Recently, a prospective client submitted a list of questions. The questions were excellent and I was compelled to spend a little extra time answering them. I hope that you, too, enjoy the answers.....
How early do you book a wedding?I have booked weddings as far in advance as 18 months. It's entirely up to the bride and groom, of course. But I recommend that as soon as you are sure, book the photographer. Some of my high-end packages require that clients book me at least 6 months prior to the wedding, because of the logistics involved in providing some of the services.
How many weddings do you book in one day?I do not photograph any more than one wedding in a day. I think shooting more than one event in a day is doing a disservice to the bride and groom. I have booked two weddings in a weekend. Whenever possible, I try to distribute my bookings evenly over the course of the year. This helps me deliver the reprints and albums in a more timely manner.
What kind of a deposit do you require and when do you ask for it?Deposit amounts depend upon the packages. Most packages require a deposit of between $400 and $500. High-end packages require more, because some services may be rendered in advance of the wedding. However, 90% of my clients choose either the Silver, Angelico, Gold, or Platinum packages. And they require the $400 or $500 amounts. I recommend that as soon as you have decided on your photographer, you should be prepared to submit a deposit. If for some reason the wedding is called off more than 90 days before the scheduled wedding date, half of the deposit is refunded.
Have you photographed outdoor weddings in the past?Oh yeah! My web site has a list of wedding venues at which I've worked. The URL is: http://www.dfmphotography.com/wedding_venues.shtml
I rather enjoy outdoor weddings, especially during the right lighting conditions, time of day, etc. Natural light is almost always desirable to artificial lighting.
How many photographers do you have?I am the sole proprietor of DFM Photography. I'm the only person you'll be working with. I do hire high school and college student assistants to help with hawling equipment or logistics. But I do 99% of the shooting. Occasionally, my helpers will operate a camera that I have sett up on a tripod.
Will we meet with the photographer who will take the pictures of our wedding when we meet with you?Yes.
Will the pictures we see be all taken by the same person?Yes. If an assistant shoots any images, their total image count will likely be less than 20 out of 500 to 800 images.
Are you willing to let us look through all the proofs from a wedding you have shot before, so we can get a feeling for what kinds of photos you take?Absolutely, I post images online for that very purpose. However, it will almost always be true that the most recent work has not yet been posted online. I prefer to meet with clients in person and show them a couple of sample albums and some slide shows on my laptop.
Will you scout the location before hand for photo opportunities and discuss those with us?That is one of the reasons why I attend the rehearsal, to scout locations and make strategic decisions. If you book me and would like to meet for a photo planning session, I'm all for it.
Will you meet with us a week or so before the wedding to discuss what pictures we want so you will be prepared and the photos will not take us away from our guests?Yes. I ask that all clients provide me with an itinerary at least 4 weeks prior to the ceremony. I also ask that they submit a shot-list via the online form on my web site. These two pieces of information help me understand the structure of the day and sometimes alert me to potential problems. I always offer feedback, when needed. It is always in my mind to keep the bride, groom, and families at the center of my thinking. And I view wedding photography as a collaborative effort.
How do you dress for photographing weddings?Professionally and comfortably. I do not wear a suit, unless requested to do so. I wear a white shirt and dress pants. I do not put on a tie until the time when the quest begin arriving, because it gets in the way. In the hot summer months, the pants will be ligther in color. In cooler months, the pants will be black. I wouldn't dream of wearing a photojournalists equipment vest to a wedding. But I work too hard and move around too much to make wearing a full suit my standard dress, especially in summer months in Kansas and Missouri.
How long do you keep negatives?Almost all the work I do now is digital. When I shoot negative film, I keep the negatives for about five years. After that, I offer them to the clients for a nominal fee which covers the cost of scanning some of the choice images. However, this really isn't an issue, because digital is my preferred format. I've been using digital cameras professionally for about 5 years, slowly moving toward an all-digital workflow.
Do you have a videographer on staff, or is there one you would recommend?I sub-contract videography services. There are two very fine companies that I can recommend.
Additional information is on my web site. I try to make the web site as convenient as possible.
