Here's some answers to frequently asked questions
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
01. What locations do you cover and can you travel?
I'm based in Essex with easy access to London and the surrounding counties. I cover weddings in Essex, London, Surrey, Kent, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Bucks and more. All my packages include 50 miles travel. I do also travel across the UK for weddings further afield. There maybe a little extra added to your package for travel costs and depending on distance, perhaps an overnight stay - this can all be negotiated.
02. Are you available for destination weddings?
Absolutely! I love an adventure - weddings abroad are fab. Just fill me in on your location and plans and I'll grab my passport. Costs for international weddings are entirely bespoke and can be discussed in a discovery call.
03. How soon do we need to book you?
I have couples booked in for up to two years in advance so if you're interested in me photographing and/or filming your wedding please get in touch asap. If you've sorted your venue and date - send me a message and check my availability. I do accept last minute bookings too, depending on availability, so it's always best to check as it may well be possible to accommodate you.
04. Do we meet you before the wedding?
Yes, we will meet on a Zoom video call (or if you're local to me, in person) to discuss your wedding and what you can expect from me, before you book. Then, about six weeks before the big day, we'll meet on Zoom again for your personal wedding consultation to go through the schedule, details, work out your group shots and more.
05. How many images will we receive and do you edit all the images and videos?
On average for 10 hours of wedding coverage, I deliver approximately 500 - 600 edited images. However, this is completely dependent on the scale of the wedding and the specific events during your day. If you have a second photographer, there will likely be more images delivered.
I personally edit all the best images from your wedding day in my own creative style. The only images you won't receive are those with blinking eyes, duplicates and such. I edit and colour grade your wedding films myself, giving a personal, consistent touch and theme to your wedding movie.
06. Do you take traditional group and family photos?
Naturally! In fact I recommend my couples request a few. We'll arrange before the wedding who your essential groups are and what you'd like covered. Plan for around 20 minutes for 8-10 different groups (I don't recommend any more due to the time constraints of the wedding afternoon!).
07. Do you offer engagement or pre-wedding shoots?
Yes I do, they're a great way to get to know your photographer, get used to being natural in front of the camera - and get the nerves in front of the camera out the way for your big day! Sessions are £400 and include an up to 90 minute session, full bespoke gallery of images and digital downloads. Sessions are not available during May - September due to the heavy wedding schedule.
08. Is there a booking fee and contract?
To secure your wedding date with me, 25% of the cost of your chosen package is required up front as a non refundable booking fee. This secures your date. The remaining package amount due 30 days before the big day. The contract which is our agreement together forms part of securing your date. I use the leading photographic management software which allows you to read and sign the agreement digitally, receive wedding questionnaires and invoices easily.
09. Can we customise our package and do you offer a payment plan?
Yes, we can discuss tweaks to my base packages, depending on your requirements although most couples like the simplicity of my packages just as they are. We can absolutely discuss payment terms for instalments if this is required. Instalments payment dates can be agreed between us and clearly marked on your invoice.
10. How long until we get our photos/video?
With your photographs, you'll get an edited sneak peek set of around 20/30 downloadable images within 72 hours of your wedding with which to share with your family and friends and keep the excitement going. For your final, full gallery it's around a maximum of 8 weeks from the date of your wedding to handing over your gorgeous edited photo gallery or edited videos.
Depending on my schedule and in less busy times of the year, it is sometimes possible I can get them to you sooner. Once you've received your photo gallery, you have unlimited downloads for you and your guests for one calendar year.
11. Can we print our photos and are the images ours for life?
All packages include a lifetime license to use your wedding photos on social media & print your images. If you would like prints or albums from me, they will be expertly created at my preferred art quality print studio in the UK.
12. How secure are our photos and video?
Very secure! Our camera's record images/video onto two separate data cards for redundancy. We also back up during the day and then to the cloud upon return to the studio. By the end of the day there are four backups of your wedding! Your final edits are backed up on your digital gallery, separately on the cloud and also on a separate studio drive. Your final edited images will also be stored for a period of one year on your online gallery and on my servers as will your videos. I keep edited galleries and videos for years, just in case you have any issues down the line.
13. Are you insured?
Of course - fully insured for public liability and professional indemnity with an industry leading insurer.
I'm more than happy to provide insurance certificates if you or your venue needs them.
14. What if you've not photographed our venue?
There are thousands of wedding venues across the UK and I have shot at almost all of the popular venues in Essex but if I haven't shot your venue it's not a problem, as I always do venue research before your wedding starts. On the morning, I always arrive early to scope out the venue, check the locations, light and make a plan for your wedding day in conjunction with your schedule which we will have already discussed. If I don't already know the venue team I'll introduce myself well in advance, ensuring the day from my side of things will go very smoothly. I've got you covered!
15. What equipment and cameras do you use?
We shoot on state of the art Sony Alpha full frame cameras with the very best lenses and flash/lighting equipment for later in the day. For video we use top quality, discreet digital wireless microphones to ensure the best sound coverage of your day. We are also qualified and CAA licensed Drone (UAV) pilots and where possible will shoot fabulous photography/film of your venue from the air using our registered drones. This is at NO extra cost to you.
16. Do we get the RAW images or video?
I do not provide RAW images or video no. The RAW images and video taken straight out of the camera are just the start of the creative process. A chef would not hand over the ingredients before the delicious meal was cooked! I spend many, many hours processing and editing your images and video ensuring they are fully ready for your enjoyment. My couples book me because they love the final product I create. I promise you'll prefer the finished article when you see it.
17. Do we supply you a hot meal?
A full day of wedding coverage can be a very long, tiring day so food is greatly appreciated! For all full day wedding bookings, this will be in our agreement together. But I don't need anything special from your wedding breakfast menu, it's up to you and your caterers! Feeding me means I stay close to the action and don't miss anything, I'm refuelled and ready for even more great moments. If your package features a second photographer or associate videographer then we are grateful for you feeding us both.
18. What happens if you're ill on our day?
It would take a lot for me to miss a wedding and I pride myself that it hasn't happened yet! (fingers crossed).But if the worst happened I do have a network of other photographers I can call on as back-up. I know how important this day is to you and I’d do everything in my power to make sure you have back up coverage of your big day.