Do you take formal portraits at weddings?
Of course. Formal portraits are important. Depending on family size, I spend anywhere from 10-60 minutes on formal portraits.
What are your fees?
My wedding-day commissions begin at $3900 for basic 6-hour coverage. Or, getting married midweek? Just the two of you at the courthouse? Eloping? Talk to me.
What equipment do you use?
I bring multiple Canon digital SLRs and a variety of prime lenses with me to each wedding. If something breaks, I have at least two back ups for all my essential gear.
Do you work with another photographer?
I prefer to work alone. The pictures I make benefit from me blending in as much as possible, unobtrusively honoring the purpose of the day. I’m like the hum of the refrigerator: you know I’m there, but after awhile you don’t pay any attention. I’m also a big believer in quality over quantity. I’m not there to capture everything. I’m there to capture most things, in a thoughtful way that will elicit memories and convey feeling later on. There’s usually plenty of time before a ceremony for me to spend quality time with both the bride and groom getting ready with their friends and family. There are certainly times when a second photographer is beneficial, and I’d be happy to talk to you more about that.
What do you look for when you are taking pictures?
Emotions, interaction, clean compositions, light, color and surprises. Also, I don’t take pictures for my clients, as much as I take pictures for my client’s children. What will future generations want to see? They’ll want to see a straight shot of mom and dad gazing into the camera looking amazing in their wedding attire, of course. However, I imagine they’ll actually treasure the real moments that were captured without pretense, predictability, or interference. What a gift . . .
Do you use a flash?
Sparingly. I almost never use a flash before the dancing starts. I think natural light is often what makes a particular environment unique. I’d hate to eliminate that with a flash just to make a “proper” exposure. I’ll often opt for darker, sometimes even motion-blurred photos before putting a flash on. However, sometimes I need to use artificial light to catch the acrobatic dance moves of your guests. That’s much more important than preserving natural light.
Are you married?
My beautiful wife Brooke and I got married on April 25, 2009.
There’s thousands of photographers out there. Why should we hire you for our wedding?
Each photographer is unique. Each couple is unique. After narrowing it down to a handful of people whose pictures you like, the last criteria is who do you want around you and your family on one of the most significant, overwhelming, and beautiful days of your life? That person may not be me. But if you think I might, let’s find out. I’d love to learn about you and your wedding.
