Q: Are you insured?
A: Yes, we are fully insured and have full public liability insurance. We are all also fully CRB checked.
Q: Do you issue a proper wedding contract?
A: Yes, in order to protect both parties there is a contract that both yourselves and we sign. It details the day and what you need us to cover, it also details any specific extras we may have agreed.
Q: Do you have back up equipment?
A: We use Canon equipment, so the kit bag is full of Canon equipment. At all times the lead photographer carries two cameras one as a spare but also as a second camera with a different lens on it so to be able to swap with minimal time lost. As important as having a backup camera is having a range of lenses for varied effects and uses but again as backups just in case one gets damaged etc.
Q: Do you use digital or traditional film?
A: Digital only these days, though this is not an easy option – in fact the complete opposite. Digital these days offers so much more control over the camera enabling the photographer to really get the results they are looking for. The digital process also means we can work the images in post process better as well. Don’t get us drawn into the mega-pixel argument, digital for us gives the photographer more control, enables the wedding photographer to capture more without running out of “film” and its also more cost effectively.
Q: What happens if you are ill before or on the day of the wedding or something prevents you from photographing our wedding?
A: Touch wood this has never happened, however it is always a reality. We always take caution leading up to a wedding in order to minimise any chance of injury but of course illness can strike at anytime with no warning. AHP are fortunate enough to know a network of very good photographers, and whilst there is no guarantee of them being available we would attempt to draft one of them in as a replacement. If this is unsuccessful, then you are protected by the contract and a full refund including the deposit will be paid to you.
Q: Can you provide parent albums?
A: Yes we can provide parent albums, they are generally smaller than the main album but the quality exactly the same. We can also offer parent albums that aren’t the same as the main album, this is a bit more expensive but enables the parents to decide which images they want in their album.
Q: How long do you photograph for on the day?
A: Unlike many, our service is not judged by time, many photographers do. We see the job as recording the story of your day, so our day begins with the final preparation shots of the bride and bridal party. We then carry on shooting through all of the key moments during the day including speeches, cutting the cake and finally the first dance. Many photographers charge extra for these (and significantly as well) To us they are key elements of your story and therefore should be covered. So suffice to say our service covers the whole day, the times vary depending on the timings of your wedding – but AHP provide nothing short of a very comprehensive day.
Q: Do you use flash in the church?
A: No. Categorically no. No need to, There has been much investment in practice and money into the right equipment to enable photography in lower light conditions. Vicars and registrars won’t allow flash it is distracting and noisy but most importantly from our artisitc perspective it destroys the natural feel of the lighting in the room.
We are very respectful when photographing a wedding either in church or at civil ceremonies. We always prefer to be up at the front capturing the beautiful reactions between bride and groom, to be able to do this we need to reassure the vicar/registrar that we can tuck away into a corner, with no flash and that we respect the service and don’t jump all over the pews.
Q: Do you design the wedding album?
A: Yes, and this is very important. The photography of the wedding is one part, but after that the presentation of the album in order to tell the story in as much depth and detail is so important. We edit all of the images, and then with your input we design a bespoke wedding album of your choice from our range of album styles.
Q: Do you charge extra for photographing after the meal?
A: No. The photography includes coverage of the entire day right through to the first dance, we can arrange for a photographer to stay later if there is a late event happening that you want captured like fireworks for example, and yes we would agree a fee for this, but as standard covering up to and including the first dance gives a very comprehensive photographic story of your day
Q: How long after the wedding can we expect the album?
A: This can vary considerably, normally down to the bride and groom making decisions as to what goes in the album (or parents!!) As soon as we know what images you want in the album, we set to the design. as soon as the album design is approved we send it to be produced.
Q: Can you put the images online so our friends and family can see them?
A: This is part of our normal process. Once the photographs have been through the post production stage, the images are all put online for you and your friends to see. When the album pages are designed they are put up as well so family and friends can see them as well. This is included with no extra charge.
Q: Can our family and friends order prints from you?
A: When the images are online, your friends and family can view the images with your password and yes they can order their own prints directly from that site.
Q: How many pictures will you take?
A: There is genuinely no answer to this question, no weddings are the same and none follow a formula. Image count has no bearing on any part of our wedding photography service. It is simple to state that a wedding that starts later in the day or that has small numbers of guests are generally going to return a lower number of images than a long wedding day or one with many guests and lots happening.
Q: Will there be a mixture of black and white?
A: Shooting in digital does the flexibility to not have to make a decision to shoot in colour or black and white. Effectively everything is captured in full colour, but any image in post production can become a punchy black and white photograph.
Q: What happens before the wedding?
A: Before the wedding, normally about a month prior, we will meet up to discuss timings, guests, family politics, group shots etc so we are well briefed on the day. Needless to say that a lot of these change on the day itself but we have a good starting point. If possible it is good to do a venue visit with the bride and groom so we can have a walk around together. This is great from a creative point of view as we can plan shots together, but most importantly these meetings build our relationship really well so we are completely relaxed in each other’s company.
Q: Are there lots of different add ons after the wedding, hidden costs?
A: No, it is not something we like. Everything you actually need is included – Album, a slide show DVD, proof DVD with all images on it, an online gallery. Yes you can add pages if you want to and yes mum can order her own album and these aren’t included – but they are not have to haves that just add more cost after the day.
Q: Can we get the images on CD?
A: Yes, all of your images will feature in your Wedding Slide show DVD and we also include all of the retouched images on on a proof DVD. However should you want to purchase the actual images digitally we can arrange this for individual files or you can purchase the complete set of high resolution images with no watermarks on DVD.
Q: When should we book you?
A: It is not uncommon for us to take bookings 18 months to 24 months in advance. We would say the normal is about 10 to 14 months in advance of the date of your wedding. A normal rule of thumb is as soon as you have the church and venue booked – book your photographer fast.
Q: If we book you, do you take a deposit?
A: Yes, we take a £250 booking fee which comes off of the final balance, but it is non refundable if the wedding photography agreement is cancelled by you for any reason.
Q: Do you offer any discounts?
A: No. We have a policy based on the fact that we get the majority of our wedding bookings from weddings via recommendation, or people enjoying seeing our work and liking the manor with which we work and the fun of the relationship and rapport built with the couple as well as the guests. With this in mind we could never be comfortable knowing that someone got me less than someone else, especially someone they may know. The wedding photography service is also very competitively priced to ensure maximum value for money, it simply couldn’t be reduced as it allows for approx 4 days of work which is about right.
Q: Do you edit the images as well?
A: Yes. Whilst the images taken are very considered and of very good quality, subtle re-touching in post productions turn them from simply a picture into a stunning photograph. Subtlety is key, it is very easy to over work an image and even easier to over design.
