FAQ: The Knot questions answered!

PITTSBURGH WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

PITTSBURGH WEDDINGS

THE KNOT QUESTIONS ANSWERED

We are now into booking season and as you are quickly booking your venue and other vendors, you likely are looking at photographers … hopefully I am one of them!!  I have been talking to a few last minute brides and grooms for 2017 and now quite a bit of 2018 couples.  I generally will secure wedding dates with my couples anywhere from 12-18 months out depending on schedules, budgets, etc.  Now is a good time to get your favorite vendors secured if you are getting married at any time in 2018 as we are – dare I say it – half way through 2017!

When I meet with couples, I will often be asked a series of questions.  Generally, this list of questions will come from popular wedding planning websites, such as The Knot or even Wedding Wire.  Changes are, this is your first time planning a wedding and naturally you aren’t sure what to ask of your vendors, photographers included.  To make it easier in your shopping, I have answered the most popular questions asked from The Knot!

WHAT IS YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY STYLE?

Well, I am admittedly a hopeless romantic so my shooting style mirrors that.  I love soft, candid, romantic shots.  I look for love and emotion in my photography.  From the bridal prep all the way to the fun party shots at the reception, I am constantly focusing on love, emotion, and real photographs.   I have my couples interact with one another and that is when I can capture those real emotions.  My editing style is classic and clean.  I worked for years to find a style of editing that is timeless.  I want you to love your photos today and still love them just as much in 20 years.

DO YOU EDIT ALL OF THE PHOTOS AND CAN I HAVE THE RAW FILES?

I take A LOT of photos the day of the wedding.  My editing process is pretty straightforward:  I go through each and every image taken and delete only those that are test shots, photos that did not turn out (eyes closed, mid-sentence talking, etc.), and true duplicates.  The photos that make the final cut are then fully edited and re-touched.  I do not release raw, unedited files.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKAGES?  CAN I ORDER AN ALBUM?

I believe that less is more and with that, I have ONE coverage option.  I am, however, always happy to customize a package or coverage option based on what you need for the day of your wedding.   I have had couples in the past that opt for coverage during the prep, ceremony, and portraits and felt that their reception did not need the coverage.  That is something that we can discuss to make sure that  you are getting the right coverage.  My coverage is for up to 8 hours and is priced at $2300 plus tax.  You can add on a discounted engagement session and I am happy to create a beautiful wedding album for you after your photos are delivered.  For more information on this, you can visit my PRICING PAGE.

DO YOU HAVE AN ASSOCIATE OR A SECOND SHOOTER?

I work completely alone!  I am a one woman show from start to finish and love every minute of it.  I’ve covered over 70 weddings to date over the last few years and have a solid system down and have the complete confidence to cover all of  my weddings alone.  I recently wrote up a blog post on this topic specifically!  To see the FAQs of my solo coverage, you can check that out HERE.

WHAT TYPE OF EQUIPMENT DO YOU BRING?  DO YOU HAVE BACKUP EQUIPMENT?

I’m a Nikon shooter and use two Nikon d750s for the duration of the wedding day.  I will almost always have two camera bodies on me at all times.  I bring an additional as a back up.  I will bring multiple flashes, batteries, and memory cards.  In the event that my equipment would fail, I always have backup gear with me to ensure your day is covered accurately and smoothly.

WHAT IF YOU CAN’T MAKE IT TO MY WEDDING?

Thankfully this has NEVER happened.  I will always make every and all effort to be there the day of your wedding should something arise.  However, if there is a dire emergency and I cannot be there, I have a network of photographers that I trust that I can reach out to.  Should that happen, the photographer that I would hire would shoot the wedding day for you and I will then edit the files.  You will still be working directly with me for your final product and the editing will be consistent with the style that you had hired me for.

WHEN CAN I SEE MY PHOTOS?

I work very hard to get your photos back to you in a timely manner.  Trust me when I say this; I am just as excited to share your photos with you as you are to see them.  Generally, my turn around time is 4-5 weeks but I work to get them to you earlier if I can.  I always post a preview (or two) on social media the next day.

HAVE YOU SHOT AT MY VENUE BEFORE?

There are hundreds of gorgeous venues in and around the Pittsburgh area and it is possible that I may not have been to your venue as of  yet.  If that is the case – NO BIG DEAL!!!  I love being in new spaces and new venues!  It allows me to get more creative with your photos.  If I have not been there, I will absolutely do my research and look up the venue and surrounding areas prior to your big day.

CAN I GIVE YOU A SHOT LIST?

Absolutely!!  We will actually create a shot list for your formal photos immediately following your ceremony.  As for poses and things of that nature, I have many brides who share Pinterest boards with me or other photos of specific poses that they like.  Keep in mind that we want your photos to represent you as a couple so re-created 100 poses from Pinterest won’t get you the photos that showcase you, but we can definitely go through them all.  It is a good way to show me what you like in terms of poses that are more candid, romantic, posed, etc.  What we will ALWAYS be sure to capture are generational types of photos with family members or anything else that is special and sentimental to you and your family.

I hope that you have found this to be helpful!!  If you  have any other questions or want any additional clarifications, feel free to reach out to me at AmandaBriscoPhotography@gmail.com or leave a comment below for others to see!