I get asked these questions all the time so here is a breakdown of frequently asked questions.

1) My venue is dark.  Is this going to be an issue?

No.  We are equipped with professional external flashes to compensate for dimly lit venues.  In addition, our cameras and lenses have low light capabilities to be able to photograph in situations where we may not be allowed to use flash, such as during a Catholic ceremony.

2) Do you touch up all the photos?

We will cull the images and select the “best of”.  We’ll include basic touchups such as adjusting for white balance, skin tones and highlights for those selected images that are delivered to you.  Images selected for your album will receive extra touch ups.  If you have a special request such as removing a bridesmaid’s tattoo, that is considered a custom edit and is quoted separately.

3) How many hours do you suggest that we need?

Our average bride usually books for 6 or 8 hours.  If you desire a lot of pre-ceremony photos or if your ceremony and reception are at two different locations we recommend that you book at least 8 hours. After we learn more details about your wedding day we will be able to give you a more specific recommendation on coverage.

4) How many images do we receive? And how long does it take to get them back?

Since every wedding is different, we do not guarantee a set amount of images.  There are several factors that affect the amount of images shot at your wedding including the amount of hours you have contracted us, activities you have scheduled and the number of people in your party.  As a guideline you can expect approx. 55-65 images per hour of service that you contract. If you have two photographers the number increases to approx 100 images per hour of service. My turnaround varies depending on the time of year but I strive to deliver the finished gallery within 6-8 weeks.

5) Can I show you samples of photos that I like?

It is helpful to see samples of images that represent the style you are looking to achieve in your wedding images.  You may e-mail some sample images that you like or send us a link to your Pinterest planning board. We do our best to replicate images in our own style, but do not guarantee specific shots.

6) I have lots of downtime between the ceremony and reception.  Will we be charged for that?

Our hours of service are calculated from when we arrive at your ceremony venue to when we leave the reception. Although the schedule

may appear to have some wedding downtime there may still be activities going on that you will want documented to help tell the complete story of your day.  Oftentimes it’s during the downtime that we are able to catch the most candid moments.  It’s a great time to do group photos as well, or to get a photo with that friend or relative who may have missed the pre-ceremony group photo session.

7) What happens if things run late and we need more time?  We provide a courtesy 10-15 minute grace period just in case things run a little late and you haven’t got to the cake cut, etc… If you know early on that you are going to need additional coverage it’s best to inform us prior to your wedding day.  Any time added on the wedding day is billed at our hourly a la carte pricing, which may be higher than our package rates.  So if you think you may need more hours, it’s better to book them ahead of time. Sometimes your family surprises you with a horse and carriage ride or Bucky and the timeline for the day has to change.

8) What happens if I lose my images?

We keep backup digital files of our images on two servers.  In case of an emergency we can send you a downloadable link.  The first time is complimentary. You will be charged a fee for any additional retrieval requests.  There is a fee for all replacement usb flash drives in addition to any shipping costs.

9) What is your photography style?

I shoot with the perfect mix between documentary and beautiful magazine quality portraits. I watch for real moments during the day, artistic couple’s portraits, fun wedding party groups, family photos, and still-life details (rings, decor, flowers, dresses, and shoes). Mix all these together, and you have a perfect compilation of timeless images to cherish for a lifetime.

10) What happens if there is an emergency on our wedding day and you can’t make it?

I haven’t missed a wedding in the last 17 years. But, if something were to happen, I am part of a large network of photographers in Madison who will step in at a moment’s notice as I would do for them. I also have several associate photographers on speed dial that I work with all the time.

 

 

 

One of the greatest things about photographing a friend’s wedding is that I get to spend the whole day with them and make sure to get the most personal, intimate, and real photos I can get. Kelly was so wonderful to work with! I loved how every time Brian said something funny to her, she would have this full on, head thrown back laugh that was just contagious. I got my first taste of this during their engagement session in the spring. I had not met Brian yet so had no idea what I was in for. He is one of the funniest and sweetest men I have ever met. We had the best time and when the wedding came around, I knew we were going to have a wonderful day and was ready for it.

Kelly had a vision that was so beautiful and inspiring. First of all, the First Unitarian Society is one of my favorite ceremony venues in Madison. Not only because it is unique and the architecture is beautiful (Hello Frank Lloyd Wright!), but also for what they stand for. All inclusive, non judgmental of any faith,  unbiased and spiritual. During the ceremony Kelly brought in “The Blue Brigade” which was all of their young relatives, and had them each bring her a flower at the beginning of the processional to create her bouquet. It was such a sweet way to include everyone and since there were so many young people, it was only right to have the reception at the Children’s Museum downtown! The design of all the flower arrangements was done by the insanely creative bride and then given out to guests at the end of the night as favors. I even got to take one home and I just love it! It is a centerpiece in my living room right now! It had a very tropic vibe and the cake was amaaazzziiing!

Her look was magazine worthy from her gorgeous dress from Vera’s right down to her sparkly butterfly shoes by Badgley Mischka. As I was taking photos of the rings, I noticed the inscription inside of Brian’s ring that said “Per Aspera, ad astra” and then something else that I couldn’t quite make out. But what I do know, is what Per Aspera, ad astra means: “through hardships to the stars” in Latin! How cool is that???

By the end of the night, I had a chance to sit down with a couple of long time friends and play some pong and enjoy a delicious beer. I just know these two will have an insanely wonderful life together. With all that laughter, how could they not?

I had a hard time narrowing down to just a hundred images for this one. So, you get to see quite a a bit of this wedding. I hope you enjoy!!!

Awesome Vendors Involved:

Ceremony:  First Unitarian Society  //  Officiant: Reverand Kelly Crocker  //  Reception: Madison Children’s Museum – Coordinator: J Belmont  //  Cake:  Trish Figueroa  //  Catering: Blue Plate Catering  //  Bar Service: Roman Candle  //  Donut wall: Cedar and Spice  and Greenbush  Bakery  //  DJ: Kuhl Entertainment – Patrick Archer  //  Flowers:  Felly’s Flowers  //  Wedding Dress: Vera’s House of Bridals  //  Grooms Tux: Jazzman  //  Brian’s Ring: Boundless Bands on Etsy  //  Kelly’s Wedding Band: Blue Nile and Engagement Ring designed with Trisha and Brett at the Diamond Center

 

 

Chris and Pam put together this super fun, intimate wedding in just a few months. They met up with me beforehand at Olbrich Gardens where we had an hour to just walk around and take photos. This is one of the most beautiful places in Madison to go take photos, especially for weddings. This year they are renovating so they are not hosting weddings but we just got a permit and were good to go! Pam and Chris love the Thai Pavilion so we made sure to spend some extra time over there. They ran through a flock of wild flamingos and jumped over hedges to get the perfect shot! The ceremony was small and intimate with just some close family near by with Chris’s brother officiating and Pam’s niece and nephew as the ring bearers. Afterwards, we took advantage of the beautiful weather and got some great photos outside the Capitol and the top of State St. You wouldn’t really think about the Ale Asylum for a wedding reception but these guys did and it was just lovely. We took over the entire upstairs and patio and enjoyed all of their incredible beer and cocktails. I really enjoyed spending time with these two. Photos were important to them and you can tell by the way they look at each other and laugh at all the jokes that they had a great time and were relaxed and truly enjoyed their day.

 

 

 

Hailee and Daniel asked if I would come over to their house for their engagement session because they just got a new puppy and wanted to include the little munchkin in our shoot. OH MY GOODNESS! There is so much cuteness going on here that I can’t even handle it. The pups were the perfect subjects and did everything I wanted them to do…and that is basically: be cute!

Then we went for a little walk outside in their neighborhood and there was this gorgeous pond with a path all around it. It was a really beautiful evening and I really enjoyed seeing these two laugh together and enjoy this little moment of togetherness.  That’s why I love engagement sessions so much. You get to hold each other, look into each other’s eyes, smell them, love them and  just be WITH them. I can’t imagine a better way to spend an hour!