A list of questions we’ve been asked.
How many years of experience do you have?
Lisa has been shooting photography since I was 8, back in the old film days! I got serious about photography in 2001 and have been shooting professionally now for five years. Raquel has been shooting most of her life, shooting professionally, as Lisa, for 5 years.
Do you have a business license?
We have our states vendors license and have applied for our LLC
Have you won any awards?
Our images have graced the front pages of New Jersey 101.5, Both of the images submited into the Butler Art Museum for the 71st annual artist show were accepted and hung on display
Do you belong to any national or local photography associations?
We are members of NILMDTS
Who will actually be photographing my wedding?
We shoot weddings with two photographers, at present they are Lisa and Raquel, in the near future we will be bringing on a couple new photographers to assist us
Will there be an assistant on hand to help as well?
As we start to train new photographers, there will be assistance on hand
Do you have a standard shot/set up list?
YES, we do, and you get a copy of it when we sit down on our initial consult
Can I see samples from the photographer shooting my wedding?
Yes, again, when we sit down on our first consult, we bring plenty of books, pictures and a slideshow for you to view
How will you coordinate with the musician/videographer/receptions facility?
We work very well with the other professionals working to make your day a special one
Approximately how many pictures will you take during the day?
We take well over 1500 images during a wedding day
How many of those pictures will be in my online proofing album?
We like to say you will get between 600-800 images but we’ve always provided way more than that
How may hours prior to the ceremony will you arrive?
We start when you do. If you want us there when you get your hair done, we are there
How will you dress for the day?
We have professional attire for your big day. Black polo’s or tunic tops, grey pants. We also have suits that we occassionally wear
Do you offer online photo showcasing & ordering?
We sure do, and you can get a sneak peak at it right here: www.viewpicshere.com
How long does it take to get your proofs back after the wedding?
We like to wait until the bride and groom are home from their honeymoon. It’s their special day and we like for you to have the chance to see those images before everyone else
How long are the negatives stored after the wedding?
As long as they will keep. The jury is still out on how long a CD of images will last. We make two copies, one kept on location, one off
Can the negatives (CD) be purchased?
YES! This is something new we started to offer, check our packages for more info
Is there an extra charge to shoot photos at a different location?
No
When is the deposit & final payment due?
To reserve your date we ask for a $300.00 non refundable deposit, half the balance on our meeting around a month before your wedding date, then the balance due before your wedding date. If you’d like to make payments, or pay in advance, we have no problem with that at all
What are your office hours?
Ahhh the era of technology. We’re available anytime, and we mean that, if you have a question, give us a call, if we can’t answer right then we will get right back to you
Do you have a written contract?
Yes we do
Are taxes and gratuity included in the price?
Taxes are included. Gratuity is a gift given by people when they desire to do so, we do not include this in our fees
Are there any overtime charges? If so, how much?
We’ve never charged overtime for a wedding
Is dinner expected for the photographer at the reception?
We are on our feet between 10-12 hours for any given wedding, we do ask that dinner be supplied
Do you drink at the reception?
Absolutely not
Why is professional wedding photography so expensive?
The fast majority of brides in our market are paying an average of 5,000.00 for their wedding photography coverage. . We take on average over 1,000 pictures during a single wedding event and guarantee at least 600-800 images for your selection. We spend alot of time processing and editing these images so they will produce the best images for you. We will be on our feet for an average of 10-12 hours to cover any single wedding. It takes us over 60 hours of post processing, sizing, organizing and uploading your images. This is just a short glimpse into what we do in front and behind the scene to insure you get quality for every penny you spend with us. We are at your service and we follow you and your day with the intent to cover every facet of it.
Do you do Black and White Images?
We sure do, and we also do many other enhancements to enrich your images and make a quality selection for you to choose
Do you shoot with Digital Cameras?
We shoot with only Canon Professional Equipment and lenses
Do you have backup Cameras?
Yes we do, we always come prepared for backup on all of our equipment, batteries and flash cards. We realize things happen, so we want to make sure, IF they do, we are still fully able to cover your event
How new is your equipment?
We are always buying new items. Our oldest piece of equipment is 1 year old
Do you charge a travel expense?
Anything inside our local area or within 45 mintues of travel is covered in your package, anything outside of this or destination weddings can be discussed any time by giving us a call
Do you do Destination Weddings and what is your charge?
Yes, we do. Our charges for packages do not change, We ask that you cover our expenses for travel, lodging and transportation
When do you recommend doing the group shots?
We recommend doing as much before the ceremony as we can, insuring that the bride is not seen by the groom or guests, we like to get these photos done 1 hour if not more before the actual ceremony. People run late, things happen, so we suggest telling everyone to be ready 2 hours before the ceremony begins, that way, you will be ready to do your group shots. The same with the groomsmen. We also recommend doing this so we can utilize the beauty of the day and take advantage of the outside and do some shots outside. Ceremonies can run over, you have a reception to get to and being rushed for those important family shots does not make for happy faces or people. We try to get as much as we can done before, to insure you the time and peace of making it to the reception on time to rejoice with family and friends
Do you recommend us getting a wedding planner?
Absolutely! A wedding planner can only make your day go smoother. Alot of times the bride of family will look to those they have hired to help guide people through the day and generally we (not only the photographer) are too busy to help. If you cannot afford a wedding planner, I would suggest asking a close friend or relative to help guide everyone to their proper places, take care of lighting candles, moving the gift box and items to the receptions and so on
Why don’t you take final payment when we pick up our proofs or on our wedding day?
We used to do that, but simply. We spend alot of time and money to produce your images and we want to make sure we get paid. Your wedding day should not be a day of handing out checks to pay the balances. The photographer is responsible to provide you with a variety of services and your only respnsiblility is to pay for them…It costs hundreds of dollars to produce your images, books and Cd’s…and sometimes after the wedding, couples will pay when it is convenient for them. A business cannot operate like that. We want to give you the best service we can, therefore we instituted this policy
Do you only do weddings?
No, we do a variety of service: Seniors Pictures, Bar/Bat Mitvahs, Picnics, Parties, Sport Schools and Events, Open Houses, Grand Openings, Corporate Parties, Baby or Bridal Showers, Engagements and all other photographic needs. Group tours (we are passport ready). Funeral services done with discretion and integrity
What makes your services better or different from your competitors?
We like what we do, we love meeting new people and sharing in their great day. Sure, it’s a job, but way beyond that is we enjoy it
We want you to do our wedding or event, now what?
Just give us a call. We will make sure we leave your special day open and make an appointment to sit down and talk. A 300.00 deposit is required for reserving your wedding day and 75.00 for seniors or most other events
