Here are a number of commonly asked questions about wedding photography coverage. If after reading you still have an unanswered question, please feel free to drop me a line at info@chris-milner.com.
Can you tell us about the pre-wedding shoot, do we need to have it? A pre-wedding portrait shoot is included in all my packages, it’s a fun and relaxed session that is a great way for us all to get to know each other, and for you both to get used to having your photograph taken. This can be done whilst we meet up to have a look around your venue or at a location that is special to you, usually about a month before the wedding day. This is also a great time to go through the plans for the day and to talk over the photographs that you want me to take.
How long will you stay for on the wedding day? A full days wedding photography is included in all my packages. I will be with you from the morning preparations (as early as needed) to after the first dance to tell the story of the whole day.
How many photographs will we receive? I generally don’t stop taking photos for the whole day, aside from during the wedding breakfast. The quantity taken is dependent on a range of factors (how many guests there are, the number of locations used throughout the day etc). I don’t set a maximum limit and will take in excess of 1000 photographs, these are then edited down to around 400 of the very best images of the day.
Will you take photos of the groom as well as the bride before the wedding? I usually try to visit both the bride as well as the groom before the ceremony. I will usually first visit the bride whilst she has her hair and make up done, and capture details such as the dress and shoes and some informal photos with her father and bridesmaids. Depending on the distance between preparatory venues I will aim to visit the groom before the ceremony also, this can be planned out at your pre-wedding meeting.
Do you take group photos as well as candid’s? I am happy to take a limited amount of group photos of family and important guests and work to a pre-arranged list, this can be discussed at the pre-wedding meeting. It is best for everyone if no longer than 30 minutes is spent on the group photos, and your ushers can play their part in gathering people together to speed up the process.
Do you charge travel expenses? Travel expenses for weddings within 50 miles of York will be covered within the package fee. Expenses for travel and accommodation for further afield will be added.
Do you airbrush photos? Every photo that you will receive on the disc and in the album will be colour and exposure corrected and generally tweaked to make every image look it’s very best, and this is included in the package price. I believe in creating the very best photographs possible, and often this involves removing the odd exit sign or stray lamp post which I will gladly do at no extra cost. If you would like any additional beauty editing to enhance reality, such as skin smoothing, reducing lines, removing a pesky spot or even a nip and tuck, then this can be done at a rate of £10 per photo (skin editing is generally only effective and necessary on close up head shots).
When will we be able to see our photographs? I aim to have the photographs available to view online within 2 weeks so they are ready for when you return from your honeymoon. I firstly add the photos to a private gallery for you to remove any that you don’t like before adding the photos to the guests gallery. A small selection will also be added to my blog.
What camera do you use? I use professional digital SLR cameras and lenses by Nikon, currently the D700 model. These are highly capable for weddings as they are well renowned for their low light capabilities and quick focusing systems, ideal for catching those important moments, even in the darkest of venues!
What albums do you supply? I currently have a range of albums; Folio Fine Art Albums and Bellissimo Perfetto and Infinity Book Albums from Loxley Colour. All the albums I use are hand finished, have edge-to-edge printing, and open out flat to allow images to be spread right across two pages with no loss of the image in the centre crease. A wide variety of sizes and covers are available, including leather and photo-cover. I would be more than happy to bring them round to show you, please feel free to get in touch to arrange a meeting.
Can we see the album design before it goes to print? Yes, I will put a design together using your favourite chosen images and then send an electronic copy of the page layouts. I want your album to be as perfect as possible and to your exact specifications before going to print, so up to 20 changes in image position, size etc can be made if you are not happy with my initial design. Further changes are possible and are charged at a rate of £5 per page.
How long will our album take to arrive? All of my albums are made in the UK, so there’s no waiting for 2 months for your album to arrive from the other side of the globe! Once you have signed off the design, depending on the album chosen it will take 2-4 weeks for it to be delivered.
What’s included in the photography package? All of my packages include a pre-wedding shoot, a full days wedding photography coverage, approx 300 – 400 fully edited high resolution images on disc ready for printing, and a secure slide show on my website of the same images for family and guests to view.
Can we print the images ourselves? All of the edited images of the day are supplied watermark free on DVD-ROM disc in both printable and emailable sizes. You are then free to print and distribute as you wish.
Are you insured? Yes, all my equipment is fully insured and I am covered by public liability insurance.
Are you a member of any photographic professional bodies? Yes, I am an award winning member of the Society of Wedding and Portrait Photography (SWPP) and I hold a Licentiate qualification with the Society of International Fashion and Glamour Photographers (SIFGP).
How do we book you? Once we have had chance to meet up, and you have made the decision to go ahead with the booking, I will post a wedding contract and booking form to sign and return, along with an invoice for a booking fee of £150. The remaining amount of the package price is due 30 days before the day of the wedding.
