{Frequently Asked Questions}
Hiring a photographer is an important part of planning a wedding and it is so important to find the perfect fit, and also to know what to expect from each other. When I meet with clients, I am often impressed by the questions they ask and the amount of work they have done in preparation to meet with me! Below you will find a list of the most common questions I hear, and the ones I feel are most important to know about. I hope that it might help you to learn a bit more about Vallentyne Photography and the way the process goes.
Q. What is your style?
A. The origin of my style goes back to my days working in the commercial world. I would describe my wedding work as a combination of fine art and editorial photography. What people are saying most right now is a photojournalism. I do capture moments in a documentary style, but I compose my shots. For instance, if I see something happening in front of me, I will take the shot, but compose it with a fine art perspective behind it. I am very aware of my backgrounds and I will usually choose something with a good space, complimentary colors, and even interesting textures. Throughout the day I like to shoot naturally and unobtrusively, like the old fly-on-the-wall cliché. I photograph your wedding day as it unfolds, with all the laughter and emotion that will accompany it spontaneously.
Q. What is your philosophy on wedding photography?
A. Every wedding has it’s own personality and I strive to show that uniqueness in the photos. I am always on my toes for what might happen next. It is important to pay attention to the things that make each wedding different. My goal is to create vibrant, energetic, fine art images that are is unique as the people and the wedding itself. When I focus on all the positive emotion, like people laughing and smiling and having a great time, the result is images that are exactly how the couple wants to remember their wedding.
Q. Do you work alone or with another photographer?
A. I love to work with a second photographer/assistant and shoot most events with one. It provides an alternate angle of the day’s events (one of us is positioned at the front of the church, the other at the back) and more comprehensive coverage of the day (while I am photographing the bride getting ready, my second photographer is with the groom. Or, while I am photographing the group posed family photos, my second photographer is capturing the cocktail hour). Even at a very small wedding, there is a lot going on at the same time. With two cameras pointing in opposite directions at all times, you can be sure we will capture some amazing moments that you didn’t even know were happening.
Q. What is a usual schedule during a wedding? How long do traditional pictures take after the ceremony?
A. I am very flexible. I’ll follow whatever schedule you have in mind. I find it to be the most beneficial (and fun) to start the day with the bride wherever she is getting ready. It is a relaxing time for her to get used to what it is like being photographed, for us to chat about the day and generally just get comfortable.
Depending on the couple’s preference, formal photos can be taken before or after the ceremony. My opinion is that they should be done right after the ceremony if possible. This is for two reasons, first, the light is usually better later in the day, and second, it can be very difficult to make sure everyone is on time before the ceremony! Typically the posed group photos take about 20 minutes, depending on the number of combination (I recommend no more than 10). Then I love to go off with the bride and groom for couple photographs away from the cocktail hour. This is to ensure your eyes are focused toward me for the photos and not at all the people standing around watching. That is the only time I will require of you. After that, we’ll go back to your reception to catch up with your friends and family.
Q. Are you open to a list of must-have pictures?
A. Of course. Brides have requested sentimental details of family handkerchiefs, family heirlooms, cake toppers, etc. This can only be dangerous if you are hoping to recreate a photo you have seen and don’t keep an open mind to the fact that your wedding might afford different opportunities (background, lighting, etc).
Q. Do you have a backup photographer in case of an emergency? If not, what will happen if you cannot make it?
A. Your wedding is my priority, and I will do everything possible to be in attendance on your big day. In the unlikely event that it truly isn’t possible for me to be there, I am part of a network of photographers who work together should an emergency arise. In the highly unlikely event that neither I, nor one of my colleagues can be at your wedding, your money will be refunded.
Q. Do you shoot in black and white, sepia, or color?
A. I photograph all weddings digitally. In the retouching and color balancing process, I hand select the images that I saw creatively in black and white or sepia. The result is a beautiful mix of color and BW images that I present to you together. I do always try to leave a version of most images in color just in case. If I do convert to black and white, it is because it was my artistic vision for the image.
Q. What camera do you use?
A. I currently use two top of the line Canon digital SLR camera bodies, and a variety of top quality lenses and flashes. I think the difference between an amateur and a professional is top quality lenses as they make the image sharp and crystal clear. As the technology changes, so too will my equipment. I strongly believe that one way to stand out in this business is to stay ahead of the technology.
Q. What is online image hosting?
A. Within 1 month, the images I take at your wedding will be posted online to a personal gallery for you to see! No more waiting ages to see your proofs! The company I use for this online image hosting is Pictage.com and in addition to being able to view the photos online, you can email favorites and order prints, too!
Q. Do you retouch the photos?
A. Yes, I make sure the colors are balanced and the densities of the blacks and whites are on target. I like my images to look just like your memories of the day…and maybe just a little bit prettier! I have been asked before to digitally remove a blemishes and have no problem doing something like that in a few photos, but understandably, doing it on all of them would take eons! These services are mostly reserved for the final album prints. I will not, however, colorize black and white photos (for instance, a black and white image with a colored bouquet) or dramatically manipulate objects in a photo (remove a person, make it nighttime outside when it was really daylight, etc).
Q. How soon will prints be ready after I submit an order?
A. All your photos may be ordered through your password-protected gallery at Pictage.com. Depending on the size of the order, prints typically take two weeks to reach you. Pictage offers a guarantee on its prints — if you are not satisfied, simply return and the company will reprint until you are. All prints are made on Kodak archival, acid-free paper.
Q. How many weddings will you shoot in a weekend? On our wedding day?
A. I’d have to clone myself to be able to photograph more than one wedding a day, so this would never happen. The way I structure my photography coverage allows a couple to hire me for a full day starting with the bride’s preparation at a salon or wherever she is getting ready and lasting straight through to the last dance, if the couple so chooses. Therefore, my commitment is to one couple per day. It is possible to photograph more than one wedding on a particular weekend. It is very common to do so for holiday weekends, as well as with the growing popularity of having a Friday evening or Sunday afternoon wedding.
Q. Why do you enjoy shooting weddings?
A. This question always makes me remember how lucky I am to do the job I have chosen! I love photographing weddings. I think I have gotten extremely lucky in life by finding a career I truly love to do. My passion for shooting weddings stems from the simple fact that each one has it’s own unique personality. I never stop learning and am always meeting interesting people who become much more than clients. It is so much more satisfying than other types of photography I have done because I am giving my clients something they will treasure for a lifetime.
Heather Moreau • Vallentyne Photography
heather@vallentynephotography.com • (760) 672-2416 • www.vallentynephotography.com
