Frequently asked questions

This list is very long because I am very transparent and I like you to know everything that you are getting prior to booking – to make sure that we are a good fit!

I go in depth about this on the my approach page – so it would be great to check that out for more information.

My shooting/photographic style is mostly documentary wedding photography (meaning I am unobtrusive and blend in with the guests and capture real, authentic moments), with a handful of relaxed, natural portraits.

I generally try to capture the wedding as it happens (remaining in the background), except at certain points of the day where some gentle guidance will give you the best images possible (e.g. during getting ready, portraits and family photos). This is natural and relaxed rather than overly posed.

This to me gives you the best of both worlds – I can guide you into the best light during the ‘portrait’ parts of the day, and I can capture genuine emotions during the other parts of the day (ceremony, speeches, guest mingling etc).

I am also pretty detail oriented and love touches such as flowers, rings, shoes, room decor etc. These are all special things that you have chosen for your wedding, so I try to make sure that these are captured for you.

Note: sometimes the wedding day timeline doesn’t allow me to capture room decor so if this is important to you then you need to take this into account when planning your wedding and to let your venue know that it needs to be ready by a certain time so I can photograph it; otherwise they sometimes leave it until the last minute and there is no time for me to photograph the finished product prior to the guests entering the room).

My editing style is contemporary/modern, slightly moody and clean. However the editing just adds the final touches to the photographs – the magic for me happens when I take the actual image.

My aim is to edit images that will stand the test of time – I make sure that my edits are modern, timeless and subtle for this reason.

Absolutely! You are totally welcome to come and visit me if we can arrange a place to meet in person, but as a lot of my clients live far away, I find the most efficient method of “meeting” is via Skype, Facebook video chat, or FaceTime. 

I am also able to assist with wedding planning help, due to the fact that I have been in the wedding industry since the age of 11 (I was a wedding harpist for many years). I also got married myself in 2012. I am available to answer any questions you might have in the lead up to your wedding!

It’s okay! This is totally normal! Even I don’t like being in front of the camera! I have my ways of helping you to relax in front of the camera. If you are feeling uncomfortable about having your photo taken, then having a pre-wedding shoot or engagement shoot can be a really good way to get to know me, how I work, and to learn how to relax in front of the camera!

For my pricing information, please head on over to my pricing page.

Absolutely, I am available for weddings all over the world. My main base is Christchurch, New Zealand, with another base in Auckland, New Zealand, but I am often travelling. My simple pricing is fully travel inclusive so you don’t need to worry about that!

I will request a ‘shot list’ for the family formal photographs but other than that, I aim to capture the wedding, on the day, as it is. You will also receive a questionnaire in the lead up to your wedding which will ask you if there are any specific shots that are important to you.

I can understand that you might like a photo on Instagram etc and you might want to replicate it at your own wedding. We can draw inspiration from an image you may like, but ultimately, I want to create something unique, beautiful and meaningful to you, rather than copy other photographers.

Absolutely.  

I am of course able to cover your wedding without a second photographer, but if you want both bride and groom preparations covered by me, then you will need to plan your timeline to allow for that (it is absolutely possible!). 

However if you are getting ready in different locations that are more than a 10 minute drive away from one another at the same time and you want both photographed at exactly the same time, then a second photographer can be useful. 

I don’t tend to recommend a second photographer for the full day – it’s another entire person, more cameras and can be a lot for guests.

In all honesty, in my experience working as a second photographer for other photographers overseas, not many of the second photographer’s images end up being used. It can be overkill and guest experience is important too. I have you covered.

My style is mostly natural and documentary, however there is huge value in having a handful of family formal photographs.

I will ask you prior to your wedding for a list of the family formal photographs that you require and I recommend a maximum of around 10 to make sure that you have maximum time having fun with your guests. You can of course have as many formal/family photographs as you like, we just need to make sure the time for this is built into the timeline.

My basic full day wedding package includes unlimited coverage, so you can name my start and end times.

My partial day package depends on the number of hours you want to book.

With an average wedding timeline, I start during bride/groom preparations, approximately two hours before the ceremony starting time and finish around 30 mins – 1 hour after the first dance. This makes sure absolutely everything is covered but is also balanced against the guests’ experience.

Guests like to have a wee boogie on the dance floor without the photographer there, so once I have all of the shots for a full album I can let you know. Guest experience is super important!

If you only need coverage for a short amount of time, it is worth contacting me, as I might be able to arrange a special package tailored to suit your needs. I can arrange a bespoke package for you depending on my availability.

Absolutely!  I recommend adding a pre-wedding engagement session to your wedding photography booking in order for the couple to learn how I work, and to get completely comfortable in front of the camera.

Every single image is individually colour corrected and hand edited to a high standard. I use a calibrated screen and the latest software in order to achieve this. Nothing is massed processed. I am a huge perfectionist and want to make sure every image is as good as it can be.

Certain images also get specially picked for even more special editing (generally my favourites!).

I don’t do much Photoshopping, because I believe in capturing the photo correctly on the day, rather than trying to ‘rescue’ photographs in Photoshop later.

I can also remove small non-permanent blemishes (such as pimples and shaving cuts) in close up photos. I don’t remove any permanent blemishes (such as scars, moles and birthmarks), unless I am specifically asked to. I also don’t tend to make people appear thinner or resemble something unlike their true selves.

If retouching is wanted (removing tan lines, making people change size, removing objects or people from photos etc), this can be arranged at an additional cost as it is outside the realm of what a typical wedding photographer does.

I present you with large, high resolution, highly quality, fully edited jpeg images that are ready to print and easy to view on your computer. Raw images require special software and are the modern equivalent of negatives, so they are not generally given out.

Yes, all images are delivered in both colour and black and white. Sometimes I think certain photos look better in black and white, but you might not agree, so I provide you with the colour version of the image in question as well.

I offer high quality handmade albums, which are only available to full-time professional wedding photographers. They are beautiful, luxurious and hand-made. Please get in touch for more information.

Each physical handmade album contains approximately 70-80 images and you most definitely get to choose them. After you have chosen them, I put them into an album design that I then send for you to proof. Once you are happy with the design, it gets sent to be printed. I can choose the images too if this is what you desire. You are able to choose more images – this will just mean adding extra pages to the album!

My packages include printing rights, meaning you can print them wherever you like.

You are also able to order beautiful, top fine art quality prints through myself, through professional labs that only work directly with professional photographers.

I offer this as the quality of prints available in stores can vary.

You receive your images as a digital download in a password protected online gallery. The beauty of this is that you can send the link to family and friends and they can have a copy of the images as well.

This depends on many factors – for example: how long the wedding is, how many different things are going on and how many guests there are. I average around 500-900 images. 

Absolutely. I have full insurance on all of my equipment and public liability insurance.

This is unlikely! I’m going to live forever (haha). However, in the unlikely event of my death (or serious illness), I am part of a community of wonderful photographers around the world who would make sure a photographer with a similar level of experience and expertise would cover for me.

Absolutely. I carry a full kit of professional photography gear, as well as backup equipment in the unlikely event of equipment failure.

You should book as soon as you have decided that you want me as your photographer, especially if you are getting married in summer. I am unable to hold dates and once the date is gone, it’s gone. I only shoot a set number of weddings per year so I can offer the highest levels of customer service, so my availability is limited.

The first step would be to have a good look at my website and make sure that I am the photographer for you. Have a look at my portfolio, read my about me page, see a featured wedding, and read about my approach to photography. It might also be a good idea to check out my pricing page.

The next step would be to drop me a line to check my availability.

If I am available, we can have a Skype conversation, or meet if I am the area. You however do not have to do this. After this, I will send you a contract and an invoice. To secure your wedding date, you will need to sign the contract and pay a booking fee.

If you have any more questions, or if you just want to chat, please don’t hesitate to contact me.