Wedding Photography Rates

Thank you so much for considering me! So Yikes! You have probably been searching the internet now for a long time, trying to determine who is going to be the best photographer for your big day. There are a lot of questions to consider when choosing the perfect photographer. Each one is going to have their niche, which may genuinely connect with what you are envisioning. In my case, my background as a combat photographer is ideal for couples who seek a photojournalism purest who masters “capturing an intimate moment”, rather than posing one. My expertise is catching hundreds of memorable moments that you are not even thinking about on your big day. That’s the magic of photojournalism.

There are a lot of variables that you should consider before selecting your wedding photographer, such as:

Is the photographer carrying around more than one camera, ready to capture different perspectives within a few seconds? If the photographer only carries one camera, then that means they have to change their lenses, and this takes valuable time; time that could cause them to miss those “very” critical moments. In my case, I carry two cameras with radically different lenses to ensure I never miss a moment.

Does the photographer need to constantly talk to the bride? In my case, I have learned the art of being a ninja. Well… not quite, but, I have managed to get exceptionally adept at capturing moments without people noticing me. Your wedding day is special. Don’t let a chatty wedding photographer distract, and take that away from you.

Is the wedding photographer prepared to work at night? No, really? They may attach a speedlight on their camera, but do they know how to use it? In my case, I was trained in the military to work my camera in dark situations without the need to look at the camera body. We had to keep our eyes on the target at all times, or this could jeopardize your life, the person next to you, and the mission. Today, I am able to use various techniques very quickly to catch moments when lighting is limited.

Does the photographer have a plan D? Not just a plan B, or a plan C, but a plan D! Anything can happen on a shoot: someone could steal your camera; rain may ruin your equipment; the image card may become corrupt, or a zombie apocalypse may break loose on your wedding day. In my case, I have learned the hard way that anything can happen, and always be prepared. I have developed a unique workflow that ensures your images are saved in multiple locations during your shoot, and once we download your images in our studio, we back up everything onto a cloud server just in case. Check out this video to watch my workflow: http://www.erikabarker.com/misc/backing-up-your-photography-with-jungle-disk/

A photographer is going to encounter some kind of problem, or obstacle in almost any photography shoot. I have made hundreds of mistakes in the past, and I have learned a lot on how to improvise, and get the job done. In other words, you kind of need to be a bit of a MacGyver, and know there is always a way.

So, is your wedding photographer “really” ready to take on your wedding?

When the Photographers Arrive
Ok, so once we arrive, we are going to need about 25 minutes to get our gear out of the car, and start setting up. I will need to talk to the wedding coordinator just to cover any last minute details, and finally we will begin to shoot. At first we will go around grabbing shots of tiny details that make up your wedding, such as your rings, napkins, tables, cake, drinks, and so on. Then I will photograph the bride getting ready. My assistant photographer will take pictures of the groom, and interactions with other guest.

During the Ceremony
So here is the key moment: Both photographers will be present, and working multiple angles. We understand that silence is golden, and an annoying photographer who is running around, making a lot of noise can totally kill the mood. In our case, our cameras are able to reduce the sound of the shutter clicking, and we utilize specific lenses to capture those precious moments behind your guest. You won’t even know that we were there.

Editing
Sometime after the ceremony, we can meet together to look at all of your photos. Our job here is to find the top 75 photos you wish to have professionally retouched. Now this does not mean we are only giving you 50 photos. You get to keep as many photos as you like. This process is just to find the jewels that you will want to share with your friends on facebook, after they have been professionally retouched.

Retouching
Once we go through and find the 50 shots that you undoubtedly stand out to you: myself and my team will go through remove blemishes, smooth out your skin, and brighten up your eyes (Please refer to pricing for more info). We do not edit our clients like a typical fashion magazine edits their models for stories, and advertisements. The reasoning behind this, is you begin to look plastic, and losing so much of the natural element sometimes looks darn near silly, and out of place. If you wish to have additional photos retouched, we charge $20 per photo.

Delivery
Once your photos are edited, we will upload them to a server, where they will be able to download High Resolution JPEGS to your hard drive. This will consist of your 75 edited photos, and any remaining unedited photos you chose on the day of your shoot. We will keep your imagery here for 4 months. Around 4-8 weeks after your wedding, you will receive a custom printed DVD package.  DVD casing is magnetic, with a high gloss coating.  :)

Your imagery will also be uploaded to a mini website, where you can order prints, mugs, calendars, and postcards for an additional cost.

Equipment
I use 100% Nikon cameras and lenses to deliver, what I believe to be the best imagery the industry has to offer. I mainly use a Nikor 50mm 1.4, Nikor 85mm 1.8, Nikor 24mm 2.8, and Tokina 12-24mm lenses. Lighting equipment consist of White Lightening 800w mono lights, with various lighting modifiers. I sometimes utilize SB900 speedlights, with a ring flash modifier, depending on what the client is desires.

Pricing
For this package, $1699 provides 8 hours of coverage from 2 photographers. I require a ⅓ total cost deposit (nonrefundable) to book the shoot. This covers color delivery of digital product; 25 photos that are professionally color corrected, skin blemish removal, and brightening of the eyes. Additional retouching runs $20 per photo. You will also have the option to order prints, if you choose to do so.

If you wish to build an estimate, you can visit our pricing page by going here:

http://app.shootq.com/public/~1493b1/pricing/commercial_photography_and_art

Availability
I shoot wedding sessions Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The best times to shoot, are super early in the morning, or an hour before sunset, due to the wonderful textures, and lighting nature provides. If we are shooting inside, anytime is good. Since I work from location, to location, I don’t carry traditional office hours. I work on your time, and what works best for you.

Consultation
If you wish to have a one-on-one consultation. We will be more than happy to set up a meeting with you. We first ask you to fill out this nifty form so we can get you scheduled in the system:

https://app.shootq.com/public/erika_barker/contact

Or you can schedule with our studio manager, Christopher LeCours at [email protected] or by calling 407-374-3597.

Questions
If you have any questions, please feel free to call my studio manager, Christopher LeCours at [email protected] or by calling 407-374-3597.