I am sure that you have so many questions. Online you can find thousands of lists of suggested questions to ask your photographer (some of them helpful, others that are not). Over the years of doing this I have heard many of these questions many times. Below you will find a list of frequently asked questions. I hope that this compiled list of answered questions is helpful as you consider me as the photographer for your wedding. I have tried to be fairly comprehensive, but if there are any questions that you have that remain unanswered, please do not hesitate to be in touch.

SOME FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the payment schedule?
I require a $1600 deposit to reserve your wedding date. The remaining balance is due 4 weeks prior to your wedding date. If you have any further questions regarding this, prepayment or ways you can pay, send me an email and we can discuss your options.

Are you willing to travel (what about weddings that are just a little outside of Ottawa)?
I am certainly willing to travel for your wedding! For events outside of Ottawa I charge $0.85/km. For certain locations there may be other expenses involved such as travel or accommodation expenses. Please contact me and we can discuss the specifics for a situation like this.

How many photos will we receive?
As every wedding is unique when it comes to length of coverage and particular events taking place I do not promise any specific amount of photos from your wedding day. That said, a typical collection is around 600 photographs.

How will we receive our photos (are digital files included)?
With every package you will receive either a digital download of your photos via a direct link to a gallery or through a USB thumb drive. In both cases the photos are high resolution JPEGs without any logo or watermark and can be downloaded, printed or posted to social media as you wish.

Will all of my photos be edited?
Every single one of your photos will be hand-edited similar to my style. If you would like to see what my editing style looks like please look through my galleries to see if you like this look.

What if I need to postpone my wedding?
If you need to postpone your wedding let me know and we can work out the details together. I do not charge a date transfer fee and I am willing to transfer all amounts paid to the new date provided that I am available for it! I’ve had a lot of experience with this during the COVID pandemic and have been able to make this a seamless transition for all of my couples.

I noticed that some of your photos are in black and white as well as colour, how is that determined?
When I look at a photo that I am getting ready to edit, one of the first things I determine is whether or not it will be in black and white or colour. There are a number of factors that go into this decision (composition, natural colouring, exposure). At the end of the day there are some photos that just look best in black and white. That said, typically when a photo is given in black and white there will likely be at least something similar that is also in colour. For example, you won’t be receiving all of your first kiss photos in black and white. I want to tell the story of your day and this includes the colours of it as well. So, ultimately, you will receive a mixture of both colour and black and white photos.

What about the RAW files?
When I take photos at your wedding they are captured in a flat file type called RAW. This enables me to fully utilize the software programs that I use to edit your final collection. In many ways they are like the slab of stone that is chiselled from to create a masterpiece. I do not give you these files as they are an unfinished item that are a means to an end. What I do provide you with is the finished product, the high resolution photos that tell the story of your day. I do not cull through the photos taken on your day to get to a specific number and then call it a day once I get to 600 photos, for example. I only remove photos that are duplicates or otherwise unflattering. I provide you with everything that tells the story of your day.

Who owns the copyright?
Copyright is something that is often misunderstood. The important things to know are that you have complete rights to download, print, or post all of your photos and I have the right to advertise with them.

How long will we have to wait to see our wedding photos?
Typically, wedding collections are completed and delivered within 4-6 weeks.

Do you provide a second photographer?
Most weddings do not require two photographers. That said, I am willing to bring along a second photographer upon request. Please contact me for details and pricing if you would like a second photographer.

Will you work from a photo shot list?
A list of “must have” photos is not necessary. In fact, I would actually discourage you from making one. My job is to tell the story of your wedding day. I would not want to miss documenting the special moments and interactions between you and your family and friends, simply because I am referring to a list of specific shots. This way I can be free to document your day with my own artistic eye having a candid, photo journalistic approach in mind. The only list that I request is one of your family combinations that you would like captured, in order to make that part of the day go more smoothly and quickly.

Can you hold a date for us?
Dates are reserved on a first come/first serve basis. A date will only be considered reserved after a deposit and signed contract have been received.

How far in advance do we need to book you for our wedding date?
It is impossible to project when any specific date will be booked, so if you would like to secure me for your wedding, please do not wait! Generally I book up nine months to one year in advance, but it is not uncommon to have weddings booked even up to more than two years in advance.

Do you offer packages for small, intimate backyard, elopement, or city hall weddings?
Some of my favourite weddings I have ever photographed have been simple, intimate weddings. You can see some specifics about my “elopement” package as well as some samples here.

What is in your bag (what equipment will you bring to my wedding)?
I bring three professional Canon camera bodies (5D MK III). Two that I will wear and a third as a backup. I have an assortment of lens that enable me to document the day, but my favourite ones to use are my Sigma 35mm 1.4 and my Canon 70-200 2.8.

How do you dress for weddings?
I will come to your wedding dressed professionally in clothes that will make me fit in with your guests and not draw attention to myself.

Can family and friends take pictures? / What is an “unplugged” wedding?
For sure! I only ask that they do not get in the way during any of the important moments. If you are concerned that any of your friends or family might be likely to be in the way, you may want to consider having a conversation with them before your wedding day. This will hopefully ensure that you remain the focus as you walk down the aisle, for example, rather than Uncle Bob’s back. Many couples opt to have their ceremony “unplugged” which simply means you ask your guests to put away their cameras and phones during the ceremony so that they can watch it with their eyes rather than through screens. While I think that this is a nice idea, it is completely up to you whether or not you would like this for your wedding.

How much time should I schedule for everything?
Creating a wedding timeline can be a stressful aspect of your planning process. I would suggest that you take a look at my post of wedding day suggestions for some ideas.

What happens if the wedding timeline runs late?
Many weddings run a little behind schedule, but you don’t have to be worried. I always make myself available to stay later if necessary, and you can certainly add hours to your package on the day of your wedding. You can contact me if you want to know the specifics.

Do we need to feed you at the reception?
In order to keep me operating at my best all the way to the end of your night, I do require a meal during the reception.

What is the process for ordering an album?
After you receive your wedding photos, you can send me a list of around 75 photos that you would like in your book. I will design and print your book for you after you decide what style is your favourite. Here is where you can see the options for the style of your photo book. If you know what style and photos you want in your book already, you can place your order now.

Do you provide videography services?
My focus is to document your wedding day beautifully and thoroughly through photos. In order to do this fully, I do not offer videography myself. I can, however, make some fantastic recommendations of videographers in the Ottawa area upon request. In fact, I have spent a lot of time working with all different kinds of wedding vendors, and I would be happy to recommend some that have done a great job in the past! Please don’t hesitate to ask me if you are looking for some recommendations.

Do you photograph anything other than weddings?
I do take on some sessions other than weddings throughout the year. Whether it is professional headshots, a special event or family photos I am happy to photograph it! I especially love to see as couples that I have photograph grow as a family. Contact me and we will work something out.

Where can I see more of your work?
You can see some samples of my work on my site here. Check out my blog, or you can follow me on Instagram or Facebook as well.

If you are looking for some tips for your wedding planning, here are a few ideas that worked great at other weddings I have photographed.