Hello, Brides-to-Be! Your wedding day may be just around the corner or a few years in the planning. We'll walk you through the most common questions we get asked to guide you on your journey of making your dream wedding photos a reality.
Let's Connect
“I've seen your work, and I love it!”. That’s great, thank you. The first step is reaching out to us, and we can't wait to hear from you. Whether it's a quick phone call or a message, let's start the conversation. Share your wedding date, the location, and your address. This initial connection helps us get to know you and envision the perfect backdrop for your love story.
Sharing Your Dreams
In our first conversation, we dive into your vision for your special day. We're all ears, ready to create a wedding package that's as unique as your love story. Whether it's candid moments or epic shots, we're here to make it all happen, just the way you've imagined.
Crafting Your Package
Once we're on the same page, we'll craft the perfect wedding package together. We'll send you a contract and a photography agreement, which you can fill out and sign online. It's a convenient and hassle-free process. To secure your date in our calendar, we kindly ask for a £99 booking fee. You can choose to send it via a bank transfer or make a face-to-face card transaction. We accept all major card brands, including Google and Apple Pay.
Why Photography is Worth Every Penny
Ever heard the saying, "You get what you pay for"? Well, when it comes to wedding photography, that saying is golden. Our hourly rate stays the same across the board – whether it's snapping cute baby photos, getting families to strike a pose, capturing the joy of an engagement, freezing hilarious school moments, or recording forever the memories of your wedding day. But here's the twist: when you book one of our wedding packages, you're not just getting a photographer for a day. Wedding photographers are unique because we're with you during the planning phase (and boy, do we know some awesome vendors in other wedding fields). We're there throughout your big day, capturing the moments you'll cherish forever. And guess what? Even after your wedding, we're still part of the crew. We're here to deliver your photo gallery and maybe even help you create a fab anniversary wedding album.
Modern Connections
We understand the importance of modern connections. Most couples prefer to kick off the process with a phone call or a video chat using platforms like FaceTime or Zoom. It's a fantastic way for us to get to know each other, setting the stage for an exciting collaboration.
In-Person or Virtually - It's Your Choice
If you'd like to meet in person before finalising your decision, we're all for it! Our face-to-face meetings are often held in the comfort of your home, especially if you're in the Medway/Kent area. However, if distance is an issue, we're more than happy to conduct meetings via FaceTime, phone, or Zoom for your convenience.
What Happens After Booking?
We love it when our clients stay in touch. It's incredible to hear about your wedding dress finds and other details. Feel free to follow us on Facebook or Instagram. A month before the big day, we'll touch base again to gather more details, including timings, locations, group shot lists, and, of course, a balance invoice – sorry! We can meet in person or discuss everything over the phone, whichever you prefer.
Addressing Concerns: "I Hate Posed Shots!"
Don't worry! We understand that the word "posing" can be intimidating. It doesn't mean Strictly dancing lifts or anything like that. During your engagement photoshoot (which we include with some wedding packages), we'll get any initial jitters out of the way. We particularly enjoy doing evening engagement shoots in the golden hour of June to September. This way, you'll feel more comfortable on your wedding day. Most of the day, we work naturally and unobtrusively, capturing the real moments. For family group photos or bride & groom portraits, we'll provide gentle instructions, always ensuring that you're relaxed and enjoying yourselves.
Group Photos and Bride & Groom Portraits
We recommend keeping group photos to around ten different combinations of people. This typically takes about 30 minutes, leaving ample time for bride & groom portraits. The exact duration depends on your wedding day's schedule, ranging from half an hour to a couple of hours, based on your preferences.
Feeding the Team
Photographing a full-day wedding can be quite the marathon. A hot meal during the day is greatly appreciated. We don't need a three-course wedding feast, but a hot meal, like a "crew meal," is fantastic. Caterers often provide this to the band, photographer, and other vendors. We have no specific dietary requirements, but Robert isn't a fan of fish.
The Sweet Labour Behind the Scenes
So, what's all this work behind the scenes? Well, my friends, it's like baking a cake – there's a lot more to it than meets the eye. Here's a fun fact: for every hour we're snapping pics, there are roughly four hours of editing. Editing is where our style comes to life, and it's where the magic happens. At our studio, we're hands-on, editing every single image with love and care. And when you hire us for a full day's wedding, you're actually getting a photographer who's putting in about 70 hours of work, which is two weeks of dedication. You're investing in a friend who's there for the long haul.
Receiving Your Photos
The time it takes to see your photos depends on the wedding package you choose. For the Truly Wedding Package, your gallery is typically ready in one week. For Aways & Forever Wedding Packages, it generally takes 2-3 weeks to hand-edit all your photos and deliver them via the online gallery. Mini Studio photos taken during your wedding evening are typically uploaded either the same evening (if Wi-Fi allows) or the following day.
Insurance
We've got everything properly covered. Our gear is insured, and we also have public liability and professional indemnity insurance. We believe in doing things right. Here's a nifty tip: ask your photographer for a copy of their public liability and professional indemnity insurance certificate. If they're a legit, registered business, they'll proudly share it with you. We always display our insurance certificate at wedding fairs, and we'll happily hand over a copy on request.
The Cost of Making Magic
But wait, there's more to the story. We've got costs to cover, like general business expenses, business insurance, wear and tear on our gear, travel costs, business car insurance, meals (because photographers need fuel too), hotels (for those faraway fairy tale weddings), and yes, even a little something for the taxman! (HMRC). If you stumble upon a photography package that's super cheap and just offering images on a USB stick, be a little cautious as they may not be a legitimate business. It could be students in the making, still practicing their skills. Or even worse, photographers skimping on the editing, leaving you with photos that look like they were taken on a phone – and not the fancy new ones!
Editing and Natural Beauty
We personally hand-edit every photo, adjusting tone, contrast, cropping, and more. Our aim is to capture your wedding as it truly was on the day. We don't airbrush away wrinkles or significantly alter your appearance. It's about embracing your natural beauty and feeling confident. Professional photographs, taken with care and expertise, are often more flattering than casual snapshots.
Why "We"?
We're a husband & wife photography team with different skill sets, and we often provide photography coverage together (we met at art collage studying advanced art & design and photography!). This means you'll have two professional photographers, ensuring comprehensive coverage. We can also cover for each other if needed, although that hasn't happened to date.
Do You Offer Wedding Albums?
Yes, we offer exquisite wedding albums! These are priced separately and not included in our wedding packages. The reason is simple: we have a range of album choices to suit your budget and many couples prefer to see their wedding photos first before ordering an album. Some fall in love with our Bellissimo album, ordering it as an anniversary present a year after their wedding, there's no time limit!. Our albums are bespoke and handmade, we offer a full consultation and design service to create the perfect album for you (remember we both studied advanced art & design at college and went on to study typographic design and corporate graphics at the London College of Printing!).
Priceless Memories with a Side of Fun
Your love story deserves to be told with joy, creativity, and attention to detail. With us by your side, every laugh, tear, and epic dance-off will be forever etched in time. Don't skimp on one of the most important days of your life. Choose a photographer who knows that your memories are priceless, and you'll be reliving your wedding day over and over.
Ready to Begin Your Journey?
If all of this sounds like your perfect wedding, get in touch! Contact us here:
Call us at 07837244028, email us at nmaydell@outlook.com, or message us on Facebook or Instagram. Contact us, and we'll take it from there, guiding you every step of the way.
Your love story awaits, and we're here to capture every beautiful moment.
Best wishes,
Robert Christopher Photography
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