Don’t be shy, brides…Question away!

Don’t be shy, brides…Question away!

We know getting married can be overwhelming, so the last thing we want is for brides to be uncertain about anything. That’s why we encourage you to have an “investigating mindset” and fire all your questions at us. We love to help and will happily field any question you might have. Go for it, Sherlock!

There are thousands of possible questions, and no question is silly or inappropriate. We offer more than just keepsakes for life…we offer peace of mind so that you can enjoy the entire experience, not just the gorgeous photos and videos we will deliver as a final product.

So without further adieu, we decided to get the ball rolling with some of the most common questions that brides have asked over the years. Our hope is that you won’t hesitate to ask other questions as well. Trust us…we have the answers!

WHAT FORMAT DO YOU DELIVER THE PHOTOS IN?

We deliver high-quality JPG’s that can be used for almost all printing options, even bigger sizes. We only deliver digital photos; however, we also offer very exclusive printing options as possible add-ons, such as canvas prints, metal prints, and albums.

WHAT DELIVERY METHOD DO YOU USE?

We deliver all photos via a Dropbox link. Dropbox is stable, reliable, and secure. With the personalized link, you can download the photos onto your computer and share with your friends and family without having to put them in public on social media. The Dropbox link is also the platform for possible corrections. By indicating the photo file names/numbers, you can let us know any feedback, concerns, or corrections you might have.

DO THE VIDEO PACKAGES ALSO COME WITH ALL RAW FOOTAGE?

We never give out the actual raw footage; however, we have a solution that will have the same end result, making sure you have all the video footage we have shot. This is called a press-edit, which would come in addition to the video (highlight reel) you already received. A press-edit is basically all usable footage in a very long playable file, meaning you will receive all footage shot, including the shots that are not really good/usable or simply didn’t made the edited video. Preparing this press-edit will come at an additional cost, however, since it is significantly more work. Please note that this press-edit is only a collection of short shots pasted in a sequence for you to archive; it has no edited storytelling. All shots are short, dynamic, and artistic, since we don’t shoot as reporters but more as filmmakers.

HOW BIG IS THE PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEOGRAPHY CREW DURING MY WEDDING?

This varies based on the package you book. All photography is two crew members (one photographer + one assistant), unless you book a second photographer, making the total count three. In the case of videography, the crew is two (videographer #1 and videographer #2). So at a maximum, the crew during your wedding could run up to seven persons total (considering the fact that we have two different video crews that can capture two different wedding videos/styles); however, a regular combo package (photo and video) will give you four crew members covering your big day!

IS ONE PHOTOGRAPHER ENOUGH?

In order to capture all the essentials, one photographer is enough; however, one photographer can only be in one place at a time. For example, while the photographer is taking photos of the two of you during sunset, we miss shots of your guests mingling during the cocktail hour. The same applies during the first dance: if the photographer is taking the couple’s first dance photos, we miss capturing the jaw-dropping reactions of the guests.

Therefore, we recommend hiring a second photographer, especially for the ceremony itself, for greater
coverage. Our photographers work as a team, perfectly anticipating each other’s movements so as not to get in each other’s shots. Booking a second photographer will also result in extra photos delivered. You can book a second photographer for two or more consecutive hours.

WHY DO WE RECOMMEND DOING THE CAKE CUTTING RIGHT AFTER THE FIRST DANCE?

Obviously we adjust to any given situation, so for us, whenever you choose to do the cake cutting is fine; however, please find below a few reasons why we recommend doing the cake cutting right after first dance.

• Everybody is already around the dance floor.
• The cake is still fresh and looks sharp for the photos.
• After cutting one piece of the cake for the sake of the photographs, the hotel staff will bring the cake back to the kitchen where they will slice it up for you to be served as your dessert. You really don’t want to waste your precious time cutting the cake for all your guests; focusing on cutting just that first piece is also more fun!

DO YOU REALLY NEED 1.5 (ONLY PHOTO) TO 2 HOURS (COMBO OF PHOTO AND VIDEO) TO SHOOT THE PREPARATIONS IN THE ROOMS?

This shooting time takes into account that we need to leave the bride’s room 20 minutes before the ceremony in order to set up at the ceremony site, and that we need to relocate from room to room (in between groom and bride). It feels long, but in order to guarantee quality, this amount of time also gives us wiggle room and the ability to craft our shots with precision.

HOW MANY PHOTOS WILL WE DELIVERED PER HOUR OF SHOOTING?

On average, 50-80 photos will be delivered per hour booked.  So for example, three hours of shooting results in 150-240 delivered photos and five hours results in 150-400 delivered photos. This all depends on a lot of factors.

DO YOU DELIVER ALL PHOTOS TAKEN?

We do a so-called photographer’s selection, which means that we edit everything that we consider usable in regards to lighting, focus, facial expression, and framing, and of course we filter out all duplicates. However, in case you feel that anything is missing or you wish to see more of a certain part of the day, we will go back to find more (and we open the kimono whenever needed, since transparency is our credo).

HOW ARE THE HOURS USED WITHIN EACH PACKAGE?

The hours within our packages need to be scheduled in a consecutive way. We always help our couples to establish the most efficient timelines possible, ensuring bang for your buck.

WHAT PACKAGE DO COUPLES USUALLY BOOK?

Our best sellers are the three-hour and five-hour packages (this applies for both photography as well as videography).

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR THE PHOTOS/VIDEO TO BE DELIVERED?

The edited photos will be delivered (via a Dropbox link into your mailbox) within three weeks after the wedding date. The video will be delivered within five weeks after your wedding date via a private/unlisted YouTube link. Once the content is approved, final delivery will take place via Dropbox again for you to download everything onto your computer.

WHAT IF I LOSE MY PHOTOS/VIDEO AFTER FINAL DELIVERY?

No worries, we got you covered. We keep a copy of your files on our server.   However, we are not a storage facilitator or cloud storage company, so although we do this, we cannot be held responsible. This is a nonlegal binding service we offer, so ultimately you are responsible for correct storage of your files.

HOW MANY MEETINGS DO WE GET WITH THE CREW?

As many as needed! We know that “with great power comes great responsibility.” We realize that your wedding photos are a visualization of the memories you will have of one of the most beautiful days of your life, so we understand how important our job is, and we take it very seriously. As we will be a vital part of your big day, we want to make sure we make your experience as smooth and pleasant as possible. In general, most couples, on average, have two meetings (aside from some emails back and forth). One meeting is during the intake phase in order to determine what package works best and to draft a timeline, and the last meeting is on island in person, where we go over all details one more time, one-on-one with your wedding photographer or videographer.

HOW CAN I MAKE MY PREFERENCES CLEAR AND COMMUNICATE THE STYLE I LIKE?

First we will investigate this in great detail during the intake by asking the right questions in order to get to know each other. However, for us as visual people, a picture tells not 1,000 but 10,000 words. Therefore, we always ask our brides to send us screenshots, Pinterest boards, and photos of everything they see online that inspires them. We on our end put all images in your project file, and we create a so-called moodboard that we use in order to determine the style, feel, vibe, and personality that should characterize your photo and/or video session. We also use the moodboard as a style guide during your pre-meeting on the island with the crew.

We hope this tip-of-the-iceberg Q&A overview will inspire you to do good research and to build the type of relationship with us that is going to make all the difference in guaranteeing a great experience and amazing end results.

We are here to help and we can’t wait!