Gimme Some Money!!

I'd really, really like to give you $50.00.  No, for real, I'd like to hand you over $50 of my hard earned money.

Okay, here's the deal....  I have a referral program that I don't advertise enough.  It's very simple, bring a wedding client to me and if they book their big day with me (and why wouldn't they?), you get $50.00 for the referral.

Just make sure they mention your name and give me contact info if I don't already have it.  Also, you will receive this payment after they actually book their wedding photography.  It isn't for inquiries.

So there you go, extra Christmas shopping money!!

New Payment Option: On Site Credit and Debit

Introducing: On Site Credit and Debit Transactions.

I can now take payment on site or over the telephone and provide you with an immediate receipt.

As you may know, I've been able to take credit and debit payments for quite awhile now but have been restricted to email.  I can still send you an email with a link to pay for things like prints orders, deposits on services, etc.  That option will continue if that is what you prefer.

By the way, all prints 16x20 and larger are on sale until 9/30/2010.  So, another week left to save big on Stand Outs, Wraps, Large Prints.  Personally, I love the idea of Stand Outs and Wraps so I don't have to buy a frame.  This sale is available only through me and NOT through the SBV Photography Website.

Thanks!!

Another Round of F.A.Q.'s

Just got back from a little girl's photo shoot (see image below)at a local park.  We started our session around 5:30pm and ended about 6:45.  Why so late?  Why not 12pm when the sun is at it's brightest?  To find the answers to these vexing wonderments, please read the latest round of Frequently Asked Questions about wedding photography and more.  First, a sneak preview of tonight's session.  Great job Julia!!

Now, onto all of your questions...

Q. Do you accept credit or debit cards?

A. Yes.  I currently do this with an ebill through email for local orders.  Ordering prints through the website will get your item shipped to your door and can be paid via credit or debit. 

Starting next month, I will be able to swipe debit or credit cards on location.  I will be able take your wedding deposit this way as well as print and merchandise orders.

Q. Can I just hire you for two hours to do my ceremony only?

A. I'm a full service wedding photographer.  I'm yours for the day and I cannot deliver top quality images by just popping in for a few snapshots.  Always remember, in 20 years you will not remember what you ate or drank, etc., but you will want to look through your wedding album and see the complete story of your day.  I'm here to deliver that story.

Q. Can we get our engagement shots done at 12pm please?  We'd like to do some shopping and eat dinner just before dusk.

A. I always encourage (okay, demand) folks to take outdoor portraits just before dusk.  At high noon, the sun is at it's highest and cast harsh shadows.  While I do know how to work around this and I understand that a wedding ceremony has to be done in early afternoon on occasion, you will find before dusk shots to be the most pleasing.  The other alternative is sunrise.  We don't want to do that, now do we?!!  :)

Q. Will you be charging me extra for all of those cool special effects and collages (see below) that you do?

A. No.... and yes.  Special effects like Sepia, black and white, soft focus, etc. will never cost extra.  I also will not charge extra for any montage or special effect that I have dreamed up and went ahead and did for you.  However, if you have an extravagant request (give me wings and place me into the clouds with my veil swirling over a picture of my receiving line) then I will assess the request and give you a quote to do the work.

Keep sending in your questions.  I will answer you personally of course and list the most frequent ones here on the Region Weddings Journal.

Uncle Bob, Big Cameras and the Year 2030

"Wow, getting married sure can be expensive."  You may have said it a few times and you may be nodding your head in agreement right now.  You may be thinking that it's time to cut a few corners or you are never going to make that honeymoon you have been dreaming about.  Surely photography cannot be that hard so why pay a professional to do it.  Perhaps you have a friend or an Uncle Bob (insert name of choice) who took some family vacation pictures that looked great.  He has a "big camera" and will be at the wedding.  You may be thinking of asking him to photograph your wedding.  Don't do it!!

I won't get into all the technical aspects of why you should hire a professional or the amount of work involved in post processing, etc. and why all of those things are worth the investment.  I just have a few numerals for you to consider - 2030.  Presuming you will be reading this the year it was written in 2010, this future year will mark your 20th Anniversary.  You will probably want to pull out your wedding album and have a look back at your big day.  Will you be looking at images that tell the story of your wedding in vivid detail and glorious color and black and white?  Will you be looking at professional prints (not retail store one hour photos) that have stood the test of time?

Wedding Photography is not the area to cut corners on.  On this anniversary and others, the expensive decorations that got discarded will not be remembered.  The extra filling not added to the cake will also be a distant memory.  However, the images will still be there to be enjoyed over and over again.

Uncle Bob's a great guy who means well and will fix your car in no time flat.  However, he does not eat/sleep photography 24/7.  Don't put him or yourself through all that stress.  Think about the year 2030.