Wedding FAQs

Why do you choose to use both professional film & digital formats to photograph Weddings.
It is simply an artistic choice. I believe that the digital format is just another media to work with. Just like a painter has the choice of oil or watercolor paint, I have a choice of what media to use to capture the photograph. And as a visual artist, I have to concern myself with how what I create looks and what I think about it, or else I would be something else other than what I am. The truth of the matter is that I just prefer the way film captures some images, while other photographs look fine using a digital format. There is a certain texture to the film that I use, something that cannot be achieved using a digital format. I used to be embarrassed that I was using film, I actually started to think that maybe I was just old fashion and not forward thinking, but realized that just because something is available doesn't mean that I have to use it for everything that I photograph. I use what I think will result in the best photograph for the project that I am working on. Don't get me wrong, I love the convenience of using my digital cameras for some work that I do, especially the commercial projects where clients need the results immediatly and the volunteer work the studio does. But, like cooking with a microwave sometimes the old oven just gets results that I prefer. I remember when my family bought our first microwave, we were all convinced that it was the only way to cook everything. But that quickly changed when we tried to bake cookies in the thing. So just because something is new doesn't mean that it is better than something else, sometimes it's just meant to add to the experience.

What is your style of Wedding Photography?
This is probably the easiest question to answer, and the hardest at the same time. My style is truly dictated by the Bride & Groom themselves. It is dictated by the choices that they have made in each other, their Ceremony location, members of the Wedding party, family members they have invited to have in attendance, the flowers that they have selected, the time of day that they will be married, the dress that is chosen, the style of the Bride's hair, etc... If I had to nail down a style, I would say that it is timeless. I blend traditional, storytelling, detail, live action & fashion styles of photography in order to create photographs that will look as good twenty years from now as the day you picked them up from my studio. The bridal clients that I have the privilege of creating photographs for tend to be creative and modern, willing to let a professional who knows what they are doing, do what they do best. My clients look for things that are going to last and not be out of style in a year or two. Trendy is great for some things, like senior photos and cell phones, but when I make an investment in something, I want it to last forever. Just like a marriage. The question is, do you want your photography to reflect you or the latest style and look trendy and dated in 5 years?
My goal at the end of our experience together is for you to have photographs that you will treasure for a lifetime, not just think are cool right now and in 20 years say to yourself, "What was I thinking?"

Do you photograph family groups, and when you do like to do this?
Of course I photograph family groups, my initial Wedding photography training was photographing family groups. I feel that they are the MOST important photographs that will be taken that day. I am more than happy to help you decide on the best time to shoot the family photographs.

I see a lot of b&w photographs in the portfolio, will my Wedding have both color and b&w photographs?
Yes. The photographs that you see in the Wedding portfolio are photographs that I chose because of several different reasons. Some are there because I want to show the range of our photography, and others are there because I like the look of the photographs or the story behind the photograph makes a difference to me. I have had couples ask me to photograph their entire Wedding in b&w and I urge them to let me shoot both types of film in order to achieve a complete look to the final set of photographs. When you come to the studio, you will see all types of photographs from several weddings. I update the portfolio about twice a year with photographs that catch my eye.

How many photographs do you take in a day and how many can we expect to receive?
It really depends on your day and your time line.

How many photographers will be at my Wedding?
Usually there will be myself and my shooting partner Julie. We have photographed Weddings together for the past five years, and work extremely well together. Some of the photography that you see in the studio's wedding portfolio belongs to her. Julie's background is in landscape, travel and architectural artistic photography. If Julie is on assignment, I have another shooting assistant that comes with me and there are smaller Weddings that I have shot completely alone.

Will you be our photographer the day of our Wedding?
Yes, I will be at your Wedding as your photographer. I only photograph a few Weddings per month, so that I can focus all of my attention on the client's Wedding, rather than it just being another day at work. Wedding photography is more than a business to me; I truly feel that what I do is important. It is important to the Bride, it is important to the Groom and it is important to their families. Therefore, it is important to me. These photographs are going to be part of your married life forever. I understand my responsability before, on and after your Wedding Day and I take it to heart.

Is Photography your full time profession and how much of your business is photographing Weddings?
Yes, I am a full-time freelance photographer and working artist. Weddings make-up roughly 75% of my business. I also photograph families, children, headshots, lifestyle, editorial, products, interiors, etc. It is what I was meant to do, and it is my passion. I look at each project that I do as an avenue to invite new knowledge and experiences in to what I create on someone's Wedding day. I invite you to look through my entire portfolio to see the extent of my talents and abilities. I am an artist and photography is my media. I live, eat and breathe photography.

When are you available to meet to discuss my Wedding photography?
My hours are by appointment. I prefer to meet in the evening and have no problem with meeting on a Sunday.

How many times will we meet before my Wedding?
I am available to meet with my clients as many times as they wish.

Do you attend the rehearsal?
Yes, I feel that it is important for me to be there.

Where is your studio?
I am based in Chicago, IL. I am available to travel around the world, and my passport is current.

What are your Commission Rates?
Prices vary, all weddings are different.
I prefer to talk to the Bride and Groom in person, discuss their needs and expectations and then deterime the best rate possible for them.
I have shot all types of Weddings, BIG and small, ELABORATE and quaint, so if you enjoy my photography and want to have photography that will last a lifetime, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Travel is based on an individual basis.
I offer ArtLeather and Asuka albums, and various other items.

I know that planning a Wedding is not an easy task. Not only are you going through a huge life change, but you have to entertain friends and family as well. But, when everything is said and done, it is one of the most exciting days you will ever experience and you will remember it for the rest of your life. I love being a part of it all. I love the fact that I get to witness all of this through my camera lens, and knowing that I am photographing this one little moment in time for you to have forever. If you select me to have the privilege to photograph your Wedding, I give you my word that I will do my best to create photographs that go beyond your expectations and you will treasure them for a lifetime. Your Wedding photography is my art. I capture important moments forever, it is what I was meant to do and I love every minute that I am doing it.


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