You probably have a lot of questions for me! Hopefully this page will help you navigate through some questions that you might have about me and my photography services! Of course, if anything else crosses your mind, don't be afraid to send me an email or give me a call!
Where are you located?
I'm currently located in Oakland, California and I provide photography services to the entire San Francisco Bay Area. I'm often found traveling between San Francisco, East Bay, Napa, and even down to San Jose and Santa Cruz!
I am originally from San Diego, and while I no longer actively advertise there, I do happily welcome San Diego weddings at a special discounted rate!
Do you travel?
Short answer: Yes, please! I do take on a limited number of destination weddings and/or portrait assignments annually. I love to travel! There will likely be some travel related expenses involved to make that happen, but let's talk about the specifics on making that happen.
As an effort to show some love to my home-town, there is a discounted rate for travel related fees to San Diego.
Can you describe your style?
My photographic style is part photojournalistic, part editorial. I describe my photos as being vibrant, passionate and stylish. I achieve this by using the natural light (sometimes with a little help from my on-camera flash) around me to capture what's really going on.
On a wedding day, I'll be hanging out with you and your guests capturing all of the fun memories from your day and creating some great candid images. For other parts of the day, especially during your scheduled time for portraits, I'll be directing and guiding you so that we get some really great images of the two of you together.
Do you offer engagement sessions?
Yes, I most certainly do! I love engagement sessions! They are one of my favorite things to do! Engagement sessions are included at no additional cost to you when you book a wedding collection of five hours or more. You may also book only an engagement session if you would like. Engagements are the perfect way for us to get to know each other and for you to get comfortable being in front of my lens. I like to think of them as practice runs for the big shebang, so I definitely recommend you take advantage of engagement sessions!
How long should I book you for my wedding?
That all depends on your wedding plan! I like to sit down and chat with all of my clients about their wedding plans so that I can help them select a collection that will cover all their needs. On average, most clients elect to have coverage for about 6-8 hours. Some need more, some need less. Let's chat about this and work it out together!
What do you charge?
Pricing varies for weddings depending on a number of factors. We need to think about how many hours of coverage you'd like to have, whether you'd like one photographer or two, and if you'd like an album or not. Most of my wedding clients spend between $1900 and $3800 on their wedding collections. Portrait collections range from $250 to about $500. Some spend less, some spend more! Let's chat about your options together!
I'm ready to book you! How do I do that?
Once you've made the decision to hire me as your photographer, please let me know! We'll get you on the schedule right away! Weddings require a $500 retainer to reserve your date with the remaining balance due 2 weeks prior to the wedding. Portraits require a 50% retainer due to reserve your session, with the balance due any time before or at the session itself.
Do I get all of the digital files?
Sort of. All wedding collections include digital images. During the editing process I comb through your photos and provide only the best. I take out the ones that just aren't great, and the ones I know you won't like... the ones with your eyes closed and where you're making awkward faces... it happens to all of us! You'll receive high resolution images that are sized specifically for printing at any size up to 11 x 14. If you'd like to order anything larger than that, I ask that you please order through me. Images of that scale become art pieces, and I want to help you make sure that your photo art is top-notch! But yes, your edited digital images are yours to keep! You'll receive your digital images in two ways. You'll have 30 days to download them online via a private viewing and sharing gallery, and you'll also receive them on a dvd or flash-drive.
Portrait sessions work a little differently. You'll receive your edited images in an online gallery. Depending on your portrait package, you'll receive credits to download the high-resolution files of somewhere between 5-10 of your favorite images. Don't worry... if you like more than that, you have the option to pay per image after your credits are used, or you may purchase the entire set on dvd or flashdrive.
Will I get a wedding album?
Three out of four of my standard wedding collections do include a gorgeous wedding album. I think wedding albums are such an important piece of your family's legacy, so I always recommend investing in one if you are able. While my wedding collections typically include a wedding album, you may also build your own album using the a-la-carte menu and opt to not have a wedding album. You may also choose to purchase one later, if you'd like! I also offer gift albums for parents and grandparents as well as other types of albums for engagement sessions and other fun things.
Will you edit my photos?
All of the photos that you receive as part of your wedding or portrait package will undergo a soft edit. Soft edits include adjusting color balance and lighting so that your photos have a consistent look and feel throughout. I'll also do a few small spot treatments. All images that you choose to order through me (either through prints or in your album) will undergo a secondary round of edits that will include skin blemish removal, removal of any distracting objects (like dirt on the bottom of your dress, bra straps, annoying construction sign in the background, etc.). If you'd like to purchase a digital copy of an image with secondary edits, please contact me for more info.
Do I have to order any prints?
No, you are not required to order any prints through me. I will give you access to a private gallery where you can order prints if you'd like to, but it is not required. The print gallery is actually really great to share with your family and friends so that they can order whatever prints they'd like without having to bother you. I know you're busy, so I'm happy to handle that process for you!
How far in advance should I book?
Between 6-12 months is usually safe for booking me for your wedding. I am usually busiest on weekends for weddings between May and October, so keep that in mind! I do have some last minute dates available, so always check with me if you're cutting it close!
For portraits, typically between three months to two weeks is appropriate.
Do you carry insurance?
I do have business liability insurance that protects my photography gear, the places that I work, and of course myself! If your venue requires proof of insurance or a certificate of insurance to be on file, please let me know so that I can forward them the information that they need.
What kind of equipment do you use?
I am a Canon girl, and I use a Canon Mark III body and a variety of Canon and Sigma professional grade lenses to capture what I see around me. I also use on-camera flashes (again, canon). I am not the type of photographer that will bring strobe lights and a lighting rig full of video and production lighting to your wedding. It's heavy, obtrusive and I don't really like it, anyway.
What forms of payment do you accept?
I currently accept payment by credit card (Visa, Mastercard and American Express) and by a good old fashioned check.
I'm not getting married, but I still want some rockin' photos!
Weddings are my specialty, but I do work with clients on other projects, too! I am often found doing maternity sessions, personal portraits, love sessions, and family sessions (especially during the holidays!). I also cover other events such as anniversary parties, engagement parties, etc. I love doing styled shoots, too! Drop me a note about what you want to do, and we'll talk about putting it together!
