WEDDINGS FAQ

01 INITIAL CONTACT: Clients typically reach out through my website contact form or as a referral from your wedding planner. It's important to me that we have a conversation over the phone or in person (if local) to get to know each other. I want to hear about your love story, proposal, vision for your wedding day, and your specific coverage needs. From there, I create a custom proposal tailored to you. I'm also happy to send over full galleries for you to review the complete story of images from a real wedding day.
02 CONSULTATION: I accept a limited number (10-12) of weddings each year, enabling me to be the one you communicate with. I'm always an email, phone call, or Zoom video call away to answer any questions, walk you through a timeline, and the details that are important to you. I collaborate with your planner on all things so that everyone is on the same page.
03 RESERVING THE DATE: You're ready to book! Let's make this official! To reserve your wedding date on my calendar, a digital contract and an online invoice with a secure payment portal is sent to you via email. Once the contract is completed and the 50% deposit paid you are booked and your date is secure!
04 PLANNING: Worried you need to think of all the things you need to tell me? Don't be! You will receive a detailed online questionnaire to fill in the blanks as each part of the planning is finalized. It saves as you go! Once complete, you will submit it to me. From there, I create a custom photography timeline to share with your planner to go over any revisions. Once I have your planner's approval, we will send it to you. There will be several check-ins throughout the entire planning process and your planner and I are always in contact working through the details.
05 WEDDING WEEKEND: I arrive early (typically the day before your events begin) to avoid any unforeseen travel issues, scout locations, and get a good night's sleep so that I'm rested and fresh to capture all of the day's moments. Pre-wedding and post-wedding event locations will also be included in my scouting. Whether I've photographed the location many times or it's a brand new venue, I always want to walk it the day before, look at the light and study the aesthetic for your specific timeline. On the wedding day, my team and I are focused on YOU and your fiancé to capture styled details, portraits, authentic emotions, candid, party energy, and everything in between. Our presence will always be encouraging and supportive.
06 DELIVERY OF IMAGES: The week following the wedding, brides always anticipate the images and want to share the joy, so I send previews which enables you to relive and share your beautiful day while you wait for the full edited gallery to be delivered 4-6 weeks later.
07 PROOF PRINTS AND ALBUM DELIVERY: For the physical printed prints, products, and albums included in your collection, you will save your favorites list(s) in your online gallery. Once your image favorite list(s) for each product have been completed you will share them with me so I can begin working on the design(s). For albums, you will complete an agreement that includes all of the details such as cover material and blind debossing you choose. I will hold your hand through the ordering process as little or as much as you want me to. All you have to do is ask! Once your order is placed you can expect delivery within 4-8 weeks, depending on the product.

What is your approach?

The details are important to me, so I work closely with you and your planner to gather all of the information I need about your wedding day. Several months in advance you will receive an online questionnaire to complete, which helps me create a realistic timeline for capturing all of the important moments and portraits during the best natural light of the day. My timeline also includes padding to ensure you have a relaxed and enjoyable experience. In addition to styling and art directing your details and portraits, I capture the authentic, candid, and emotional moments that naturally unfold throughout the day. I am a storyteller, so at the end of the wedding day, your images will be a beautiful representation of the important people in your life, the details you so carefully curated, and most importantly, a reminder you how you felt.

What is your pricing?

After years of experience, I've learned that every client and wedding weekend is unique and has its own set of needs. My clients prefer a bespoke approach based on the services required, days of coverage, locations and travel. It's important to me to understand your vision so I am able to create a custom proposal tailored specifically to serve you best and document your story completely.

How do I secure my wedding date?

Once you have finalized your date and accepted your custom proposal, I will email a photography contract for your review and completion. In a separate email you will receive an invoice with an online secure portal for the 50% retainer to be paid. Once both have been completed digitally and received, your wedding date is officially booked and secure on my calendar. The final balance is due 30 days prior to your wedding date.

Do you work with a second shooter/assistant photographer?

Yes, I have been working with the same assistant for over 15 years. She is truly my right hand, making sure the day runs smoothly and always captures key moments alongside me and in the background. Depending on the scale of the wedding, I am also able to offer additional photographers and/or assistants from my professional network as needed and requested.

Are travel accommodations included in your pricing?

For each destination, a travel quote is included based on the location, scouting, number of days of coverage and accommodations required. My team handles all travel arrangements unless otherwise specified.

Scenics from your destination are often included in your wedding gallery and I offer fine art wall prints so you can enjoy them on the walls in your home.

Do you offer videography and/or drone coverage?

I do not offer videography services in house, however I am able to confidently recommend film makers I've worked with for their artistry in storytelling, cinematography, and editing. I only work with the utmost professionals. Just reach out once you are booked and I'm happy to provide referrals.

I am happy to offer drone coverage for outdoor and tented celebrations as an add-on service.

What equipment do you use and are you part of a professional organization?

My assistants and I use professional camera bodies and lenses with backup bodies. We also use professional memory cards with continuous backup cards at all times throughout the day. We are Nikon Professional Service and Canon Professional Service members and our equipment is regularly serviced by authorized service centers. Heather is also a member of the PPA (Professional Photographers of America), and WIPA (Wedding Industry Professionals Association) for continued education and professional networking.

Who should be included in family photos?

Immediate family (parents and siblings) and grandparents are the most standard inclusions for family portraits. If portrait groupings extending outside your immediate families are requested, you will be able to list those on the questionnaire provided, as well as note any family dynamics important for me to know. My assistant and I will use this information to efficiently coordinate and direct family portraits during the allotted time on your wedding day. Keep in mind that candid moments of extended family will also be captured throughout the day.

What happens if Heather gets sick right before the wedding day?

I have always made wellness a priority and also make careful choices about travel timing prior to a wedding day. In the unforeseen circumstance that would prevent me and/or my assistant from being able to perform our services on your wedding day, we would do our best to find a replacement photographer with equivalent skills and similar style from our strong network of professionals who are more than willing to come to aid in this unlikely circumstance. And if physically able, I will always be the one to handle post wedding editing and delivery of images.

What about rain or a natural disaster event?

Rain is not ideal on a wedding day, however it happens. My approach is to embrace rain as part of your story, use it to still make beautiful images and not let it steal your joy. I have many favorite rainy day images of a bride and groom, arm in arm snuggled together under a clear umbrella, our flash catching raindrops behind you as you exit, and your happy faces through raindrop covered windows as you drive away in a classic car. My assistant and I have navigated many rainy days, as well as hurricane and tornado winds and rains. The experience and expertise we bring should give you peace of mind. We always check the forecast in the days prior to the wedding and work with your planner to form a Plan B... and even a Plan C, insuring we have several options with cover. Ultimately, your planner will decide if the inclimate weather is considered a safety issue and the outdoor wedding details need to be adjusted. I have yet to experience a wedding rescheduled due to weather and we have always rallied to provide the best coverage, find the best lighting available and walk you through it so that you stay relaxed and focused on the joy of the day.

What is your turnaround time?

Passionate about the details, I focus on creating artistic images that I am proud to deliver to my clients. Editing includes fine-tuning color and removing any obvious distractions as needed. The prints you choose for your linen box, fine art album images and prints will have another final inspection by me for any additional retouching before printing. The goal is for your images to look natural and unretouched to the viewer. If more extensive retouching is required, such as wardrobe or hair & make up adjustments, I offer outsourced professional retouching for an additional fee. Turnaround time is listed on the contract as 4-6 weeks to consider times of back-to-back wedding weeks with travel. However, most weddings are delivered within 4 weeks via online gallery in organized sets for downloading, and later on a flash drive. Portrait and engagement sessions are delivered within 2 weeks.

How many images will be delivered?

A full 10 hour wedding day delivery is approximately 1000 images based on an estimate of 100 edited images per hour. Sometimes more or less are delivered depending on the story and details of the day and if a third shooter is hired. I do not deliver a final number of images just for the sake of a number. Rest assured my focus is on choosing images that tell the complete story.

Do I select the images for my proof print box and wedding album?

A branded linen box containing 50 proof prints and flash drive of edited high resolution images is included with every wedding I photograph. I also highly recommend to add a fine art wedding album. Printed images are tangible ways to leave a legacy of love and memories to remember your day and share with future generations.

Once your gallery of images has been delivered, you will make a favorites lists within the gallery for each product included in your Collection or as an a la carte purchase. Once your favorites list has been completed and sent to me I will begin the design process. For linen boxes, once your favorites have been chosen, I will order your prints, save your images to the flash drive and ship the box to you. For albums, once the design has been completed, a digital album proof will be emailed to you for your review. You may add comments for revisions and/or approve within the online proofing process. The first round of revisions is included. Revisions will be made per your requests and a final proof will be sent for your approval. All products included and purchased with your wedding must be completed and delivered within one year of your wedding date.

WEDDINGS PORTFOLIO

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