Wedding Photography F&Q’s
Planning a wedding comes with plenty of questions, especially when it comes to choosing your wedding photographer. Here are some of the questions I’m most commonly asked about my wedding photography, approach and what you can expect before, during and after your wedding day.
1. How would you describe your wedding photography style?
My approach is relaxed, natural and unobtrusive, with a photojournalistic influence.
I like to let your wedding day unfold naturally and capture the genuine moments as they happen – the laughter, emotions, interactions and all the little things that make your day unique.
There are also times when a little direction is helpful. I’ll guide you when needed, particularly during family photographs and portraits, while keeping everything relaxed and natural.
My aim is to give you a combination of candid wedding photography, creative portraits and timeless photographs that tell the complete story of your day.
2. How much wedding photography experience do you have?
I have been photographing weddings for more than 16 years, with experience photographing weddings throughout Sydney, Newcastle, the Hunter Valley, Maitland and surrounding areas.
Over the years I’ve also had the opportunity to work alongside some of Sydney and the Hunter Valley’s leading wedding photography studios.
That experience means I’ve photographed weddings in all sorts of conditions and locations and have learnt how to anticipate the moments that matter, while remaining calm and unobtrusive throughout the day.
3. Are you fully insured?
Yes. I am fully insured for professional wedding photography and can provide your wedding venue with the appropriate insurance details if required.
4. What camera equipment do you use?
I use professional full-frame Sony mirrorless camera equipment along with a range of professional lenses.
Having a selection of lenses allows me to photograph everything from wide environmental photographs and candid moments through to close-up details and beautiful portraits.
I also carry backup equipment to ensure your wedding photography is covered should something unexpected happen.
5. How do we book our wedding date?
If your wedding date is available, booking is straightforward.
I’ll send you a photography agreement to review and sign. Your date is then secured once the agreement has been completed and the $300 retainer has been paid.
The remaining balance is due one week before your wedding date.
If you're considering booking me as your Hunter Valley, Newcastle or Maitland wedding photographer, I recommend getting in touch as early as possible, particularly for popular Saturday dates.
6. What is an engagement photography session?
An engagement session is a relaxed photo shoot before your wedding day and is a great opportunity for us to get to know each other.
It also gives you the chance to become comfortable in front of the camera without the time pressures of your wedding day.
Engagement sessions are generally around one hour and can take place at a location that is meaningful to you or somewhere in the Hunter Valley, Newcastle or surrounding areas.
Some couples also use their engagement photographs for save-the-date cards, wedding stationery or guest books.
7. Should we provide you with a wedding photography shot list?
You don't need to provide me with a shot list for all the photographs throughout your wedding day.
I have my own approach to photographing the important details, including the wedding rings, dress, flowers, venue and other details that help tell the story of the day.
What I do need from you is a list of the family photographs that are important to you.
Before your wedding, I'll ask you to provide the different family groupings you'd like photographed. This helps make the family photographs run efficiently and ensures nobody important is accidentally missed.
It's also helpful to know about any special plans or surprises, such as a choreographed first dance, fireworks, a surprise performance, sparkler exit or anything else happening during the reception.
8. What are the advantages of having a second wedding photographer?
A second photographer can be particularly valuable for larger weddings or weddings with a lot happening at the same time.
It essentially means we can be in two places at once.
While I concentrate on the main events and formalities, a second photographer can capture different angles, candid interactions and moments happening elsewhere.
A second photographer can also be helpful during the preparations, particularly when the bride and groom are getting ready in separate locations.
They can assist with lighting and portraits and generally help the day run smoothly.
Most importantly, having a second photographer provides additional coverage and a greater variety of photographs from your wedding day.
9. How many wedding photographs will we receive?
Every wedding is different, so I don't guarantee a specific number of photographs.
As a general guide, most full wedding days result in approximately 800–1,000 professionally edited photographs.
I will photograph considerably more than that, but I carefully select and edit the images before delivering your final gallery. Test shots, duplicates, photographs with closed eyes and images where someone has walked through the frame, for example, don't need to be part of your final collection.
My priority is quality rather than simply delivering the largest possible number of photographs.
10. When will our wedding photographs be ready?
Your photographs will generally be ready to view in your private online wedding gallery within approximately 4–6 weeks of your wedding.
Your gallery allows you to view, download and share your photographs with family and friends.
If you have ordered a wedding album or other products, these are designed and produced separately after you have selected your photographs.
11. Do you photograph weddings in RAW format, and can we have the RAW files?
I photograph weddings in RAW format, which gives me the maximum flexibility when editing your photographs.
However, I don't provide RAW files to clients.
RAW files are essentially the digital negatives from the camera and require professional processing before they become finished photographs. A large part of my service is the time I spend selecting, developing and editing your images after your wedding.
The photographs you receive are the finished, professionally edited images that represent my style and the quality of my work.
12. What wedding album company do you use?
I’m proud to offer wedding albums from Seldex Artistic Albums, an Australian company known for producing high-quality professional wedding albums.
There are a range of options available for album materials, colours and finishes, allowing us to create an album that is personal to you and complements your wedding photographs.
A wedding album is a beautiful way to turn your digital photographs into something tangible that you can continue to enjoy for many years.
13. Where do you photograph weddings?
I photograph weddings throughout Newcastle, the Hunter Valley, Maitland and the Upper Hunter, as well as surrounding areas of New South Wales.
This includes wedding photography in locations such as Pokolbin, Lovedale, Rothbury, Singleton, Muswellbrook and Scone, as well as Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the wider Hunter region.
If you're getting married somewhere else in NSW, feel free to get in touch. I'm always happy to discuss your plans and see how I can help.
14. What makes your approach different?
For me, wedding photography isn't about spending the entire day pulling you away from your guests or creating photographs that feel overly posed.
I want you to enjoy your wedding day.
I'll be there to capture the important moments, photograph the people you love and create beautiful portraits, but I'll also step back and allow the genuine moments to happen naturally.
The result is a collection of wedding photographs that combines candid storytelling with beautiful, timeless portraits – photographs that bring back not just what your wedding looked like, but how it felt.
Still have questions?
Every wedding is different, and I'm more than happy to talk through your plans, your venue and what you're looking for from your wedding photography.
Whether you're planning a wedding in the Hunter Valley, Newcastle, Maitland, Upper Hunter or elsewhere in NSW, get in touch and tell me a little about your day.