Planning a wedding can be really exciting but also a super overwhelming journey filled with too many decisions to make. Choosing the right Wedding Photographer is one of the more important parts to the Wedding planning process. To help you navigate this important choice, I’ve compiled a list of the most popular frequently asked questions that Couples have asked me during their interview process with my answers. From understanding the difference between different photography style to important “what if” scenarios, this blog post covers everything you need to know to help you make an informed decision on choosing your Wedding Photographer or hopefully choosing me!
Your 36 Most Asked Wedding Questions & Answers
1. What is your Wedding Photography style?
My photography style is a hybrid of several types of Photography mainly Documentary (candid / unposed) and Editorial (posed). The editing style is true-to-life color with pops of color and sometimes moody when it suits the occasion.
2. Do you work with straight Couples?
I always get so happy when a Couple has to ask, because that means I’m doing a good job representing my LGBTQ+ Community. Yes, of course I work with Straight / CIS Couples. When I first started Wedding Photography I wanted all Couples to come to my website and be able to see themselves in my work. It’s so important to me to center marginalized Couples and create a safe space for them during their Wedding journey.
3. Do you offer videography?
Tiny House Photo does not offer videography, as I stick to what I’m great at. I’m not interested in videography, however I have started offering GIF Movies to Couples who want it and don’t have a videographer on Wedding Day. Here’s a link to my YouTube so you can check out this cool new offering.
4. Do we need a second photographer?
It depends. For Weddings under 150 guests, I’d say it’s not necessary unless the Couple is getting ready in two different locations. For Weddings over 150 guests I’d say yes, it would benefit you to have a second photographer’s point of view. I typically ask my photography colleagues if they are able to second and worse case scenario ask them for referrals if they are already booked.
5. Do we need an Engagement Session?
Yes. If it’s a local Wedding, 99% of the time I’m going to offer a complimentary Engagement session so we can work together before your Wedding Day. Engagement sessions are a great way for us to get comfortable working together, get you experience in front of my camera and you’ll see the process in receiving sneak peeks and your edited gallery. By Wedding Day we’ll be old friends and you’ll feel more at ease, one less thing to stress about on Wedding Day.
6. How do you deliver the photos?
I use a gallery service that I will send you by email and a link by text. If I create GIFS for you, I’ll text you the social media ready versions. The gallery is super simple to use, but I do have an Instagram reel explaining how to download the images if you need help.
7. Do you offer film photography?
I sure do! Fun fact, I started my photography career as a film photographer in the 90s. I didn’t go digital until 2008. There is a film add on for Weddings, Elopements and Engagement Sessions. I send the rolls of film to the lab for processing and then I edit them and deliver them with your digital gallery. Right now I am only offering 35mm but hopefully getting a new medium format camera into the arsenal soon!
8. Can our photos remain private?
Absolutely. I have kept plenty of Weddings, Elopements and Sessions private at the request of my Clients. When I am allowed to share the images, I never use names or identifying details about my Clients. No one will ever be able to search your name and find your Wedding Photos unless you want them published on an outside blog like Dancing with Her or Equally Wed. I understand how awful online can be and will always respect my Client’s right to privacy.
9. Can we have the Raw files?
Unless you are a Professional Photographer, you really don’t need the Raw files. Raw files are unedited and unusable unless you have professional editing software. If having the Raw files is truly important to you, I will buy an external hard drive and put the Raw files on it for you. The cost for Raw files is $5,000 added to your Wedding Collection. This would also be an amendment to your Wedding Agreement that the Raw files will not be shown anywhere online.
10. Should we do a first look?
If you want a first look, they are great for many reasons, mostly making the most of your Wedding Day timeline. I also love when Couples spend the whole Wedding Day together. Once the ceremony is over, you won’t have time to just be with each other as you’ll be entertaining your guests the rest of your Wedding. If you do a first look you’ll get to spend most of your day together and to me, that makes it worth it in my opinion. If you have your heart set on attending your cocktail hour, you pretty much have to do a first look in order to make the timeline work.
11. Why is Wedding Photography so expensive?
“Expensive” and “budget” is subjective and means something entirely different to each Couple. Weddings are a luxury service and there is an unbelievable the amount of work, time and talent that goes into each event. For every 8 hour Wedding, there is at least 50-60 hours of work behind the scenes for that one Wedding. 30% of every collection goes straight to taxes and the remainder goes to operating costs such as rent, software, gear and professional licenses and insurances. Wedding Photographers make less than you think.
12. How long will it take to get our photos back?
Typically you will receive sneak peeks from your Engagement Session and your Wedding Day a few hours after I’ve departed. Sometimes if the Wedding runs super late, you’ll receive the sneak peeks the next morning. Sessions take about a week or two depending on my current editing queue. Weddings can take 4-8 weeks depending on the queue. If you add on the GIF Movie it takes a bit longer as there are way more photos to edit and a movie to create.
13. Can we bring our dog?
This will always be a YES from me! I encourage every Couple who has pets to include them in their Engagement Session! Pets are part of your story and deserve some quality time in front of my camera. Pets at Weddings can be stressful for the pet and the humans, so I always advice incorporating this at your own discretion. If you have a well tempered pet and have a friend or family member willing to play pet sitter at your event, go for it! It makes for great photo opportunities and everyone loves having pets at Weddings. There are even pet services that will transport your pups to and from the Wedding and pet sit while you’re at the Wedding.
14. What is your favorite part of a Wedding Day?
So this is like trying to pick a favorite Taylor Swift album for me, it’s impossible. I think I have to go with just after the Couple has their kiss and comes back up the aisle. There is always so much joy, the nerves are all gone and everyone is just beaming. It’s definitely a high point of a Wedding Day.
15. Can we have a discount?
I do not offer discounts on Wedding Collections as it would be a disservice to Couples who pay full price. My prices are more than fair and competitive in today’s current market. I am happy to create a Wedding Collection that works, but please do not ask for a discount.
I am open to Bartering for photo sessions under certain circumstances.
16. What sets you apart from other Wedding Photographers?
Ego free Wedding Photographer here, leaving all judgements at the door. I actually truly care about my Couples, a ride or die if you will. Your Wedding is not about my photography, winning photography awards or what might go viral on TikTok. Your Wedding is about two families becoming one and celebrating you. My only agenda is holding space for my Couples to be themselves, creating beautiful images for them and having the best experience with me as their Wedding Photographer. After working with dozens of other Professional Photographers, I assure you we are not all the same.
17. Do you work well with other Wedding vendors?
Wedding vendors make or break your day. I arrive on Wedding Day with a smile and work well with others. When you book me as your Wedding Photographer I provide you with a list of my favorite vendors to work with in Florida. If you are having a Destination Wedding I can reach out to my Photographer friends all over the Country to find the best suggestions for you if needed.
18. What is your favorite Wedding venue?
This is another trick question. I’m a Taurus so I love anything nature, woodsy, gardens, mountains, etc. But I’ve also loved documenting Couples in urban downtown areas, at Museums and at generic Wedding venues. The venue honestly does not matter to me, my job is to document the moments! So to answer the question, I do not have a favorite.
19. What is your favorite city / state to photograph Weddings in?
Living in Florida most of my life you’d think I’d say beaches, but anywhere with woods and mountains is typically my favorite. Colorado, California, Washington and upstate New York have been amazing so far. Excited to experience more states through my Wedding Photography!
20. Do you offer Wedding Albums?
YES! I love designing Wedding Albums and seeing the photos come to life. Holding your Wedding photos in your hands is such a different experience than viewing them on a phone screen or computer. I’d love for all of my Couples to start purchasing physical Albums!
21. When did you start photographing Weddings? How long have you been a Professional Photographer?
My first Wedding was photographed in May 2013 in Yosemite and my second was a few months later in Maui. I was already running my photography business since 2009, but pivoted to Weddings primarily around this time. When I realized how much fun Weddings were, I teamed up with two of my favorite local Wedding Photographers to second shoot for them and get more Wedding experience.
22. How should we store / save our Wedding Photos?
Download the entire gallery using the download button which is located directly under the main photo of your photo gallery. (See images below for examples) I always recommend downloading and saving in multiple places such as your computer, an external hard drive, an online cloud source, etc. Living in states like Florida and California, I’ve dealt with flooding, fires and also theft, so I know the importance of having files in multiple places. Technology fails frequently so having backups of everything online is very important to insure the safety of your images. The galleries remain live for up to a year but I recommend downloading your gallery in full as soon as possible.
23. Can we print our photos?
There is a professional lab within your gallery to make things super easy for you, however you are not obligated to purchase from my lab. You are able to download the images and print at your favorite lab.
24. Have you worked at our Wedding Venue before?
Honestly, this is the most frustrating question for me personally. I do not enjoy working at the same venue over and over again. So if the answer is no, it should have no weight on your decision when choosing your Wedding Photographer. All of the out of state venues have been new to me and it never matters. Before every Wedding and Elopement I do research on the venues and location scout if not days before, I arrive early on Wedding Day. Having prior experience at a particular venue does not matter at all.
25. When should we book our Engagement Photos?
It depends how you are using the photos. You can book your Engagement Session as soon as you book your Wedding Photographer if you’re using the images for your Wedding website or Save the Dates. If you’re doing the session just for experience working with the Photographer, the timing doesn’t matter much. Pick a date when the weather would be best for you.
26. What happens if you are sick and can’t make it to our Wedding?
If I broke an appendage or found myself hospitalized, I would contact my most trustworthy Photography peers to see who was available to cover the event for me. I would still edit the photos and deliver as if I photographed the Wedding myself.
27. Have you ever not made it to a Wedding?
In my twelve years of Wedding Photography I have never called out to a Wedding event. I often still wear a mask during indoor Weddings to make sure I stay healthy. I took the pandemic very seriously and never had to call out of a Wedding.
28. Have you ever lost a Couple’s Wedding photos?
I have never lost Wedding images in my twelve years of documenting Weddings. I did delete one rehearsal dinner on a memory card by accident during a very busy season and after having that happen once, I assure you, it will never happen again.
29. What would you do if your Camera stopped working?
This is the exact reason I have multiple camera bodies at Weddings and Elopements. If your Wedding Photographer is only using one camera, that is a MAJOR red flag.
30. What kid of camera gear do you use?
I have been using Canon since 1995. When I went digital in 2008, I stuck with Canon so I was able to use my lenses. Currently I have two Canon R5 mirrorless cameras, a lot of Canon lenses and I use Goddox flashes. I also have a few Canon 35mm film cameras.
31. What if you are already booked on our date?
I do not double book Weddings. If your date is flexible and you haven’t locked down venue or invitations, you might consider changing it! I’ve had Clients do this in the past.
Wedding Photographers that promote “Associates” are actually going into Facebook groups to find random photographers to shoot Weddings which is deceitful. If a Wedding Photographer offers up an “Associate” because they are booked on your date, I’d find another Photographer who is available.
32. Why are deposits non-refundable?
Deposits or retainers are holding your date. If we get inquiries for your Wedding Date, we are turning away business. Non-refundable deposits are industry standard for most Wedding vendors. Deposits also cover all of the time we have invested in you before your Wedding Day with meetings, emails and planning.
33. What would happen if our Wedding has to be rescheduled?
I have been more than flexible with Wedding date changes, especially since the pandemic. If you are choosing a new date, I definitely recommend reaching out before deciding to ensure your main vendors are all available. I do not require a new deposit, I transfer your original deposit.
34. Do you carry Insurance?
Yes, I have all of the appropriate licenses and insurances to work at any venue. If your venue needs an insurance certificate, I just need their sample certificate to submit to my insurance company.
35. How do you handle travel delays for your Destination Weddings?
Whether it’s a road trip or I’m taking a plane, I always arrive 2 to 3 days before your Wedding or Elopement because I know from experience how unreliable travel can be. If I’m heading more than 3 hours from home I arrive the night before.
36. Why should we choose Tiny House Photo to photograph our Wedding?
If you love my work and want a Wedding Photographer who cares, it’s me. I put all of my heart and soul into every Wedding Day and my only goal is to make my Couples so happy with their experience and love their Wedding photos.
