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How long have you been a photographer?
Are you equipped to handle large weddings?
Will I own the copyright to my photos?
How long does photo processing take?
Do you shoot in RAW format or .JPG format?
(boudoir) Are many of your clients nervous to be photographed by a male?
(boudoir) What happens if, during the shoot, I'm still not comfortable?
How much time should I reserve?
How will you know who to call for family shots?
Product Photography - Rates and Policy information
Requesting a quote
My *must read* approach to boudoir photography
Genres of Boudoir photography
*Must Read* things to consider for your wedding photography
Why did you become a photographer?
How would you describe your personality?
What's your shooting style?
What equipment do you shoot with?
(boudoir) What can I do to make my boudoir shoot more unique?
When should I book my wedding photographer?
What do I look for in a wedding photographer?
Why is wedding photography so expensive?
Are you familiar with different customs?
Deposits and retainers
Final Payment
Refund Policy
Payment methods
Can I pay at the wedding?
Do you shoot every wedding yourself?
How do I know you'll show up?
What happens if you are too ill or injured to work?
What will you wear to my wedding?
What is your view on guest photographers?
Will you work alongside another professional photographer?
What is your view on videography?
What comes with your wedding photography packages?
Can you make recommendations on other vendors?
Do you provide videography?
Can we meet before reserving our session?
Transportation - Do you provide transportation for us?
Transportation - Will you ride with us?
Will you copy another photographer's style if I show you their photos?
If you ride with us, will you take photos as we drive around?
Do we need to provide you with a meal?
Are there casinos that will not allow photography?
Can I swing by the studio?
What looks best on camera?
Taking initiative
Posing
Can you Photoshop blemishes or smooth skin?
Photoshopping - Adding/removing people
What is a headshot?
Hair, makeup and clothes
What is a zed card?
Can I do my own makeup?
What type of outfits should I wear for my zed card?
How soon in advance should I reserve my session?
How often should I update my zed card?
(Fashion) How can I increase my chances of landing a modeling job?
Who else besides you will be present during the shoot?
(boudoir) Do you offer couples boudoir photography?
Can I bring a friend along with me?
(boudoir) Is there anything I should tell you when I reserve my session?
Q: How long have you been a photographer? How long have you been a photographer? A: I began my photography career at an early age in early to mid 1997 and despite my longevity, my excitement and enthusiasm have never waned. My style is always growing, improving and changing with the technology and trends.   
Q: Are you equipped to handle large weddings? Are you equipped to handle large weddings? A: Absolutely. The larger the wedding, the more there is to photograph. All weddings, regardless of size are shot with myself as principle photographer and my partner Sarah as secondary shooter. For larger weddings, we may add in an additional shooter or assistant(s), depending on the venue size and number of guests. 
Q: Will I own the copyright to my photos? Will I own the copyright to my photos? A: We're actually very lax when it comes to photo reproductions and employ extremely few restrictions. The greatest advantage to having photos is feeling free to use them and share them how you like. We provide 'personal reproduction' rights to all of our shoots, which allows our clients to print their photos at home, a third party print service and to share them digitally via Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, email, etc. The only restrictions we have are that the photos may not be sold for profit or used for commercial purposes (i.e. advertising) without prior permission. Aside from that, we encourage our clients to share their digital photos with friends and family to their hearts' content!
Q: How long does photo processing take? How long does photo processing take? A: As professional photographers, we shoot in a what is known as "RAW" format. Unlike shooting directly in .JPG format, RAW files must first be 'developed' in special software such as Capture NX, Lightroom and Photoshop. While processing, we correct while balance/color hue (to remove color casts), sharpen the images, adjust or increase color saturation and also add in special effects. Depending on the shoot length, the number of shots taken and the type of shoot, this may be 1-2 weeks for portrait sessions and 2-6 weeks for wedding photography sessions. As a general rule of thumb, there is (on average) at least two hours of processing/post processing work done for every hour of shooting.
Q: Do you shoot in RAW format or .JPG format? Do you shoot in RAW format or .JPG format? A: This is an important question, as it makes an incredible amount of difference in the finished product. We only shoot in RAW format, which gives us an increased amount of flexibility with color and exposure adjustments. I personally feel that shooting in .JPG looks awful - when RAW shooting is coupled with a skilled editor, what comes out of the camera is much, much different than the finished product and our clients deserve no less.
Q: (boudoir) Are many of your clients nervous to be photographed by a male? Are many of your clients nervous to be photographed by a male? A: Only before they meet me. I always work alongside my partner and assistant Sarah, who usually handles the more delicate aspects of communicating needs. On the day of your shoot, the only thing that matters to me is that your photos look great. Having been a photographer for my entire adult life, I have seen hundreds of people, men and women, in various states of undress and I view it with the same type of professional detachment that a doctor or painter would. Nudity and the human body is a very wonderful, very beautiful thing and without exception, once my clients see that my interest is only in creating art, they feel extremely liberated and free. While I personally have never been nude in front of a camera, I am told that in the beginning there is a lot of tension and fear, but by the end of the shoot, they wonder what the big deal was.
Q: (boudoir) What happens if, during the shoot, I'm still not comfortable? (boudoir) What happens if, during the shoot, I'm still not comfortable? A: Only do what you are absolutely comfortable with. As a photographer, I can usually tell this before my client has fully made up their mind. My partner and I first communicate to see if there may be a different pose or outfit that would increase comfort and if not, we hold no ill will whatsoever if a shoot must end early. If it is decided that the shoot will end early, we ask our clients if they would still like us to process the photos we have already taken. Ultimately, we allow our clients to decide what course of action to take - good boudoir photography is built from absolute trust and it is crucial to know that it is the client who is in charge of the session and will decide the course, content and results of a boudoir session.
Q: How much time should I reserve? How much time should I reserve? A: At the time of this writing, we are currently booking a minimum of eight hours for weekend weddings and there are many times where even that is not enough. Over the years, three things have always remained constant 1) your wedding day will be longer than you think 2) your itinerary will always run a little late 3) any attempt at 'condensing' your wedding day (i.e. taking a ten hour day into a four hour shoot) will end up in disaster - people rushing, no time for portraits and substandard photos. Your wedding day is a one time event that cannot be duplicated - you owe it to yourself to take things at a relaxed pace. Your wedding photos are a treasure that you and your future generations will have for an eternity, which makes wedding photography worth every expense and effort possible. Ten years from now, you will not remember what music was played at your wedding, how the cake tasted or how good the food tasted, but you will always have your wedding photos to look back and re-experience the most important day of your adult lives. A good rule of thumb is to plan out your day and make an itinerary. When you start gettng ready, your photographer should start and likewise, when you have your final sendoff, that should be the time that the photographers also depart. Ending coverage in the middle of the reception is awkward and sometimes leaves the most important moments of the day uncovered. Negotiating additional time while on the dance floor is not always possible either, in the event that we have a shoot scheduled for early the next day. A good itinerary should look like: 10am - 12pm: Bride and groom getting ready - during this time period, we capture moments such as the bride getting her makeup applied and hair styled. For some, these seem like silly moments to capture, but I've always found them to be absolutely beautiful and peaceful looking. We also shoot any details you may have, such as the dress hanging, the shoes, rings, garter, candids, wedding certificate, the bridesmaids, the groom getting ready, the groom's shoes/tuxedo, the groomsmen and anyone else around, the dress being put on, the shoes being put on and finally we shoot several bridal portraits of the bride alone and if possible the groom alone as well. These are very very precious shots to both us and our clients and should never be condensed, hurried or skipped; they look amazing in a wedding album and help to tell the story of your wedding day. 2 hours is a bare minimum for getting ready shots, however we could gladly make use of three hours as well. 20-30 minutes before your ceremony starts, we begin assuming our positions at the altar. Sarah and I unpack our cameras, check our equipment, clean lenses and sensors again if necessary, take light readings, coordinate our positions (who stands where, etc), set up lighting for outdoor ceremonies, photograph the altar, the unity candles/sand (if applicable), the chairs, the guests as they arrive, etc. It's important that enough time is allotted to set up and shoot these beautiful detail shots and I can remember one time in particular in which a ceremony time was stepped up by thirty minutes and Sarah and I literally arrived when the wedding march music began! Setup time, ceremony, family shots and formals with the wedding party should run at least 90 minutes, with an additional half hour or so added for large families or large wedding parties. After your ceremony and formals are complete, we typically shoot portraits with the bride and groom only for roughly an hour (weather and temperature permitting!) During this time, we ask that other guests allow our couple a bit of privacy to genuinely express their emotion and allow us to photograph without distractions. Many couples extend this time to allow additional portrait locations outside of the wedding venue as well, which is always wonderful to have! Receptions typically run around four hours and reception events, such as the cake cutting, bouquet toss, dances, etc are typically spread out evenly to allow for enjoyment throughout the evening.
Q: How will you know who to call for family shots? How will you know who to call for family shots? A: Shot lists! Family shots are so important and there are a lot of blunders that can happen when they aren't created; I can remember a wedding at a casino in Las Vegas back in 2010 in which the in house photographer was shooting the ceremony and we were scheduled to take over immediately afterwards. He started calling out family members by title only and said in a loud voice "Okay I need the bride's dad and mom" Shocked looks ran from one end of the room to the other and he corrected himself and made a huge faux pas when he said "oh that's right, the mom's dead..." Everyone's eyes nearly popped out of their heads and all I could think was "oh thank God that's not me up there" But it underscores the importance of having a shot list with everyone's name and relationship to the bride and groom. Another circumstance that comes to mind is a post ceremony shoot at the LDS temple in Las Vegas back in 2009. There was no shot list and around 100+ guests and I will never forget the bride's panicked voice when she said "Tell us what to do Deacon, just take charge!" Remember that when your photographer looks out at a crowd of people, we have no idea who is who, what the relations are, who is divorced and who is not present. Having a shot list avoid embarrassing situations for us and prevents group shots from running into formals and portraits time. Alternatively, a guest or family member may be put in charge of calling out names, but make sure that the same people aren't being shot over and over in different configurations (i.e. uncle Bob with Sue and Jane and then uncle Bob with Sue and Nick, etc etc). A good rule of thumb is to set aside 15 minutes for family shots immediately after the ceremony, wile everyone is still present. We've seen family and group shots run as long as two hours, cutting through formals time, portrait time and right into the reception!
Q: Product Photography - Rates and Policy information Product Photography - What are your rates and policies? A: Our rates depend highly on what we are photographing, if a model is required and the complexity of the products. Standard product photography rates are based on small items on a plain background, photographed in studio. All product photography is licensed to the client for commercial print and web usage and delivered in digital .jpg format with sRGB colour profile. All products must be delivered clean and ready to photograph without tags, difficult to open retail packaging, stickers, tags or labels. Clothing must be neatly pressed and laid flat inside delivery box, or hung in a wardrobe style box. Rates for ironing/pressing clothing are $15 per item. Jewelry must be polished and cleaned prior to delivery and without scuffs, missing or dirty gems, broken clasps and dents. Larger products such as homes and other real estate, automobiles, boats, etc., will be quoted individually. Per item 1-5 items - 35 USD each 5-9 items - 30 USD each 10-19 items - 25 USD each 20-39 items - 20 USD each 40 items or more - 15 USD each
Q: Requesting a quote How do I go about contacting you and what information do you need? A: We strongly prefer a phone call to email and ask that potential clients only use the quote request form when we are unavailable via telephone, as it helps us avoid playing 'phone tag'. We can be reached 7 days a week at 702-949-9888. During photo shoots, meetings and weddings our phone is turned off and we ask that potential clients leave a detailed message for us to return your call. Please note that we do not provide pricing information via email. Email is an impersonal form of communication and the majority of our quotes are tailored to our clients' individual needs after speaking directly with the booking client. Wedding Photography - Wedding Photography information is listed on the Wedding Photography page at http://www.dtyler-photography.com/wedding-photography.htm Please provide your name, a callback number, your wedding date and venue location. Minimum coverage from Fridays to Sundays is eight hours. Smaller packages are available between Monday and Thursday only. We ask that only the bride or groom contact us; compatibility is a strong factor in choosing to work with a wedding client and we like to get to know our clients prior to reserving their date whenever possible. Commercial Photography - Commercial Photography information is listed on the Commercial Photography page at http://www.dtyler-photography.com/commercial-photography.htm Please provide your name and contact information (with extension number if necessary), detailed information pertaining to the type of commercial photography you are looking for (food photography, events, magazine, catalog), as well as the number of items you will need shot, or how many hours are required and any other special requirements that come to mind. Portrait Photography - Portrait Photography pricing and information is listed on the Portraits page at http://www.dtyler-photography.com/portrait-photography.htm Please provide a detailed explanation of the type of portrait photography you are looking for (engagement, family, senior, newborn, maternity, etc) and if you have a location in mind, please provide that as well. Fashion Photography - Fashion Photography pricing and information is listed on the Fashion and Boudoir Photography page at http://www.dtyler-photography.com/fashion-boudoir-photography.htm Please be as detailed as possible and describe the type of fashion photography you are looking for (basic headshots only, full portfolio session, high fashion, etc) and how many outfits and locations you are looking to shoot. Boudoir Photography - Boudoir Photography pricing and information is listed on the Fashion and Boudoir Photography page at http://www.dtyler-photography.com/fashion-boudoir-photography.htm Please be as detailed as possible and describe the type of Boudoir photography you are looking for (pinup, lingerie, bridal, implied, topless, nude) and how many outfits and locations you are looking to shoot. This is especially important to know ahead of time for boudoir photography. Please also note that boudoir photography is subject to a consultation meeting at our studio before booking. This is done to ensure comfort levels on both the model's part and our own.
Q: My *must read* approach to boudoir photography What is your style of shooting and approach to boudoir and how do I book a session? A: My style is very malleable - much of it depends on who I'm working with and the theme we are shooting. Boudoir photography is powerful and should always look sensual and beautiful, with more than a touch of class and artistic flair. The human body is a work of art and when shot correctly, boudoirholds an incredible amount of visual appeal that tells a story or invokes passion in the viewer. In order to understand what my style is, it's important to understand what my style isn't. I cringe whenever I see a shot of a terrified looking woman in purple underwear making a hand bra, sticking her backside out and staring wide eyed into the camera with a nervous smile. This is not boudoir and it's not art - it's just hard to look at. My goal is to create a unique vision and theme for all of my boudoir sessions and know ahead of time what I'm shooting; Every once in a while, I'll get a call from a client that knows *exactly* what she wants, is confident and comfortable and is ready to shoot, but I think that the majority of clients out there aren't sure what to expect and could use a little guidance. By meeting our clients beforehand and finding out about their hobbies and interests, it helps us paint a picture of the setting and style of shoot and keeps each shoot unique and personalized. We also want to gain a clear undestanding of the type of boudoir a client is looking for - for example, not all boudoir is nude, however we need to know this ahead of time to avoid awkward situations. There are defined styles to boudoir and while we shoot them all, knowing ahead of time what our clients' preference is allows us to select the right props, background or locations ahead of time. After meeting with our clients, if we feel that our personalities match and we're comfortable with a client, we book their session via major credit card and schedule a day and time for their shoot. Boudoir shoots are a great deal of fun to plan and the process of going from concept to shoot is very exciting! By creating a good client / photographer match, it increases both our clients comfort with us and our comfort with the client and ensures every shoot turns out well and goes smoothly.
Q: Genres of Boudoir photography What are the genres of Boudoir Photography? A: The following is a very loose interpretation of some of the styles of boudoir. It helps to know these ahead of time to increase confidence during the initial phone call or consultation meeting and build ideas surrounding that style (or even create a combination of styles!)
Q: *Must Read* things to consider for your wedding photography What are some things I should consider to improve my shoot? A:
Lastly, if there was only one thing that I could stress to all potential clients is to communicate. After we book a client, we like to keep in touch as much as possible to see if any questions arise, suggestions or just to see how you are. It ensures that by the time your wedding comes around, we don't feel like strangers. We're never too busy to chat with our clients and our studio is always an open door (with appoinment of course) and keeping in touch and getting to know our clients makes everyone more comfortable. When your wedding dress is selected, all of our clients are more than welcome to come into our studio for a few high fashion shots of them in their dress or some closeup macro ring shots (ring shots are notoriously difficult to get during the wedding day, as they often aren't in the same room before the ceremony and many couples prefer not to take them off at any time after the ceremony). These shots will all look amazing in your wedding album! Stopping in to create an itinerary (bring your wedding coordinator too if you like!) with us to maximize your photography time is also a great idea. I'm a little biased, but I like to think we're a lot of fun to chat with and work with - we use a lot of clean humor and we've got lots of inspirational stories and 'cautionary tales' to tell (trust me - ask us about the bird on Fremont Street; we'll know exactly what you're talking about) In general though, my saying has always been "never come to a shoot empty handed or empty headed" (and by empty headed, I really mean devoid of ideas!). A spark of imagination quickly turns into a raging inferno of inspiration and if you've got the striking pad, I've got the match! Or....if you have the flint, I have the piece of iron....alright, enough metaphors for now, you get the idea :)
Q: Why did you become a photographer? Why did you become a photographer and how have your methods changed over the years? A: A bit of an unfortunate tale, actually. My wedding was something of a unique event - my wife and I won our wedding via a radio station contest. The ceremony itself was broadcast on both television and radio, with a ridiculously hilarious ceremony officiated by the radio station's morning host. Highlights included the telling of inappropriate jokes and a musical accompaniment of Prince's "Let's Go Crazy" and The Time's "Jungle Love". The entire package was the stuff of legends and even included a wedding photographer. The only catch was that, while the photographer's time was free we only received five 4 x 6 prints and were required to purchase the remaining prints. A few family members also had their cameras present at the ceremony. You can probably see where this is going.... I can remember saying "We don't need any photos and besides, our families took plenty of pictures!" To make a long story short, the family photos turned out horrible and within two weeks, I had deeply regretted my frugalness and was shocked when I compared the quality of the professional's prints with that of our family's. Weren't all cameras the same? Within a month, I had purchased a second hand Nikon F4 camera and within a month, I had booked my first wedding, which was at the same venue I was married at.
Q: How would you describe your personality? How would you describe your personality? A: Extremely positive and fun. I love doing what I do and being such a versatile photographer (we shoot everything from wedding photography to commercial fashion, product photography, events and boudoir) it ensures that my outlook always stays fresh and excited about each day. Staying positive and happy ensures that when I look at the world, I see the beauty in it and hopefully pass some of my good mood onto others. I've also been described as having the energy level of a classroom full of eight year olds on a sugar rush, so by the end of a wedding reception, I often enjoy dancing the electric slide with the wedding party, sometimes holding fifty pounds of equipment.
Q: What's your shooting style? What is your shooting style? A: I would classify our style of shooting as "Epic" and I would also throw in romantic, photojournalistic, sweeping, dramatic and emotional. The one thing we are not is traditional. Each wedding, each fashion shoot and everything in between should have a unique flow that represents us, but at the same time shows off the individuality of each client. Wedding Photography: Romantic portraiture is an absolute mandatory requirement and while we will definitely throw in the traditional shots as well (by traditional, I mean things like rigidly posed smiling straight into the camera as if the rest of the world does not exist), our focus is to capture natural emotion and events as they occur. People are not mannequins and they are not puppets and rather than pose them as such, I allow a couple to explore their feelings and only step in when necessary or to share a new idea. Photography should not be a scripted event, but rather a collaboration between client and photographer and capturing genuine love in a single camera frame is awe inspiring for me and the beauty of it has never failed to move me. Overcoming camera shyness is the greatest challenge to photojournalism and the methods I employ to accomplish this is to treat my clients as dear friends instead of customers. From the day that a client retains our services to the day of the wedding, I like to keep in touch to share ideas, suggestions for props to make a shoot more dynamic and just getting to know our clients. Commercial Photography: We work with clients ranging from International corporations to clothing lines and the mom and pop shop down the street. Communication and expressing concept and direction for a shoot is every bit as important for a magazine shoot as it is for a product shot of metal bolts, so I work with each of our clients to complete a project on time and exceeding expectations. I encourage any client to call us and swing by our studio to brainstorm, grab a cup of coffee and tell us about their wedding, how they met, what ideas they have and get to know them as people. By the time a wedding day comes, we all feel like old friends and the level of trust, respect and camaraderie is so much higher that it alleviates most of the anxiety and stress. A wedding is a day that can never be duplicated and is one of the defining points in an adult life how you choose to document your wedding day is the most important decision you will make. I will never forget that and as I tell each of my clients no matter how important your photos are to you, theyre even more important to me.
Q: What equipment do you shoot with? What equipment do you shoot with? A: Camera bodiesNikon D3X - this 24 megapixel powerhouse was a very recent purchase for us and is typically only used for commercial projects that require billboard sized prints or some other reason that such large file sizes would be required.Nikon D700 (x2) - this is the most perfect professional digital camera created to date and is our preferred camera for weddings, portraits and practically everything else. The low light capabilities and flexibility of the Nikon D700 are absolutely unparalleled. LensesNikon 17-35mm f/2.8Tamron 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Nikon 28-70mm f/2.8 Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 Nikon 50mm f/1.4 (x2) Nikon 85mm f/1.4 Nikon 105mm f/2.8 macro VR Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D (x2) Lighting (on camera speedlights)Nikon SB-900 (x3)Nikon SB-600 (x2) Lighting (studio strobes)Norman LH500 studio strobe heads and Norman 808 packs (x3)
Q: (boudoir) What can I do to make my boudoir shoot more unique? (boudoir) What can I do to make my boudoir shoot more unique? A: Ideas and locations. Before agreeing to book a boudoir client, we hold a consultation at our studio to discuss ideas, outfits, themese, locations and comfort levels with a potential client. While boudoir in the studio is a popular option, a boudoir session in a client's home not only helps put them in a more comfortable setting, but adds more variety. When your significant other sees you in the familiar setting of your home, the impact is much greater. There are several outdoor 'boudoir friendly' locations as well and the scenic backgrounds show up great on camera. Lastly, hotel rooms are another great choice - there are large windows with natural light, a pre-made bed, shower, etc.
Q: When should I book my wedding photographer? When should I book my wedding photographer? A: As early as you possibly can. On average, our clients reserve their sessions with us between 6-10 months in advance. I cannot underscore enough the need to book your wedding photographer early and build up a strong working relationship with them in the time leading up to your wedding. A wedding photographer is the best resource for any sort of wedding advice, even moreso than a wedding coordinator. Wedding photographers are the one vendor that sees every aspect of a wedding from beginning to end and understands common pitfalls associated with wedding planning. While a coordinator's advice is crucial, they usually speak from the perspective of one venue and deal mostly with the ceremony and a few elements of the reception. Your photographer is there at every step and has worked with a variety of vendors, venues and works throughout the getting ready process, the ceremony and reception, so his or her experience and knowledge will help ensure a smooth wedding, with excellent photos.
Q: What do I look for in a wedding photographer? What do I look for in a wedding photographer? A: Let price be the least determining factor in your decision. Ten years after the cake has been eaten and all the guests have gone home, wedding photography is the only constant reminder you will keep from the most important day of your life. Instead, first and foremost, look for a photographer whose personality mixes best with your own and a shooting style that you enjoy. The relationship between a photographer and client is less of a provider/client than it is an intense short term partnership. Encourage communication with your photographer and stay in contact to share ideas and get to know them as a person. It will help increase comfort in front of the camera and along the way, your photographer can provide you with excellent advice. Having good quality, professional equipment will make an immense difference with your processed photos and result in images that look much better when printed. Backup equipment is of equal importance - I always tell potential clients to never entrust something as critical as a wedding to a single photographer and I tell other photographers to never entrust wedding photography to a single camera. These are machines and they do fail from time to time. Lenses break, cameras break, flashes break. The difference between an enthusiast and a professional is that a professional will shrug their shoulders and pull out replacement gear, whereas the enthusiast's shoot is now over. The tradeoff for having that redundancy is that professional photographers' rates are a bit higher than an enthusiast, but their work is always superior. For reference, our equipment page is located at: http://www.dtyler-photography.com/FAQ/index.asp?CATE=0#5
Q: Why is wedding photography so expensive? Why is wedding photography so expensive? A: All things considered, it's not. Much of the cost of wedding photography is a direct result of equipment costs. Photography equipment is very high priced and requires costly upkeep, upgrades and replacements. But more importantly than cost, wedding photography is the one service you will receive on your wedding day that you will keep for a lifetime, making it the best valued service you will commission.
Q: Are you familiar with different customs? Are you familiar with different customs? A: Absolutely! We've shot Greek and Russian Orthodox weddings (and know the differences between the two), Catholic ceremonies, Lutheran, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, Pakistani and much more. If a new situation presents itself, we do extensive research into customs and traditions to ensure the best possible shots.
Q: Deposits and retainers Do you require a deposit or retainer when I reserve my wedding photography session with you? A: Yes. Each wedding requires only a 50% retainer and a wedding photography contract to hold your date.
Q: Final Payment When is the remaining payment due? A: Your remaining balance may be paid at any time, but no later than 30 days prior to your wedding date.
Q: Refund Policy Is the retainer refundable? A: No. If your wedding photography is cancelled by you, your retainer is not refundable. The retainer that you pay when you reserve your session with us is simply the fee associated with holding your date for you. When you reserve your session with us, we do not book any other appointments for your time slot. When you cancel your session, we are usually unable to book another wedding in time. Your decision to cancel your shoot is one that should never be taken lightly and should never cause a financial hardship for a vendor.
Q: Payment methods What payment methods do you accept? A: VISA, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, Paypal and Google Checkout. We do not accept checks and very rarely accept cash. Credit card payments add a level of security for our clients, as they will always have recourse in the event that a provider does not fulfill their duties (which has never happened with us). Credit card payments also offer us an added level of security, as the credit card verification system verifies our clients' identities as well.
Q: Can I pay at the wedding? Can I pay at the wedding? A: Unfortunately not. I'm not comfortable holding a date without seeing some level of commitment in advance. Likewise for the final payment - we require final payment in advance for the reason that many clients may postpone/cancel their wedding and forget to inform their photographers, or go over budget and allow their photographer to shoot an entire wedding and inform them after the fact that they have no money with which to pay them. This has happened on more than one occasion. By accepting final payment in advance, we are assured that the wedding is still on schedule and that the client has the means with which to pay us. I also do not like dealing with money on the day of your wedding - it feels very wrong to end your celebration to demand payment and breaks the friendly working environment that we work hard to maintain. In my early days as a photographer, it also led to many explanations such as "can I pay you when I get paid at the end of the month?" or "I'm SO sorry; we went over budget - can we work something out?" or "I thought already paid you" or "process and show me the photos and I'll decide whether or not I'll pay"
Q: Do you shoot every wedding yourself? Do you shoot every wedding yourself? A: Yes. Every wedding I personally shoot as principle photographer, along with a co-shooter/assistant that acts as my backup and is equipped to take over for me in the event that I am unable to complete my duties for any reason.
Q: How do I know you'll show up? How do I know you'll show up? A: The relationship between a client and photographer should be one of easy, warm communication and I strongly recommend that a client spends time to get to know their photographer on a personal level, verifies their reputation and references before booking, to avoid the necessity of asking this question directly to a photographer. Since early 1997, we have never missed a wedding date and our positive reviews should be an indication of the level of dedication and quality we provide each client.
Q: What happens if you are too ill or injured to work? What happens if you are too ill or injured to work? A: Thankfully, in all these years this has never happened. I have worked with an amazing array of injuries and sickness that includes a sprained wrist, scalp wound, stress fractured femur, fevers, colds and the flu. Wedding photography is the single most important factor in archiving the memories of the most important day in your adult life and I take the task extremely seriously. But in an uncertain world, there is always the possibility of a serious vehicle collision or life threatening communicable disease. If this were to occur, my partner would take over my duties at principle photographer and if both of us were to be injured or seriously ill, we would obtain the services of a third party photographer. But to reiterate, this has never happened in thirteen years of photography.
Q: What will you wear to my wedding? What will you wear to my wedding? A: Typically I will wear black or tan khaki pants and a button down dress shirt (usually without tie) and vest (either a suit vest or photo vest), with rubber soled shoes. My partner Sarah typically wears sturdy slacks, but no skirts or dresses and we both wear rubber soled shoes with good grip at all times. I look absolutely dapper in a suit, but unless we're shooting in cooler temperatures or an air conditioned location, full suits are not practical attire for a busy photographer with lots of heavy equipment to wear in Las Vegas heat.
Q: What is your view on guest photographers? What is your view on guest photographers? A: I am absolutely fine with guest photographers. Taking photos at a friend or family member's wedding is much of the fun of being there and I would never take that away. In the interest of keeping things orderly, there are a few conditions that are outlined in our wedding photography contract that we ask all guests to follow. 1) Guests must not use flash during the ceremony to avoid overexposing our shots. Also, point and shoot cameras' autofocus light shows up as a very nasty looking orange spotlight that you'd probably rather not have in your photos :) 2) Guest must allow us to complete our formals shots before taking theirs. Multiple photographers during group shots results in subjects looking in the wrong direction and increases the amount of time necessary to complete formals 3) Portrait sessions are a time in which we work with the bride and groom alone. We ask that all guests refrain from photography during portrait time and if possible, begin enjoying themselves at the reception. Romantic and sincere poses are very difficult to accomplish even under the best of circumstances - clients will almost always be embarrassed or nervous with the presence of too many people. 4) We ask that guests not attempt to direct the course of photography. There is a method that I employ, in which I take multiple 'safety' shots, or may occasionally adjust a setting, check my LCD, replace batteries or talk to clients to put them at ease. Guests cannot see what we see through our viewfinders and it causes confusion when a guest begins calling shots. 5) Guests must remain seated throughout the entire ceremony. This becomes a problem from time to time, but while I have a camera pressed up against my face, I have no peripheral vision and cannot see if someone is right next to me or crouched in front of me. My partner and I tend to move around quite a bit to catch different angles as well and guests standing in any of the aisles will block our way. Wedding aisles are extremely narrow and a guest standing up in front of us may result in missing shots like the first kiss or the ring exchange. These are absolutely crucial shots for me and important for the bride and groom to have. I recommend having an announcement made prior to a ceremony, or posting this information somewhere on the save the date, wedding program or RSVP.
Q: Will you work alongside another professional photographer? Will you work alongside another professional photographer? A: The photography we provide is exclusive and out of fairness to us and to our clients, we will not compete with other professional photographers for angles or subjects' attention during a shoot.
Q: What is your view on videography? What is your view on videography? A: Videography is a wonderful choice and we're more than happy to work alongside a videographer! Hiring a videographer is much the same as hiring a photographer and the most important factors to keep in mind is finding an experienced videographer with a nice long lens that has experience working with photographers and keeping out of a photographer's shots. In general though, experienced photographers and experienced videographers work very well together and in general, the worst that happens is that a videographer will show up in the occasional shot.
Q: What comes with your wedding photography packages? What comes with your photography packages? A: Photography with myself as principle photographer along with my partner, who acts as a secondary shooter, assistant and relief photographer. Good photography is all about preparedness and redundancy. Backup cameras, backup lenses, backup lighting and most importantly, backup people. During the ceremony, my partner and I will shoot from alternate angles or zoom lengths to capture wide angles vs closeups, bride perspective, groom perspective, or even crowd perspective. For larger weddings, up to five associate photographers/assistants may be provided in addition. Wedding photography is absolutely crucial and can never be reshot - it is so important to the flow of the day that it should never be entrusted to a single photographer. We also highly recommend adding on a separate wedding portrait, trash the dress, bridal boudoir or engagement session as well to allow us to grab some truly spectacular photos without the restrictions of the venue space, or restrictive timeframes. Portraits are the most important part of wedding photography as a whole and will likely be the photos that you print out and hang on your wall. Portrait session are an amazing amount of fun, as we're limited only by our considerable creativity! :) After your session, we offer complete retouching, enhancement, black and white conversion and editing services at no additional charge. After your photos have been processed, we upload them to a print preview and archival site where you may order prints and share your photos with your friends and family. From this page, you may order high quality *lab corrected* prints on your choice of lustre, glossy, metallic or canvas medium in sizes ranging from wallet to sofa sized. These prints are far superior to prints made on a home photo printer and worth purchasing! Prices vary wildy, but generally begin at under $1. After your photos have been uploaded online, we also create a customized archival quality DVD. Standard DVDs begin to biodegrade within a few short years and may be unreadable in under ten years. We utilize two DVD manufacturers, both imported from Japan and selected for their extreme longevity. Taiyo Yuden DVDs are archival quality for between 25 and 100 years Matsui 24K gold DVDs are archival quality for at least 300 years (and it's very cool to receive a 24K gold DVD!) Your DVD will arrive in a slim line DVD case, with high quality photographic artwork, your names and wedding date on both the DVD itself and the DVD jacket!
Q: Can you make recommendations on other vendors? Can you make recommendations on other vendors? A: In the past, I maintained a referral network for videographers, DJs, venues and limo servies, but unfortunately, I can no longer offer this as I cannot guarantee the same quality of service from an outside vendor. We've seen situations occur when limos do not show up, DJs play the wrong music or videographers' equipment malfunctioning and every time we've seen it occur with a vendor that I recommended, I cannot help but feel at least partially responsible. The one exception to this rule is makeup artists - Every bride (and even groom!) should have professionally applied airbrushing for their wedding day and we maintain ongoing relationships with several outstanding makeup artists that we refer on a regular basis for all of our clients.
Q: Do you provide videography? Do you provide videography? A: We do not. My partner and I instead choose to focus on being the best still photographers that we can be.
Q: Can we meet before reserving our session? Can we meet before reserving our session? A: Absolutely and we strongly recommend a meeting with our clients in person to not only put their fears at ease, but to get to know them. A wedding photographer is there for you at every step of the way in the time leading up to your wedding and on the wedding day itself and if you're comfortable with your photographer in advance, it will show in every shot.
Q: Transportation - Do you provide transportation for us? Do you provide transportation for us? A: For liability reasons, we do not provide transportation for clients. When travelling on the Las Vegas strip or downtown, we strongly recommend securing a limo and driver to avoid the parking garage, which may take up to twenty minutes per hotel. Barring that, a car rental is a very economical method of transportation.
Q: Transportation - Will you ride with us? Will you ride with us? A: Yes, as long as our equipment will fit into the vehicle and as long as we are brought back to our point of origin. Due to the large size and very heavy weight of our equipment, as well as the risk associated with carrying it in a very busy and relatively high crime town, we will not take any form of public transportation or wait for a taxi cab. If this is not possible, we are always happy to follow behind your vehicle!
Q: Will you copy another photographer's style if I show you their photos? Will you copy another photographer's style if I show you their photos? A: We ask that potential clients do not do this. Our style and method of shooting is entirely our own and asking a photographer to plagiarize another photographer's work or mimic their style is very offensive and disheartening. Differing levels of cooperation, different locations, different lighting and different people will create a completely unique and different feel to each photo, which is the true magic of photography - even the tinest of changed variables will yield entirely different results. Copying another photographer's work may not only violate copyright, but like a snowflake, no two works are exactly alike.
Q: If you ride with us, will you take photos as we drive around? If you ride with us, will you take photos as we drive around? A: Usually not. There is a very large safety risk with taking photos from a moving vehicle. A collision or even a large bump can result in broken equipment or worse. Also, keep in mind that standing up in an uncovered moving vehicle (such as the top of a double decker bus) is prohibited by law. An accident or sudden stop would result in the photographer being thrown completely from the bus. And generally, there is almost always some degree of motion blur while shooting from a moving vehicle that is constantly running over uneven road or stopping suddenly.
Q: Do we need to provide you with a meal? Do we need to provide you with a meal? A: If your wedding session is longer than four hours, we require that a hot, square meal is provided. Most venues do not allow "outside food" to be brought in for cross contamination purposes and while shooting, it is impossible to keep it fresh in Las vegas heat and even if it were, it adds bulk and weight to our gear bags. Photographers are on their feet for long hours with heavy equipment and require a break and sustenance. If a meal is unable or unwilling to be provided, we will leave the premises to locate an adequate meal and will return when we have finished eating.
Q: Are there casinos that will not allow photography? Are there casinos that will not allow photography? A: The majority of Las Vegas Blvd casinos do not allow photography on their property. Please check with us while creating your itinerary and we would be happy to advise!
Q: Can I swing by the studio? Can I swing by the studio? A: Since much of our work is done on location and while in studio we are often shooting a session, our studio is by appointment and we ask that potential and existing clients call us first at 702.949.9888 to ensure availability.
Q: What looks best on camera? What looks best on camera? A: Confidence. No matter what type of photography session you're reserving, if you feel confident in who you are, your photos will always be better. Confidence is something that we as photographers cannot direct and so we encourage our clients to spend time in front of the mirror to gain confidence in themselves and their appearance prior to their session.
Q: Taking initiative Will you pose me for every shot? A: To an extent. We offer very generalized posing instructions such as "for this next shot, do not look into the camera" or "more energy" and leave the rest up to interpretation, but for the most part, we encourage natural movement and interactions. 'Over posing' a subject not only takes a considerable amount of time, but the results look extremely stiff and forced. Our technique is to put our clients at ease with us and the camera while we're working and encourage genuine laughter, fun and interaction between subjects. To accomplish this, we use humor, conversation and brainstorming with our clients to pull attention away from the camera and invoke ideas. If you like your photographer and you're having a good time, it's going to show. If you would rather be somewhere else, or dislike your photographer or yourself, it's also going to show no matter what we do. Good photography is always a collaborative effort between photographer and subject and we move our clients out of the mindset of "just tell us what to do" and into the mindset of "let's do this next".
Q: Posing I'm nervous in front of the camera - will you pose me? A: Yes, but the more I pose a client or clients, the more stiff and unnatural they become. I nickname this "overposing". The best photography is created as a collaborative effort between photographer and client. Be it wedding clients, fashion, boudoir or portraits, I encourage clients to spend the time before their shoot to practice posing in front of a mirror and learn to ignore the camera. From the time that we are very small, we're told to smile for the camera, when in fact, a truly unique style is created when a subject learns to simply look away. We prefer to provide general posing assistance such as "interact with each other", "show passion" or "give her a dip" and leave the rest up to interpretation, so create a more organic and emotion filled shot.
Q: Can you Photoshop blemishes or smooth skin? Can you Photoshop blemishes or smooth skin? A: Yes and we offer limited amounts of skin smoothing or blemish removal at no additional charge when we deem it appropriate to the photo, but this is not meant to be a replacement for professional makeup.
Q: Photoshopping - Adding/removing people Can you add in a person to a group shot that was not present? A: While this is possible, it usually looks unnatural and is not a service that I provide.
Q: What is a headshot? What is a headshot? A: A headshot is just that - a picture of your head and occasionally head and shoulders. It is the first step of a career in modeling, acting and perhaps even music. The characteristics of a good headshot is that the focal point is always on the eyes and the lighting employed is very basic, as is your makeup. A headshot should be an accurate representation of who you are and what you'll look like when you step into a room.
Q: Hair, makeup and clothes What are the do's and do not's associated with my Zed card and headshot session? A: Do NOTs DO's |