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ZifNoid Photographic Studio Wedding Photography
Frequently Asked Questions
About Photography
About Products
About the Wedding Day
About Business Practices
About Photography
- 1. Why is wedding photography so much more expensive than when our parents got married?
- a. The same reason gas isn't 75 cents a gallon and the median home isn't $50,000 any more. Inflation.
- b. In fact, picture-for-picture, photography is much less expensive today than when your parents got married and you have a lot more options too.
- 2. Why does wedding photography cost so much?
- a. It is a lot of work to photograph a wedding and prepare an album.
- i. A normal wedding requires 40-60 hours of work by the photographer and their assistants. This includes preparation, time on site, image processing, uploads, layout, travel, retouching and a variety of other tasks.
- ii. Everything the photographer does require specialized and expensive tools in order to do a good job.
- b. Quality Photography takes Real Skill and Great Tools
- i. Proper shooting makes better images, period. Professionals, in general, will get the proper exposure, good color balance, and sharp focus in camera on all but a few images. (Yes Photoshop and other programs can save some marginal images but that takes a lot more time and it can cost even more than doing it right in camera and there is no guarantee that Photoshop will work on every image.)
- ii. Professionals also generally compose better images. What that means is that there will be fewer distractions in any given image, important parts of the subject (like feet, hair and hands) won't be cut-off unless there is a good reason and the reason the image was taken will make sense.
- iii. The right equipment makes a big difference. One example here. If you have a digital camera you have probably experienced shutter lag; you see a shot, you point quickly and press the button and then you have to wait for the camera to catch-up. Many times you end up missing the shot because the subject kept moving. Professional cameras don't have a perceptible lag when we push the button the camera takes the picture.
- c. Completeness ~ Getting the right shots
- i. Knowing what to shoot for and having a plan is important. Getting the right shots is actually more important than getting 2000 snap-shots.
- ii. When you hire a professional photographer (like us) we are at your wedding to do one thing, take great pictures. When a friend or family member takes pictures at your wedding they are still part of your life so they laugh with you and cry with you too. When friends and family become part of the action they typically stop taking pictures. If they miss a photo of the ring bearer whispering to the flower girl "because it was so cute" or a picture of you crying at the alter "because they are crying" you've lost part of your story forever.
- 3. Explain the various types of wedding photography?
- a. Photojournalism. aka Documentary coverage, aka Reportorial coverage
- i. The idea is to tell your story in pictures.
- ii. The Bride and Groom are always the center of attention but as the day unfolds the photographer also looks for the other stories that are unfolding around them. We look for reunions, new romances and humor, whatever is happening and special.
- iii. This style of shooting is less intrusive than the traditional style but the photographer may still ask for certain things. For example, instead of posing the groomsmen the guys may simply be asked to hang out together in the garden. This tends to be much less stressful especially when children are involved. The resulting images are normally more relaxed and much happier.
- iv. This style is the majority of our coverage along with:
- b. Traditional coverage
- i. This is the "formal" part of the wedding day. Posed photos will be taken at the request of the bride and groom.
- 4. What is the difference between Digital and film photography?
- a. Plain and Simple it is mostly a style difference today, even film negatives are normally scanned, then digitally retouched and digitally printed so the end result is exactly the same.
- b. Typically with film you will get fewer images to choose from. This is true because of the physical nature of film. Where this typically shows most is in your candids. Professional digital cameras can simply capture more images than any film camera, period. A digital photographer will typically shoot the entire ceremony non-stop, a film photographer may need to change film 3 or 4 times if they want to keep up.
- c. Digital capture is also more flexible when moving from natural light to incandescent light and on into fluorescent. When changing light sources with a film camera you should change film or will require special processing to get the color right. Digital cameras can be reset quickly for each frame if necessary.
- 5. Does film photography last longer?
- a. No, the finished products are exactly the same.
- 6. Can I choose Black & White, Sepia, or Color for any image?
- 7. How many Mega-Pixels should I expect from my professional wedding photographer's cameras?
- a. Please don't judge a pro's camera by its Mega-Pixels!
- i. A professional 4 Mega-Pixel camera will almost always produce better images that an 8 Mega-Pixel consumer camera.
- ii. Lenses, processing engines and how fast the camera actually starts taking the picture are much more important than big Mega-Pixel numbers.
- b. The question also depends completely on the size of the final image you want.
- i. Most "album photos"and 8x10s can be printed very nicely with 2.5 Mega-Pixel Images. This is a very appropriate size for almost all wedding shots.
- ii. 6-Mega-Pixel is a good size for most portrait work and huge albums with 16 or 20 inch square pages. When properly shot and processed, 6-Mega-Pixel images will print quite nicely as large at 18x24, sometimes even larger.
- 8. What kind of equipment should my wedding photographer use?
- a. Your photographers shooting style will dictate the type of equipment they use, look at examples of their work and judge for yourself if it meets your standards.
- i. If your photographer says there is only one type of camera that is right it's probably because that's the equipment they own.
- ii. We use Nikon digital SLR's because they are great cameras and they suit our shooting style and more than satisfy our client's needs.
- 9. What is basic retouching?
- a. Correcting for obvious but minor image flaws or blemishes. This includes things like removing one or two zits from a close-up image or a piece of trash hidden in the grass.
- b. Basic retouching does not include artistic work like hiding a tattoo or beauty mark that is a normal part of your appearance.
- 10. What is color correction?
- a. Color correction means making the images look believable or normal.
- b. Color can be used artistically and it is subjective but in general skin tones should look normal, reds should look red, and blues should look blue.
- 11. Will a zit show up in our photos?
- a. No. Finished images include basic retouching so obvious minor blemishes will be removed.
- b. Yes. Our cameras are very good, they will not lie and proof images do not include any retouching. (Make-up can solve a lot of blemish problems.)
- 12. Can my wedding photographer remove a person from the photos?
- a. Yes, but it is an extra expense you would be expected to pay for.
- 13. What is RAW photography? What is JPEG photography? Should I care?
- a. RAW images are simply files that contain the unprocessed data that the camera has captured. A photographer using RAW images generally decides how to process the images in computer after downloading rather than when they shoot.
- b. JPEG images are processed more in camera. A photographer using JPEG decides how most of the processing is done while they are shooting. A photographer shooting JPEG typically "shoots tighter" to make sure exposure and color balance are right where they want it when the image is created.
- c. Should I care? No that's what you are paying your photographer to do! Raw, JPEG and Film images all have strengths and weaknesses. In the end it is simply a matter of the photographer's style because all three can get the job done.
- 14. I wear glasses--- is that a problem for photos?
- a. It can provide reflections that you might not want.
- b. On the other hand if you wear glasses all the time it is part of who you are, people will expect to see them.
- 15. I have a crooked smile; can my wedding photographer fix it in all the photos?
- a. Yes, but that would be classed as major retouching and would cost extra.
- b. Problems like this can be minimized if you talk with your photographer about it before the wedding.
About Products
1. What are proofs?
- a. Proofing is simply how photographers show you what images are available.
2. What are the different kinds of proofing?
- a. We provide proofing on-line at no extra charge.
- b. Printed proof sets are available, a deposit is required.
3. What is a copyright?
- a. When an artist or writer or other creative person, like a photographer, creates something, the product of that effort is protected by a copyright.
- b. A copyright protects the creative person's ability to earn a living from their creative endeavors.
4. Who owns the copyright on my wedding photographs?
5. Why are proofs stamped with a copyright?
- a. Proofs are only meant to show you what is available, they are not meant for display.
- b. Proofs are marked © because you have not purchased the images yet.
6. What is a digital negative?
- a. The original image file that the camera created.
7. Can I receive my (digital negatives) at a date in the future? In a year? Can I keep the negatives?
8. If the wedding photographer provides me with a disc of images, can I print them? Can I make copies of the wedding CD or DVD of images?
- a. Only with the photographers signed release.
9. They are photos of me, and I paid-- so why don't I own them?
- a. Please see question 3 and 4
10. What kind of parent albums are there?
- a. We offer copies of the normal album in various sizes, typically smaller. Parent albums are inexpensive as long as no changes are made to the layout or book style.
11. What is a grandparent album?
- a. A small duplicate of the original album.
12. Do most wedding photographers offer those tiny albums that you give to bridesmaids?
13. How long does it take to get the wedding album?
- a. Typically 4-6 weeks from the time you approve the final draft.
14. Why do enlargements cost so much?
- a. Our reputation rides on each image we sell so we only have one standard, great.
- b. Our images are generally used as heirlooms and not intended as snapshots so defects are carefully removed and the image is sharpened appropriately for larger images. The larger the image the more work this takes.
- c. We only offer custom made images so all of our printing is done by professional labs, to ensure that color and quality is great and consistent.
15. What are Art Prints?
- a. They are photographs printed on a special paper, typically textured cotton.
16. Can you make me look thinner, taller, prettier, smarter?
- a. Why would I do that you are already looking dynamite!
About The Wedding Day
- 1. Who actually photographs the wedding?
- a. Me, Mark Fedewa
- b. I'm normally assisted by my wife Julie.
- 2. Do you take formal group photos?
- a. Yes we can, but we prefer to encourage candid groupings with a variety of backgrounds.
- b. Formal group photos require a considerable amount of time and tend to look stiff. Kids tend to cry and they will require considerable dedication from you or someone to get your family to stand for them.
- 3. Is it ok for my friends to take pictures at the wedding? Can a friend who has this great camera shoot alongside you?
- a. No. We feel this is too distracting for the subjects of the photo.
- 4. How much time should I allow for formals?
- a. Half an hour for the bridal party.
- b. Half an hour for the immediate family.
- c. These times assume cooperative groups which are not the norm; everybody is typically hungry or more interested in talking.
- 5. Do we have to feed you?
- a. No, but it is not forbidden.
- 6. Do you mind working with a videographer?
- a. No, but we should communicate before the wedding so we can cooperate.
- 7. The priest says "no pictures during the ceremony? What do we do?!?
- a. Start by checking with the church board, they probably have a written policy.
- b. Let us talk with them.
- 8. Will my wedding photographer attend my rehearsal?
- 9. Will my wedding photographer shoot an engagement portrait?
- a. That is an available service.
- 10. Are there any hairstyles that look better or worse in photographs?
- a. You simply need to look your best.
- 11. Will our wedding photographer ride with us in the limo?
- 12. Can the videographer take photographs as well?
- 13. How far in advance do we have to do our engagement photos, in order to have a framed photo displayed at the wedding?
- 14. Will you be taking pictures of me in my underwear?
- a. Only if you want that, this is your wedding.
- 15. Do you use lights to shoot our evening reception?
- a. As little as possible, but whatever it takes to get the memories you want.
- 16. Can we get a group shot of everyone at the wedding?
- a. Yes, please allow 15 minutes well before dark.
- 17. Can we expect our wedding photographer to shoot table shots?
- a. Yes as much as the flow of the wedding allows for this.
About Business Practices
- 1. What is ala carte pricing?
- a. Buying each thing separately.
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- 2. What kind of packages do you offer?
- a. Every wedding we do gets our best photographic coverage and no time limit.
- 3. What happens if our wedding photographer can't make it to the wedding? Is there a backup plan?
- a. Yes, we hire a competent replacement for you.
- 4. Do I receive a copy of every photo the wedding photographer takes?
- a. You will be able to view every usable image.
- 5. What happens if we cancel our wedding?
- a. Our fee for coverage of your wedding is not refundable.
- b. We will happily reschedule for a different open date.
- 6. We're getting married in the distant future. Do I get my money back if we cancel a year before the wedding?
- a. Our fee for coverage of your wedding is not refundable.
- b. We will happily reschedule for a different open date.
- 7. Do wedding photographers offer a customer satisfaction policy?
- a. Yes. We guarantee you will be thrilled with your images or your deposit will be returned to you.
- 8. If our reception runs late will our wedding photographer stay to cover it?
- 9. Will the photographer charge overtime?
- 10. Can we upgrade our package after we book our wedding photographer?
- a. Yes, the album deposit is fully refundable and can be used for whatever book you prefer. In fact we know that you will probably adjust your book to fit after the wedding so we have designed our pricing to accommodate your needs exactly.
- 11. How quickly do I receive my online proofs?
- a. Album proof typically four days after the wedding.
- b. Individual proofs the seven days after the album.
- 12. Why will our wedding photographer give us a deadline for creating the album?
- a. We want to create a truly personalized book for you and memory of the details can fade pretty quickly.
- b. If we have to unload & archive your job so we can work on other jobs, then retrieve and reload your job to finish it later, it costs us a lot of extra time and money. This a real cost that will be passed on to you if you pass the deadline.
- 13. How far will our wedding photographer travel for the wedding?
- a. Just about anywhere.
- b. Travel expenses are charged for weddings outside of the lower peninsula of Michigan.
- 14. Will our wedding photographer charge for travel between the wedding and reception?
- 15. Will a wedding photographer hold our date, or call us if someone else requests that date?
- a. Typically only a fully paid deposit will hold your date more than overnight.
- 16. There's a one-hour gap between the ceremony and reception. Do we have to pay our wedding photographer for that time?
- a. There is no extra charge for this.
- 17. How many hours will my wedding photographer shoot?
- a. We contract to cover your entire wedding, not a certain number of hours.
- 18. My mom insists on using another wedding photographer for formals. Is that ok?
- a. I would be happy to hire them for you for this task, this does cost extra; please have the other photographer contact us regarding the terms.
- b. Otherwise no.
- 19. Will my wedding photographer email the pictures of the flowers to my florist?
- a. We will be happy to provide a photo to your florist that promotes both their business and ours.
- 20. Why do some wedding photographers charge $2,000 and others charge $20,000?
- a. Great marketing.
- b. Great reputation.
- c. The size of the album or albums.
- 21. Why do we have to pay the album deposit before the wedding?
- a. Because it is good business.
- i. Your album deposit is fully refundable so you are not at risk.
- ii. We get to know that you are truly serious about buying your album.
- 22. Is there separate pricing for really-small weddings?
- a. No. In small weddings you just get more personal attention because there are fewer people to photograph.
- 23. Why does it take so long to get our digital photographs?
- a. We get the album up normally in 4-5 days. That is a lot of effort where we focus on your job almost exclusively.
- b. Then we categorize and prepare the images for the web while we are working on other peoples jobs late in the week.
- c. Once prepared the upload alone can take 20 hours.
- 24. Will the wedding photographer look at our venue before the wedding?
- a. In most cases yes but we are not always in control of this, access must be arranged by you for us at a convenient time.
- b. Even if this happens on the day of the wedding it is workable, remember that we don't have a time limit. If we need to be at the venue at 7:00 AM and back at 10:00 AM to photograph the make-up that's fine.
- c. The key here is to let us know well before the wedding and make sure we have the right phone numbers.
- 25. There is a guy who will do the wedding photography for $700 and give us the digital files. Isn't that a great way to save money?
- a. No because one of two things will probably happen.
- i. You will either end up without an album or
- ii. You'll hire someone like us to do your album and pay just as much as hiring us from the start
- 26. What does a wedding photographer do with the edited out photos?
- a. We know that most brides want to see every image so we let you proof virtually every image.
- b. We do edit out the images that are truly unusable. The image must be truly unrecognizable before we delete it.
- 27. Do we have input in designing our album?
- a. Absolutely, you get three design sessions after you see the first proof.
- b. In these design sessions you can make whatever choices or changes you want.
Wedding FAQ
ZifNoid Photographic Studio
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