FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

What is your approach to photographing a wedding?

First of all, we are in this business because we absolutely love it. We serve our clients with all we've got because we absolutely love them too. We want to give you more than boring and safe images of the main events of your day. We want to capture your connection, the in-between moments, and quite honestly, the heart and soul of your love story. Sure, we capture the main events too, but we want you to be able to see all the details you planned for months (or years) in advance, and all the moments you might have missed while you were looking gorgeous in the arms of your true love! We approach weddings with a story-teller's eye, not as individual, random, unconnected photos. We're easy-going, quick on our feet, comfortable, normal folks. The last thing we want to do is hijack your wedding for our every artistic whim, but we will communicate with you throughout the day to ensure that you have both a terrific experience on your wedding day, as well as terrific images to prove it.

About how many photos do you take at a wedding?

This varies widely from one event to another, but we average about 80-100 images per hour of coverage. Sometimes much more, but rarely less. Our goal is to give you a final collection of images that are beautiful, creative, and true to the details you've incorporated into your day, so we don't bother ourselves with quantity as much as quality. That said, sometimes we're so inspired by the sophistication and style of a wedding, we just keep snapping and snapping and snapping...Where inspiration flows, we won't hold back!

What kind of equipment do you use?

We arrive to every wedding, armed with an assortment of professional grade Canon cameras, lenses, flashes, memory cards, batteries, and we are serious about having backups for nearly everything in our bag. The very last thing you need on your wedding day is an unprepared photographer, and we strive to be ready for any situation.

How soon after the wedding will I be able to see my photographs?

Our work doesn't stop at the end of your wedding day, and as soon as we return home from an event, we're busy downloading all your images from our memory cards, backing them up in multiple places for safe-keeping, and starting in on the editing process. We pay special attention to every image, making all the small adjustments that make the photos we create a vivid and true representation of your important moments. We spend many hours perfecting the final images that you'll see. Most couples see a sneak peek on our blog within a few days of the event, and the album layout and full gallery within a month of your event (often much sooner...we are always too excited to procrastinate!). We are committed to delivering our best work to every couple which does take some time, but we also want you to see your images very soon after your event and we work hard to make them available to you as soon as we can.

Is it true that you design album layouts from every wedding?

Yes, this is true. We approach weddings from a story-telling aspect, and whether or not you have an album included in the initial collection you book with us, we still want to tell your story. We pre-design a digital layout that will visually tell the story of your day from our unique perspective, just the way we would tell it. We do this partly because we believe albums are very important, and are the very best way to enjoy your images years down the road. You're welcome to read more about our albums and the album design process on the albums tab in the navigation bar. If an album is not in your collection, you're welcome to purchase it after-the-fact, or just enjoy the digital layout we share online.

Will you ever send an associate to photograph our wedding in your place?

Absolutely not! Some photography studios have a primary photographer that leads the studio and several associates who work under them, so when you book someone, it is possible that you might not actually meet the person who will shoot your wedding until the day arrives. There is certainly nothing wrong with that business model, but it is important to us to connect with a couple and offer them the assurance that we're the ones who will be showing up on their wedding day. We personally cover every wedding booked through our studio.

How do I secure my wedding date?

After we've had a chance to meet with you in-person to learn more about you and what you have planned for your wedding, all you need to do is sign the wedding photography agreement we provide for you (this can be done electronically in our exclusive Client Lounge area) and pay the non-refundable retainer of $1000 which will be applied to the balance owed on your custom collection. Without both the signed photography agreement and paid retainer, your date cannot be held. If you're sure you want to reserve our services, don't wait!

WHAT PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY ABOUT WORKING WITH US

"Emily Allen has an eye for detail, a flair for style and an attraction to authenticity that all integrate to create truly beautiful images. Her camera captures the moment and the heart behind the events and people she photographs, and she does a great job making those she works with feel relaxed and free to be themselves while also maintaining a high level of professionalism in the process. Whether it's a wedding day or a newborn baby, a reception hall or living room, Solace Arts will always be our first choice!"

"I consider it a great pleasure when I find professional photographers who have unique, creative and fresh ideas. Emily and Kolby of Solace Arts are that rare find. Not only is their service impeccable but their products are the highest quality I've seen on the market today. On top of that, you couldn't work with any nicer people. Thank you Emily and Kolby, for the high level of professionalism and photography you always provide."

"Emily and Kolby were wonderful photographers to work with! They displayed professional and caring attitudes by providing a good balance of assertiveness and patience. It was just what we needed on our wedding day. We are very pleased with the results and would call them again in a heartbeat."