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What is wedding photojournalism?
Traditionally, wedding photographers would pose the couple at every stage along the way: "Hold that knife right over the cake like so while I set up the lights!" etc. Photojournalists, on the other hand, document the action, capturing the moments as they happen. For newspaper assignments, photojournalists never direct the action; the only posing or directing we do is when photographing a portrait. The lighting might not always be perfect with a photojournalist, but the moments and emotions captured are much more real.
This does not mean there will not be formal photos; I will always photograph formal images if desired. It is best to come up with a "shot list" of formal photos in advance of the wedding day. This way, no important family members are left out and the process of shooting the formal photos goes quickly. The bride and groom do not want to spend their day being directed by a photographer. They would rather be having fun, so I work quickly and efficiently to shoot any requested photos, and let the day progress naturally.
Don't be fooled by traditional photographers following the latest trend by now calling themselves "photojournalists." I've been a professional photojournalist for over a decade.
How soon do I get my photos?
Way quicker than with the vast majority of wedding photographers! Most of the time, if you take a week-long honeymoon immediately after the wedding, all the photos will be posted to your website before your return. In addition, I usually have the DVD slide shows and photo discs ready within two-three weeks. Albums take four-eight weeks from the time you approve the design.
Do yourself a favor and ask your friends and relatives that are married how long it took to get their photos; you might be surprised to hear many of them did not receive their photos for many months, and in some unfortunate cases, over a year. I could not in good conscience ever do this. More than a decade of working on immediate deadline at newspapers has given me the skill to process photos very quickly while still giving each photo the attention to detail it deserves.
Two Photojournalists? Why?
This does not mean there will not be formal photos; I will always photograph formal images if desired. It is best to come up with a "shot list" of formal photos in advance of the wedding day. This way, no important family members are left out and the process of shooting the formal photos goes quickly. The bride and groom do not want to spend their day being directed by a photographer. They would rather be having fun, so I work quickly and efficiently to shoot any requested photos, and let the day progress naturally.
Don't be fooled by traditional photographers following the latest trend by now calling themselves "photojournalists." I've been a professional photojournalist for over a decade.
How soon do I get my photos?
Way quicker than with the vast majority of wedding photographers! Most of the time, if you take a week-long honeymoon immediately after the wedding, all the photos will be posted to your website before your return. In addition, I usually have the DVD slide shows and photo discs ready within two-three weeks. Albums take four-eight weeks from the time you approve the design.
Do yourself a favor and ask your friends and relatives that are married how long it took to get their photos; you might be surprised to hear many of them did not receive their photos for many months, and in some unfortunate cases, over a year. I could not in good conscience ever do this. More than a decade of working on immediate deadline at newspapers has given me the skill to process photos very quickly while still giving each photo the attention to detail it deserves.
Two Photojournalists? Why?
First off, if you get a package with two photographers, the photographer working with me will be another professional, working photojournalist, with an experience and skill level similar to mine. Many wedding photographers offer packages with two photographers, while in reality, the second "photographer" is often an assistant will little or no real professional photography experience. Don't be fooled!
For most of the day, one photojournalist will stay with the Bride, and one with the Groom. This insures nothing will be missed. During the ceremony, one photojournalist will be on one side, and the other on the opposite side. In this way, we can get shots of both of your facial expressions throughout the ceremony. This also reduces the need to move around during the ceremony, lessening distractions. You can be assured that with two professional photojournalists documenting your wedding, you will get a wide variety of amazing photographs.
I get a web site?
For most of the day, one photojournalist will stay with the Bride, and one with the Groom. This insures nothing will be missed. During the ceremony, one photojournalist will be on one side, and the other on the opposite side. In this way, we can get shots of both of your facial expressions throughout the ceremony. This also reduces the need to move around during the ceremony, lessening distractions. You can be assured that with two professional photojournalists documenting your wedding, you will get a wide variety of amazing photographs.
I get a web site?
Yes, not just a gallery, but a web site! You get your own, customized web address. If your names are Caroline and Chris and it's available, you can get www.carolineandchris.com. The web site stays up for a year. The web site includes several galleries, such as "Getting Ready," "Portraits," "The Ceremony," and "The Reception." Also, while all of the pakcages include discs with files that you have to the rights to print, if you find it more convenient, you and your family and friends can order prints from the website. For an example, go to www.janowskiwedding.com.
Does unlimited time really mean unlimited time?
Does unlimited time really mean unlimited time?
We get there when the wedding party starts getting ready and stay until the bride and groom have made their exit. As a photojournalist, I cannot successfully document your wedding if there is a limit on the time I spend photographing it. Many of the most important and memorable moments happen outside the 6-8 hour time limit most photographers impose on you.
Yes, there are some catches! It only applies to traditional, American-style weddings, not three-day-long wedding feasts or early-morning nail salon visits. I leave after the bride and groom make their exit. The second shooter may leave when the reception starts winding down.
Do you use digital or film?
I use the best digital cameras on the market, the same camera used by just about all photographers of Sports Illustrated and most other large publications. Both the second shooter and I always have two of these cameras, so if something happens to one, we always have backups.
Digital has made photography safer, in many ways; when shooting film, if there were an error in processing, your wedding photos would be lost forever. If you had a flood or fire and your prints and negatives were affected, your wedding photos were lost forever. However, with digital photography, I will supply you with multiple copies so, if a package with your wedding discs or prints gets lost or damaged, you have a back-up copy.
Black & White or Color?
Yes, there are some catches! It only applies to traditional, American-style weddings, not three-day-long wedding feasts or early-morning nail salon visits. I leave after the bride and groom make their exit. The second shooter may leave when the reception starts winding down.
Do you use digital or film?
I use the best digital cameras on the market, the same camera used by just about all photographers of Sports Illustrated and most other large publications. Both the second shooter and I always have two of these cameras, so if something happens to one, we always have backups.
Digital has made photography safer, in many ways; when shooting film, if there were an error in processing, your wedding photos would be lost forever. If you had a flood or fire and your prints and negatives were affected, your wedding photos were lost forever. However, with digital photography, I will supply you with multiple copies so, if a package with your wedding discs or prints gets lost or damaged, you have a back-up copy.
Black & White or Color?
Shooting digital, all the original files will be in color. I supply both a color and black & white version of most of the photos on your discs.
Do you travel outside of Columbia?
Yes, we will go anywhere in the Southeast. There may be a small travel fee for weddings more than ninety minutes from Columbia. A lodging fee may be required for weddings ending late more than 100 minutes from Columbia.
How many photos do I get?
Do you travel outside of Columbia?
Yes, we will go anywhere in the Southeast. There may be a small travel fee for weddings more than ninety minutes from Columbia. A lodging fee may be required for weddings ending late more than 100 minutes from Columbia.
How many photos do I get?
For all-day packages, I edit down all the photos we take to the best 450-600, then tone, crop, and give you ready-to-print images on a disc. Unlike other photographers, there is no limit to the number of photographs we take. However, not every image is ideal, nor would you want prints of each of the nearly identical 100 plus photos we will take of your first dance, for example.
In addition, unlike most photographers, I individually crop and tone each photo I give you, so every photo looks its best. Since I crop each photo by hand to the exact dimensions they will be printed, the photo finisher will not inadvertently cut off heads, etc.
Please keep in mind that the larger and longer the wedding and reception, the more photos you will get.
How does the album get created?
In addition, unlike most photographers, I individually crop and tone each photo I give you, so every photo looks its best. Since I crop each photo by hand to the exact dimensions they will be printed, the photo finisher will not inadvertently cut off heads, etc.
Please keep in mind that the larger and longer the wedding and reception, the more photos you will get.
How does the album get created?
You give me a list of photos from the web gallery you want included in the album and which photo you want on the front and back cover (if applicable). I send the photos to my professional wedding album designer, he designs the album and sends it to me in a PDF file. I send the PDF file to you, you either approve the design or request any changes. My designer includes changes to up to five spreads (a spread is two facing pages) for free, after that he charges us a $10 fee for each additional changed spread. Once the design is approved, I submit it to AsukaBook or Zook Book, who then prints and binds the book. The design takes about two weeks, the printing about four weeks.
What about Honeymoon photos?
What about Honeymoon photos?
While I won't go with you on the Honeymoon, if you email your Honeymoon photos when you get back, I can add them to the DVD slideshow.
When is my deposit and balance due?
$500 is due at the signing of the contract to reserve the date. The remaining balance is due two weeks before the wedding day. These are non-refundable.
What about credit cards?
I accept credit cards with a 3% service charge.
When is my deposit and balance due?
$500 is due at the signing of the contract to reserve the date. The remaining balance is due two weeks before the wedding day. These are non-refundable.
What about credit cards?
I accept credit cards with a 3% service charge.
