Frequently Asked Questions: Weddings
Quality wedding photography is an investment that appreciates over time, and we appreciate you investing in us! We pride ourselves in making you feel comfortable, relaxed, and flawless every step of the way, and ensuring that all of your questions are answered is an integral part of the process. Listed below are our most frequently asked questions regarding weddings.
Q: How do I reserve my wedding date?
If your requested date is available, you will need to sign our contract & pay the non-refundable retainer to secure that date. You will have 14 days to do so before your wedding date is opened back up to another potential client. The retainer fee ranges from $800 – $1200 depending on package chosen.
Q: What is a retainer, why is it non-refundable, and what does it cover?
A retainer is a non-refundable deposit to reserve your wedding date. The retainer will be applied to the total cost of services. Your retainer ensures that we will not pursue other work for that particular date, regardless if a higher paying opportunity arises. If you decide to cancel the agreement, the retainer covers loss of business opportunity and availability, loss of income, and time invested.
Q: What is your wedding photography style?
Creative, candid, & bold! We have a natural approach that incorporates an equal balance of artistic photojournalism and fine art editorial. Photojournalism is best described as a more relaxed, yet authentic approach that captures emotion and tells an immersive story. On the other hand, editorial photography is a guided approach focusing on style which draws the eyes to the subject matter with direction from the photographer. Our editing style is bold and artistic, while staying true to color. We pride ourselves in creating unique & timeless photos. View the award-winning gallery here.
Q: Do you travel for weddings?
Of course, we do! We love to travel and experience new destinations and photograph different sceneries! The cost of travel is included in our packages for weddings held throughout central and south Louisiana. For travel outside of Louisiana, travel and accommodation fees are dependent upon the specific location.
But letting you in on a little secret ~ if the location is on our bucket list, we are more than happy to send a discount your way! Reach out to us if you are planning a destination wedding and we can discuss pricing.
Q: Do you work with a second photographer?
After a decade of photographing weddings, we learned that a second photographer is a necessity. A second photographer allows us to capture two unique perspectives on your wedding day. My second photographer has been working alongside me for six years – There are a variety of other benefits to a second photographer; they double as an assistant, photograph additional angles of events, and capture anything during the inevitable natures call! We ensure that our second photographer meets & exceeds Ahnvee Photography’s high-standards.
Q: Can we give you a list of specific photos to take?
Because we don’t want to add any stress onto the wedding planning process, it is not necessary to provide a list. You can count on us to capture every moment big or small. One thing that sets us apart during the wedding – we don’t put our cameras down! We stay focused on genuine, natural moments between all attendees. For any non-traditional moments that you wish to be included; we will discuss those during your wedding consultation.
Q: What happens if a team member is sick on our wedding day?
Unless we are on our death-bed, we will be there! We’ve worked through a stomach virus, a sprained foot, and migraines! But in the instance that we are totally incapacitated, we have a team of dedicated professionals who accurately represent our style & are willing to fill in for us during any unforeseen circumstance.
Q: If we are running behind, will you stay later in order to get all of the moments that we wish to have captured?
We have experienced a number of weddings & understand that unforeseen circumstances may arise. Because of this, we offer a discounted rate of $200/half-hour should you need additional coverage.
Q: When will we receive our photos?
We will cull through your images & rate them from 1 to 3 stars. The 3 star images are custom hand-edited and expertly retouched. These are the best of the best & will receive the most detailed edits (removal of blemishes, distracting objects, color correction & more), as these are the most likely to end up on your walls! 2-star images will receive basic edits and 1-star images will receive color correction edits only. 1-star images are included because they complete the day’s story, and this rating system allows us to deliver a higher quantity of polished looking photos at an affordable price. However, if you’ve fallen in love with a particular photo & would like a more detailed edit, reach out to us for pricing on editing upgrades.
Q: How will we receive our photos?
Q: Do You Release the Hi-Res Digital Files?
Because we don’t want to withhold any special or meaningful moments from your wedding day, we do release all hi-res digital jpeg files minus any with closed eyes, contorted faces, etc. However, we do not release any of the raw or unedited digital files.
Q: How many photographs will we receive?
Due to a variety of factors that take place, we are unable to guarantee an exact number of photos. These factors include hours of coverage, access, quality, lighting conditions, church & event regulations, etc. We average about 75 photos per hour of coverage.
Q: Can we purchase prints, photo albums, and other products?
We make it super easy to order prints and products straight from your gallery by offering high quality printing through our professional and trusted lab shipped directly to an address of your choice. Because we don’t want you to invest your hard earned money on your wedding photos and get subpar prints – we offer the high quality prints at our cost. The lab prints in all sizes and provides album options as well. To read more about this and see examples, check out our blog post on comparing print labs.