FAQ's
FAQ's
What is your approach to wedding photography?
We absolutely LOVE our career as photographers and we hope that shines through in our work. Photography is not just a job for us, it’s a lifestyle and we’re blessed to make a living doing something we love. We’re passionate about life, people, love, beauty and take pride in sharing our vision through photography. Upon arrival at your wedding, the last thing we want is for the biggest day of your life to turn into an uncomfortable photoshoot. We like to think of ourselves as good ol’ longtime friends with nice cameras... blending in... to naturally capture all the smiles, laughter, emotion, details, and beauty of your day.
Do Blaine and Bethany both shoot photos?
We are both are trained & experienced professional photographers fully capable of shooting on our own but Blaine is our primary photographer and does the majority of our weddings and events on his own. If desired or needed, Bethany can be added on as a second photographer for $500 if a second photographer is not included with your selected package.
How long have you been photographers?
We both found our interest in photography during high school and have been shooting professionally full time since early 2000’s (the film days!). We met at Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, CA and graduated with bachelors degrees in advertising photography in 2005.
Should I have 1 or 2 photographers at my wedding?
Every wedding and event is different, which is wonderful so it’s hard to say if you’d be better off with 1 or 2 photographers. We typically start to recommend 2 photographers for larger size weddings (150+) and weddings where continuous coverage of the “getting ready” process is important, especially if the getting ready areas are in separate locations. In those cases it’s still not a requirement to have 2 photographers, but there might be a few more moments & angles captured throughout the day. Blaine is 100% capable of photographing any wedding solo though and capturing everything beautifully- so no worries if you choose 1 photographer coverage even for larger events.
What is your photography style?
We stress quality and natural feeling images, always. You’ll never and us cutting corners or taking the easy way out. We’re always seeking out the best light and much prefer natural light to using ashes which really slows things down and tends to make things look unnatural. Our editing style is to keep the images colorful, beautiful, and timeless while never looking over-processed or fake. We don’t heavily edit our images or buy into trendy editing fads which always go out of style quickly. Of course the fashion and attire will run it’s course and eventually go out of style, but we create with natural & timeless images you’ll cherish for a lifetime. We encourage you to check out the “clients” section of our website where you can view full weddings (not just portfolio favorites) and see how quality images are consistent no matter what the subject matter or time of day/night.
Do you take formal posed photos in addition to the journalistic ones?
Yes! We believe it’s equally as important to take the formal photos of family and close friends in addition to the candid moments, especially to make Mom and Grandma happy :) We’re happy to do as many or as few combinations as you feel are appropriate. We know all the traditional family combinations and welcome special requests and lists. Our goal is to be professional, courteous, and quick while doing the family photos in order to keep everyone happy, relaxed, and naturally smiling! Awkward and uncomfortable doesn’t fly with us!
Will you travel to my wedding?
Yes! We love traveling to weddings and do so often. June-October(ish) is our busiest season at our home base in Oregon and it’s a little harder to travel during those months, but please don’t hesitate to ask if it might be possible. There is no location too far for us to go and travel expenses are reasonable. Photography has taken us to over 30 states in the US and over 15 countries internationally throughout Asia, Europe, and Central America. We serve the Hood River/Columbia Gorge/Portland area locally. A travel fee may apply for locations further than 70 miles from Hood River, Oregon.
Why is wedding photography costly?
Great question! Photography is very much a “get what you pay for” type of service. If quality photos of one of the biggest days of your life are important to you, it’s much worth the investment to hire your preferred photographer(s). There are always budget photographers competing on price but there are guaranteed drawbacks in quality, professionalism, service, and turnaround time. The amount of time we invest into each wedding often surpasses a full 40 hour work week when considering pre-wedding communication, day of shooting, post production (editing, organizing & renaming, color correcting, designing albums, slideshows, archiving, uploading, & more) just to name a few of the things required to do the job correctly. Luckily we love just about every part of the process even though it takes so much time :) Not to mention overhead costs of purchasing & maintaining professional camera & computer gear, software, education, insurance policies, etc.
What is the turnaround time for my photos?
Being punctual is important to us, but also a perfect edit takes much time and isn’t to be rushed through, possibly sacrificing quality. We always try to share many preview photos the week of, for some instant gratification and social media sharing if you’re into that! Typically, we have your final edit finished and posted online within 4 weeks. In our busiest time (Summer/Fall) it may be a bit longer than 4 weeks but never more than 8 weeks.
How do I book and what is the payment schedule?
Definitely fill out our wedding inquiry form HERE to share a few details with us about yourself and the day! Do this ASAP because dates can book quickly, sometimes even 1-2 years in advance, especially weekends from June-October. We'll respond as soon as possible, typically within 1-3 days. If your date is available, you can use our quick & simple booking reservation HERE to secure your date with a $500 retainer payable by credit card, PayPal/Venmo, or cash/check. You can decide on the details of your exact package needs now or later. The remainder of your photography package is due 30 days before your wedding date.