There are always a few frequently asked questions, so here are my answers to those questions. But please feel free to call or email me – I would love to chat about your wedding day and how I can shoot it for you.
Do you shoot digital or film?
Digital, definitely digital.
Do you work with an assistant?
Yes I do. There will be 2 of us at your wedding.
What equipment do you use – do you have back-up equipment?
I only use professional Canon photographic bodies and lenses. I always shoot with 2 cameras to ensure I can capture items near me as well as something that may happen across the room. In addition to that there is also a selection of backup equipment.
Do you travel for weddings?
Yes! I am based in Gauteng, but I have shot weddings in Malawi, Botswana, Hazyview, Drakensburg
How long before the wedding should I book my photographer?
I would say at least 8 months in advance. Don’t leave it to the last minute or you will be disappointed. A good photographer will not be available 2 months before the wedding.
How do I book you?
Send me an email with the date of your wedding sand I will reply with my availability and the package details. Once you are happy, a deposit is paid to secure the date.
Simple as that.
Do you meet us before we book you?
I have booked clients on the strength of an email conversation and have booked others over the course of several meetings. There is no right way. Ideally you need to be comfortable with me as your photographer – we will be spending a lot of time together on the day. If you would like to get together and chat, I have client meetings at my studio in Midrand on weekdays during office hours. If that is a problem, we can arrange an afterhours meeting at my studio.
How much time do you need for the photographs on the day?
I think every photographer will have a difference recipe. I prefer to work according to the following times:
- Reception décor 30min: I prefer to do this before I go to the bride because then it is done and I can shoot what I need without your guests walking around the reception hall later in the day.
- Bridal Prep: 1hr+: It depends on whether you are having a boudoir session and a formal bridal portrait session or just getting ready.
- Ceremony: 30 min +
- Group shot and the family formals: 20 min – 30 min
- Couple photos: 1 hour + The more time we have the more relaxed you will be and the better the photographs will be.
- Reception and the rest of the evening: I can stay as long as you would like me to, but once the garter / bouquet have been thrown and the dancing starts you don’t need me there for much more than 30 min as it is generally the same people doing the same moves to different music :-)
Table shots:
Do I do them, um, er, no. I really prefer not to. It is always difficult (if not a little rude) to stop a table in mid conversation and ask them to get up and move around the table to get a good grouping. Over and above that a table full of glasses, coke cans and plates don’t make for the best shots in my opinion.
I would prefer to be moving through the room taking candid shots of your guests enjoying your reception with you and your friends.
If you really want those groups, I suggest organizing a couch at the venue and calling up the tables one by one for a group shot before they serve themselves at the buffet. Plated service, no problem, we can always make a plan to shoot them during the evening.
Do you offer coffee table books?
Absolutely. I offer two options, a magazine style book with conventional thickness pages and an Artbook which has thicker pages and opens completely flat. We design the books to make the most of your wedding pictures. If you page through one, you cannot say no. Trust me. Click here for some examples.
What lighting equipment do you use?
During the bridal prep and couple shots I prefer to use natural light, but sometimes I need to bring my own sun as the room may be dark or the day may be overcast. I make use of a technique called off camera flash which means that the lighting is from an angle and not like the flat light an on camera flash would provide.
Depending on the amount of light the reception hall, I might set up a couple of flashes to light the proceedings specifically the garter/bouquet and the dancing.
One thing to note, a white ceiling will always deliver pictures that are beautifully lit – something a lapa venue just cannot deliver.
