THE BRIDE’S GUIDE
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The Best Thing to Hold Onto in Life, i s E a c h O t h e r. - Audrey Hepburn
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CONTENTS
15 THE BRIDE’S GIUDE - WHY? MEET ME
18 ME 20 MY STYLE
ENGAGED IN LOVE
26 ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS MATTER 28 WHAT TO WEAR & WHERE TO SHOOT 30 STYLE TIPS FOR YOUR SESSION
YOUR WEDDING
38 YOUR WEDDING DAY 41 SAMPLE WEDDING DAY TIMELINE 47 SAY “YES” TO THE FIRST LOOK 50 THE DETAILS 53 “UN-PLUGGED” WEDDINGS
YOUR IMAGES
60 PHOTOS ARE MEANT TO BE SHARED 63 THE SIMPLE BEAUTY OF PASS 64 SPECIALTY PRODUCTS
WEDDING VENDORS
69 SELECTING YOUR VENDORS 70 SHOULD I HIRE A WEDDING PLANNER? 76 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 78 SUGGESTED DO’S & DONT’S 81 HIRING ME
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THE BRIDE’S GUIDE - WHY?
I’ve shot tons of weddings. Big weddings, small weddings, weddings that were on a small budget and extravagant weddings. Ultimately though, they are all pretty much the same in terms of planning and knowing what will work on the day and what won’t. Before I turned fulltime professional in 2008, I was shooting weddings from the sideline as a second photographer learning the trade. Now I am the main photographer and therefore I get to see everything. Everything that goes right and everything that goes wrong. From my experience I can now usually anticipate when and why things will go wrong on the day. The aim of this guide is to give you a better insight into what I do and how I do it. It is also here to get you thinking about possibilities for making the photography easier and ultimately better for you on your day. I want you to use my experience for your benefit. Think of it as an added
service - with a smile....! Usually when something goes wrong on a wedding day or maybe there are sequences of small mishaps, the end result is a delay and everything starts running late. The preparations, leaving for the church, the ceremony and getting to the wedding reception venue. However what will not be delayed is the start of your wedding meal. So that time you had planned for photographs and mingling with your guests before the meal becomes shortened. Sometimes dramatically, sometimes totally. That’s not what anybody wants. The following pages will I hope help you get in the mindset for planning your day effectively so that it should run smoothly. There’s nothing difficult about it. Its generally just little things that most couples forget because they haven’t planned a wedding before, that make the difference.
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And love will hold us together, make us a shelter to weather the storm - Matt Maher, Hold Us Together
THIS IS ME
I’m an easy going, sociable, coffee loving, chocolate loving, Breaking Bad fan who just happens to photograph people for a living.
Mainland Europe is a huge market and a lot of the photography styles there are old fashioned and boring. So my style is attracting young couples looking for a modern and fresh I haven’t always been a full time pho- approach. Travel and dealing with tographer. Like many people, I spent slightly different cultures keep things many years in the corporate world interesting and fresh. wishing I was doing something completely different. For me I always Importantly, I’m married too. This wanted to trade the daily 9 to 5 hours means I’ve been through it all. I’ve for a career in photography. Eventu- seen it and experienced it from the ally circumstances changed and paved eyes and minds of the bride and a way for me to change my career. groom. So I know what’s it’s like to plan for a wedding, what to take into After studying photography in account for your guests, your photogGriffith College Dublin I decided to raphy before, during and after your leave the corporate world and setup day and most importantly YOU. But my own photography business. That we’ll get to all that later...! was the start of 2008 and I’ve never looked back. I now photograph weddings all over Ireland and also several each year in mainland Europe.
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MY STYLE
Lets start with what I’m not about. I’m not about stiff formal portraits or poses. I’m not about being predictable. I’m not into styles that will look dated in 5 years time. I don’t like over-the-top or badly photoshopped images. I don’t like the current fashion amongst some of applying filters in an attempt to disguise a badly taken photograph. I do however like natural documentary style photographs that will not look dated (aside from clothing and hairstyles of course..!) in 20 or 50 years time. In other words - timeless. And I do like photographing weddings. Yes they can be stressful, but everybody is in a good mood and I get to work with some great people in some great locations...! So what is my style? Well you have seen my portfolio on my web site but to try and explain it here in words, I’ll start by saying that my working style is to adopt a documentary or fly on the wall type approach. This means that my images are entirely natural and real. For me, wedding photography is about capturing emotion and to do
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that you have to let people be themselves and not to feel intimidated by a camera pointing at them or an overbearing photographer with a big ego. Using a documentary approach means that I quietly stand back and remain in the background as much as possible with no interference whilst capturing the events as they unfold. Rarely will I ask any of your guests to pose for a photograph. Instead I photograph them interacting with other guests and enjoying their day. Although some will request a posed photo and that’s entirely fine. It’s about being discrete and observant as to what is happening around me. It’s also about being experienced in knowing what to anticipate next during all the various stages of the day. Whilst my predominant style is to work in a documentary manner, most couples also want to incorporate a photo shoot into the day for themselves. Whatever length of time you want to spend doing this is up
to you. I’m always happy to guide you through this decision that will be influenced by how you have planned your day, the suitability of the venue itself and your expectations. Obviously the more time you allocate to this, the more photos we can produce but ultimately you decide how long this part of the day will take. If you decide to opt for a First Look, even better as this will ensure that we get to spend the time required for your portraits - more about that on page 47. During the photo session itself, my working style is also to keep things really relaxed and casual and with the minimum of direction from me. Most of the time you are not even looking at the camera.
I will have the session planned out in advance in accordance to the type of venue and whether we are shooting indoors, outdoors or both. During this session I tend to stand back with a long lens, I let you interact naturally with each other and I wait for the moment –then I capture it. This means that the photographs blend naturally into the documentary style of the day. It’s important for me that this session is enjoyable for everybody. If you’re enjoying the session it will come across in your photos and if you’ve already had the experience of a Luv Shoot with me, then you will know exactly what to expect which will prepare you and relax you even more.
ENGAGED in LOVE
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails ...
- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
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ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS MATTER
If you’re tempted to not have an engagement session or Luv Shoot as I call it... give me a moment to convince you why you should. Professional athletes spend hours practicing. Musicians do too. Surgeons go to school for years to perfect their skills. In his book Outliers author Malcolm Gladwell made the suggestion that it takes about 10,000 hours (or about ten years) to become an expert at something. Do you see where I’m going with this? If you want to feel comfortable in front of a camera it will help a lot to get some practice time. An engagement session is a great way to practice before your wedding. It’s an opportunity for both of you to become comfortable in front of the camera... and it’s also enjoyable! Honestly...!! But don’t worry... we won’t be practicing for 10,000 hours! Engagement sessions last between 90 to 120 minutes depending on the location and/or activity you’ve selected for your session. In order to maximize our shooting time we will typically shoot in one or two locations. Special arrangements can be made for sessions needing more time. The last two hours before the sun goes down are when I typically photograph engagement sessions. However, I am very flexible with time and location because I want to create an experience that works best for my clients. So please don’t hesitate to ask if you have an idea or suggestion in mind. I love getting to know my couples and an engagement session is one of the ways we do that. Trust me, on the day of your wedding, you will both feel more confidant in front of the camera if you’ve spent a little time practicing for the big day. Engagement photos are also great for Save-the-Date announcements and guest signing books or a framed signing board at your reception.
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ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS WHAT TO WEAR & WHERE TO SHOOT
For your engagement session wear clothes selection of places in which to change that match your style and personality, that your outfit, so keep that in mind when feel like you and that you feel great in. choosing what you’ll wear... and what you’ll wear first. There are no rules as to You are welcome to bring two outfits for whether you wear your casual or your each of you. One set can be casual and the dressy outfit first... that’s entirely up to other more dressy. Choose clothes and you! accessories that you feel confidant in and that flatter your unique shape and size. Where we shoot is also up to you. I am available to make suggestions if you’re Your engagement session can be a great having trouble deciding. My experience time to do a trial run with your makeup has taught me that selecting locations or artist before your wedding day. Having activities that are meaningful and your makeup professionally done for your important to my couples always results in session can help boost your confidence better images. and will definitely make you “pop” in your photos. Be sure to communicate your desired “makeup style” clearly to your artist so that he or she is able to create a look for you that compliments your features, but that keeps you looking like you. If either of you is planning to wear shoes that are high in style but low in comfort... you might want to consider packing an extra pair with you to wear to and from the car. Depending on the location you choose for your session there may not be a wide
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ENGAGEMENT SESSION STYLE TIPS
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Be you. Choose clothing and accessories that represent your style and that you feel great in.
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Don’t be afraid to bring a couple of different outfits.
Be comfortable. Select clothing that fits well and that compliments your figure.
Try to avoid clothing with logos... otherwise you run the risk of looking like an ad for your favorite retailer.
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Try to avoid being “matchy matchy”. Instead, try to coordinate your outfit selections.
Select outfits that compliment each other in color, style and level of formality.
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Layers and texture translates great on camera! So don’t be afraid to layer jewelry, scarves, sweaters, jackets or any combination in order to create depth in your outfits.
Don’t forget the details! Accessories, nails, shoes. The level of care on even the little things can add up! A fresh manicure, polished shoes and even the simplest earrings can create a more polished and styled look.
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Brides... consider having your hair and makeup done for your session. Having a professional hair and/or makeup stylist prep you for your session will help to add a little glamour to your photos even if you’ve selected casual apparel for your session.
Don’t Stress!! Engagement photos should be fun... and they will be if you let yourself enjoy the experience! You might even consider having a date night after your session so you can enjoy an evening together celebrating your engagement!
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YOUR WEDDING DAY
Your wedding day will go by in a flash (a little photography humor for you). The day you have spent so much time preparing for, dreaming of and investing in, will go by as one of the quickest days in your life. I guarantee it. That’s one of the great reasons to invest in wedding photography that will tell the story of your day; giving you the opportunity to relive it. When I arrive on the day of your wedding (I can also provide a second-photographer if required) typically I’ll begin by shooting the bride’s details: dress, shoes, jewelry, bouquet, etc.. Having all your “details”, including your flowers, ready to be photographed is a huge help and time saver. Some brides have the opportunity to get ready in gorgeous suites with beautiful natural light. Others prepare in small rooms at home or a standard hotel room. Either is fine. Whatever works best for you... in the words of Tim Gunn, I will “make it work.” Of course a gorgeous suite with natural light is fabulous and I won’t say “no” to it. Photography is all about light... and finding the best possible light to use is my number one technical priority on your
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wedding day. So on your big day I will always be looking for the best possible light to shoot in. So if I find great light in another room or outside, I might ask you if I can move your dress to photograph it. Another important detail for your day is to eliminate clutter in the background of your preparation images. Having your bridesmaids tidy up your getting ready room before you put your dress on is always appreciated and helps to make your images more editorial and classic in style. Once I arrive I will help to guide you through a timeline that we’ll agreed upon prior to your wedding day. The timeline is a “guideline” to help us get you to the church on time. Weddings, like all events, take on a life of their own and we’ll be flexible if for any reason the schedule doesn’t go as planned.
SAMPLE WEDDING DAY TIMELINE With First Look 10:00 PHOTOGRAPHY COVERAGE BEGINS Details: Bride’s dress, shoes, jewelry, bouquet, special items Final preparation of the bride and bridesmaids 11:00 BRIDE GETS DRESSED Bride’s portraits and group shots with bridesmaids 11:45 GROOM FINAL PREPARATIONS Groom’s details, portraits and group shots with groomsmen 12:15 THE FIRST LOOK Bride and groom portraits 13:30
DEPART FOR CEREMONY VENUE
14:00
CEREMONY
15:30
END OF CEREMONY & DEPART FOR RECEPTION VENUE
16:00
ARRIVE AT RECEPTION VENUE & PHOTOGRAPH RECEPTION ROOM BEFORE GUESTS ENTER
16:30
BRIDAL PARTY, FAMILY PHOTOS & SPECIAL REQUESTS
17:30
CALL FOR DINNER
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DINNER IS SERVED
19:30
CAKE CUTTING
20:00
SPEECHES
22:00 SPECIAL DANCES Bride & her father, Groom and his mother, Bridal Party 22:10
OPEN DANCING
22.15
BOUQUET TOSS
22.30
PHOTOGRAPHY COVERAGE CONCLUDES
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SAMPLE WEDDING DAY TIMELINE Traditional 11:30 PHOTOGRAPHY COVERAGE BEGINS Details: Bride’s dress, shoes, jewelry, bouquet, special items Final preparation of the bride and bridesmaids 12:30 BRIDE GETS DRESSED Bride’s portraits and group shots with bridesmaids 13:15
DEPART FOR CEREMONY VENUE
13:30
GROOM & GROOMSMEN PORTRAITS
14:00
CEREMONY
15:30
END OF CEREMONY & DEPART FOR RECEPTION VENUE
16:00
ARRIVE AT RECEPTION VENUE
16:10
BRIDE & GROOM PORTRAITS
16:50
BRIDAL PARTY, FAMILY PHOTOS
17:20 PHOTOGRAPH RECEPTION ROOM BEFORE GUESTS ENTER (Time permitting) 17:30
CALL FOR DINNER
18:00
DINNER IS SERVED
19:30
CAKE CUTTING
20:00
SPEECHES
22:00 SPECIAL DANCES Bride & her father, Groom and his mother, Bridal Party 22:10
OPEN DANCING
22.15
BOUQUET TOSS
22.30
PHOTOGRAPHY COVERAGE CONCLUDES
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Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love. - Mother Teresa
SAY YES... TO THE FIRST LOOK
It may go against old traditions, but I think it’s great that First Looks are starting to become the NEW tradition. A First Look has a massive impact on your wedding photography timeline for the day and provides the opportunity for additional and more relaxed bridal portraits. It also makes the moment you see one another an intimate experience that’s truly just about you. So what exactly is a First Look? It’s when the bride & groom see each other for the first time in private before the ceremony - normally about 2 hours before the ceremony. I’m there to capture the First Look as it’s an opportunity to document his reaction when he sees you in your wedding dress for the very first time. Then we go on to complete the bride and groom portrait session for an agreed duration of time. Unlike your walk down the aisle in a public arena when all eyes will be on you, during the First Look only his eyes (and my lens) will be on you. Your wedding day will go by in the blink of an eye. A First Look yields intimate and emotional photos... and a private moment for the two of you to enjoy. Why would we want to break with tradition? If your wedding photographs are a priority in the planning of your perfect day, then you’re likely to appreciate the benefits of a First Look. Those benefits include having additional time for bridal portraits, having loads more time at your reception to mingle with your guests and having plenty of time to get your family portraits completed. Fact - many weddings run late despite the best intentions or planning. 9 times out of 10 this directly impacts on the bride and groom portrait session because that 60 minutes we had planned for your session is no longer possible and suddenly we find ourselves having maybe 30 minutes or less to complete the session. This is what nobody wants but sadly it happens so often. A First Look eliminates this. Many brides and grooms also find it a wonderful way to calm their wedding day jitters before walking down the aisle. | 47
There is no greater happiness for a man than approaching a door at the end of a day knowing someone on the other side of that door is waiting for the sound of his footsteps. - Ronald Reagan
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THE DETAILS
Details are a great way to make your wedding a unique experience highlighted with touches of you. Carefully selected and purposefully placed details can make your wedding more personal and memorable. Details also help to tell the story of your wedding in your photographs. But don’t just select details for the sake of details, instead try to choose items that are a personal reflection of you as a couple.
Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue Something old represents continuity. Something new represents optimism for the future. Something borrowed symbolizes borrowed happiness. Something blue stands for purity, love, and fidelity.
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“UN-PLUGGED” WEDDINGS
If you’ve ever attended a wedding and noticed that more than half the guests are holding a device like an iPad or smartphone in front of their face the entire ceremony... you’re not alone. Maybe you’ve even been the one holding the phone taking photos or video. The term “un-plugged” wedding has become a hot topic in the wedding photography world recently and even found it’s way to the front pages of Yahoo and The Huffington Post. In a world where just about everyone has a cell phone equipped with camera and video we’ve all become “iPhoneographers” and are constantly pulling out our phones to snap a photo or capture a quick video. But on the day of your wedding do you want your guests focused on you or focused on photographing you? As a professional photographer I can see both sides of the coin. Guests are excited
to be there and want to capture and share images from your wedding day while at the same time you’ve invited them there because they are special to you and you want them to be a part of your day. Unfortunately though, I’ve had loads of potentially great shots ruined by guests with their cameras and it’s a problem that seems to be getting worse. Ultimately though, it’s you who looses out. It’s entirely up to you whether you suggest to your guests that they refrain from taking photos or video during your ceremony and reception. During group photos (bridal party and family) I am always happy to allow your guests to take photos after I have gotten the shots I need for you. Your wedding day is about you as a couple and the focus should stay on you.
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PHOTOS ARE MEANT TO BE SHARED
Have you ever heard it said that “a gift isn’t truly a gift until it is given away”? I think the same theory applies to photographs. They are meant to be SHARED. Every day a photograph grows in significance and value because every day after it is taken we are one day further away from that precious moment in time that is captured in the image. Your wedding photographs should be enjoyed and shared by you, your friends, family and even future generations. Because I believe your photos should be shared I include a collection of fully-edited, high resolution images from the engagement session and wedding day. For those couples that want me to provide a secondphotographer on their wedding day, the secondphotographer’s images will be also be included in the collection of fully-edited, high resolution images. I want you to have your images, enjoy them and share them. They don’t do either of us any good if they’re locked away on a hard drive.
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YOUR ONLINE GALLERY We live in an incredibly connected world. Calling a friend on the phone on another continent, talking on Skype with our college roommate or reading the Facebook wall of a friend we haven’t seen since high school is so normal that we’ve forgotten how just ten years ago we didn’t have iPhones, iPads or even Facebook. One of the major benefits of being so connected is that we can now share images of our lives with the ones we love... instantly. I use a photo sharing solution that was created for professional wedding and portrait photographers. When your wedding images have been fully-edited, a collection of your photos will be uploaded to the cloud to your unique gallery and you will receive a url where you can view, download, share and order prints on any computer, tablet, or smartphone device that has internet access. To share your images with family and friends you simply share your unique url and password with them and they too can view, download, share and order prints of your images. Your gallery will be active for one year and professional lab quality prints can be ordered directly within your gallery.
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SPECIALTY PRODUCTS
I proudly offer my couples a selection of specialty fine-art legacy products including hand-crafted leather bound albums, linen cover photo albums, boutique portfolio prints, thank you cards etc... We live in a digital age where images are most commonly shared via social media and electronic devices, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t invest in legacy pieces that can be handed down from one generation to the next. A handcrafted album is something you leave behind for your children and your grandchildren. It’s a tangible item they can hold in their hands and experience your wedding day and your love story while turning the pages fifty, sixty, seventy years from now. All my albums are designed with your full input. Together we work hand-in-hand until you are 100% happy with the design. After all, it is your album.
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SELECTING YOUR WEDDING VENDORS
Selecting your wedding vendors is one of the most important aspects of planning your wedding. You want to choose vendors whose work you love, that you trust and that you enjoy working with. Of all your vendors you’ll spend the most time with your wedding photographer... but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t carefully select your florist, cake maker and other vendors with the same level of care. My number one recommendation is that you communicate very clearly with your vendors. The best way to start a relationship with a potential vendor is to meet with them in person (or at least have a phone conversation with them). Get a feel for their personality and how they interact with you. If you get an uneasy feeling... trust your instincts and continue searching until you find a vendor that you feel you can trust and work well with.
little to no experience you can certainly expect to pay less than you would for an experienced vendor. Inexperience doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll receive a bad product or poor service... because remember, everyone starts somewhere and some people just have a natural talent or ability to provide great products and services from the very beginning. On the other hand there is something to be said for experience... okay, there’s a lot to be said for experience. An experienced vendor has “been there, done that” and will know how to handle things if an unexpected situation should arise before or during your wedding. Choosing vendors that you love for both their work and their personalities will definitely make wedding planning a more enjoyable experience.
What about hiring someone that’s just getting started in their business? Inexperience can be good and bad. If you’re considering hiring a vendor with
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DO I NEED A WEDDING PLANNER?
It’s not so common in Ireland but I hear this question more and more and my answer is always the same; that depends entirely upon you. Some brides have been planning their weddings since they were four years old, long before they met their grooms. Others haven’t given much thought to their weddings and haven’t dog-eared the pages of wedding magazines or created invitation mock-ups in their notebooks. But regardless of where you fall on the bridal spectrum, working with a wedding planner really depends on you. How much time do you have to spend planning your wedding? Do you have the resources to hire a planner? From simple weddings to lavish ones, working with a wedding planner can alleviate a lot of the stress of planning your big day. Perhaps you’re planning a destination wedding in France or in the Tuscan countryside. Here, I think working with a wedding planner is essential and can help you avoid common mistakes and the risk of the unknown.
hiring a “day-of” planner to help execute your plans on the day of your wedding. A day-of wedding planner allows you to focus on being the bride on your wedding day instead of worrying about whether the cake has arrived or the tables have been set. Many couples don’t realize that the venue coordinator/manager at their reception location doesn’t act as a wedding planner for them. Rather, the venue coordinator is focused on making sure that their team of professionals provides proper service throughout your wedding. You can’t expect that will mean your venue coordinator will coordinate all of your outside vendors like your florist, baker and DJ on the day of your wedding. When selecting your venue be sure to ask the venue coordinator what services they provide on the day of your wedding. Communicating clearly from the very beginning of your relationship is always a great idea!
If you love details and enjoy planning events, you might still want to consider
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHEN WILL MY IMAGES BE READY? I will deliver your complete collection of images from your engagement session and your wedding within 20 days of your session or wedding. I will notify you via email that your images are ready for viewing, downloading and sharing.
been able to access your images I then “archive” your wedding to an external hard drive. Following the upload to your gallery, I pass the responsibility of storing your images to you. If you have questions about how best to secure and save your images please ask me. I’m happy to put my “geek” hat on and help you preserve your memories.
WHAT FORMAT ARE THE IMAGES IN?
CAN I HAVE SOME IMAGES EDITED IN BLACK & WHITE?
Your high-resolution fully edited images are jpg files.
Yep. In fact, I almost always include some black and white images. Some images just scream “edit me in black and white”... some don’t. If a client tells me that they absolutely love black & white photography, then I generally add a few more. Normally I include about 15% of your images in black & white and the majority of my clients are happy with that.
HOW LONG DO YOU KEEP MY IMAGES? I store your images on several repeated drives and on an online off-site backup while I am working on completing the edit for your session/wedding. Once I have uploaded your images to your gallery and you have confirmed that you have
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CAN I PRINT MY IMAGES ANYWHERE? Sure. But the better question might be; should I print my images just anywhere? No. I always recommend that if you want to print images from your image collection that you print directly from within your gallery. Printing your high resolution images from your typical high street photo lab is fine for small prints that will end up in a scrapbook. However, these labs are cheap for a reason. Using a proper professional printing laboratory dedicated to professional photographers only, I can have your prints produced on the highest quality paper using the highest quality inks by properly calibrated printers. What’s more, each print will be individually checked by a real human to ensure accurate colour reproduction. These prints look fantastic and will last a lifetime. You certainly have the option of printing your images on your home printer or at your local pharmacy for example... but the colors won’t be as rich as what you see on your computer screen. The computers used to edit my images are specifically calibrated for the printers used by my printing company guaranteeing that your prints will be rich and vibrant. DO YOU OUTSOURCE YOUR EDITING?
DO YOU TRAVEL? Absolutely. I love to travel and my passport is always current. Travel fees do apply and are billed separately from your wedding collection. I regularly shoot weddings now both in Ireland and mainland Europe so if you are planning a wedding in rural France, that is not a problem. WHAT TYPE OF GEAR DO YOU USE? I am a Canon photographer and shoot with 5D Mk III professional camera bodies and Canon L-series professional lenses. HOW DO YOU SELECT YOUR SECOND-SHOOTERS? When hiring a second-shooter for your wedding day it is a priority for me to select a photographer that I would recommend and that I would feel comfortable shooting your wedding in the event that I couldn’t. I’ve never not been able to photograph one of my clients’ weddings... but I like the feeling of knowing that if something beyond my control prevented me from shooting a wedding my scheduled second-shooter would be able to step in and provide the same level of customer service and photographs that my clients expect and deserve.
Absolutely not.
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SUGGESTED DO’S & DONT’S DO • Choose a photographer whose work you love and who you feel comfortable with as you will be spending a lot of time with him or her on your day.
• Make-up artists and hairstylists are notorious for making brides late. When scheduling add at least an extra 30 minutes. I don’t mean to state the obvious but your wedding day is not • Sit down with your photographer the day to experiment with hair and whether it is me or somebody else and make-up. Plan a dress rehearsal on a plan the day in detail. An experienced separate day. If you plan on wearing a wedding photographer will know all headpiece, use this time to make sure the little things that can go wrong it will fit with your hairstyle. on your day and how to prepare for them. • Have a dry run of putting on your dress - not with the dressmaker or the • Get a pretty clothes hanger for the sales assistants in the shop where you wedding dress. A fantastic expensive bought it - but with the people who wedding dress just doesn’t look so will actually be there with you and good on a plastic hanger.... helping you on your wedding day. This is the part where a lot of brides • If the bridal preparations are being get delayed and it can be so easily done at home, clean the windows avoided. and mirrors beforehand until they are squeaky clean because I’ll most likely • Have a spare copy of your wedding be using them and we want your invitation that I can photograph. reflection to be perfect.
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DON’T • Leave everything to the last minute. The amount of work that goes into planning even a small wedding is huge and it’s a job that some couples totally underestimate. • Just think about your guests. Remember it’s your day too. Whilst your guests are important and central to your celebration, you have to sometimes be a little selfish and plan for the day as you would like to see it unfold. On the same vein, be prepared for the fact that you will undoubtedly upset somebody be it over a seating arrangement or in the choice of bridesmaids for example. It’s rarely possible to keep everybody happy at a wedding and once you know that in advance it can make dealing with it easier.
• Expect your dress to remain clean throughout the day. In fact as soon as you leave the house or hotel for the ceremony it will unfortunately start to become marked. Be prepared for this but don’t worry about the photographs as whatever marks are visible, I will make sure to edit out during the post production stage. • Finally, please, please don’t get your uncle Joe or your friend with a ‘good’ camera to photograph your wedding. You will regret it for loads of reasons. Guaranteed.
• Don’t underestimate the amount of time you will need for travel. Add it up and then add some more..!
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HIRING ME
If you are interested in having me shoot your upcoming engagement and wedding please contact me to discuss the details of your wedding. I accept a limited number of weddings each year. I do this in order to maintain a balance between my personal and professional life by keeping my focus on my family and business. This also allows me to provide high-end service to all of my couples. I do not accept every wedding I am asked to photograph as I believe it is important that I am a good match for each of my couples. In addition to wedding photography, I offer family and individual portraits, commercial photography, product and event photography services to a small selection of clients. Complete pricing is available by request.
C O N TA C T D AV I D www.djd.ie 01 443 4683 info@djd.ie
Images copyright David Duignan Photography
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