Planning a Scottish wedding can be such a daunting time, especially as most people will have no prior experience of the researching suppliers within the social events industry. So, to help you through all the photography related enquiries that you might think about asking, I’ve put together a list of the most common questions.
Q. Why should I hire a professional photographer?
Consider the importance and historic memories and having images with the power to take you back to your wedding day and how you felt.
Making memories in challenging the conditions is only achievable through experience and high caliber equipment. Planning a wedding can be a stress-full experience and hiring an amateur photographer can greatly add to this.
The moments that make up the story of your wedding day can’t be repeated and so there is only one chance to capture them. Having a professional with back up equipment, insurance and attention to detail when in counts is vitally important.
Hiring a professional is more than just about having someone around you with a fancy camera. A professional will meet you before your wedding, putting you at ease and letting you know what to expect and delivering the quality you expect.
Q. How should I decide on which photographer to choose from?
Once you have found a Dundee and Arbroath photographer who’s photos you like and feel would be a ideal for your Wedding, there are two things I would consider checking:
Personality:
Your photographer will be the one supplier who will be with you for your entire wedding day, from bridal preparation all the way through to your first dance and sometimes even later. The last thing you want is to book a photographer who’s personality clashes with yours. Before booking your photographer arrange to meet for a consultation and have a face to face.
Consistency:
The images you view on a photographer’s website are often examples of their very best work. It is important to check that your photographer is consistently providing this quality of work for their couples. Ask to see albums of a complete wedding. A wedding blog is an ideal viewing area for a much larger collection of photographs taken on the day.
Q. Where can we go for our Engagement shoot?
Almost anywhere. I like to shoot in different locations, but more importantly in a place that means something to you. I am also happy to suggest places if you’re happy to go with ideas we have for you.
Q. What do we do with the images from our Engagement shoot?
Many couples have a bespoke book made for guests to sign on the wedding day, or perhaps have a print framed for our signing boards. Others have used a framed print as a gift for parents or had a canvas wrap for their own home.
Q. What is your photographic style?
Throughout most of your wedding day my style of photography is documentary or photojournalistic. I document your day like a film producer, combining establishing shots then work tighter for portraiture then tighter in again of close ups and all the details such as rings, flowers and table decorations. I also combine this with creative portraiture of the bride and groom in a romantic setting within the venue grounds. Resulting in stunning signature images, which are cemented in time for forever.
My services continue long after the wedding day is over as the album and print process continues. As your wedding photographer, he really hopes to remain your photographer for life.
Q. Do you take traditional group photographs?
I will work with you ahead of your wedding day to build a list of the group formals you want and then on the day, apply succinct but clear direction that ensures we can move through them quickly, allowing everyone to get back to the celebrations. On average I usually take 6-8 group photos per wedding.
Here is a suggested Family Groups list:
The Bride and Groom PLUS
The Brides Parents
The Grooms Parents
The Brides Parents and the Grooms Parents
The Brides Parents, Sisters, Brothers and Grandparents
The Grooms Parents, Sisters, Brothers and Grandparents
The Bridesmaids and flower girls
The best man, ushers and Groomsmen
The bridesmaids and ushers etc
All the guests - ( Weather dependant and from an ideal vantage point at venue)
Q. Can I make my own prints?
Yes you can go to a high street lab of your own choice or even an on line print service once supplied with the digital files. However there is a huge difference between prints you make your self from a cheaper lab than those from the Pro lab. The choice is completely up to you.
Q. What happens if you are ill?
What happens if your vicar is ill, or your best man? From time to time in life illness affects all of us and it is my best endeavour to find you a replacement photographer should the worst happen. Derek is a member of a professional body of photographers and a local net-work, which provides opportunities to find emergency cover at short notice.
Q. Am I insured?
Yes, absolutely! As a professional photographer, Derek is required to have both Public Liability and Professional Indemnity Insurance.
Q. What do you do about eating throughout the day?
As you can probably image, being active on your feet all day burns up a lot of energy, so food is necessary that I don’t keel over as the evening approaches. I’ve sampled a range of feeding methods during weddings, from munching on tracker bars to being invited to join the head table for the main course. I’ve found that enjoying a hot meal with your guests has proven the most effective method for recharging my batteries. It also means I’m ready with my camera incase anything spontaneous happens during the meal.
Q. How many photographs do you take?
The definitive number of photographs taken on your day varies. The exact number of photographs depends on a number of factors, such as the number of locations used over the course of the day and how much time is made in your schedule for photography between the ceremony and the wedding reception. As a rule of thumb, I will often shoot between 400 and 500 images.
Q. How many photographs will be presented in our album?
Each album is individual and totally unique. If you opt to have an album made, they start with 15 spreads (30 pages), which can be designed to hold around 70 images in total. A 40 page album can be designed to hold 80 images. Additional spreads can be purchased if required. It is your decision, which photographs appear in your album, however I shoot with an album layout and design in mind throughout the day. Every single image from your wedding is fully assessed by me and subsequently graded for colour and tone and then enhanced if required.
Q. Will we receive high resolution images?
All of my wedding packages come complete with all the images on an USB flash drive in a high-quality digital format at full resolution. You may make as many prints from the USB and make as many copies of the photographs as you like. It’s also useful to know that you’re free to do whatever you want with the photos and will be able to email these images to your guests, friends and family.
Q. When do we view our wedding photographs?
I will send you the USB flash drive with file names to enable you to make your choice for the album between 2-3 weeks. Once I have received your selection of favourites, I will design a layout for your album and email you a proof copy. When I have received sign off on the composition and layout from you, over the course of 5-6 weeks your album will be hand made to your specifications and carefully assembled before being delivered to yourselves.
Q.How does my album design process work?
I can either set the album layout and design for you, or alternatively you can select the images that you would like to be included. I carefully design the layout of the images to tell the story of your day.
Q. Who owns the copyright of the photographs?
Under UK law, specifically the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, it is the photographer who will own copyright on any photos he/she has taken. However that doesn’t mean that I will use the images without your consent. Client confidentiality is absolutely crucial to my business and should you wish to keep your wedding photographs private and have a non-disclosure agreement in place, then naturally we will be more than happy to accommodate.
Q.How far will you travel to photograph a wedding?
I cover weddings in the North East of Scotland – Based in Angus, covering Dundee, Perth, Fife and Aberdeenshire and don't charge travel expenses for weddings within a 40 mile radius.
Q. How do we make a booking?
I would love to hear about your plans and if you would like me to be your wedding photographer then please contact me to check my availability for your wedding date. Dates at popular times of the year will get booked up more than a year in advance.
I will make arrangements with you for a no obligation consultation where we can go into detail with your wedding plans and view a number of wedding albums. An email will be sent to you for you to complete a booking form. A retainer of £300 is required to secure your date and the completed booking form along with a signed copy of the contract agreement is required.
Please use the contact form to make general enquires regarding my availability
Q. Why should I hire a professional photographer?
Consider the importance and historic memories and having images with the power to take you back to your wedding day and how you felt.
Making memories in challenging the conditions is only achievable through experience and high caliber equipment. Planning a wedding can be a stress-full experience and hiring an amateur photographer can greatly add to this.
The moments that make up the story of your wedding day can’t be repeated and so there is only one chance to capture them. Having a professional with back up equipment, insurance and attention to detail when in counts is vitally important.
Hiring a professional is more than just about having someone around you with a fancy camera. A professional will meet you before your wedding, putting you at ease and letting you know what to expect and delivering the quality you expect.
Q. How should I decide on which photographer to choose from?
Once you have found a Dundee and Arbroath photographer who’s photos you like and feel would be a ideal for your Wedding, there are two things I would consider checking:
Personality:
Your photographer will be the one supplier who will be with you for your entire wedding day, from bridal preparation all the way through to your first dance and sometimes even later. The last thing you want is to book a photographer who’s personality clashes with yours. Before booking your photographer arrange to meet for a consultation and have a face to face.
Consistency:
The images you view on a photographer’s website are often examples of their very best work. It is important to check that your photographer is consistently providing this quality of work for their couples. Ask to see albums of a complete wedding. A wedding blog is an ideal viewing area for a much larger collection of photographs taken on the day.
Q. Where can we go for our Engagement shoot?
Almost anywhere. I like to shoot in different locations, but more importantly in a place that means something to you. I am also happy to suggest places if you’re happy to go with ideas we have for you.
Q. What do we do with the images from our Engagement shoot?
Many couples have a bespoke book made for guests to sign on the wedding day, or perhaps have a print framed for our signing boards. Others have used a framed print as a gift for parents or had a canvas wrap for their own home.
Q. What is your photographic style?
Throughout most of your wedding day my style of photography is documentary or photojournalistic. I document your day like a film producer, combining establishing shots then work tighter for portraiture then tighter in again of close ups and all the details such as rings, flowers and table decorations. I also combine this with creative portraiture of the bride and groom in a romantic setting within the venue grounds. Resulting in stunning signature images, which are cemented in time for forever.
My services continue long after the wedding day is over as the album and print process continues. As your wedding photographer, he really hopes to remain your photographer for life.
Q. Do you take traditional group photographs?
I will work with you ahead of your wedding day to build a list of the group formals you want and then on the day, apply succinct but clear direction that ensures we can move through them quickly, allowing everyone to get back to the celebrations. On average I usually take 6-8 group photos per wedding.
Here is a suggested Family Groups list:
The Bride and Groom PLUS
The Brides Parents
The Grooms Parents
The Brides Parents and the Grooms Parents
The Brides Parents, Sisters, Brothers and Grandparents
The Grooms Parents, Sisters, Brothers and Grandparents
The Bridesmaids and flower girls
The best man, ushers and Groomsmen
The bridesmaids and ushers etc
All the guests - ( Weather dependant and from an ideal vantage point at venue)
Q. Can I make my own prints?
Yes you can go to a high street lab of your own choice or even an on line print service once supplied with the digital files. However there is a huge difference between prints you make your self from a cheaper lab than those from the Pro lab. The choice is completely up to you.
Q. What happens if you are ill?
What happens if your vicar is ill, or your best man? From time to time in life illness affects all of us and it is my best endeavour to find you a replacement photographer should the worst happen. Derek is a member of a professional body of photographers and a local net-work, which provides opportunities to find emergency cover at short notice.
Q. Am I insured?
Yes, absolutely! As a professional photographer, Derek is required to have both Public Liability and Professional Indemnity Insurance.
Q. What do you do about eating throughout the day?
As you can probably image, being active on your feet all day burns up a lot of energy, so food is necessary that I don’t keel over as the evening approaches. I’ve sampled a range of feeding methods during weddings, from munching on tracker bars to being invited to join the head table for the main course. I’ve found that enjoying a hot meal with your guests has proven the most effective method for recharging my batteries. It also means I’m ready with my camera incase anything spontaneous happens during the meal.
Q. How many photographs do you take?
The definitive number of photographs taken on your day varies. The exact number of photographs depends on a number of factors, such as the number of locations used over the course of the day and how much time is made in your schedule for photography between the ceremony and the wedding reception. As a rule of thumb, I will often shoot between 400 and 500 images.
Q. How many photographs will be presented in our album?
Each album is individual and totally unique. If you opt to have an album made, they start with 15 spreads (30 pages), which can be designed to hold around 70 images in total. A 40 page album can be designed to hold 80 images. Additional spreads can be purchased if required. It is your decision, which photographs appear in your album, however I shoot with an album layout and design in mind throughout the day. Every single image from your wedding is fully assessed by me and subsequently graded for colour and tone and then enhanced if required.
Q. Will we receive high resolution images?
All of my wedding packages come complete with all the images on an USB flash drive in a high-quality digital format at full resolution. You may make as many prints from the USB and make as many copies of the photographs as you like. It’s also useful to know that you’re free to do whatever you want with the photos and will be able to email these images to your guests, friends and family.
Q. When do we view our wedding photographs?
I will send you the USB flash drive with file names to enable you to make your choice for the album between 2-3 weeks. Once I have received your selection of favourites, I will design a layout for your album and email you a proof copy. When I have received sign off on the composition and layout from you, over the course of 5-6 weeks your album will be hand made to your specifications and carefully assembled before being delivered to yourselves.
Q.How does my album design process work?
I can either set the album layout and design for you, or alternatively you can select the images that you would like to be included. I carefully design the layout of the images to tell the story of your day.
Q. Who owns the copyright of the photographs?
Under UK law, specifically the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, it is the photographer who will own copyright on any photos he/she has taken. However that doesn’t mean that I will use the images without your consent. Client confidentiality is absolutely crucial to my business and should you wish to keep your wedding photographs private and have a non-disclosure agreement in place, then naturally we will be more than happy to accommodate.
Q.How far will you travel to photograph a wedding?
I cover weddings in the North East of Scotland – Based in Angus, covering Dundee, Perth, Fife and Aberdeenshire and don't charge travel expenses for weddings within a 40 mile radius.
Q. How do we make a booking?
I would love to hear about your plans and if you would like me to be your wedding photographer then please contact me to check my availability for your wedding date. Dates at popular times of the year will get booked up more than a year in advance.
I will make arrangements with you for a no obligation consultation where we can go into detail with your wedding plans and view a number of wedding albums. An email will be sent to you for you to complete a booking form. A retainer of £300 is required to secure your date and the completed booking form along with a signed copy of the contract agreement is required.
Please use the contact form to make general enquires regarding my availability
