Wilson Photography

     ....we don't take pictures, we capture memories!!!!

I've recently returned from Iraq and we are now open again for business!   Also, we have teamed up with Dayna Hasil in Pentwater, MI - www.daynalovesphotography.blogspot.com.  This move not only expands our area of service but, more importantly, will provide our clients with increased coverage of their event and continued high standards of quality.  We are looking forward to serving you!

        Home    About us    Weddings     Families/Children    Seniors     Live Performances    Pricing     FAQs      
 

What is your approach to photographing weddings and special events?        As your photographer, it is not my job to come in and “take over” your wedding. I only wish to make the day go more smoothly for all involved.  You have dreamed of this day all of your life, and I care about making it as wonderful as you have always imagined. We’ve heard many stories about the photographer who ruined the wedding because he was yelling at relatives or had a manner unbecoming of a professional. You will never hear that about me. I try to stay out of your way as much as I can. I prefer to be unobtrusive, taking a lot of my reception photos inconspicuously.  In doing so I can catch people being themselves.

What are your packages?        Please see our Weddings page for a complete list and description of our wedding packages. We also have packages for family/children portraiture listed on our Pricing page.  Our “a la carte price list” for enlargements is listed in this section as well.  Our prices are very competitive and, in many cases, are below that of our competition. Also, it should be noted that we periodically run specials on certain-sized enlargements, so feel free to check back occasionally to see specials we may be running.

Can we keep the negatives?        Yes and no.  We are now 100% digital which means there are no film negatives.  That’s the no part of the answer.  The yes part, however, is that we do offer hi-res copies of all the digital files on CD as part of a wedding package. While some photographers say they will give you the negatives, check the fine print! Typically, they allow you to purchase the negatives for several hundred dollars and, typically, only after a year or two after the wedding.  The reason they do this is that this forces you to purchase additional enlargements (ie. for grandma and grandpa, etc.) through them, thus providing greater profits.  And one to two years effectively exhausts the normal sales period for selling enlargements.  Since most couples place their enlargement orders within two months of the wedding, these photographers, in most cases, sell you all of the enlargements at their normal markup, and then, after a year, you can buy the negatives at a significant profit for that photographer. At Wilson Photography, we have specifically designed our Platinum package for those who want the control of owning their own negatives (in this case, digital files).  In some cases, the concern may be that the newlyweds may be relocating out of the area soon after the wedding.  In others, it’s simply a matter of economics.  With hi-res copies of the files and my letter granting you full release, you are free to have as many enlargements made as you want and pay only the true cost of the enlargement, thus avoiding our markup.  I can even recommend high quality, professional labs for you to have your enlargements made.  Additionally, digital files can easily be e-mailed to friends and family who weren’t able to attend the wedding.

How long does it take after the wedding until we see our previews/proofs?        This is a “big deal” to many brides. One of the most prolific horror stories we hear is about the photographer (usually “my sister’s” or “my best friend’s” photographer) who photographed a wedding six months ago and they still have not seen their photographs yet! I personally have a friend who waited almost 2 years to see her proofs!  And then when she did finally get them, she was very disappointed in the quality.  If it hadn’t been for the pictures that I took at her wedding (this was prior to me starting my business), she wouldn’t have had any good pictures of her wedding. This is completely unacceptable.  We promise the proofs no later than  30 days.  The reason we need 30 days is that we need time to scan all the negatives into digital files and then we color balance each picture individually. If we shoot the entire event with digital, your proofs should be available within 2 weeks. The lone exception is during busy holiday times when the lab routinely gets backed up.  For your enlargement orders, if there’s no album ordered, you’ll receive your order within 1 week.

What are “previews” and “proofs”?        Previews and proofs are the same thing. They are small color-corrected prints or digital files, which are normally utilized to make selections for enlargements. Our standard is digital proofing.  However, printed proofs are available.  All of the printed previews/proofs are 5x5 or 4x6 inches in size and are suitable for use in your wedding album or to utilize in thank-you notes. For those of you who have a basic working knowledge of photography, please don’t get confused with a “proof sheet” or “contact sheet”.  

How do you dress for a wedding or special event?        I always dress appropriately. Normally, I will wear a cotton dress shirt with a fashionable silk tie, dress pants and shoes. I can wear a full suit (upon request), but because of the restricting nature of suit jackets, I prefer to go without.

Have you ever missed an event or showed up late?        No.  I have never missed a wedding or other special event or even showed up late. The only circumstance which I could see arriving late would be something beyond my control such as a traffic accident, if I became seriously ill or injured, had a serious family emergency, or maybe a hurricane – however unlikely that would be in Michigan!.  I generally arrive 2 hours before the wedding/event in order to setup, do one last check on my gear, and take one last walk around the facilities for possible photo shots.  Although I do this well in advance, I like to do it one last time on the day of the event just to make sure.

Do you bring an assistant?        Typically, yes – my wife, Allene, will attend and assist me throughout the day – at no cost to you.  She will dress appropriately and will maintain the same level of courtesy and decorum that you’d expect from me.  She will assist in posing, setting up, moving gear as well as coordination between you and me.  And she will also be taking candid/photojournalistic pictures, primarily during the reception.  I will be taking all of the formal photos.

What if your camera breaks?        I carry at least three cameras at any given event. I’ve never had a camera or flash fail at an event but it would be foolish not to be prepared for such an occasion.  With backups, it’s usually a simple matter to switch to another camera and keep working. Cameras are, after all, mechanical/electronic devices and they do break or malfunction occasionally. It would be disingenuous to suggest otherwise. For this reason, it is imperative to have backups for almost every piece of equipment I carry as well as spare batteries, plenty of film, etc.

Do you do black-and-white photography?        You bet! Probably the most popular thing that I do at weddings is the photojournalistic or candid photos of the wedding day that I take in black-and-white. We receive many compliments on these images. When a couple asks for black-and-white photos to be taken, they may be asking for a portrait, the photojournalistic-type images or both. To be honest, all photos that we take are in color but we can easily convert them to black and white prior to printing.  We also offer sepia-toned prints.  We can discuss your specific needs during our consultations and if you have preferences on what is to be done in black-and-white, I’m always happy to accommodate.

Do you photograph weddings in the "photojournalistic style" only?        No.  We typically try to blend both traditional and photojournalistic styles.  But, as always, our goal is to accommodate your wishes. 

Do you take digital photographs or just shoot on film?        As of May 2005 we are photographing weddings 100% digitally.  Digital photography has come a long way and digital cameras are now capable of capturing images which actually exceed film quality. Although the transition from "all film" capture affects the way we do our job a bit, it will actually improve the image quality in some cases, and quality is our number one concern. You can still receive proof prints from the digital images, just like from film.  If you have any concern about the quality whatsoever, we have numerous samples that will put your mind at ease. Because of the advances in digital camera technology over the last three years, the risk of losing images with digital is less likely than it is that the lab mess up a roll of film...and that very rarely happens. It is less likely there would be any problem with digital files because the original digital files never leave our studio. That is a redundant factor which does not exist with film. There are no processing errors, no scratched or torn negatives. Insofar as any concern over on-site failure, we have film backup available if there was ever a problem with digital capture, so there should be no concern. For anyone who is deadset against digital, if we can't convince you, we will be happy to shoot your entire wedding on film. Some people are "purists" and, as a photographer, I can certainly understand that. We will do whatever it takes to see to it that your desires for the day are accommodated.

We might want to go to a park or the beach for extra photos after the ceremony. In this case, what are your charges for extra locations?        None.  Charging for extra locations is a “photographer’s ploy” to extract extra money from you and you will not find these type of charges with Wilson Photography. The fact is, you are already paying me to work for you on your wedding day. Why should you have to pay me more to drive down the street? I’m already being paid for my time, so I am yours until your wedding is over. I am happy to go anywhere you want to go in order to get the photographs you want.

How often should we expect to meet with you?        Although some couples will ask to meet at the wedding location prior to the wedding, it is not a necessity from the standpoint of my doing the best job for you.  Unless I am at the wedding location at the exact time of day with the exact same type of weather and lighting conditions as there will be on the wedding day, it really doesn’t help me from a standpoint of planning. Light is the “big deal” to most photographers and I am no different. I look at the surroundings, the light and the weather at the time we are to take the photographs on the wedding day and that is the most important thing I have to consider for my job. What we will need to do is to have a short telephone consultation prior to the wedding day. After you have finished all of the preparations and have the details of the wedding and reception finalized, that is the time to give me a call. I have a checklist that I will cover with you to record your preferences.  I will take all of your “special requests” for formal photographs, as well as getting all the names of everyone involved from parents to wedding party as well as any ceremony details I should have. That way, when I arrive, I will have a detailed printout of your wedding day information and I’ll know what is important to you from a standpoint of the photographic coverage. I will be prepared to go to work and you will not have to worry about reminding me about things you want photographed. I will always do my best to get every single image you request.

How long will you be at our wedding and what are your charges for overtime?         This is a good question. The fact is, at Wilson Photography we are extremely generous with our time when it comes to photographic coverage.  Most photographers base their package pricing on time limits rather than guaranteed coverage of your wedding. TIME LIMITS ONLY BENEFIT THE PHOTOGRAPHER and are not in your best interest. In the past, many couples have booked a 4-5 hour package in order to save a couple hundred dollars only to find out that at the end of that time, they still haven’t cut the cake, thrown the bouquet and garter or done any number of events at the reception. The unscrupulous photographer knows that if you book a four-hour package, chances are good (if not certain) that they will end up getting $150-$250 an hour overtime from you. From my job standpoint, the last thing I want to be discussing with you at your wedding is money. I want you to enjoy your day and not be thinking about things like that. I want you to get everything you want in the way of photographic coverage. That is why we guarantee coverage from the ceremony through the cutting of the cake, the tossing of the bouquet, and the couple’s first dance as husband and wife.  Most weddings run about 5-6 hours, but sometimes it stretches out to 7-8 hours and I don’t think you should have to pay extra if there is a delay or problem that causes the wedding to go a little longer. Let’s face it, people get flat tires, curling irons break and ceremonies start late and I don’t think that normal wedding delays should cost you an arm and a leg in overtime from opportunistic vendors.  We are yours until the wedding is over.  Our only limitation is that we turn into pumpkins at midnight!  So that’s when our coverage will end. 

Do you prefer to do formal photographs before or after the wedding?        Unlike most photographers, who prefer to do all the photographs beforehand (because their time starts sooner and they can leave sooner), I do not have a personal preference on when the formal photographs are taken. I will tell you that it has been my experience that what works best for most couples is to take them after the wedding. In the scenario where you might want to do just the bride w/bridesmaids or the groom w/groomsmen ahead of time, I have found that usually the bride and bridesmaids do not finish getting ready soon enough to accomplish this. It usually is such a rush to try to get out to the ceremony location and do these few photos before guests start arriving, that it just adds unnecessary stress to the day. Often the bride and groom do not wish to see each other prior to the ceremony, but want to minimize the time between the end of the ceremony and the reception. I understand that, but is it really advisable to do the separate photos ahead of time? The truth is that it only takes 15-20 minutes to take those wedding party photos and unless the flowers are there on time, the gazebo/arch is set up on time, all the attendants arrive on time and the aisle runner is not set up, these photos may not actually happen as planned. Personally, I would rather allow the bride time to relax, compose herself, keep everyone in air conditioning and then walk out to the ceremony at the last minute rather than having everyone rush to take five minutes worth of pictures. On the other hand, in the case where it is really “time critical” and everyone and everything is there on time, we can make this happen. Better yet, if the bride and groom have no problem seeing each other prior to the wedding, then it is a great idea to do all the formal photos ahead of time. You look your best, no guests are there yet and we can get through all of the formals as long as everyone is there on time. In this scenario, I like to start taking photos two hours prior to the ceremony start time. This gives us about an hour to do all of the photos and even if it runs a little long or we start late, there is still a buffer of about a half-hour between the time we finish taking photos and when the first guests should start to arrive. The last thing we want is for your guests to be arriving while you are standing there taking pictures or I am tearing down equipment in the aisle. We want to keep the impact of the first time they see you as the processional plays and we want the church or wedding location to be pristine when guests arrive to be seated. The best alternative, in my opinion, is taking all the formal photos after the ceremony. After the ceremony, everyone takes a deep breath because they realize the most stressful part of the day is over. The couple is married, nobody fainted or tripped going down the aisle and everyone can now relax. This comes through in the pictures, too. You can sometimes see the difference between “before” and “after” pictures just by the expression on the bride’s face. It’s true! 

Can we take formal photographs before AND after the ceremony?        This is an option (Note: See the previous question and answer) but I normally do not recommend it. Sometimes a couple will want to go to another location to take some formal shots with or without the bridal party or they may want to have the bride and groom photographed separately before the wedding and then do the rest of the photos that involves both of them afterward. I can do this, but I find it is only advisable if everyone is prompt and the bride really has her act together insofar as getting ready ahead of time. It usually only cuts about 5-10 minutes off the time for formals afterwards, so although I can do it, unless there is another compelling reason (like sunset or something to do with scheduling), I find that in most cases it is easier on everyone if the formals are all done after the ceremony.

About how long does it take to do all of the posed formal shots?        For most weddings, it takes about 45-60 minutes total. The only thing that makes it run longer is when the couple has a lot of special request shots and extra family groupings. Periodically I’ll get a request for a big group shot of all the guests or for a shot of the bridal party, families, extended families together as a group. While I am happy to accommodate, it must be mentioned that one of these large group shots can take as long as 10-15 minutes to set up properly. That's a long time for a big group to stand in one place. Under normal circumstances, it is unusual to go beyond an hour for formal photos. Generally speaking, the guests are okay by themselves for an hour after the ceremony. Much beyond that, they start getting hungry and/or start to wonder where the bridal party is. I always try to work fast without compromising the images because I know you don't want to spend all day taking posed photographs. Some photographers turn your wedding into a nonstop photo session. I’m not one of those and it is important to me that you have plenty of time to be with your family and guests. 

Do you let other people and family take pictures while you are taking pictures?        Absolutely.  Afterall, that’s how I started getting into wedding photography myself.  I think it is amazing that many photographers have a problem with other people taking snapshots while they are taking their pictures. I understand the paranoia which goes roughly as follows: If Aunt Betsy takes the same picture as the photographer, why should you buy the photograph from the photographer when Aunt Betsy will give you her picture for free? Right? WRONG! First of all, unless Aunt Betsy is using professional film and equipment, the quality is going to be inferior to the photograph that the professional photographer is taking. Second, I think it is showing very poor taste to tell any friend or family member that they are not allowed to take a picture of their loved-one simply because the photographer wants to make an extra dollar. How tacky…but I have seen it happen at weddings, so I know it goes on. The important thing is it won’t happen at a wedding we are working. Unless someone is actually physically in the way or obstructing me from doing my job, I won’t be saying a word to them. It’s supposed to be a happy occasion and I want to keep it that way!

What are your feelings about working with a videographer?        Most videographers willingly subordinate their role to the photographer. I’m not sure that is right, but that is just the way it is. They try to stay out of our way as much as possible, and since I know they have a job to do, I also try to stay out of their way. We coordinate our efforts at the wedding in order to produce a good product for you. Most videographers I’ve work with are very professional and easygoing folks who I enjoyed working with very much.

What types of film do you use and where do you have your film processed and printed?        When I use film, I use the Kodak Portra family of professional negative film.  As far as processing is concerned, I use various professional labs (not 1 hour mini-labs) at different times for different needs.  But my primary lab for color processing of negative film is Lakewood Photo in Holland.  They are unsurpassed and have become the lab of choice for most film-shooting wedding/portrait photographers in the area. 

We are planning an outdoor wedding and were wondering when is the best time of day to take our pictures?        That’s a tough one and depends on a number of factors. There are several things to take into consideration. First, the direction the photographer will be facing during the ceremony. If I am facing directly west (towards the setting sun) for a sunset wedding, this is the worst possible scenario from my job standpoint and it's hard on the guests who would be staring into the setting sun. If possible, plan your wedding so that the sunset is not directly behind you during the ceremony. I can work around it, but it would make it easier if I could have it setup so that the warm light from the setting sun is more to my back. Second, for formal photos it is very time-critical once the sun goes down. If I can start your formal photos just before the sun begins to set, that is best. If you are getting married earlier in the day, just bear in mind that although I can take photos with the sun straight overhead, you are going to get mighty warm in your dress/tuxedo at this time of day. The best time for wedding photography and weddings in general, in my opinion, is in the late afternoon about two hours before sunset. If you cannot plan the wedding to that timetable, don’t worry too much…we will still get nice pictures, but the environmental portraits have to stop when the sun goes down. I can do a lot to control light, but what makes many of the sunset photos you see so special is the quality of the light. The time from about 15 minutes before the sun goes down to about 15 minutes after the sun goes down is generally the best time for environmental portraiture of the bride and groom.

How much is the deposit and how do we make payments?        We try to make this really easy on you since we know you have a lot of things to pay for. The booking deposit is $600 and the balance may be paid in any increment at any time as long as the balance is paid no later than two weeks prior to the wedding date. For those who are anxious to secure your date, but cannot decide on a specific package, please know that you may upgrade to larger package any time up to the day before the wedding. The important thing is to retain our services and secure your date as soon as possible!!

When can we meet with you to discuss our wedding plans?        Please feel free to call us at 269-639-8001 to schedule a consultation. We’ll gladly meet with you in the comfort of your own home anytime from 6 p.m. to about 10 p.m. We look forward to meeting you soon!

Copyright © 2009 Wilson Photography