Why Should You Hire a Professional Wedding Photographer?
Please read an article: Why Should You Hire a Professional Wedding Photographer? 5 Tips.
What preparations would you make before our wedding date?
About a few weeks prior to the wedding we get together with the bride and groom to go over the finer details and finalize the agenda. I will ask you for details of the wedding party, how many bridesmaids and ushers will be present. We will also discuss family groups and portraits. OLsign visits the reception venue and checks out any other locations that might be used for outdoor photos. OLsign comes to the location of the rehearsal of the ceremony as far as possible (if OLsign doesn't have any event booked for the time). This pre-wedding consultation is a part of OLsign's service.
What is your style of wedding photography?
OLsign Photography is contemporary wedding photography with creative approach. OLsign's style combines photojournalistic and traditional photography with creative and fashion photography. Olsign prefers documentary approach during the ceremony and reception and creative and innovative approach on locations where we can create together your stylish and artistic wedding pictures and elegant portraits.
Do you have any kind of underlying philosophy, that guides the way you approach weddings?
My philosophy is to make clients happy, when they look though their wedding pictures.
Can you customize a photography package specially for us?
OLsign will be happy to create a package specially for you, if you don't find a suitable package. Every couple is different, so we could discuss a personalized set of included features, depending on your preferences.
Why do we have to sign a photography contract?
It lays down in writing our exact obligations, what you will and will not do, agreed prices etc. This should give you peace of mind, knowing you have a written document backing up everything we have discussed. It also gives you the confidence that you have a photographer booked and confirmed for your wedding day.
What is your privacy policy?
Please read Olsign's Privacy Policy.
Can we make a tentative booking?
OLsign can make a tentative booking for 48 hours but it will only be confirmed once the deposit has been paid and photography contract signed.
Do you watermark all images?
No. OLsign gives all images to clients without any watermarks. But OLsign watermarks images which we publish on the Internet.
Do you travel?
Yes, OLsign is available statewide and worldwide. OLsign loves to travel and explore new destinations. It makes OLsign's imagination work hard and be creative. But there will be a surcharge to cover some travel costs and accommodation. Contact us for details.
Do you do destination wedding photography?
Yes, we do! If you would like to hire us for your destination wedding please email us with as much information as possible so that we can put together a quote for you.
Any hidden costs?
No! There are no hidden costs to our rates. Additional cost only comes when you want to add more time, order additional prints, or you live in other state or country or you plan a destination wedding.
What should we know before booking the church?
Please contact the church or registry office to check what a photographer is allowed to do on the day. Most churches and registry offices have some sort of photography policy in place and these can vary wildly, from being very relaxed to extremely restrictive. Sometimes photography is prohibited in general, sometimes only using a flash, etc.
Do we get a high resolution DVD?
Yes! OLsign hands over a DVD with high resolution photos in JPEG format to every client. All of the images on the DVD have been carefully processed and are ready to print.
Who owns the copyright?
Basically, you own the copyright for personal use and OLsign Photography owns it for commercial use. If a third party (venue, caterer, etc) wants to use some of your images please ask them to contact us.
Do I have to pay the photographer if I make the copies myself at a photo lab?
No. OLsign gives a DVD with all photos ready to print. So you can reprint your photographs as many times as you want. Also you can ask OLsign Photography about more copies. If you print files somewhere else, please ask them about special colour correction. All photo labs use different printing presses and ICC profiles. Our files best suit only to our photo lab.
Why do you recommend asking you to print extra prints?
OLsign cooperates with a professional photo lab to produce real photographic prints from our digital files. The quality of professionally produced photographic prints today is phenomenal. Our files are prepared specially for our photo lab. The photo lab cooperates only with professional photographers, so we can't pass their details to you.
Do you shoot digital or film? Why?
Only digital. Modern wedding photography, incorporating photojournalist reportage, editorial and contemporary techniques, embraces the use of digital equipment. Digital cameras allow us to take almost unlimited amount of photographs. Digital images also give us more control over quality and allow us to offer you both colour and black and white along with other creative effects for every photo that we take. Also we have an opportunity to provide you collages/montages and enlargements from digital images. OLsign cooperates with a professional photo laboratory to produce real photographic prints from our digital files, The quality of professionally produced photographic prints today is phenomenal.
Do you photograph in colour or black and white?
OLsign photographs in colour and during processing photos we convert some images to black and white, sepia, cyanotype, etc.
How much time will you spend at my wedding?
That is really up to you. A photographer can start at a place of bride's final preparations and dressing for the wedding and keep taking pictures until you leave the reception. Or you may just want a few hours of photography, with a few formal photographs, some pictures of the ceremony and on a location. More time = more pictures. OLsign would typically like about two hours of shooting time on a location after the family pictures and before the reception, not including travel time. Please read an article: Tips for Perfect Wedding Photographs.
How many wedding photographs do you take?
A minimum of 120 per 3 hours. And it could be 500 per 12 hours. OLsign takes a lot of photographs during the day, takes many duplicates to get one perfect (because of blinking eyes, facial expressions and people not looking at the camera in case of group shots). Number of photographs also depends on what your day entails, your preferences, number of hours a photographer stay on a wedding, whether you require family group shots, the size of the bridal party, how many locations are used and etc.
What happens if it rains?
OLsign have never had rain actually spoil a wedding day and it has usually added to the character and fun of the celebrations. Even on the rainiest days we can grab umbrellas or shower and rubber boots and go outside — if you are up for it! We discuss all suitable locations that are situated under a roof and maybe visit one of them or can always shoot inside your venue. But we have to be ready to all weather conditions, discuss all possible ways and bring all necessary things to the wedding, just in case.
How do you accept payment?
OLsign accepts payments in cash, via direct deposit into our bank account, an electronic method via PayPal (which accepts credit cards, PayPal is available ONLY for deposit payments) and by check.
In case of a cancellation, do I get the deposit back?
The deposit is a non-refundable retainer to secure your date. OLsign has to reject other reservations to make the service available for your date, and therefore the deposit will not be refunded in case of a cancellation. However, if you must postpone your event date, we can apply the deposit towards the new contract, but only if OLsign is available for the required date.
What is your payment policy?
OLsign requests a $500 deposit for weddings and $150 for portraits. The deposit is due at time of signing a photography agreement. This is a non-refundable retainer. The retainer shall be applied towards the total cost of the service to be rendered. The remainder of the charges is payable in full, one week prior to the date of the wedding. Payment for overtime is payable in full during 2 weeks afterwords the wedding day and prior to a transfer of a DVD disc with photos to the client. There is a $200 late payment fee for any payments that are not postmarked or delivered to the photographer by the required date.
How soon will our photos be done?
DVD creation with unlimited number of high resolution photos takes approximately 4 weeks. Printed items, online gallery, video slideshow, wedding books and etc. will require additional time. Production and delivery time of these items specified above will vary, depending on the vendor(s) selected.
Coffer Table Wedding Books?
OLsign makes high quality coffee table photo books. Price starts from $540 per book. Every next copy of the same book will be cheaper. A book of 10-20 sides is ready for previewing approximately 2 weeks later. Extra page sides will require additional time. Production and delivery time will be approximately six weeks from final approval date.
Who chooses the pictures for printing?
OLsign does it. OLsign picks photos for printing during processing of photos, so it is easier to pick the best photos and you will get them faster. But if you are happy to do it – please do it and choose photos as long as you want. Also please remember that printed photos look absolutely different.
Who chooses the pictures for a coffee table book?
It's up to you. We offer two ways: After looking at all the images on DVD and some printed proofs, the bride and groom usually decide what goes in the book. You will probably let your parents decide what pictures go in their book. OLsign picks the photos which suit better for a selected style of page’s design (from OLsign’s portfolio). After that you can make any changes, like swapping some pictures or removing and adding new ones. But please remember that only 3 discussion (sets of changes) are included to the price. Changes in more than 3 discussion (times) will incur additional charge.
Do you keep copies of our photos?
We do keep all photographs in our archive just in case. We burn DVD discs, we try to choose the best discs for archiving the images. But discs are not eternal, so we always recommend to back up the images in turn too.
Do we need to provide a meal for you and your assistants at the wedding?
It is at your courtesy. If you do have a meal for us, that is great. If not, that is perfectly fine.
Do you have a unique selling point, or something that makes your business extra special?
I offer a wide range of packages with generous inclusions. These packages are suitable for couples with different requirements and also good for those who wants to get everything at once. And most of all it's great value compared to ordering these things separate. Also some of our packages are great for couples on a budget as they get all high resolution photographs + a few printed items. So they could order prints, portraits or books any time later.
In your opinion, what is it about your service that makes a wedding day extra special?
I do my best to provide professional photography service as I can. And the result of my work during the wedding day – photographs. The photographs will remind the couple of one of the happiest day in their life.
I record emotions of the day, the special moments between the bride and groom, as well as their families and bridal party. Also I capture beautiful little details and decor ideas that make your wedding day unique. The couple could treasure these moments forever.
