Frequently Asked Questions
Jump to: Wedding FAQs | Portrait FAQs
Wedding Photography FAQs
-
My wedding packages start at $2750, but most clients invest much more ($4000+). Please contact me for my full current pricing information!
Don't need full-day coverage? Having a smaller-scale wedding or elopement? I offer hourly pricing too for certain dates of the year.
-
I am based out of Buffalo, NY, but I service all of Upstate New York, and also frequent trips to New York City.
I also love traveling–so depending on where/when, I may be willing to waive some or all travel fees to photograph your wedding.
-
I describe my style as rich and colorful. I shoot a variety of posed and candid images during every session to provide clients with lots of options, all tied together with a rich and colorful vibe.
I’m also very versatile, using both natural light and flash depending on the situation. Flash can be used to make a lighting situation work that would otherwise be impossible, or just add an artistic flare to an image. -
Yes of course - that’s my job! I use a variety of techniques to get people to feel and look comfortable. In candid images, this usually involves prompts that engage movement and laughter. Hand and body placement, along with capturing certain angles to be most flattering are always in mind while I’m shooting as well.
-
While it’s challenging to provide a specific number of images due to variations in wedding size, hours of coverage, and specific events, you can generally anticipate receiving between 400-600 beautifully edited images for a full wedding day. Rest assured, I don’t impose a strict limit on the number of photos, so any image that captures the essence of your day will be edited and included in your final gallery!
-
An engagement session serves multiple purposes—it's not only a delightful way to commemorate your engagement and secure that perfect "save the date" photo, but it also allows us to build rapport, get comfortable working together, and create uniquely personalized shots that we might not have time to capture on your wedding day.
-
My ideal client is someone who likes my style, and wants something beyond your traditional “smile and cheese” photo, or trendy Pinterest photo. Grant me the creative freedom to bring your story to life!
-
Yes of course! I have done a few LGBTQ+ and cultural weddings over the years, but it’s been a rare opportunity for me so I’m always looking to do more!
-
Hiring a second photographer brings several advantages to your big day. First, it enables simultaneous "getting ready" shots while both parties are preparing in separate locations. Second, the additional lens ensures multiple perspectives and serves as a safety net during both the ceremony and reception, guaranteeing that no crucial moments go undocumented. Lastly, the second photographer functions as a valuable assistant, offering a fresh perspective on posing and lighting—particularly useful when time is of the essence.
I have a few trusted second photographers that I have used for several years. They have been trained to maintain the same level of professionalism and skill as I do.
-
Modern cameras are great at being able to shoot in even the darkest situations, but I won’t hesitate to use additional off-camera lighting to make things work. Lighting is always a part of my creative process, so I’ll pull out lights even in the middle of the day to get something unique that other photographers might overlook.
That all being said, I never use flash for the ceremony unless I absolutely have to so I’m not distracting.
-
Galleries are available to view photos and purchase prints indefinitely! If you lose the password for your gallery, simply send me a message and I can reset the password for you. There is no additional fee for this!
-
I will select and edit anything that turns out and is up to my standards for quality. Since I don't limit the number of photos in the gallery, I usually provide a very broad selection of final photos.
-
I do not release unedited/raw files because it would be a half-finished product. Editing is the other 50% of how I achieve my signature aesthetic. Also, raw files are very large and not designed to be viewed without a special program.
-
My turnaround time is FAST!
For weddings, you will always receive your photos in less than 3 weeks no matter the time of year.
I hate seeing wedding couples have to wait several weeks, or even months to get their photos from other photographers. By that time the moment has already past!
I also provide sneak peeks within a couple days on Instagram and Facebook if you would like!
-
There is a $500 non-refundable retainer fee for weddings. The remaining balance will be due 1 week before your wedding date.
-
Payments for portrait sessions can be made using Venmo for Business, PayPal, Zelle, cash or check. Payments for weddings can be made using Zelle, cash or check.
-
About half my clients book 12-18 months in advance, with the other half booking 6-12 months in advance. I’ve never been booked every single weekend, but the earlier you book the better chance your date is available!
Portrait Photography FAQs
-
Pricing varies based on the type of session, client needs, availability, and time of year. Please contact me for my most current information!
-
I am based out of Buffalo, New York, but I’m always down to travel!
-
I describe my style as rich and colorful. I shoot a variety of posed and candid images during every session to provide clients with lots of options, all tied together with a rich and colorful vibe.
I’m also very versatile, using both natural light and flash depending on the situation. Flash can be used to make a lighting situation work that would otherwise be impossible, or just add an artistic flare to an image.
-
My ideal client is someone who likes my style, and wants something beyond your typical “smile and cheese” photo, or trendy Pinterest photo. Grant me the creative freedom to bring your story to life!
-
I’ll promise a minimum number of photos (typically 20-30), but often deliver a lot more! All digitals are delivered in a password-protected online gallery in web-resolution, un-watermarked, and ready to be used on social media.
If you would like prints, you can order them directly from the online gallery. Prints ship in very high quality at reasonable prices through Bay Photo Lab, often acknowledged as one of the best printing labs in the United States.
-
I don't have a set limit on outfits and locations, so it all depends on what we can fit into the typical 1 hour period. Typically this means a max of 2 outfits and 2 locations (if they are close by).
-
I can suggest locations, or leave it up to you! If you have a special location in mind, we can go there. Although, I absolutely LOVE being granted the creative freedom to select locations for my clients. I always strive to offer every client something special and unique, so this often means exploring locations I’ve never been to before or finding new ways to shoot old ones.
-
In the event of bad weather there are a few things that we can do.
1) We can reschedule to my next available time slot, which is usually somewhere from a few days to 2 weeks out depending on how busy I am that time of year.
2) We can choose an indoor location in the area (some require fees), or choose a location that allows us take cover and “wait things out” if only a short downpour is predicted.
3) We can shoot in the rain! Some types of sessions, like engagement sessions, can actually be a lot of fun in the rain. But I know this type of session is not for everyone!
Most rain/snow in Buffalo is almost always unpredictable, so it is best to wait until 1-2 days before to make a final decision.
Note to University at Buffalo graduation shoots in May: Due to high volume during this time, rescheduling is still possible, but trickier than other types of year. My schedule also changes constantly with last minute bookings and cancellations. Most rain in the spring/summer is cold front rain, meaning it’s a downpour that blows over quickly. At UB North Campus, we can shoot inside Center for the Arts or the steps behind the building in the event of rain. -
Yes of course! As long as the session remains focused on the senior/graduate, there is no extra charge for this.
-
I’ll work with you one-on-one for specifics, but here are some general guidelines for my most popular sessions:
Senior sessions: I always recommend bringing two outfits – a more formal one and a casual one. I also highly recommend including something special to you – whether it’s sports, music, or anything else you are into. You are strongly encouraged to bring your own props for this, as I’m usually unable to provide them.
Family sessions: For outdoor nature sessions, earth-toned neutral outfits that are free of logos, branding, or. busy patterns work best. I also recommend bringing a blanket to sit on for outdoor sessions. For families with small children – feel free to bring toys or anything that will help them be comfortable. Comfort = great photos!
Graduation sessions: Don’t forget your cap and gown, stoles and cords (if applicable). Many people like to include props like champagne, confetti, smoke bombs, bubbles, etc. – bring them if you wish!
-
This entirely depends on the session, location and the look we are going for. But typically the prime time for sessions is when the sun is lower in the sky (a few hours after sunrise or before sunset).
Cloudy days can be just as great (if not better) for pictures, as it gives us softer overall light, and allows us to shoot at all times of day/angles without harsh shadows.
However - even if we shoot outside the “prime time”, I can still get great results by using additional lighting or posing strategically.
-
By default, I do very minimal retouching on portraits. If you would like additional retouching after your gallery is delivered, I can do so for an additional rate per image.
-
My standard portrait sessions allow for up to an hour of shooting time. For sessions with children, it's normal for them to be done after 20 minutes–but we'll make sure we capture everything we need in this time!
I work quickly and efficiently to capture a wide variety in even the shortest of timeframes.
-
Yes! I actually strongly encourage this. It often helps my clients feel more comfortable when someone they know is there.
-
Galleries are available to view photos and purchase prints indefinitely! If you lose the password for your gallery, simply send me a message and I can reset the password for you. There is no additional fee for this!
-
I will select and edit anything that turns out and is up to my standards for quality. Since I don't limit the number of photos in the gallery, I usually provide a very broad selection of final photos.
-
I do not release unedited/raw files under any circumstances since it would be an incomplete product.
-
My turnaround time is FAST! For a typical portrait session, I try to turnaround photos in 3-7 days depending on the time of year.
-
There is a $50 non-refundable retainer fee for portrait sessions. In the event of cancellation or rescheduling by the client (other than due to bad weather), the retainer is non-refundable.
-
Payments for portrait sessions can be made using Business Venmo, PayPal, Zelle, cash or check.
-
Studio sessions aren't really my specialty, but I do have access to a rent a studio space for an additional $75 fee for certain types of work!
-
Mini-sessions are not something that I offer at this time. I like to offer everyone a full, unique experience rather than all in the same location on the same set.
-
I offer pretty much any type of portrait session except for newborn and boudoir sessions. They just aren't really my thing, and require additional expertise and planning that I don't have the time for as primarily a wedding photographer. If you require one of these sessions, I can recommend one of my amazing colleagues in the area that specialize in this kind of work!