| These are the most frequently asked questions that relate mainly to wedding photography. Clicking on the appropriate question reveals the corresponding answer. Any further questions or clarifications please feel free to contact JSH Photography. |
1. Why should I choose JSH Photography to photograph my Wedding?
Having my own business I offer much more of a personal service and take great pride and care in my work. I have no other photographers working for me, ensuring the quality of photography will be of the same high standard as you see on my website.
I will always take time to do research before a wedding by visiting the areas of location to choose the best photographic areas, perhaps even suggesting an alternative location along the way if the grounds are not photogenic.
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After arranging for a free home visit to see my portfolio, discussing matters and booking, you have the reassurance of knowing exactly who it will be capturing your special day, knowing that you will get on (weddings can be stressful enough) and will be happy with the standard of photography. This is in contrast with companies who have a pool of photographers that work for them. You may never have met or seen the work of the actual photographer covering your wedding and will unlikely see him again after the wedding. Some of these photographers may be very good and others not so or perhaps inexperienced. Quality photography could be a gamble.
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The equipment I use is of highest quality. (see question 6)
In addition I offer a digital enhancement service for after the wedding. This means photographs can be altered. For example if the bride has her eyes closed in an important shot (eg signing register) I will be able to "open" them. You could choose to remove a person from a group shot. Some brides would like to look slimmer with enhancements, this is not a problem. Montages, black and whites, and a host of tastful special effects can be achieved. I do not subcontract any of this work which keeps costs low and quality high. |
2. How much does it cost?
| weddings do vary considerably. There is a standard price for example a traditional English wedding which can photographically take 4 hours to cover. Other weddings however can take twice as long depending on tradition and personal taste. |
Also to consider is the location of the wedding. The nearer the wedding is to my location in Watford, the lower the price will be. Then there is the number and size of photographs required. Most couples prepay for 24 8" by 6" size prints with the option of having more afterwards. Discounts are given for mid-week weddings. |
As you can see each wedding is individally priced according to your requirements. Please click here to complete the quotation form and I will calculate a quotation for you. |
3. What if the church / ceremony / reception grounds are not photogenic?
| Often we can go to a park or a beauty spot along the way. You may wish to suggest a location you like or I could recommend somewhere on the way to the reception or close by. |
This however will add an extra 20 minutes or so on to the wedding day but will be worth it. Family group shots can normally be taken at the ceremony location. |
To keep the day flowing, it is sometimes a good idea to allow just the bride and groom, bridesmaids and perhaps the parents to go to the pre-arranged photographic location. Waiting for guests (who often get lost) can make the day drag timewise, which can disrupt the reception plans. |
4. (a) Do you need a list? (b) How long does it all take?
| Part (a)
As I am an experienced photographer, I do not usually work from a list, however there may be particular shots that you would like taken and these can either be advised before the wedding or on the day.
If you prefer me to work to a list, it is beneficial for the Best Man to have a copy so that he can assist me in organising the guests, particularly useful for complicated family group shots.
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Part (b)
There is no upper limit on the amount of photographs taken as I have plenty of memory cards and also carry a portable hard disk recorder so they can be reused as necessary.
The deciding factor for the time taken for photography really comes down to how long the couple are willing to pose for. Generally speaking, the Bride and Groom are keen to start the reception after an hour, so I take as many as I can in that time.
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Part (b) continued
I arrive at the Brides home approximately 45 minutes before she leaves in order to take Bridal, Bridesmaids and Family shots. For the ceremony, I aim to arrive 10 minutes before the Bride to take some of the Groom, Best Man and the Ushers. After the ceremony, photographs will take any time between 45 minutes and 1 hour 30 minutes (dependant on the couple, number of guests, location etc). Travel time is in addition to this.
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5. What happens if it rains?
| Outdoor wedding photographs produce far more pleasing images and lend themselves for more creativity. If it does rain, it actually depends on the type of rain. If it is showering we can usually dodge the showers, waiting for them to stop and continuing with the photographs (usually at the the reception venue). |
If it is just started to rain, the photographs can be taken underneath trees as there is a delay of approximately one hour before the rain seeps through.
With some planning, photographs can be taken in light rain whereby the ushers can hold golf umbrellas over the couple which are quickly removed and replaced in between shots. |
The worst case scenario is to take the photographs indoors. In my years of experience, I have only been completely rained off a handful of times, so do not worry it probably will not happen. |
6. When do we see the photographs?
About 10 years ago I used to return in the evening with the photographs. I do not do that anymore as many couples are not in the mood to choose wedding photographs on the evening of their wedding reception, they just want to enjoy themselves.
In addition, most good quality photographic laboratories close on Friday for the weekend, so to avoid producing inferior quality photographs, I deliver the photographs approximately 10 days after the wedding.
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The bride and groom are presented with a preview album that contain thumbnail images of all of the photographs taken (approximately 150+). This album can be kept for one calendar month to choose what prints are wanted and also to collect orders from friends and relatives. The album is then returned and the orders are processed. This normally takes 2 weeks.
The pictures can be made available for veiwing on the JSH photoghraphy website at no extra charge. |
The couple are given the unique web address for their pictures (not accessible from the main site). This of course can be made available to anyone they choose.
This option is particularly useful for relatives and friends who do not live locally / overseas. Photographs can be ordered online and paid for by credit card via Paypal.com.
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7. What happens to the proofs? Do we get the negatives / files on CD?
| As I shoot in digital format, there are no proofs. After the wedding a preview album containing a set of thumbnail images, with perhaps a couple of pictures enlarged to show the quality. The preview album is available for one calendar month as described above. |
All images ordered will be colour corrected and individually improved to get the best from the image file (which is in RAW format for ultimate control.) |
There are no negatives as the images are in digital format. These files stay the property of JSH Photography. Please be reassured however, that unlike other photographic companies I have the policy of never deleting image files. They are saved on DVD's and filed away for safekeeping, so you can order photographs at any time in the future. |
8. (a) Do we need to pay before the Wedding Day? (b) What if I already have a Wedding Album?
| Part (a)
A £50 non refundable deposit is payable at the time of booking. The balance does not have to be paid until on the Wedding Day (by cash or cheque). You can of course pay in full before the day if you prefer.
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Part (a) continued
Alternatively for convenience, I will accept online credit card payments via Paypal.com (please note that a small charge will be added to cover costs involved).
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Part (b)
Yes, you can provide your own album and the Wedding Photography package will be cheaper as a result. I am willing to mount the photographs in that album, at no extra charge.
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9. What equipment do you use? Do you have a backup camera?
| I use the highly regarded and award winning Canon SLR 1DS Mark 2 which captures 16.7MB amount of detail (file size for each image is 95mb). The quality is outstanding in colour rendition, sharpness, exposure evaluation and speed, improving on the medium format camera that I had been using up until 2005. It is also very robust and simultaneously records images on 2 memory cards and in 2 formats (RAW and jpeg) |
This means that photographs can either be enlarged to poster size with no loss of sharpness, or that sections of the image captured can be enlarged - expanding on the photographic possibilities. I shoot in RAW format resulting in ultimate control over the images captured after the Wedding Day. |
For backup. in addition to the camera being able to simultaneously records images on 2 memory cards. I also record images on a portable hard disk recorder as I shoot. The battery lasts 1000+ images but I carry a spare along with a secondary Canon 10 MegaPixel DSLR camera which can take my expensive lenses as an additional backup. |
