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.

 

 

 

When I asked Rebecca what her theme was for her wedding, she said “If Great Gatsby went to Europe.” Glitz and glam, sequins, headbands, feathers and beads. Beautiful golden swans topped the wedding cake and also on Jeffrey’s wedding band. They each had accents of emeralds on their rings which, I believe, they found in Dublin. They added so many unique touches to this wedding making it entirely their own!

It was a whirlwind of a day with everyone in their finest flappery. I couldn’t stop staring at some of these incredible golden sequined dresses! And the guys did not disappoint either. Check out the boy in his sweet mustache! Jeffrey wore a fantastic velvet suit-coat that I’m sure everyone wanted to pet and Rebecca’s dress was a gift from Jeffery that she found after her first dress wasn’t the perfect one. She actually wore it for part of her boudoir session earlier this summer. It was so gorgeous with all the shoulder and back beadwork. Daaaammnnn!

I’ll just let you see for yourself how incredible this wedding was. Their vision was poetic and beautiful. And the day went couldn’t have gone any better. Especially with the help of all these amazing vendors:

Venue: Lake Windsor Country Club //  Dress: Thelma’s Bridal //  Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal and Elegant Occasions  //  Hair and Makeup: Sondra Koenig  //  Groom’s attire: Men’s Wearhouse  //  Cupcakes: Gigi’s  //  DJ: Scott Mueller  //  Rings: Neal Conway and Jim Creashak 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

A luxurious February wedding at Our Lady Queen of Peace and The Park Hotel on the Capitol Square.

Our Lady Queen of Peace is full of beautiful stained glass windows and light. It makes a wonderful backdrop for a large wedding! We started our day with Lindsay and Jimmy getting ready at The Park Hotel by the Capitol. I love these hotel rooms because they also have beautiful light and a great view of the Square. All the ladies had on these super cute matching pajama sets and I just had to get a shot of them all together on the bed! Once they were all ready, we headed over to the church and got ready for the first look. The photos of Jimmy’s face when he walked out to see Lindsay are priceless! His grin was so huge! I think from that moment on, that smile did not leave his face.

When we left the church, the wedding party made a fun pit stop to Sellery Hall where they all met and got some fun photos in front of the sign. I also have fond memories from there! Ah, the college days. I didn’t go to UW Madison but I did visit quite often from UWP!  Then we spent some quality time at the Capitol and braved the cold. The ladies were major rock stars and kept their smiles on the whole time. We just hopped on the bus every once in a while to warm up and grab a quick drink and then back out to show off their gorgeousness! I Loooove their flannel shawls. So cute.  The last stop was out at Karben 4 Brewing Company. Of course we had to get a shot in front of the famous unicorn!

Their reception started off with a super fun table run where they went through the whole room and got a photo with every table all within one song. And we did it!!!! Me and Heidi tag teamed and some of the tables really went all out with it. The last one even did a pyramid! So much fun!  Then they played the shoe game where the dj asked questions and Lindsay and Jimmy had to lift either their own shoe or the other’s for the answer. So many fun reactions.

It was such a wonderful, fun, loving and happy day! So many guests came from all over the country to be with them and support them and show their love. All in February! Truly goals!

 

All of this was put together with the help of many wonderful vendors:

Ceremony: Our Lady Queen of Peace  //  Getting ready location and Reception: The Park Hotel  //  Hair/Makup: Katrina at the Posh Beauty Bar  //  Wedding Dress: Premier Couture //  DJ: The Milwaukee DJ  //  Floral and Cake: Hyvee  //  Second Photographer:  Heidi E Johnson