Frequently Asked Questions

These are the most frequently asked questions that we get from almost
every couple shopping for wedding services.

What kind of camera equipment will be used? 
We use Canon professional cameras and we carry backups of everything just in case there is a malfunction. We are well aware of the fact that there are no re-shoots at weddings.

Who will actually be taking the photos at our wedding?
For Oregon weddings, Glen will be the primary photographer and there may be at least one other photographer/assistant to help out. For Destination weddings requiring plane travel, Glen is the sole photographer and there is no second photographer unless you specifically request it - see below.

If you choose one of our Associate packages for an Oregon wedding, then you will do your initial interview with the Associate that will shoot your wedding so that there are no suprises or substitutions.

Can I get a second photographer?
If you wish to have a second photographer present at your wedding, we can arrange that as well. The cost ranges from $500 - $1500 depending on the location. The benefit of having a second photographer is that you will have two sets of eyes and two different creative minds working together to capture your wedding from every possible angle.

Are there any "hidden" costs in your wedding packages? 
Absolutely not! Our photographic services are geared to provide more than enough time and people to complete the job with excellent results.

How many images do you take?
The number of images varies according to the wedding. Smaller weddings with very few events will get roughly 800-1000 while larger weddings with many events throughout the day, might range from 1200-2000 images per photographer. This is before editing. During the editing process, roughly 1/4 of the images will be deleted. If you hire a second photographer, the numbers will roughly double. Please note that we take pictures of everything that we see that we think might be interesting to you, however, we cannot guarantee any certain image or any specific numbers of images.

Are albums included in the price for your service?
We do not include albums as a standard part of our service. Instead we include the image disks which gives you many options such as creating your own album, having someone else make it, making digital slideshows instead of an album, or just printing the images at your local photo lab. If you decide that you want a really nice album, we will work with you and a graphic designer to create a truly stunning album layout. Find out more about albums here.

Can I make my own prints?
Yes, you will own "home use rights" to your images which means that you can do pretty much anything you want with them as long as it doesn't generate any income for yourself or the people you give them to.
Find out all the details by downloading the contract.

What do past brides have to say about your service and personality?
As a bride, one of your biggest concerns about hiring a distant photographer is how this person will behave at your wedding. Glen has a friendly and mellow, yet outgoing personality that quickly sets people at ease. If you want to hear what others have to say, check the Testimonials link above (under the General Information tab).

Are there different types of wedding photographers?
Yes, there are basically 3 types. The difference between them has nothing to do with how they run their business or how much they charge. The difference is in the type of images you end up with. A true photojournalist works from the beginning to end in an effort to tell the story of the wedding in images without posing or interefering in the event in any way. A traditional style photographer creates beautiful posed images of the couple, the family and the event. The images may be very beautiful but they will look like they were deliberately posed.
A third type of wedding photographer is a Portrait Journalist. This photographer will shoot in a photojournalist style for most of the event and then pull the couple aside for some creative portraits as well. These images will often rely heavily on influences from the fashion and fine art world - as such, they might be very different from the Traditional posed wedding portraits.

What are some common pitfalls that photographers and wedding couples make in working together?
Pitfalls are almost always misunderstood expectations. Photographers should take charge of this and make sure that the contract spells out every last detail of the agreement. This may sound anal to the uninitiated, but it saves everyone by avoiding misunderstandings that occur from lack of communication.

What celebrity weddings have you been most proud to shoot and why?
I don’t photograph celebrities, I photograph people. It helps that I don’t watch TV so celebrities are just normal people to me. I treat all of my clients as if they were stars. For their wedding day, everyone deserves to be the star - even if it’s only for a day. The only time that I feel the difference between a celebrity and any other person is when I have security restrictions placed on me. That actually makes celebrity weddings less fun for me and much more of a hassle than normal weddings where I can do pretty much anything I want.

Why is good photography so expensive? Is it true with photographers that "you get what you pay for?"
That saying is very true. There may be some exceptions of young photographers that are good but haven’t realized it enough to raise their prices yet, but for the most part, a really good wedding photographer will charge a minimum of $2500 just for the photography service. Rates will vary widely based on the location of course, so that a photographer who charges $2500 in a low income area could easily charge $3500 in a big city. As a photographer gains national experience and some name recognition, the photographic service will cost roughly $4500 and up. At this level, the photographer will be working on a worldwide basis with clients showing calling from all corners of the globe. These clients are much less concerned with price and much more concerned with finding a photographer that offers a unique perspective and a high level of skill.

What has been the most challenging part of wedding photography?
I find shooting the wedding to be very fun and it flows very naturally. I enjoy it so much that I never really feel challenged by a particular moment. The hard part for me is the traveling. Spending 24 hours in a cramped airplane seat and jogging through airports to catch the next flight is not fun. Actually, I can think of one challenging moment in particular. I was shooting a small winter wedding where the groom waited until about 5 minutes before the ceremony to tell me that the only light for the whole ceremony would be from a single candle. That was a shock. Fortunately, digital cameras are wonderful for shooting in low light.

What can wedding planners do to assist you in assuring quality photography?
Help to schedule the time for an evening photo shoot in the “golden hour” which is about 45 minutes before sundown and 20 minutes after. This is the best light of the day. And of course, making sure I have a place to eat dinner where I can see the couple - that always helps. Also, if the couple wants to shoot pictures during the last half of dinner (which is a great time because nobody will miss them) then make sure to help the photographers to get in line right behind the couple so that we will all be finished eating early and we can take off together while everyone else finishes dinner.