How far in advance should I book my wedding package?
Typically, my clients book me for their weddings about 9-12 months before their event, but that is certainly not a rule! If you are closer to your date, please do inquire. I only photograph about 15 weddings each year, so I may have your date open! Also, I often have room in my schedule for intimate mid-week weddings and elopements. A signed agreement and nonrefundable $500 deposit are required at booking time to hold your date.
What geographical areas do you serve?
I travel for weddings anywhere in the Northeast. Travel to most Massachusetts locations is included in all wedding packages. For weddings in Southern New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Cape Cod and the Islands, an additional $150 travel fee may be applied. If you want me to photograph your wedding in Maine, Vermont, New York, or even Fiji, just email me and I can create a custom travel plan.
Do you offer “Engagement Sessions”?
Absolutely! Only I call them “Get to Know You Portrait Sessions” because “engagement session” implies that it’s going to be cheesy and overly posed. Get to Know You Portrait Sessions are one part photo shoot and one part meeting. They are really designed to help us get to know one another and for you to feel more comfortable in front of a camera so that you can relax and be yourself on your wedding day. For that reason, a “Get to Know You Portrait Session” is included with Full Day wedding coverage. “Get to Know You Portrait Sessions” are held at the Arnold Arboretum in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood Boston on either a weekday evening or a weekend morning. And don’t worry because I have all the tips on how to prepare!
If you’re not ready to hire a wedding photographer and still want engagement photos, I can do that, too – head on over to the Family Portrait page to find out more.
We are looking for a mixture of candid and formal wedding photography. Can you do both?
Always. My visual storytelling style leans toward a candid, documentary approach (the spontaneous moments and memories of the day), but formal family photographs are an important aspect of every wedding. I get it all!
You may have noticed that I photograph wedding days for up to 6 hours and wonder how we will get photos of everything during that time. I help all of my clients plan a photo timeline for their celebration to make sure I know what kinds of photos are most important and how to make those happen during our time together.
Also, most couples have no idea how to act “candidly” in front of the camera and how to make sure they look great in wedding photos. Don’t worry! My approach is perfect for couples who don’t both feel comfortable being photographed. I have lots of tips for you ahead of time and will be right there with you throughout the day.
When will our photos be ready, and how many will we receive?
You will have access to roughly 500-600 digital photos via an online gallery approximately one month after your wedding. This collection represents the best photos from the thousands of images shot over the course of a wedding, and each image is enhanced so that the colors, contrast, and details all look great. Feel free to browse through past clients’ galleries here.
Do we receive the high-resolution digital files?
Yes. But you have to promise to not let those digital files live sad, lonely lives in cloud storage never to be heard from again. I want your photos to be enjoyed in person, not viewed on a screen! So, while you will receive the high resolution digital files for your personal use, reproduction, and distribution to friends and family, I encourage couples to purchase beautiful custom made wedding albums to showcase their favorite beautiful photos. If you don’t want a custom-designed wedding album, that is okay, too – we can still work together! – because digital files are always included in wedding packages.
Do you ever work with other photographers?
I am experienced with covering even complicated weddings all by myself and have been doing so for over a decade. That said, I am able to contract a second photographer when it makes sense for the client, the celebration, and the budget. Having a second photographer can be an excellent investment, but is not a requirement for getting wedding photos that you love.
What kind of cameras do you use?
Do you really want to know, or are you just asking because some checklist said you should? Be honest… Okay, I use professional-level Nikon digital cameras and lenses with backups. Everything is captured digitally, in color, and edited on the computer. (And no, you can’t see the picture on the back of the camera, so don’t ask!)
Do you have business insurance?
Yes, I am fully insured. Some venues require an insurance binder from all vendors, which I can happily provide.
Have you photographed a wedding at my venue?
I have photographed hundreds of weddings at all different kinds of venues throughout New England, from backyards to barns to country clubs, so chances are good that I have been to the venue where your wedding will take place. Check out a partial list of my favorite venues and if you don’t see your venue there, please reach out! Most likely, I’ve been there, too.
Feeling overwhelmed?
Folks, wedding planning is nutty. Don’t let it get you down, and please don’t buy into the hype that tells you everything has to be perfect. I wish I could wave a magic wand and eliminate all of the stress that comes with having to make hundreds of tiny decisions as you plan an awesome party, but alas, all I can do is offer some advice about photography.
Also, be sure to check out my favorite wedding blog, A Practical Wedding, which challenges the pervasive white, straight, cis-gender wedding culture that perpetuates gender stereotypes and harmful expectations for people getting married. APW is “focused on creating a culture that supports laid-back, feminist weddings.” Pretty amazing and full of content to help you plan an authentic and unique wedding.
Still more questions? I’ve got answers!
I try to be as helpful and informative as I can be when it comes to wedding planning. Check out these links for even more answers to questions you likely have about weddings and wedding photography.
Any tips for our first dance together?
Should we plan to dance with our parents?
How do we know what flowers to choose?
What are “table photos” and do we need them?
How do you manage families when not everyone gets along smoothly?
How should we choose who to include in our wedding party?
Do you have tips for my sister/brother/friend/co-worker who has never been in a wedding party?
Feel free to get in touch with me or go right ahead and schedule a free consultation!