph a mocked up cake cutting.  I photograph the bride and grooms entry into the wedding breakfast and the photography finishes when the bride and groom take their seats.

Evening – photography re-commences from the end of the meal.  Unless specifically requested I do not take photographs while people are eating their meal.  I photograph the speeches and the actual cake cutting.  I continue photography until the end of the bride and grooms first dance.  Photography ends once the first dance has ended.

Do you do black and white photos?

Yes, that’s the beauty of digital photography.  All the photographs on your day will be taken in full colour and if required I can convert all your photographs to black and white or I can convert selected ones.  As converting the images takes time there will be a charge for this facility.  If you decide you only want black and white images with no colour ones at all the camera can be set accordingly on the wedding day.  You must remember that I cannot convert black and white to colour.

How many photographs will I get?

That’s a difficult question to answer as every wedding is different.  What I can say is that I do not limit the number of photographs that I take.  On average, customers who had their ceremony, reception and evening photographed have been supplied with between 400 and 600 images.

When can I expect to get my photographs?

You will have your photographs within 28 days of your wedding and in most instances you will have them before that.

Do I get the copyright or do I have to pay for it?

Copyright law is very complicated and legally the copyright always belongs to the photographer however all my images are supplied with reproduction rights enabling you to print, copy and distribute the photos as often as you wish.  My only restriction is that you cannot use the images commercially without my written permission.

I want to order a Graphistudio wedding book.  Do you choose the photos?

Not entirely, I ask you to choose the main image for each page and I add related images to the page to build up the story of your day.  Having designed your book I will send you a proof of the book for your approval before I order the book from the manufacturers.

I want to order a copy of the wedding book.  Do I have to pay double the amount you quoted me?

If you are ordering an exact copy of the main wedding book I can offer you a 30% discount on the cost of the copy book.  The copy book must be ordered at the same time as the main book.

Do you do prints?

Yes I can do if you wish.  I can also arrange canvasses or poster sized prints.  Ask me for a quote.

Do you need feeding?

If you have booked me to photograph your evening up to the first dance then food would be appreciated both for me and for my second photographer.  The occasional glass of Coke or similar would also be appreciated and may stop us from passing out particularly during the hot summer months.

What about overnight accommodation?

Yes, if your wedding is a considerable distance from Redhill in Surrey I may require overnight accommodation particularly if I have been working for you late into the night.  I will tell you when I prepare the quote if I need this facility.