+ How do booking & payment work?

Once you’ve decided you’d like to book me (yay!), I send a digital contract and invoice. After your contract is signed and retainer is paid, you are officially on my calendar! The remaining payment will be due one month before the wedding, but we can set up a flexible payment plan if you would like. This whole process is electronic, so we don’t have to worry about meeting up if you’re out of town or sending anything in the mail.

+ Our venue requires vendors to carry insurance. Can you provide that?

Yes! I carry insurance year-round and can get your venue or coordinator the necessary documentation for proof of insurance. Just have them be in touch with me on the requirements!

+ Do we need to hire a planner?

Yes! All weddings from intimate backyard events to lavish affairs need planners/coordinators. You can either hire a month-of coordinator to help manage the organization leading up to the event, or a full-service planner to help you with everything! By not having a planner, logistical issues will fall on either the couple, the couple's parents, or the photographer. This will ultimately lower your enjoyment of this important day as well as the quality of the photographs.

Please keep in mind that a venue coordinator (included with many wedding packages) is NOT the same as a planner. They work for the VENUE, not for YOU, and don't help with everything that a wedding planning can help with. This is such an important day that you want to go well, and the first thing you can do to make it run smoothly is hire a planner. Contact me for recommendations!

+ What if something happens to you and you can't shoot our wedding?

If something happens to me and I cannot shoot your event/session, I will either find a suitable replacement or refund you. I also select my 2nd shooters as people who can take over in an emergency, so if something happens to me during your wedding or that morning, they are readily available to step in and lead the photos for the wedding day.

+ Do you charge sales tax?

Per California state laws, sales tax must be charged for CA residents on packages that include any tangible items (like prints/albums). This tax rate goes by the address you will be residing at when I send the final products and is not included in the package price. Some packages may have the possibility of foregoing sales tax by doing digital delivery only, so let me know if that’s something you’re interested in and I’ll see what I can do!

+ We don't need that many hours. Can we reduce the coverage for a lower rate?

While I'm open to customizing packages, sometimes it isn't really possible to reduce the number of hours to reduce the cost of the package. For example, I don't have elopement packages smaller than Collection #4 which includes up to 3hr of coverage. This is because there is still so much back-end work that goes into photographing even a 1hr elopement that my minimum rate remains the cost of Collection #4. It doesn't hurt to ask!

+ What's your shooting style on the wedding day?

My style marries posed portraits with documentary-style moments. I'm pretty hands-on for much of the wedding day and look for the little things that might make a photo better--from pulling down the inner lining of your gown to smooth it out, to re-pinning the groomsmen's boutonnieres. But at the same time, I'm always looking around me for the little moments you don't have time to notice and love to include a lot of candids in your gallery.

Previous clients have said that they love how much I help the day run a little smoother, which is exactly one of my goals. I want to make your day better AND give you the tangible memories to look back on. I always have a goal to not take away from any moment during the wedding day but also not add anything unnecessary. I'm not making up any moments that have nothing to do with your wedding, but rather I'm telling the story of the day through photos.

+ Do you shoot with film or digital? Do we have to develop the film?

Both! During a portrait session where I'm pretty in-control of all the elements (time, location, posing, etc.), I shoot 100% film. For weddings, I switch between film & digital constantly. I may take portraits and details on all film, then digital for faster moments or during the reception when it's darker. It just kind of depends :) You won't be able to tell the difference between film and digital though, as I edit my digitals to match the aesthetics of the film scans. I just personally prefer film and use it as much as possible to give you that timeless look!

Whether I've taken the photos with film or digital, you will always receive your photos as digital files in an online gallery. I will be the one dealing with developing and digitally scanning the negatives thanks to my awesome professional film lab, so you don't have to worry about any of that!

+ What kind of gear will you be bringing?

I try to keep my gear as simple as possible so I don’t intrude too much. I shoot with a Mamiya 645 film camera and a Sony a7iii mirorrless digital camera with a few lens changes. During the reception, I’m usually good with just a flash on top of my camera without needing a whole lighting setup, so I’m not hurting the ambiance you’ve planned!

In addition to the above, I also bring back-ups of everything in case anything happens. My gear for a wedding day will primarily be contained to one rolling suitcase.

For engagement sessions, you'll just see me with my film camera and a small shoulder bag (with back-up gear in the car, just in case). I keep things very minimal so I can be fully focused on YOU rather than the tech.

+ Do I need a second shooter?

Read all about second shooters here! In short, I highly recommend them for most weddings, otherwise you will be missing out on candids and other photos of your guests. And most couples tend to want lots of those photos!

My Collection #3 includes a "photographer's assistant," which is not a second shooter (but can be upgraded to be one). An assistant is somebody who helps me with my bags/gear, can help with the veil, bouquet, and other details during the portraits, and more. An assistant will not be taking photographs.

+ How long have you been doing photography?

I began with videography and filmed my first wedding in 2014 while I was still in college. After that, I did a couple weddings each year until I started my full-time business in 2017, which is when I started getting really serious about photography as well. Now I photograph about 15-20 weddings per year and love every minute!

+ How many photos will we get?

Every wedding/session is a little different, so I don’t guarantee a specific number, but I also don’t limit it! You’ll receive all my edits without needing to pay to get more. For a wedding, around 75-100 edited photos per hour of coverage is a good estimate, but it could easily be more than that. Engagement sessions usually result in about 80-120 photos to ensure a good variety without being overwhelming.

+ How soon will we get to view our gallery? Do you do sneak peeks?

I actually LOVE the editing process and try to turn it around pretty quickly, but film photography does take slightly longer to get back. Photo sessions are usually done in 3-4 weeks and wedding photos in 6-8 weeks. I love sending sneak peeks before the full wedding gallery is ready, and I’ll give you updates along the way! How soon I send a sneak peek might depend on how busy my film lab and I are.

+ Can we have the RAW photos?

I do not offer RAW photos for purchasing or viewing. Curating & editing are a HUGE part of the artistic process in photography, and you’d be hard pressed to find any photographer who gives or sells their RAW images. (Plus, when shooting with film photography, the photos you’re getting are largely what I get from the scanner anyway.) I promise that the gallery I provide is the best outcome you'll have from your photography experience!

+ Can/Should I provide you a shot list?

Nope! I know to get the big things like your first kiss, a photo of the rings. The only “shot list” I’ll need from you is all the family formal combinations you want (don’t worry, I walk you through this and give you a template to fill out with names) as well as any extra group photos you may want (like your old high school friend group who never gets together anymore). Other than that, I can totally take the reins and capture everything you think you need and more!

+ What do we wear for our portraits?

This is 100% something I can guide you through entirely, especially as I’ve done a little work in fashion before! I send my engagement clients an engagement session planning guide and a Pinterest board for inspo, and I am also available for giving feedback if you send me photos of what you have in mind :)

+ I'm self conscious about x. Can you photoshop me?

The only things I ever photoshop are temporary blemishes (acne, maybe bruises or scrapes) and potentially distractions within the scene, such as a trash can standing behind you during your first dance. If you have concerns about your body, please let me know prior and I will do my best to strategically minimize them while shooting! I'm a firm believer in not altering somebody's body for photos that are meant to pause moments in time.

+ We are just looking around. Will you still be available when we're ready to book?

I limit the amount of bookings I can take on every year, and peak wedding dates (especially Saturdays in May-Oct) book up very quickly!! If I receive another inquiry for your wedding date, I give you 48 hours to sign the contract and pay the retainer first. If you don't within that time, I give the other couple a chance to book.

Also, I can only guarantee your quoted price for one week after you inquire. Due to demand, I raise my pricing often. After a week, I may not be able to honor the quote anymore. I know choosing a photographer for your big day is a huge decision, but you do not want to miss out on your favorite vendors in a time we are booking up like crazy!

+ Do you shoot anything other than engagements, weddings, and boudoir?

Yes! It's natural for my couples to need photography after their weddings are said and done. I'm also available for anniversary sessions, maternity, newborn, and family. Feel free to reach out if you're in need of any of these!

+ What is your COVID-19 policy?

My contracts have been updated to include multiple clauses about situations regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are forced to postpone your wedding, I will definitely work with you to try to make that happen. If your wedding is postponed to a date I'm not available, I may hire an associate shooter to work under me so that you're still working with my business but have another photographer photographing the actual wedding day (but don't worry, I fully vet my shooters to ensure they're professional and do quality work on par with mine).

During the pandemic, I am wearing a mask the whole time we shoot and wash/sanitize my hands regularly. I keep my distance as much as possible and never touch you to adjust posing without your explicit permission or sanitizing my hands. I expect my clients to inform me if they are experiencing any symptoms or test positive, or if they've heard anyone who attended the wedding has tested positive.

I am also fully vaccinated as of mid-May 2021.

Please let me know if you'd like to review my official contract terms regarding COVID-19.