Frequently Asked Questions

Who actually takes the pictures?
Myself - Rob - and my partner, Sarah. We work together well as a team. For part day bookings, one photographer is used and this could be either of us.

Do you ever work for anyone else?
Generally no, although we have helped other wedding photography companies when one of their staff has been ill or unavailable.

If we book, will there be a contract to sign?
Of course. The contract is designed to protect both parties. Boring, but essential.

What do we need to do to secure our date? Can you hold the date for us?
To book our services for your wedding date, you will need to pay the deposit and sign the contract. Dates cannot be reserved without these unless the circumstances are really unusual.

Do your prices include VAT?
As a small business we fall under the legal threshold for VAT, therefore no VAT is payable by you on any of our products or services.

How much is the deposit and when is the rest of the money due?
The deposit is usually £250 and will need to be paid at the same time your contract is signed. We do reserve the right to ask for a higher desposit under some circumstances. Please note, that the deposit is non-refundable in the event of you cancelling our services. The balance is due no later than two weeks before the wedding day and we will issue an invoice in advance of this.

You say you take photographs "all day" - but what does this mean?
'All day' usually starts with the bridal preparations in the morning and concludes with the first-dance in the evening. We take a common-sense approach to this - we don't set limits on attendance time under normal circumstances and we don't try to charge you extra because the DJ turned up a bit late.

How many group shots will there be?
As many as you like. Remember though, that the more formal group pictures there are, the less time there will be for other shots. We strongly recommend you draw up a list of groups in advance so everyone knows what they're supposed to be doing. All of this will be discussed in detail before the big day.

How many pictures will you take on the day?
Lots! However we always try to present between 300 and 400 completed images to you. Part day coverage would be less, obviously.

What happens if you are ill?
A really common question and one that should always be asked. The chances of either us being so ill that we cannot work are pretty slim. We are very lucky in that we really love our work so we never get that "I don't think I'll go in today" feeling! Rob also belongs to the Society of Wedding & Portrait Photographers (SWPP) which means we have a network of people to contact in the event of an absolute emergency. We also know many of the local wedding photographers who are usually happy to help out if they are available. If the worst happens and we cannot get anyone to fill our shoes, you'll get all your money back, including the deposit. Realistically, this is the most anyone could promise, even larger studios with more staff.

I never feel comfortable in front of the camera and don't like having my picture taken - what can you do?
We don't expect anyone to act like they've been modelling for the last ten years. We are comfortable with putting people into positions where they feel good and look their best to the camera. With our all-day coverage option, we always provide a complimentary pre-wedding shoot some weeks ahead of the wedding. This gives us chance to get to know each other a little and will make you feel a little more comfy in front of the lens.

Do we get the high-res images on a disc?
We don't give the images away but we do offer them as an option to purchase. Why? Because this is a cost we would have to then build in to our main pricing structure. Since we don't believe in making you pay for things unnecessarily, this wouldn't be fair to people who have no need of the digital files (which is most of our customers at present). Many of the bridal magazines may say to ask about 'the files' but the reality is many people don't have much idea of what they'll do with them. We are of course, happy to advise on this in deep technical language if you desire. :-) As we archive the files permanently, they can always be purchased at a later date.

I want the high-res files so I can make my own album and prints - is this OK?
Of course, but remember that the albums we offer are sold only to the industry trade. You can certainly buy cheaper products from a high-street store, but the quality and attention to detail will be considerably lower than the products we offer as standard. With prints, we put an awful lot of time and effort into making each one look the best it can be. We only use professional printing labs (no, we don't use Asda!) and we quality-check every print before delivering it to you.

How long will it be before we can see the pictures?
We always try to deliver the initial presentation within 2-3 weeks. It may sometimes take longer depending on our workload.

Do I get proofs?
You will receive a lovely, personalised softcover book showing all the presented images, numbered for your reference. Every image we present to you is processed and polished off. The book is yours to keep and extra copies can be ordered if required, even at a later date.

How many pictures can I have in my album?
As many as you like. We do not limit the number of pictures in albums. The suppliers charge us by the page, so that's how we work. Obviously the more pictures you have, the more crowded the album will be. Less is definitely more.

Do we have any say over how the album will look?
Of course - it's your album! We will present an initial design based on what we think looks great. You are then welcome to ask for amendments. You will be required to sign-off on the design before the album order is submitted.

We have friends and family coming from all over the place - will they be able to see the pictures?
Yes - we will create an online gallery of the pictures so people see them from anywhere in the world. People will also be able to order prints and have them sent to their homes. The gallery will be password protected and will usually be accessible for six months after the wedding.

We may want to order reprints in the future - how long do you keep the pictures for?
Your pictures will be archived permanently, so future reprints are no problem. However the price is likely to rise after longer than six months.