I live in Nicholasville, Kentucky. It is roughly 15-30 minutes from Lexington. I will travel to any wedding venue location within 80 miles of the center of Lexington, Ky for no additional cost. Outside of the 80 miles, there will be travel fee on a case by case. I love to travel and am very comfortable traveling for events. Rest assured that should you hire me to travel for your wedding, you are hiring someone experienced in travel.
Q: HOW MANY PHOTOGRAPHERS WILL BE AT OUR WEDDING?
If you select a package with a second photographer, I contract another wedding photographer for your wedding day. We have a great community and are always shooting for each other.
Q: CAN WE FORGO AN ENGAGEMENT SESSION FOR A DISCOUNT?
Engagement sessions are complimentary and part of the package you choose so they can not be removed for a discount, however it can be substituted for a product credit. I encourage you to have the engagement session, as it strengthens the relationship between photographer and couple.
Q: DO YOU HAVE A LIST OF PREFERRED VENDORS TO USE?
I sure do! From wedding coordinators to florists and caterers, I have worked with some of the best people in the industry and would be happy to share their information with you! Just reach out and ask.
Q: DO YOU PHOTOGRAPH ELOPEMENTS?
Of course! Depending on availability and the number of hours you have set aside for photography, I have special rates for weekday elopements.
Q: DO YOU NEED TO ATTEND OUR REHEARSAL?
Rehearsal dinner coverage is available to add to your investment; otherwise I don't attend rehearsals. We will discuss the timing of your day and the flow of the event, and one of the things is the ceremony. I'd love to hear about the timing of the ceremony itself, but please feel confident that not attending the rehearsal doesn't impact your coverage in any way.
Q: DO YOU PROVIDE VIDEO SERVICES?
I am a photographer and do not provide video services. If you are looking for a talented videographer available for your day and within your budget, reach out to me for guidance.
Q: CAN WE KEEP YOU FOR THE FULL WEDDING DAY?
Wedding day coverage vaires based on your needs, which can take anywhere from 6 hours for ceremony and some reception to 8-10 hours for standard full wedding coverage. We will be able to discuss your needs more when we meet in person.
Editing and Delivering Photographs
Q: HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET OUR IMAGES?
Online galleries are available within 6 weeks of your wedding date. You can choose to pay for priority delivery for a two week delivery. Upon final approval of album designs, albums are delivered within four weeks.
Q: DO YOU EDIT ALL OF OUR PHOTOGRAPHS?
Yes I do! Every image that you see has been hand-edited by me. I adjust every image by increasing the contrast, decreasing the highlights and brightening colors, among more technical things. Also, every image in delivered in black and white and color, which allows YOU to choose which one you prefer for each image.
Q: DO WE GET THE COPYRIGHT OF THE IMAGES?
Copyright is something that photographers get asked about often. Many photographers include a "copyright release" in their contracts, which generally just means the same as a release to have your images printed by yourself or any lab you choose. That's not the same as obtaining a copyright! Copyright simply means that I am the creator of the images, and I "own" the copyright. Selling or obtaining "the copyright" is not possible, but you have the ability to print and share you images wherever you'd like. If you need a NDA on your wedding for special circumstances, please reach out to me directly to discuss your options.
Q: ARE OUR DIGITAL FILES WATERMARKED?
No, they are not. The high resolution files do not have any watermarks.
Q: WILL WE GET THE PRINT RELEASE TO OUR PHOTOS AFTER OUR WEDDING?
Yes! Upon receiving your images, you will also get a full print release.
Q: HOW MANY IMAGES WILL YOU RECEIVE?
The number of photographs taken depends on many factors- the number of guests, hours I'm there, types of events, hours of dancing, and so forth. My average for a typical full wedding day is around 500 images, but those numbers may vary depending on the day itself.
Q: DO I HAVE TO ORDER PRINTS THROUGH YOU?
I highly recommend ordering large canvases and albums through me, but it is not required. The difference in quality is huge when it comes to ordering through a professional lab, so I encourage clients to let me help with heirloom products!
Q: BUT CAN WE ORDER PRINTS THROUGH YOU?
Your digital files are delivered through a direct download in a password protected online image gallery. This also has a cart/ordering system for prints. You can order extra prints directly through your online gallery, but since you also have print rights, you can order your prints yourself at any lab you choose. I cannot guarantee the quality of any prints that are not created through our preferred labs. If you'd like to print images yourself, please let me know and I can recommend some labs I trust.
Q:HOW DOES THE ALBUM DESIGN PROCESS WORK?
Wedding albums are considered family heirlooms and one of my couple's dearest processions. They're a tangible, beautiful record of the day. I know that life often gets in the way of creating an heirloom, so I promise to make this process as easy as possible. I will predesign client albums as a courtesy to you. I will include the predesign when delivering your online gallery. On the album design site, you are able to make notes and communicate directly with me on changes you wish to make.
Q: DO YOU SHOW UN-EDITED RAW IMAGES?
Only edited images will be shown to clients on your gallery. A photo straight out of camera is never the final product and I prefer to only show the highest quality work. However, I will sell the raw images for private use only.
Style and Creativity
Q: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE?
I describe my style as authentic and bold and I am a lifestyle wedding photographer. But I don't think photography should be limited by a "genre." The wedding day requires a photographer to wear many hats and be flexible in how they approach the day.
Q: DO YOU TAKE POSED FAMILY PHOTOS?
Of course! I’ll take pretty much anything you want me to and I believe in those family images, as they are records of your family at an important time in their history. A few weeks before your wedding I'll send you a questionnaire covering details of your day and among the other questions is a list of family gatherings you can choose from, as well as a place to include your own requests. I also include authentic images of you and your family together during family formals. I think these help to really capture people's personalities and family relationships. Please check out some samples in my gallery and on my social media and don't hesitate to ask me more about these authentic family formals.
Q: CAN YOU EDIT OUR PHOTOS IN A STYLE THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN YOU SHOW?
Sorry, no. I do not edit my photos in a style different that what I show on my website. The way I photograph and how I use light in my images is important in how I edit the final image. By asking me to edit the photograph in a different way, I'd also have to shoot in a different way, and would significantly decrease the quality of my work, as I am highly skilled in MY style of photography.
Q: CAN YOU TAKE FEWER PHOTOS WITH DARK SHADOWS?
If what you are looking for is a more evenly lit style of wedding photography (or even something like bright and airy) then I might not be the photographer for you. I use a great deal of shadows and highlights in my images throughout the wedding day. Please make sure you look through my galleries and social media photos to see if my style matches up with the vision you have for your wedding day photos.
Q: OKAY, BUT WHAT IF I WANT ONE OF THOSE COOL SHOTS THAT WENT VIRAL ON THE INTERNET?
Even though I have a specific style and type of photographs I generally provide, I will never deny a couple's request for a photograph because it's not my style. At the end of the day, your wedding day is still your day! Is there a viral photograph you want to recreate on your wedding day? Reach out to me as soon as you know and I can give you some infomation on how those images are achieved and whether we can make that happen for you!
Q: CAN WE PROVIDE YOU WITH A SHOT LIST?
Other than family groupings, I ask that my couples keep their "must take photos" to as maximum of five requests. Let me explain why! It's very helpful to know important relatives and friends coming to your day, and if any events or items bear special significance, but having me work from a checklist is counterproductive to the work you've seen on my website. "Shot lists' provided by many major bridal magazines are a great idea in theory, but please understand that I generally capture all those images without prompting. Providing me with a very long list of special requests would result in less amount of time I can devote to capturing the authentic moments of your day and the uniqueness that is your wedding.
Buisness and Details
Q: WHAT KIND OF EQUIPMENT DO YOU USE?
I use top of the line professional Canon cameras. I have lens that go the full wedding day focal lengths of 10mm (almost fisheye) to 200mm (to zoom in during the ceremony) and I always have a backup camera with me in case of a camera failure during the day, although that has never happened!
Q: DO YOU HAVE INSURANCE?
Absolutely! 100% Yes!
Q: CAN YOU PROVIDE MY VENUE WITH A CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE?
Of course! I do ask that you let me know at least a couple weeks in advance of your wedding date as it does take time for my insurance company to process and provide that document.
Q: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN BUSINESS?
I've been a professional photographer since 2009 and shot my first wedding in 2012. Before 2012 I was a family and children photographer, birth photographer and pet photographer. I've done it all!
Q: DO YOU OFFER REFUNDS IN THE EVENT OF A CANCELLATION?
No. The 25% retainer and all monies paid are non-refundable. The retainer guarentees that I hold your wedding date for you on my calendar and once you have booked your date, I do turn down other inquires.
Q: WHAT HAPPENS IF I NEED TO RESCHEDULE MY WEDDING DATE AFTER BOOKING?
I know things happen. One of my friends had to postpone her wedding after a family emergency the week of her wedding. I will make every attempt I can at moving your contracted date to a new wedding date at little to no extra cost.
Q: CAN YOU HOLD OUR DATE FOR US?
In the event someone inquires about your date before you book me for your wedding but after our consultation, I will notify you and give you 72 hours to pay the retainer and sign the contract.
Q: WHAT IF YOU DIE BEFORE OUR WEDDING?
If I die before your date, I guarantee I will not be at your wedding. However, Bourbon & Brides will still supply you with coverage from my contracted second shooter. I am also a member of local photographer organizations and networking groups upon which my estate holder could call to find you a replacement photographer.
Q: OKAY, WHAT IF YOU DON'T DIE, BUT JUST ARE SUPER SICK?
In all this time of shooting weddings, I have never missed a wedding for any reason. Please know that I take the responsibility of shooting your wedding extremely seriously, and wouldn't "call in sick" without a very grave, serious reason behind it. If that were to happen, I would find you a replacement photographer at the same skill level that I possess. If this is something that concerns you, please contact me and we can chat!
Q: CAN WE PAY YOU PART OF THE BALANCE AFTER THE WEDDING?
I do require full payment before the event. Payment for overtime, album upgrades or additional products beyond your wedding day contract, however, are all due post-wedding. If you have any concerns about the payment schedule, please reach out to me.
Q: DO YOU OFFER DISCOUNTS FOR OFF-SEASON OR NON-SATURDAY EVENTS?
I do not offer discounts for a full wedding day event, regardless of time of year or day of the week. Occasionally event coverage on an hourly rate is available but are based on time of year, my schedule and availability.
Q: HOW DO YOU PREVENT CARD AND HARD-DRIVE FAILURE?
Hey, SD cards fail. Hard-drives fail. It happens. But there are ways a wedding photographer can do everything possible to prevent image loss. I shoot on a Canon camera that provides two card slots. Every image I take is written on both cards. One that stays in my camera at all times (because repeatedly inserting a card is the number one reason for card failure) and the other is my working card. When I come home from a wedding, the images are immediately backed up on two hard-drives. One is my working hard-drive and the other is stored in my fireproof safe. So in the case of a natural disaster, at least one hard-drive is left intact, and in the case of a hard-drive failure I have another hard-drive with an exact copy of files that I can backup to a new purchased hard-drive. I have found after a lot of research that this is the best method for preventing image loss and I recommend you do the same with your important files and images.
Q: DO WE NEED TO FEED YOU AT THE RECEPTION?
My contract states that we are required to have a meal at the same time as the couple eats. This is not because we want some of that good reception food, but that we are able to stay cheerful, mobile and high energy, and also eat during the short downtime we have while you eat. I do accept vendor meals, so don't feel obligated to feed me a $100 plated dinner. We just want to make sure we are able to eat something in the 6-10 hours we are with you. If for any reason you can’t provide a meal for us during dinner, please let me know as soon as possible, so I can make appropriate arrangements for food.
Q: CAN OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS TAKE PICTURES WITH THEIR CAMERAS?
Of course they can and it doesn't bother me in the least bit. I do request they not swarm the family photographs right away so I can make sure all eyes are facing me in your images, but I don't mind if they snap away from the background. I don't allow family or friends to come along for the bridal images or the images of you two together for privacy purposes and because, frankly, other people can be distracting.
Q: DO YOU REALLY LIKE SHOOTING WEDDINGS? WHAT ABOUT BRIDEZILLAS?
I love shooting weddings. It is such a unique career to be able to capture someone's big day and provide them family heirlooms that could possibly be around for hundreds of years and passed down for generations. As for bridezillas, I just don't have them! I am so grateful for each one of my couples and I truly believe my positive attitude and friendly nature attracts the best kind of brides!
Q: MY FRIEND/COUSIN/ACQUAINTANCE WANTS TO BE A PHOTOGRAPHER. CAN THEY SHADOW YOU ON THE DAY?
No. A wedding day can sometimes be hectic and a lot of the time I am in my head coming up with creative ideas and making sure I am getting all the shots I need. My hired second shooter is someone who is not only a professional photographer with experience, but someone who is trained to know what I need and want from them. By having someone along side me on the wedding day who I am not familiar with and/or not a skilled wedding photographer, I would not be able to concentrate on my job. However, I do offer mentoring with a photographer for a fee. You can let them know to contact me directly and I can give them more information.
Q: I SEE IMAGES IN YOUR PORTFOLIO OF A WEDDING IN A HOSPITAL. WHAT'S THE STORY BEHIND THOSE?
I had the incredible honor of shooting a wedding in 2017 of a couple who held their wedding in a hospital because the groom was waiting for a new heart. I delivered the wedding images on the same day that he received his new heart! Talk about a happily ever after!
Q: DO YOU HAVE A SECOND JOB?
No. This is my full time job and I am completely devoted to providing my couples with the best experience I can. I am incredibly lucky to be able to provide for me and my daughter with wedding photography and I am so grateful to love what I do.
Q: WHAT ABOUT OTHER TYPES OF PHOTOGRAPHY?
While I am primarily a wedding photographer, I frequently shoot portrait and family sessions as well. I charge $375 for a portrait session, which includes 1.5 hours of shooting and at least 75 digital images with print rights. Reach out to me for more information.
Q: WE’RE INTERESTED IN HIRING YOU! WHAT’S NEXT?
Great! I suggest you reach out to me right away through my contact page to send an inquiry for your date. I will email you as soon as I have a free moment letting you know if I'm available for your wedding date. The next step would be for us to set up a time to meet for a coffee date so I can share some information and you can get to know me a little better. I suggest meeting in person with any photographer you are genuinely interested in since the wedding photographer should not only have great photographs but a great personality since they will be with you all day on your wedding day!
k
Lexington Ky wedding photographers Serving Kentucky and Beyond [email protected] 859-388-4602
