Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
Photography Questions
Videography Questions
General Questions
What sets your company apart from the rest?
We are always striving to offer the best service available. Some of our strengths include:
- 1) Bringing a friendly and positive attitude.
A grumpy photographer or videographer can bring your own attitude down quickly. We treat our clients as friends and its pretty easy for us to have fun when we're with friends! This mindset helps us enjoy your day and helps you enjoy it too!
- 2) Creating unique and beautiful photos & videos.
Our style borrows from photojournalism, portraiture, and fashion. This lets us get some important traditional shots and some great-looking fashion-inspired shots, all the while letting the day unfold naturally without making you feel posed or fake. Our videography style is dynamic and engaging. We don't believe in boring videos!
- 3) Taking measures to make you comfortable on your wedding day.
We want our photos and videos to make it look like we were in your face all day without you ever feeling that way. We cover all the details with you before your wedding day arrives and we don't request full payment on your wedding day, because you should be able to focus on your wedding, not on us.
- 4) Offering professionalism and a quick product turnaround.
You're excited about your wedding and you should be! You shouldn't have to wait a week to get an email response or wait 6 months to get your pictures or video!
How can I reserve my date?
To reserve your date, we ask for a deposit of $400 for each service you are reserving. Since your deposit locks in your videographer or photographer for your date, this payment is non-refundable.
Do you offer a discount if I hire you for both photography and videography?
Yes! If you are planning a wedding and would like to hire us for photography and videography, you will receive a $100 discount off of all services.
Do you travel and is there a travel fee?
We will travel all over the world! Travel is free for all locations within 40 miles of Madison, WI or St. Paul, MN. If your location is more than 40 miles from both of these cities, a travel fee will apply of 50¢/mile from the closest of the two. If your location is 150 miles or more from both cities, additional travel fees will apply as necessary for each service you have selected. Use the travel fee finder toward the bottom of the "Build Your Package" page to look up your specific travel fee. If you're planning a destination wedding, please give us a call, as we may be able to customize an affordable package for you.
Are taxes included in the price of my package?
Yes - a good thing to keep in mind if you are comparing package prices online. Any applicable taxes are already included in our prices so you don't have to pay more than you're expecting to pay.
Do I need to include you in my guest count for my reception dinner?
Ultimately, it's up to you whether to provide meals for us at your reception or not. However, we do recommend that you include your creative team in your guest count for dinner because it will actually help us to keep from running out of energy and creativity. After several hours of working on our feet, your reception may be the only chance we get to eat. Pictures and video footage of people eating are not particularly interesting and usually don't turn out well, so your dinner is a perfect time for us to take a quick break and get our blood sugars back up.
Do I need to meet with you prior to my wedding day?
No - you don't have to, but if you are able to, please do. It's always helpful to both us and you to develop some familiarity with each other before your big day. It is also important for us to be able to answer all your questions and to walk you through any necessary preparations that must be made. Sometimes, however, meeting beforehand is impossible, especially if we live in different cities, which is often the case. In these situations, we are completely capable of taking care of all the details via phone, mail, and/or email. In either case, we will always give you a call the week before your wedding just to touch base one last time and make sure that all details are in place.
Do you provide a contract?
Yes. A contract is necessary to ensure that we are both on the same page. For weddings, your contract must be received at least two weeks before your wedding date, though we recommend you send it in as soon as you know all the necessary details. After we receive your contract, we will provide you with a signed copy. You can request a personalized contract online from our "Build Your Package" page.
When are payments due for my package?
For weddings, a $400 deposit is required to reserve your date for each service required. The remaining balance is due within 14 days following your wedding day and before delivery of your final product. For non-wedding projects, we ask for half of the payment before work begins and the remaining balance on or before delivery of your final product.
When will I receive my finished product?
Unless there are special circumstances concerning your project, all completed video packages, online photo galleries, and original album designs are delivered within 60 days of your wedding day. Photo albums and high-res images are delivered approximately 60 days after your approval of your album design.
What should I watch out for when hiring a wedding photographer or videographer?
If you're planning a wedding, you might be jumping into a lot of unfamiliar territory. Here are some helpful hints for choosing your wedding photographer and videographer that we've learned along the way.
- Don't hire someone without seeing their own work.
Seeing your vendor's work is the single most important factor in deciding to hire them. Degrees, awards, and recommendations are all great things, but in reality, it all boils down to what your product is going to look like. Be sure to see work done by the person who will be working for you and not just work done by someone in the company they represent.
- Work with someone who has a good personality.
This is especially important when looking for a photographer. Your photographer will be working with you throughout your wedding day and will be in charge of a lot of organizing and getting people to look happy and natural. If your personalities don't click, you just might end up making your wedding day long and stressful. A confident and relaxed photographer will help you feel confident and relaxed as well. You likely won't come into contact quite as much with your videographer throughout the day, but they will still be there, and you'll want to make sure that they don't have a personality that will make you or your guests feel uncomfortable.
- Ask your vendor how many weddings they have personally completed.
Shooting a wedding well requires not only an artistic eye and sociability, but also experience and comfortability with working in a wedding environment and handling some pretty technical equipment.
- Make a wise financial decision.
Your choice in a wedding photographer and videographer are arguably the two most important decisions when you're planning a wedding. These individuals are responsible for preserving all your memories in a tangible form. Just as you wouldn't expect to find a brand new Ferrari for the same price as a broken down station wagon, don't bet on finding an amazing photographer for bargain basement prices. At the same time, however, don't make the investment rashly. Find the best photographer and videographer that you are happy paying for.
- Ask your vendor when you can expect to receive a finished product.
It's a bit frustrating to wait over a year for your pictures or video to arrive. Editing will take considerable time to complete, but professionals will still have your product finished in a timely manner.
- Look for testimonials.
Testimonials can give you a good idea of how you'll feel about your vendor after the job is done, based on how other people have felt after their job was done. If your vendor's website doesn't display testimonials from people, it probably doesn't mean they haven't ever received good feedback, but it's possible.
Photography Questions
How much time should I allow for portraits on my wedding day?
This depends on several factors, such as the size of your family and wedding party, whether you'll be going to a separate location for a photo shoot, etc. As a general rule of thumb, you'll want to allow 2 - 2 1/2 hours for portraits.
How many photographers are provided in my wedding package?
With all of our wedding packages, you will be hiring the expertise of one photographer who meets our very high standards of skill, experience, and professionalism. In many cases, a second photographer will also be present to assist your lead photographer and increase the range of photos we are able to capture of your day.
Do I get to keep all of my digital image files?
Yes! We realize that you'll enjoy having them more than we will, so we include a data DVD containing all your images with every wedding photography package. Usually, this amounts to approximately 500 photos.
Will you be taking pictures while people are changing before our wedding?
This one is up to you. Some very special moments can be captured if your photographer is present during these times, such as the bride putting on her dress. We are also aware that some people are just more comfortable with this than others, so we will ask you for your preference. We never display or keep wedding day pictures that show any nudity.
Will wedding day portraits be taken indoors or outdoors?
We recommend that portraits be taken outdoors. Natural daylight just can't be beaten and it will show in your photos. If it is too cold, dark, or wet to take pictures outside, we will supply professional lighting equipment that will make your portraits look excellent, even if shot indoors.
Can my friends and family view my pictures and order prints online?
Yes! We are proud to offer our clients a very professional and easy to use interface for viewing and ordering prints. When you receive your photography package, you will receive an invitation to access your personal gallery and you will be able to also share the gallery with anyone you'd like to invite. Our galleries conveniently allow you to customize your photos and order professional-quality prints at competitive prices. When you order your prints online, they will be shipped directly to the address you specify when ordering, which allows any of your guests to order their prints without going through you.
Will you be asking us to pose for pictures throughout our wedding day?
We avoid "cheesy" posed pictures as much as we can. That being said, we also believe that there is a place for some traditional posed photography (pictures with family and wedding party), as well as some fun and creative bride & groom shots. Outside of that, we don't want to detract from your wedding day by making you feel like you have to go through more formalities than you really need to. Why take a picture of you acting like you're dancing when we can get a better picture of your actual first dance?
Videography Questions
Can you make a slideshow to play on our wedding day?
Yes! Click here to see an example slideshow. Slideshows include up to 100 images and usually last about 6-10 minutes. We'll need you to supply printed or digital images and some song suggestions at least 4 weeks before you need your slideshow finished. Your finished slideshow will be delivered on a DVD. Unfortunately, we are not able to rent projectors for slideshow playback at this time.
Will you use a wireless microphone to capture the audio from my wedding ceremony?
Yes! We will put an omnidirectional lavaliere microphone on the groom for the ceremony. The microphone is virtually invisible, mostly hidden beneath the lapel of his tuxedo. The purpose of the microphone is to pick up the voices of the wedding couple and the officiant, particularly during the vows. Our microphones do a great job at this, clearly picking up any sound within about a 10 foot radius.
Will you use lights at my wedding?
No. We believe in being as unobtrusive as possible and video lights can definitely be obtrusive, usually creating many "deer in the headlights" expressions from you and your guests. Instead, we use professional 3-chip cameras that work very well in low-light situations. Generally, if a person can see what's going on, then our cameras can too.
What is on the Full-Length video?
Our full-length videos are included with every wedding package and are basically what their name implies. We give you footage of everything we shoot, including your ceremony, toasts, and first dance, in their entirety, as well as all of the other important events that happen during your big day.
What is a Highlight video?
Click here to see an example Highlight video. Our highlight videos are 3-5 minute recaps of your wedding day, set to music. You are given the option of suggesting a song or two that are meaningful to you to be used for this video. The highlight video often incorporates audio from the day and subtle visual effects to produce a classy and emotional video that's fun to watch. It's the perfect video to share with friends and family and to watch when you want to take a break and be transported back to all the joy of your wedding day.
What is an Extended Highlight video?
Click here to see an example Extended Highlight video. An extended highlight video is the same thing as a standard highlight video (see above) except that it is twice the length (6-10 minutes), allowing for more wedding day footage to be incorporated. If you're looking for an edgier video, you may choose to substitute the Extended Highlight video with a Rock Star video. (See below)
What is a Rock Star video?
Click here to see an example Rock Star video. This is not your parents' wedding video. Our Rock Star videos are cutting edge videos for the young at heart. Built like a fast-moving music video, these videos move away from the slower, sentimental feel of a traditional wedding video and instead move toward the feel of "awesome". This video incorporates more obvious and artistic special effects and while it may get your blood pumping, it just might still make you cry. Since not every song works for this type of video, if you choose a Rock Star video, you will be asked to choose a song from our pre-approved list. We will also ask for a half hour with the bride and groom on your wedding day for a personal "rock star video shoot".
What is a Love Story video?
The Love Story video is a 6-10 minute video that is meant to document the life of the bride and groom up to this point and tell the story of how they fell in love and decided to get married. The Love Story video will be completed in time for display on the wedding day. This video incorporates interviews and special effects, keeping it exciting and dynamic. If you choose this video, we will ask you to be available on one day for a video session at least a month before your wedding date. We encourage you to invite as many friends and family members to this session as possible for interviewing.
Can I order additional copies of my DVD?
Yes! Additional copies of your DVD can be ordered for $20 apiece.
Can you deliver my videos on Blu-Ray discs instead of on DVD's?
Yes! Any wedding video package can be upgraded to Blu-Ray for an additional $250. Additional Blu-Ray discs can be ordered for $50 apiece.
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