What types of
photography do you do?
What should I look
for in a wedding photographer?
How long have you
been photographing weddings?
What is your style of
photography?
Do you shoot
digitally or with film?
Do you carry
liability insurance?
Are you
available on my wedding date?
What wedding packages
do you offer?
What if I
want something different than the packages you offer?
How many photos do you
usually take at a wedding?
How many weddings do you
photograph each year?
Do you
photograph more than one wedding each day or each weekend?
I
am getting married on a day other than Saturday or Sunday, could I still hire
you?
Will you visit my
wedding/reception location prior to my wedding?
Do you use an
assistant or do you have any employees?
I have a
friend/family member who enjoys photography, is it okay for them to take
pictures at the wedding?
We would like
to have a receiving line at our wedding. How does that impact the photography?
I would like to
make time for traditional photos after my ceremony. How long does this usually
take?
What is your process for
photographing post-ceremony or traditional photos?
Do you have any
references?
What areas do you serve? How far
away are you willing to travel?
How can I contact you?
Can I give you a list
of photos that I want taken on my wedding day?
Do you do videography
or any other wedding services?
I’ve decided
I want to hire you, what happens next?
What is your payment
structure?
What types of payment
do you accept?
What is your
cancellation or postponement policy?
After my wedding, how
soon will I get my pictures?
Are the
photos on the disc in high resolution? Can I make prints from them?
I’d like to email
photos to my family and friends, or post some on Facebook, is that okay?
What types of photography do you do?
I can provide lots
of different photography services, including weddings, newborns, portraits for
families, individuals, couples, children,
pets, and high school seniors. I also enjoy providing photography services for
businesses, such as stock photography or other photography that you may want to
use for your business’s website. I have photographed landmarks and other local
interests for hire as well. Please
contact me about your photography request so I can give you more detail
about what the service might cost.
Back to
Questions
What should I look for in a wedding
photographer?
It’s my belief
that first and foremost, the person you hire as your wedding photographer should
be someone you feel comfortable around. Their personality should mesh well with
yours. Remember that this person is going to be spending a lot of time with you,
your friends, and family on your wedding day, so they should be someone who
everyone can feel relaxed and comfortable around. The more relaxed and
comfortable you feel, the better your photographs will be. You should also make
sure you have the opportunity to view the photographer’s previous work so you
can see if you like their style of photography. You want someone who will
produce photographs that will tell the story of your wedding day, giving those
who view your photographs a sense of what that day was like. Ideally, you will
want to meet your photographer before booking a date with them so that you have
a chance to ask all questions and get details in person, as well as have a
chance to view their work. Any good photographer should be willing to do a free
consultation. Beware of any photographer that wants all their money up front.
Most professional photographers expect a deposit at the time of booking, and
then final payments are made on the wedding day or once your materials are
delivered after the wedding.
Back to Questions
How long have you been photographing
weddings?
I photographed my
first wedding professionally in 2005. A friend of mine knew someone who was
getting married for the second time. They wanted to hire a photographer, but
they didn’t want to spend several thousand dollars on a photographer for what
was going to be a fairly small event. I had a background in photography, but I
did not have any recent formal education nor did I do photography as a full-time
career. I met with the couple and agreed to do the photos for their wedding at a
much lower rate than photographers who have an established business and work
full-time. I had such a wonderful time, and I was surprised at the quality of
the photos I turned out. I decided it was worth pursuing as a business.
Back to Questions
What is your style of photography?
I provide a combination of a photojournalistic style along with some traditional
posing. When I look back after each wedding at the photos I’ve taken, my
favorites are always photos of those candid moments that you just can’t pose.
Those are the types of photos I enjoy the most. I like catching the action as it
happens naturally. Of course most couples do want atleast some traditional
photos at their wedding, and those are lots of fun also. Ultimately it’s my goal
to produce photos that will accurately tell the story of your wedding day.
From start to finish, you’re wedding day is about YOU. I’m happy to make suggestions on a timeline or schedule for your photography, but in the end it’s your decision how we do things. I try to be as unobtrusive as possible throughout your wedding day, especially during your ceremony. I am not the type of photographer to pull you aside throughout your reception and pose you for lots of photographs. I may ask you to stop and pose at certain moments such as the cake cutting or before the bouquet toss, but aside from that I take mostly candid photographs at the reception. I make myself very available so you can pull me aside if you want to take certain pictures with friends or family. Back to Questions
Do you shoot digitally or with film?
All of my
photography is digital.
Back to Questions
Do you carry liability insurance?
Yes, I carry business insurance, including liability insurance, through State
Farm.
Back to Questions
Are you available on my wedding
date?
Please
email me to
see if I am available on your date. I return most emails within 24 hours.
Back to Questions
What wedding packages do you offer?
I offer a variety of packages to meet different needs. The main difference in
each package is the amount of time I provide at the wedding itself. Every
package comes with discs including all the photos from your wedding in a high
resolution, and a reproduction release, which means you have the freedom to get
reprints and enlargements made at stores like Walmart, Target, or online through Shutterfly or
Snapfish. I also offer other services, such as
putting together professional albums, designing storybook or coffee table books, and DVD
slideshows set to the music of your choice. Your wedding photos will also be
displayed in my Pro Gallery at Shutterfly.com so that family and friends can
easily view them and they can also purchase prints, enlargements, or other photo
gifts there as well. This gallery can be password protected if you like. If you
have an idea of any other photography services you’d like me to provide, just
ask! I’m very flexible and would be happy to talk about providing a service that
isn’t listed in my packages. Please
email me and I will
send you a detailed breakdown of my packages and prices.
Back to Questions
What if I want something
different than the packages you offer?
That’s no problem. I’d be happy to quote you a price on a custom made package
that suits your needs!
Back to Questions
How many photos do you usually take at a
wedding?
I’ve found that for a typical 6 hour wedding, when they get their discs the bride and groom will receive at least
300 photos from me, often more. Please note that I cannot guarantee I will take a certain number of photos at your wedding. The number of photos taken depends greatly on several things, including the number of formal photos the couple wants to take after the ceremony, number of people at the wedding, and the type of reception. Many reception photos include shots of people dancing, so if your reception does not include music and dancing, this could possibly affect the overall number of photos taken at your wedding.
Back to Questions
How many weddings do you photograph each
year?
Currently my wedding photography is a part-time business that I run in addition to my full-time job. In general I photograph anywhere from 10-20 weddings per year, but I'm always looking to do as many as possible!
Back to Questions
Do you photograph more than one
wedding each day or each weekend?
I generally like to stay away from photographing more than one wedding per
weekend. Photographing a wedding is a lot of work and it can be quite
exhausting! In order to devote my complete time and energy to each wedding, I
prefer to only do one per weekend.
Back to Questions
I am getting married
on a day other than Saturday or Sunday, could I still hire you?
Absolutely! I am happy to make arrangements to work at non-weekend weddings when
possible. Please
email me
to see if I am available on your date.
Back to Questions
Will you visit my wedding/reception location
prior to my wedding?
There are several area venues with which I am very familiar and have
photographed before and therefore would not need to visit prior to your wedding.
If I have not photographed at your venue before, I would be happy to visit your
wedding or reception location prior to your wedding if it is within a 60 mile
radius of Frederick, MD or Fairfield, PA. If your location is farther away and you would still
like me to visit before your wedding, an extra charge may be necessary.
Back to Questions
Do you use an assistant or do you have
any employees?
No, currently my business consists of only myself, so if you hire me, I will be
the only photographer.
Back to Questions
I have a friend/family member who
enjoys photography, is it okay for them to take pictures at the wedding?
Yes, this is fine, but there are a few things to keep in mind. My main request
is that anyone else taking pictures is mindful of my need to be able to move
around freely without being obstructed or prevented from taking my photos. Since
you are paying me to provide photography on your special day, I want to make
sure nothing keeps me from giving you the best pictures possible. Also,
sometimes having multiple people with cameras present at the post-ceremony or
“formal” pictures can add time on to that process. This can also result in
pictures where people are looking in different directions because they’re not
sure which photographer to look at. My goal is to get you from your ceremony to
your reception in as little time as possible, so keep in mind that having others
present for those photographs could make things take longer.
Back to Questions
We would like to have a
receiving line at our wedding. How does that impact the photography?
Whatever you choose for your wedding day should make you happy and meet your personal needs. I’ve found that receiving lines work okay as long as they move very quickly. Remember that you should have time to socialize and greet friends and family once you get to your reception. Time spent in a receiving line could take away from valuable time needed for post-ceremony or traditional pictures. Please keep in mind that a receiving line could delay this process and therefore it could take you longer to arrive at your reception unless you decide to cut back on the number of post-ceremony photos.
Back to Questions
I would like to make time for
traditional photos after my ceremony. How long does this usually take?
This really depends on lots of things, including the size of your wedding party
and how many friends or family you want involved in the traditional photos. The
more people involved, the longer it will take. I am usually able to limit this
time to 30-45 minutes. Having a cocktail hour with hours dourves at your
reception is a great way to provide guests with something to do while they wait
for you to arrive at the reception.
Back to Questions
What is your process for photographing
post-ceremony or traditional photos?
This is the part of the day where the bride and groom’s faces will be hurting
from so much smiling! I like to use a technique where we start big and then end
with just the bride and groom. I like to start with any photos that require
grandparents or extended family, so that once those photos are complete they can
go and enjoy the reception. Next we take any pictures requiring parents and
siblings. Then we move on to all photos that require ushers, groomsmen,
bridesmaids, maid of honor, and the best man. Finally we are left with just the
bride and groom to take some pictures together, and when we are finished they
can make their arrival at the reception!
Another tip I like to give to the bride and groom: if you are not doing a receiving line, when you walk down the aisle together after the ceremony, try to go to a secure location away from your guests, and have the rest of your wedding party meet you there. Guests who are not a part of the post-ceremony pictures should be encouraged to move on to the reception. If the bride and groom are accessible after the ceremony, guests can’t resist the urge to come over and offer their congratulations, which can really cut into the time needed for post-ceremony pictures. Remember you should have plenty of time to spend with your guests at your reception. My goal is to finish any post-ceremony photos as quickly as possible so you can catch up with your guests and have fun! Back to Questions
Do you have any references?
Absolutely. If you would like to speak to some references about their experience
with me, please just
email
me and I will provide you with a list of past clients you can contact.
Back to Questions
What areas do you serve? How far away are you
willing to travel?
I generally stick to an area within a 60 mile radius from either Frederick, MD or Fairfield, PA. This includes lots of other locations including Hagerstown, MD, Waynesboro, Blue Ridge
Summit, Chambersburg, Gettysburg, and Hanover in PA, Taneytown in MD, Leesburg
and Lovettsville in VA, and Harpers Ferry,
Shepherdstown, and Martinsburg in WV. I am willing to travel beyond these
locations, though an extra travel fee may apply for locations more than 60 miles
from Frederick, MD or Fairfield, PA.
Back to Questions
How can I contact you?
You can fill out and submit
this form, or
simply
email me your
request.
Back to Questions
Can I give you a list of photos that I
want taken on my wedding day?
Sure! In fact I have a list you could use if you like. I will make my best effort to capture all your “must have” photos.
Back to Questions
Do you do videography or any other
wedding services?
No, my services are all photography related. However I do have lots of referrals
to other wedding professionals including venues, florists, and bakers of wedding
cakes. If you need a recommendation or referral for another type of wedding
vendor, I’m happy to help, simply ask!
Back to Questions
I’ve decided I want to hire you,
what happens next?
I will ask you to fill out an information sheet including your contact info,
information about the wedding day itself (such as locations, approximate
timeline of events, etc). I’ll then use that information to write up a contract
which outlines the services I will provide for you, and will send you two copies
that have my signature on them. Then you will sign a copy and send it back to me
for my records, and the other you keep for your records.
Back to Questions
Your date is officially booked with me once the contract is signed and I receive your deposit. The deposit is roughly 1/3 of the price of whatever package you chose. The exact amount of the deposit will be outlined in the contract so you know how much to send. Back to Questions
What is your payment structure?
At the time of booking, approximately 1/3 of your package price will be due.
Next, on or before the wedding day another 1/3 is due. The final 1/3 is due once
you receive your discs, proof book, or any other materials that we agreed upon.
The exact amounts will depend upon the package you choose, but the contract will
clearly outline exactly how much is due and when.
Back to Questions
What types of payment do you accept?
I can accept personal checks (simply made out to Dana Grayson), money orders, or
you can make a payment through PayPal using your checking account or a major
credit card. Please note
that there may be an extra fee when using your credit card.
Back to Questions
What is your cancellation or
postponement policy?
After a contract is signed, your deposit is forfeited if the wedding is
cancelled or postponed to another date for which I am unavailable. There may be
exceptions to this in extreme circumstances.
Back to Questions
After my wedding, how soon will I get my
pictures?
I generally send the discs out within 5 weeks after the wedding. If your
package included a proof book, it should arrive within 2-3 weeks after the
discs. If you decide to have me design a coffee table book, this could take
3-4 months to arrive once you've made the order, due to design time as well as
the time it takes for the book to be printed and bound.
Back to Questions
Are the photos on the disc
in high resolution? Can I make prints from them?
Yes, all the photos on your discs are high resolution. You will receive a
reproduction release that gives you permission to have prints made at any store
that can print photos from digital media. This reproduction release is for
the bride and groom's use only. Any other family members or friends can purchase
prints through the couple's Shutterfly.com gallery, or they can talk to me about
getting their own set of discs and reproduction release.
Back to Questions
I’d like to email photos to my family
and friends, or post some on Facebook, is that okay?
Sure! Keep in mind that the reproduction release only extends to the bride and groom, so if you an email an image to a friend or relative, they can only view that image on their computer; they do not have rights to have prints or enlargements made. The only other thing I ask is that if you post my photos to any website, for example Facebook or MySpace, please include something that says “Photos by Dana Grayson Photography.” Word-of-mouth is the best advertising, so I really appreciate it any time you can share my name with other people who may need my services now or in the future.
Back to Questions