|
|
Frequently Asked Questions
What do you charge? Basic price information can be found by following this link. Digital vs. Film I shoot exclusively with Canon digital cameras. They are the best tools I have ever owned. The are processed using Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, which is probably the best image processor available. Black & White vs. Color I get many requests for black & white photography and I have photographed exclusively in black & white when requested. But digital cameras record images in color. I let the image itself tell me whether or not it should be presented in black & white. Black & white is great for day weddings outdoors but keep this in mind. An important part of the magic and beauty of black & white comes from the interplay of light and shadow. For weddings indoors at night, the flash on the camera is usually the main source of light. Because that light is directly above the camera lens, shadows are effectively eliminated. Under these circumstances, the resulting black & white images are, in most cases, less visually appealing. If the majority of your wedding takes place
after dark and what you're really looking for is one or two photographs in black
& white to be framed, it might be better to shoot in color. When should we do the formal group photos? Most of the time, I photograph the bride &
groom formally after the wedding ceremony, usually taking only 15-20 minutes to do
so. But more and more they choose to do them before the ceremony. In
many cases I think it's a good idea and here is why. It has been my experience that some brides who
wait until the ceremony to see the groom for the first time are on sensory
overload. Emotions, and sometimes stress, are at their peak, making it
difficult to appreciate the full depth and significance of
the experience. The most common wedding traditions in our culture do not
allow for an open expression of feelings at that time. Instead, what you could do is create some time,
about an hour before the ceremony, to have a special moment together in whatever
location you prefer. I could be there, in the background, capturing the
moment, but otherwise, you would be alone together for awhile. This can
be a great tension reliever, making it easier to be more present during the rest
of the event. Then we would do formal photographs of the two
of you, before the ceremony, while you're looking your best. The rest of
the family and wedding party could join in the moment and get those photos made early, allowing everything to flow
from the ceremony to the reception without
delay. Your guests will be grateful. For others, this arrangement is of little or no concern at
all and arranging formal photography after the ceremony is the easiest
way to go. You'll get a sense of what's right for you. Also keep in mind that, whenever possible, it's great to use natural light. If you're wedding is at 7pm during daylight savings time, formal photos should probably be done at 5:30 or 6pm in order to make optimal use of available light. Calculate the sunset for your wedding day.
"Will you, yourself, be the photographer at the wedding?" I do not sub-contract other photographers. All communication would be with me personally. That way, we are always clear on your specific needs and how to best respond to them. It is possible that some large events may require additional photographers for complete coverage. During church weddings where flash is allowed, I'm usually up near the altar while my assistant photographs wider views from the back balcony whenever that's possible, if you have selected Level A coverage. "What if you get sick or have an emergency to respond to?" The way that I see it, a portion of the fee you pay me goes toward keeping myself in good working order. I live a very healthy lifestyle and focus a part of my attention toward being there for you when the time comes. I meditate regularly and always devote some of that time and energy toward creating a successful event with good weather. When all else fails, this is when membership in professional associations becomes important. Members can cover for each other. Every reasonable effort will be made to find a suitable replacement but, since I began in 1985, I've not had to do this.
"Why do you need an assistant?" Two of the biggest advantages of having an assistant are that I never have to focus all of my attention on technical matters and, if formals are done immediately after the ceremony, I can continue to focus on the spontaneity of the celebration while the assistant sets up the lighting equipment when you've chosen the Level A coverage. The reactions of wedding participants right after the ceremony are a very important part of the event. I wouldn't want to miss those moments while dealing with technical matters. When flash photography is allowed during a church ceremony, my assistant will usually photograph the bride from the balcony or back of the church or synagogue while she's walking down the aisle. And, at the same time, I'm up front capturing the moment when she meets the groom, whenever that is allowed by the officiant. An assistant can focus on these aspects of the event making it much easier for me to focus on you. Also, working with an assistant makes the entire event more enjoyable for me. "How soon after the wedding can I expect to get my photographs?" If you order a proof album, in most cases the photographs are ready within ten weeks, often sooner, but occasionally it will take a few more weeks if I'm particularly busy or traveling. Using the Internet, photographs are usually available for viewing on the Pictage.com website in less than four weeks. "Do you ever sell digital image files to clients?" Purchasing the complete set of all photographs would be required. I average delivery of 72 photographs for each hour of the event. These prices are not available if either the bride of groom is a celebrity or public figure.
"How long do you keep the photographs in your files?" Part of the fee that you pay goes toward the safe keeping of all images. But there is no way I can reasonably guarantee that a tragedy won't occur. All digital images are saved on a hard drive in my office and are backed up on a server at Pictage.com. They are also eventually backed up on a server maintained by Amazon Web Services. The Internet will make it easy for you to contact me no matter where in the world you or I may go should you need additional prints later on. I expect GeorgeLong.com to be around for a very long time. I always seem to keep up with the latest technology. "Can I get my deposit back if the wedding is canceled?" In most cases, a deposit will be returned if the wedding is canceled six months or more before the wedding date. Otherwise, the deposit will not be returned unless another wedding of equal or greater size and value is later booked for that day and time.
What about working with the videographer? Only once in all my years have I ever had a conflict with a videographer. He was angry and hurt when I told the bride she didn't have to fake throwing the bouquet again when he missed getting the shot the first time. I'd be happy to refer you to videographers who
will act with dignity, whose style is complimentary to mine, and who almost never
use a light. Also, I can't recall ever having problems with relatives or friends who wanted to take photos alongside me. The only thing to consider is that if there are several people standing near me during the formals, on occasion they can make that process take longer. What about those disposable cameras at the reception? I certainly have no problem with this.
Keep in mind though that it means you will be posing for pictures a lot more
during the event. So you might ask yourself if you really want to be
doing that during your reception. From feedback I've received, other considerations are that children of all ages can waste a tremendous amount of film or, if the cameras get lost or taken from the wedding, you may be upset or disappointed. I've seen this happen more than once. Feel free to call anytime if you have other questions. v
Recommended
Vendors Editorial Events Weddings Fine Art Biography Resources Home
|
|
(504) 899-2975 or
1-800-318-4516 |
