I have been a New England wedding photographer for over 6 years now and I have done my fair share of consultations. Trends have come and gone but one trend that has not is The Knot’s list of questions. I am kind of surprised I am just doing this blog today after being asked a lot of these questions over and over again. I figure instead this would be a great reference for couples. For this post, I am using this blog post for reference (just want to be transparent).
Table of Contents
Shooting and Photo Editing
What style(s) do you specialize in?
My style is true to color with a punch. I can do dark and moody. I can do light and airy. The ultimate goal is to edit and shoot in a way that tells the story best. I am big on realistic skin tones and good candids. My shooting style is a mix of candids (what I am known for) and portraits.
Will the photos be retouched and color balanced? Is that done before I see the proofs?
Yes. The photos you receive will be edited before they are delivered to you… Extra skin retouching can be applied for select favorites and printed products.
How many weddings have you shot, and how many do you do in a year? Also, what’s your favorite part of a wedding day, and time of year to shoot?
To be honest I have lost count but I believe it’s about 75… I shoot about 25 weddings a year. My favorite part of the wedding day is the first dance because it really shows who the couple is. My favorite time of the day to shoot is between blue hour and the sun going down.
Do you shoot both digital and film?
Digital.. The last time I shot film was at my sister’s wedding in 2007, with a disposable camera.
How many weddings do you do a weekend?
I try to schedule one wedding a weekend… The only exception is holiday weekends due to the popularity. I do only shoot one wedding per day.
Have you ever shot at my venue(s) before?
I have shot at many locations , with different types of seasons, times, and people. The thing to know is that as a professional I have the experience and education to be able to photograph a wedding in any location.
Wedding Photography Collections
What exactly is included in your packages?
Though I am known for collection customization… Every collection includes an engagement session, an online gallery w/printing rights, and a printed product.
How many hours of coverage do we get? What is the charge for overtime?
The most popular wedding collection is about 8-9 hours. The current charge for overtime is 300 an hour.
What is the deposit and total fee?
The retainer is 30% followed by two payments. Payment plans can be adjusted within reason.
The Photographers
Will you be my actual photographer, or will it be one of your associates?
It will be me… I believe in making connections with couples so I don’t want to be the one to build a relationship to send someone else. I don’t book over 25 weddings for this very reason… If I am booked I would rather send you to another photographer that I trust.
Do you have backup photographers who will shoot the wedding if you’re sick?
Yes. I have a core group of photographers that I trust will do a great job if something were to happen to me. This has not been needed (knock on wood) to date. The post-wedding day work will be done work will be done by me.
Will there be a second shooter or any assistants? Is there an additional fee for each?
GEM’s most popular collection comes with a second photographer. I do bring my non-shooting assistant with me to weddings to help at no additional charge.
How will you coordinate with my videographer? How do you envision working together?
I send an email to introduce myself to every vendor provided to me before the wedding… Sometimes I have had videographers show me their schedule in order to be on the same page. I am pretty easy to work with and do what is best to make a wedding day less stressful.
Day of and Post Wedding Photography
How long after the wedding do we get to see the photos?
I provide a sneak peek within 48 hours from the wedding. During busy season it typically takes about 2 months to receive your completed gallery. From the months of November til March it is about a month.
Will you follow a shot list? Or do you prefer to have free reign to capture the festivities how you see fit?
If you have specific shots you would like to have I do like to be made aware of them. But I have found that that the most beloved photos are the ones that are taken naturally and not on a list.
If you provide print albums, what type of paper will you use?
Not gonna lie this a weird question, but the album company I use use high quality luster and matte paper.
What are the restrictions for sharing photos online or for publication? Do you own the copyright to the photos?
Based on federal law all photos legally belong to the person who took the photo. What is given to couples is restricted printing and sharing rights. Every couple is allowed to share wherever they chose online for personal use. They can also print photos at any lab they choose, but I highly suggest getting them printed through a professional.
Do you bring your own lighting?
Another weird random question, but yes I do. Along with back up equipment.
What will you wear?
I try to match what I wear to the style of the wedding, so I look more like a guest than a photographer (the cameras give that away).. If it is formal I tend to wear all black with a nice pair of flats.
About New England Wedding Photographer Raina Mcmillan
Raina McMillan, of GEM Photography, has been a New England wedding photographer for over 6 years now. Her desire is to capture the story of a couple beautifully and authentically. She loves her family, trying new restaurants, and cheering for her favorite sports teams. Shas learned from various top New England wedding photographers throughout the years to be the best photographer she can.
To see a recent wedding check out the last blog post
