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Our style is often described by brides as timeless photography with an edge. We like to stylize the images while making sure that true emotion shines through. We like to keep things very simple, clean and sophisticated. We want to produce images that stand the test of time and fifty years from now your grandchildren will still think the pictures are cool. That's if cool is still a cool word fifty years from now.

We primarily do use Photoshop to do our enhancement and retouching. Every image that a client receives has been adjusted by hand to ensure the very best color and contrast along with our own unique style to the photograph.

In order to create vibrant colors, the first ingredient is photographing a scene with vibrant colors :) We then adjust each image from scratch, (also called a Raw File) and fine tune the contrast. We adjust the contrast as high as possible while maintaining detail in the darkest blacks and brightest whites. It is the full range of detail that will give a full range of color. Once a strong contrast with detail has been achieved we then may saturate the colors a bit more. We want to make sure to not abuse the tool and over saturate. Otherwise skin tones can turn orange and the scene can look to fake.

All of the wedding pictures are guaranteed within 21 business days.  When you receive your images they will be provide on a flash drive full resolution without a watermark. This will allow you to print anywhere without limitation. We will also post them online with a private password that you can share with your friends and family to view the images.

We think vintage is a super cool style choice, if done the right way. A lot of people request to have pictures done with a vintage treatment, but there's a real fine line between stylized artistic and gimmicky. When you involve a vintage outfit or vintage props, then it makes sense to give the image a faded, desaturated look. That's stylized artistic. Where it becomes gimmicky is when you have a normal scenario and you change the colors to give it a vintage look. There's going to be a clash there.

If going vintage, we prefer doing the vintage treatment for the engagement shoot instead of the wedding. A vintage engagement shoot can be a fun and unique way to bring out your personality as a couple. Then, we can keep your wedding images current, and your children will be able to see what you actually looked like in the year you got married.

Also, keep in mind that trends naturally change over time. Think of wedding images you may have seen from the '60's or '70's, and the fashions of the time.  Whatever you're doing now, it's going to look vintage to your children, even if you don't consciously go for a vintage look.

Aaron Feldman says: "My favorite part of a wedding to photograph is of the bride and groom right after the ceremony, when they're super happy and their adrenaline is flowing. I love capturing the real emotion while still stylizing the scene."

It is most important that all of the family that will be in the formal pictures, be present and on time.  A list is good for piece of mind and may help the bride and groom know exactly who they want to have in the photos. However on the wedding day a list can really slow the process down when reading each name one at a time.   To make sure that everyone is photographed and it is well covered we will start with everyone from the brides family. So we start with the entire group and take a few pictures. Then we will have any Aunts, Uncles and Cousins exit the photo. As we go into smaller groups the guest that have just been photographed can head into the cocktail hour. Then we will photograph the immediate family all together. Then individual photos of each of the immediate family members with the couple. Finally individual photos with any grandparents and children. We will repeat this process with the grooms side.

It is most important that we know if there are any images that you want outside of this process. For example: an individual picture of an Aunt and Cousin. Also knowing the family dynamic is important. Divorces,  Grandparents to make sure to get. Knowing if there is a certain group of friends to make sure to photograph together.

The more organized the family pictures go, the more time the couple's will have to get pictures taken of the bridal party and themselves. So the key is being on time or early and making sure the family is reminded of that.

It’s a tough one to answer, because there are so many amazing venues around town, and it depends on the style you're going for. To see a few of our favorite venues, I suggest clicking on the "links" section of our website. As well, if you have a particular venue you want to check out, please take a look at our smart search at truephotographyweddings.com. When you type in the name of a venue in the smart search section of our website,  you'll be able to see all of the recent weddings we have photographed at that location. If you have questions about photography for a particular venue, please feel free to contact us.

We demand happiness! When you hire us, we make sure that you are not only happy with your pictures, but that you are happy with their entire experience. Keep in mind that you're hiring a business as well as a photographer :) It's important that the business is run well, and that we're fair, on time, and keep all of our promises.

We like to say that there's no such thing as "that's just good enough." We aim for perfect. Everyone involved in your wedding genuinely cares about the results, from the retouchers, to the designers, to the studio manager, to the photographers. Everyone here is very friendly, fun, creative and professional, while also being very technically smart.

We understand the importance of your big day. We believe that everything should be exceptional, and we strive to make it that way!

When working with color, we try to achieve the largest range of color the image has to offer, from the yellows to the blues, and the reds to the greens. Our approach is to find the point where the image has the maximum amount of contrast, while still preserving the detail in the highlight (white) and in the shadows (black). It's this total range of contrast that gives the image its appeal, and what further separates a finished, professional image from a friend's snapshot.

We also listen to what the image tells us to do. As "zenlike" as that may sound, there has to be a reason for everything. Once you know the general rules, you can start breaking them, depending on the needs of the image. If an image has a vintage feel, we might fade back the colors a little bit. If the image is classic, we might turn it black and white. And if an image has a lot of pop, we'll work with it to make sure that the color is as vibrant as it can be.

When we create photographic effects such as a soft focus, we like most of the blurring to happen with the lens, in the moment. We typically don't like to add blurring effects later in Photoshop because we feel it can look a little cheesy.

The use of long lenses and a large aperture will create a natural blur of the background. During the wedding, we spend some of the time shooting with nice long lenses. This allows us to keep a little more distance while still getting a tightly cropped picture.

An organized hour should be enough. The key is to have a good plan. What we do at True Photography is make sure that our photographers know what to do before the wedding, and aren't just figuring where to shoot for the first time. We show up with a game plan. We know the type of lighting we want to achieve, and the feeling that we are trying to evoke. This allows us to be much more efficient within each hour, including the hour following the ceremony.

In order to make the post-ceremony photography as efficient as it can be, it takes cooperation. Everyone involved (i.e. your family) needs to know exactly where they need to be after the ceremony, and they should be ready to listen during those formal photos. If we have to chase after Uncle Joe for five minutes, that's five less minutes that you get for your own portraits. We suggest using this example to share with your family, so they understand the importance of being on time!

Your images will be provided digitally on a 16gig flash drive in full resolution, without a watermark. This will allow you to print anywhere without limitation. We will also post them online with a private password that you can share with your friends and family to view the images. Your pictures are guaranteed to be ready and up to the True Photography standards within 21 business days.

We do very little withholding of your overall wedding images. We know that even a photograph we may not like so much may have an importance to you. So, as photographers, we swallow our pride and still give you that photograph.

There are only a few instances that we will edit out an image from the finished collection. An example of pictures that we do edit out are when we have four first dance shots that look amazing, and in the fifth, your eye is half open and your tongue is sticking out. This is not going to be a picture that you will enjoy. In fact, it will actually be a picture that you wish you never saw. As a courtesy, we will edit that picture out. If there is any chance that you may enjoy the photo, we will provide it to you and will not remove it.

Also, when we are setting up our lighting, or preparing for the formal photos, we will shoot pictures of the ground or shoot pictures before we have directed family and friends. Again, those are not flattering images, and they are test shots, so we will edit those out. Other than that, we provide you with all the images, and every single selected image will be enhanced by hand.

We average 125 pictures per hour. So, on a six hour wedding, expect between 700 and 1000 images. Your wedding day is too big of a day to set limits on the number of images. So our rule of thumb is that if there is a picture to take, we take it and provide it to you.

We feel that the quality of images is better than quantity. If an image takes a little longer to get, but it will be worth the time, we put that extra minute into capturing something really special. As our personal goal, if we can capture 80 amazing images but tell the story of your wedding day, then we have done our job well. The rest of the photos are an added bonus :) With that said, you can still expect to have a lot of photographs!

We find six hours to be the average amount of time needed to have a photographer on site. You may need more and you may need less. Typically, we arrive at a wedding about an hour and a half  prior to the start time. We don't show up at the start  of the "getting ready" process because when you're just starting out (putting deodorant on and brushing your teeth) it's not essential that this be photographed. What is important is that we get those final touches and details, such as pictures of the dress and accessories, and the girls helping put the bride's gown on.

The same holds true for the end of the evening. Fifteen minutes of dancing with two photographers photographing non-stop will look like three hours of dancing. So it is most important to think about when your last traditional event will take place. For example: the cake cutting, final speech, or bouquet toss. Then, add twenty minutes to that and you should be in great shape.

We rarely stay until the end of the wedding. Usually, the end of the evening entails a few people leaving in the dark, with a few other people waving goodbye. Your guests are partied out, a little sweaty, and maybe have had a few drinks, so the end of evening photos are not nearly as amazing as you'd think they may be.

Of course, there are exceptions to all of this. For example, if there is a big gap of time between the ceremony and reception. Or if you are having a late-night activity, such as fireworks or sparklers, etc. In these cases, it's best to discuss your timeline with our photography team, so we can create the best solution for you.

We always suggest  hiring us for the minimum amount of time that you know you'll need. That way, you're paying for the amount of time that you know you'll need. You always have the option to add on more time at the event if needed. Twenty minutes before we are scheduled to wrap up, we will come up to you to make sure that everything was covered. If we feel that there is more to photograph, we will try to get it done within that time period, or let you know if more time is necessary.

An engagement shoot is the best way to really build a comfort with you're wedding photographer before the wedding day. You get to see how they direct you and how comfortable it feels. As well it is a great way for us to discover how the two of you interact as a couple and what type of images you connect with. To avoid spending all you're shooting time traveling, we suggest choosing a location that has lots of great environments to work with.   Sometimes it can be fun to think of something you like to do together as a couple and create more of a scene for your engagement shoot. Having fun within your environment can really let the viewers feel just really how in love with you are with each other. We have a lot of great locations if you are wanting some inspiration.

We suggest keeping the engagement shoot short and sweet. More time on an engagement doesn't mean it is a better shoot. Its better to shoot for less time and be more efficient. We find that after an hour and a half, couples tend to look tired, and you see that in the photographs. We use the time well, and can produce amazing results from a shoot that lasts an hour or so.

As for clothing attire, we suggest that you bring two changes of clothes. The first one can be a little more dressy, and the second can be a bit more casual. The key is to NOT match. Matching is not cool. Dress like you are going out on a date together. One suggested outfit is a dress and heels for the bride to be, and denim jeans and a nice collared shirt for the guy. The second outfit could be the bride wearing blue jeans, and the groom just changing his shirt to a favorite tee or something more comfortable.

All of your engagement  pictures are guaranteed ready within 2 weeks. If you find that you are using them for save the dates or need them sooner, we should be able to turn it around quicker for you. All of the engagement images are provided full resolution on a disk.

There are a few things you can do to help us prepare before the wedding. Let us know if there are certain people that you definitely want photographs with. As well, if there is a special shot or detail that you have been wanting for a long time, let us know of that.  We are an open book and want to make sure you are happy.

If you have ideas for the photography, please feel free to share them. But, try to keep them to a minimum to allow the photographer to push their own creative envelope.  On the day of the wedding, we feel that your job is to show up and look pretty, and trust that you've hired an amazing photography team :) Allowing your photographer to be creative will allow you to see images that you haven't seen before!

Yes, it's definitely valuable. Although it's not a requirement to have a coordinator or wedding planner, a good coordinator helps to keep everything organized. They help to create a timeline that makes sense, and allows you to get all the photos that are necessary for your wedding day. When things don't happened perfectly as planned, it's nice to have someone (other than your family members or yourself) who can take care of any issues.

Typically when a coordinator is involved,  weddings are stylized a little more, with colors, backdrops, and staging. This helps us produce even better pictures. For example, something as simple as having uplighting at the reception can really make a big difference in photography. It helps to create the mood.

Aaron Feldman says, "I feel the same way about any effect. If it makes sense, and complements the image, it can look great. If you're doing it just to do it, it can look gimmicky.

Texturizing everything on an image can be confusing. It will help to justify the effect if you choose specific areas of the picture to texture, and work with the visibility of those textures. I would definitely not suggest getting effect-y with too many images."

We use the top of the line cameras and lenses. Everything from a Nikon D3X and a Nikon D3S to Cannon 5D Mark IIs and up.  These cameras range from 13 to 24 megapixels, and produce raw files that are around 60 megabytes each.

Having the right equipment is very important. But the real quality of the images depends on the skill of the photographer. If the photographer can get amazing results time after time with an iPhone, then the process getting there doesnt really matter. (FYI, there is no way to get amazing results with an iPhone.)

Photoshop is very important in our process, but it's just a tool to help us enhance the photographs. You have to start with a solid image. Photoshop won't make a bad picture good, but if used properly, it will help to create a more finished and polished look.

Enhancement of a picture is basically the stylizing of the image. Choosing color or black and white, darkening the corner of the image, boosting the color of the image. Essentially creating the mood, look, and feel of the photo.

Retouching is adding or taking away something from the image that didn't exist. For example, taking a blemish away, thinning out arms or legs, adding a plant to cover up a trash can, moving a smile from one picture to another. Those are all things that take far more time.

We enhance every single image. We also take extra time to retouch the images that we know are most special to you, or are going in your wedding album.

Aaron Feldman says, "Not a fan. The reason being is that I did that 15 years ago. The truth is, in my opinion, it's played out. Been there, done that, experienced it. I understand why people like it but it becomes over-saturated. When things are too widely used, especially digital tricks, they become gimmicky. It's much more powerful to be creative with ideas and concepts within the photography, versus just doing effects to do them."

If there is a reason to do it, then it's cool. But it's very easy to abuse the fish eye lens. There has to be a reason. If you're doing it just to do it, that's where it can become gimmicky. We feel that a fish eye works well if you want to get an overall shot of the venue or all of the guests. It's also fun to use if you want to get a silly shot. For example, a dog wearing a tuxedo close up, or a goofy shot of the groomsmen. But it's not a flattering lens where a bride will say "Wow, I look amazing!"

We feel that using a fish eye lens more than two or three times in a wedding is pushing it. There are other ways to be creative.

Aaron Feldman says, "My grandfather always told me to choose one direction that you can keep close to your heart, and that will have impact on peoples' lives. For me, weddings are a very big defining moment. Not just for the couple, but for the entire group of family and friends that are there to witness the special day."

While we're photographing, we think through our intended composition. For the most part, the image is proportioned correctly at the time it's shot, and doesn't require cropping. However, when we're doing formal pictures, we'll leave a little extra room on the right and left side. This is because when you do an 8x10 picture, it will crop the image. We want to leave non-essential image areas on the sides so that the people don't get cropped out.

Each scenario and mood requires a different lighting setup. If a photographer uses too much flash, it will overpower the mood, and look more artificial. However, if a photographer does not light the shot properly, it can come out looking muddy or underexposed. It's this balance between natural light and the use of flash that ultimately defines a photographer's lighting style.

The natural light often sets the mood and feeling of the wedding. The more experienced the photographer, the more prepared they will be able to accomplish amazing light within a very small window of time. On your wedding day, experience is extremely important so that the photographer will be able to create nice light in any environment. It's easy to get a great photo when lighting conditions are ideal, but what defines a professional photographer is their ability to manipulate the light when it's not perfect. A true professional has no excuse;  they just get great shots no matter what.

Yes. We are very experienced in every lighting situation. It is easy to get a collection of nice pictures over time when photographed under the perfect light, with the perfect background, at the perfect moment. But what will define a professional is when conditions are less than perfect. It is very important as a professional photographer to capture amazing photographs under any condition. For example, we are trained to shoot when it is dark out, when it is raining, when daylight is fading, etc.

We think of any unexpected situation as an opportunity for a great photograph. If it is raining, then we can get a great image with an umbrella, or get creative with the reflections off of the wet ground. If it is dark out, then we can incorporate lighting quickly, and create a more moody photograph. We are always prepared for a variety of lighting conditions.

Because we are going through each image, and enhancing the images through the computer, it makes sense to photograph in the digital format. It gives us more flexibility to easily convert the images from black and white to color and vice versa. If we were to photograph in film, we would then need to scan every image in order to do the enhancement. The scanned image quality would go down one generation, and would not be as good.

We want the images to be the cleanest they can be, at highest resolution possible. Our cameras are geared to handle very low light situations, and can capture clear images even under challenging conditions.The images we shoot can be enlarged well over 24x36 while still looking perfectly sharp.

We have six equally qualified full time photographers in our company. These individuals have been carefully chosen for their creative minds, strong technical skills, and fun personalities.

It is very important to have a great connection with your photographer! We feel that the most powerful way to build that connection is during the engagement shoot. This is your chance to get acquainted with your photographer, so that by the time your wedding arrives, you are already comfortable :) The engagement shoot allows you to see how we work, how the photographer directs you, and what creative ideas they have. The photographer at your engagement shoot will be the same photographer you will have at your wedding day.

If the connection with your photographer is ever less than perfect, you are not stuck. The great part about having a group of talented photographers within our company is that we can always switch over to another of our shooters if need be. And in case any unforeseen emergency should take place with our photographers, we always have a backup photographer of equal caliber on standby. So we are prepared for all possibilities!

Our photographers shoot only one wedding per day, so that we can put all of our energy and focus into that event. Because we do not overbook ourselves, we can concentrate on producing the very best images. We will also be available if you should need more unexpected time on the wedding day.

We always have a backup photographer on standby in case of any unforeseen emergency. The photographer will be of equal caliber. To date, since the 12 years that True Photography Weddings has been in business, we have never missed a single wedding day.

We photograph with the top of the line Nikon and Canon digital cameras. Our lenses range from wide angle to telephoto. We photograph with the top level flash cards and always back up the files. As an extra precaution, each photographer brings two camera bodies, so that we have extra gear ready to go.

Yes. We bring a second camera body and have multiple lenses as a backup. As well, you will typically want a second photographer as part of your package, also with multiple cameras, which makes for the best possible backup. To date, we have never lost a single file.

Hourly. Every wedding or event is different, and we believe that you should be able to choose the number of hours that works best for you without being locked into a day rate. To make it easy to see our pricing, we have a price customizing feature on our web site where you can choose the number of hours and other specifics, while a rolling total appears in the side column.

Yes. Because you have the ability to create your own wedding package based on the number of photographers and hours you need, there are no restrictions on the number of hours we will photograph. We always recommend that you book us for the least number of hours you think they’ll need. That way, you will only pay for what you need and won’t be penalized by contracting us for too much time. You always have the option to add time on at the event if necessary. Our additional hourly rates will range slightly, but they will be based around your package and the number of hours booked.

We will rarely take a break on the wedding day. If we are on site for five hours or more, we do ask that we have a moment to take a quick bite. A provided meal for each photographer is certainly appreciated! It enables us to stay nearby, and go right back to shooting as soon as we are finished eating. A well fed photographer will certainly take better, more energized photographs :)

Typically, if there are two photographers at the wedding, one photographer will take a meal break while the other shoots. This ensures that nothing is missed.

As the majority of the weddings we photograph take place in San Diego County, we do not charge for travel costs within 50 miles. For weddings further away, we add in travel costs based on the zip code. If you are outsize of the immediate area, you can type in any zip code on our pricing customizer on our website to see the rate for travel to your area.

All images are provided as full resolution .jpg on a flash drive. We do not watermark the images, and you can print the images whenever you wish.

You keep your proof files for life. We do not set any time limits on the images. They are yours to enjoy and share.

We believe that when you hire us to photograph your wedding, you also are purchasing the right to enjoy your photos. We don’t want to hold your pictures hostage, and we happily provide you with a flash drive of all of your images in full resolution, without our watermark, so that you are free to use and print them however you choose. You will have unlimited usage of those files. The only restriction is that you can’t sell the images for profit. Otherwise, feel free to print the images, and pass them on to any friends and family as you wish.

We do reserve the right to publish the photographs. However, if you wish to keep your images private, we respect that and are happy to change the terms.

As part of our wedding packages, we provide you with a flash drive of all of your images in full resolution, without our watermark. This allows you to print images wherever and whenever you please, without limitation. We guarantee that your flash drive will be ready within 21 business days of your wedding.

Yes! Within 21 business day from your wedding, a private gallery website containing every image is created for you and your guests. This enables everyone to view and order images from the big day!

We believe that the best albums are simple in design, so that they remain timeless. We work with four top album companies that match our photography style. We selected these companies because they reproduce images with the highest quality craftsmanship, and they range in location from Japan, to Australia to the United States. So you have world-class choices :)

All of the albums we offer come with a lifetime guarantee, so that your wedding images can be showcased and preserved for generations.

Before your album is created, we work with you to finalize the image selections. Once the album images are decided, your chosen photos undergo another round of retouching at our studio, so that they are perfect for the album. After you approve the final layout, it takes approximately 6-8 weeks for the album to be ready to be picked up.

Our custom-made registry solution enables your guests to contribute to any or all of your photography costs. Your online registry takes about 2 minutes to set up, and it is provided at no cost to our wedding clients. Once your registry is set up, you will have a personalized registry link that you can email, add to invites, and share with your guests.

Each guest can choose how much they would like to give as a gift. For example, your guests can pay towards your wedding album, enlargements, or any photography service we provide. Once an amount is selected, the guest’s credit card is charged, and the guest receives an automatic notification and ‘thank you’ by email. You also receive a confirmation each time you receive a contribution, letting you know who contributed, and the total amount given.

Another great feature is that you chose the maximum dollar amount for your registry. As soon as the maximums are reached, the registry is automatically closed. For example: let’s say you register for $1,500 towards an album of your choice. Once your total gift contributions reach that total amount, the registry is closed.

We do offer payment plans. Having gone through the wedding experience ourselves, we understand the financial demands involved in planning a wedding. In efforts to make life easier, we allow our clients to make monthly payments up until the wedding day, if needed. As long as there is a set structure in place, we are very flexible!

Image enhancement involves adjusting each individual image to bring out the best contrast and style. Our typical enhancement process starts with a nice, well-composed image. We then take that nice image and give it a little oomph, which creates the finished look. We work with each image by hand to bring out the brightest whites, the darkest blacks, and a full spectrum of color.

The enhancement process can be painstakingly detailed. For example, we work to make sure that colors are vibrant, while skin tones stay realistic, all within the same image. We use our process to bring out the best potential and visual direction for each image. We typically spend about fifteen hours enhancing images after the wedding has been photographed. Since enhancement is such an integral part of the process, it is included in your wedding package at no additional cost.

Retouching is different than enhancement. Retouching is adding or taking away something from the image that did not exist when the photo was taken. For example, removing a blemish, thinning out arms or legs, adding a plant to cover up a trashcan, or moving a smile from one picture to another. The retouching process takes far more time, and is typically performed to the favorite pictures that you select for an album. Should you request additional retouching, we are happy to perform this service at a reasonable hourly rate.

Whether we are enhancing or retouching, our main focus is to bring out the natural details of your images, so that they look natural, stylized and amazing.

Yes! Your Flash drive contains all image files at full resolution, without any watermark, which enables you to print images wherever and whenever you please. We also provide a signed letter stating that you have full rights to print any of the photos, which should reassure any photo lab.

In addition, we post all of your images online, in a password-protected area. Instead of passing the Flash drive around, and keeping track of it, you can share the login details with friends and family. Any image file can be purchased online, immediately, in full resolution.

If you prefer to share the Flash drive, that is fine as well. We feel that your photos should be yours to enjoy for life, with no restrictions.

We always have an eye out for talented, creative professionals. If your natural style lends itself to what we do, then we are interested in viewing your work. We require that our photographers start out with a minimum of 5 years of professional wedding photography experience. A background in technical training is very important to us as well.

Because we have such a close team of talented shooters, we only add 1 or 2 photographers every couple of years. We receive over 75 inquiries a year from photographers who are interested in photographing for our studio.

If you are a photographer who would like to be considered for opportunities, and meet the requirements, please feel free to email a full body of work, as well as technical history, to info@truephotographyweddings.com

 Albums are important. We believe it is best to choose the book after you see all of your images and do keep them separate from the main package. It becomes much easier to select the style, size and number of images once you actually have pictures to look at :)  On average a nice wedding album is around $1500. There are books higher and lower, depending on the style you are after. You can always add more product (albums) in the future. But it is initially most important that the images look amazing. That way when you do get your album the photographs will be powerful. When you hire our company for your wedding you are hiring a team of experts. We believe in going for less product, and higher quality. This holds true with the engagement shoot, the image enhancement, scouting location sites of your wedding venue, having top quality photographers, the flash drive with all your images and much more.... Your investment is initially put towards making sure the images are perfect. We go through each image one by one and enhance them for perfect color and contrast. This process takes about 20 hrs but really gives the image that finished look. We don't use any filters and it is all done by hand, in house, to ensure that our personal style is shown. As well, rather than having a first shooter and an assistant holding a camera, we have 2 photographers that are of equal caliber. We believe this is much more powerful to have in the long run.

We guarantee that your pictures will be ready for you on a flash drive within 21 business days. All of the images you receive will be enhanced by our team to ensure the highest quality.

We have a very fast turnaround time! Our guarantee is that your pictures will be ready for you on a flash drive within 21 business days following your wedding.

Here are a few recommendations from our studio:

1. How experienced is the photographer?
“You don’t know the power of experience until you have experience”

A seasoned photographer:

• Knows all the key moments in a wedding is vital, to ensure no shots are missed
• Makes sure everything happens on time and there are no surprises
• Is able to help with the timeline to make sure the wedding day is fun and all shots are made
• Understands how to get amazing photos under any lighting condition
• Can provide a variety of albums, enlargements, parent books, etc… But it really doesn’t matter what you get if the images aren’t amazing. The most important factor when hiring a photographer is the skill of that photographer

You can have two very similar portfolios between photographers. The difference between a really solid pro versus an amateur is that the pro can get amazing images every single time. Not one great shot every few weddings. Education and experience are key components.

2. How experienced is the company?
“The longer a successful company has been in business, the more insurance you have “

• Even if you get amazing pictures, promises need to be met to ensure a great experience. For example. all images delivered on time. Albums delivered on time
• There needs to be a good backup system to ensure no images are ever lost
• There needs to be a backup photographer ready to go in case of an emergency
• Ability to help with your timeline, to make sure your photography wants are met
• There are no money surprises

3. Is there a solid second photographer?
“To be creative you need an equally qualified second photographer”

• Speaking as a photographer, the slower that you can shoot, the better the results. You can take time to frame your photograph to add interest, use the proper lens, have a good exposure and light. Of course, a wedding is very fast paced. So having a second photographer to cover the must-have pictures means that the first shooter can take a little more time. The end result is that the better the second shooter, the more creative the images will be
• A qualified second shooter creates less distraction, because you don’t have one photographer running around to get all of the needed shots

4. Do I get to keep my images?
“If you have your full resolution finished image files you can do anything”

• When you have your files, you can print images whenever you please
• You can email, Facebook, make slide shows, etc without continuing to pay every time you want to do something
• If the company were to ever go out of business, you would have your images
• It saves you a lot of money being able to print images yourself, or at least to have that option

5. How established is the photographer within the industry?
“If other vendors love the photography company, across the board, you know you are in good hands”

• The personal approach that the photographer takes with other professionals is a good indication of how they will treat you
• An established photographer will have comfort in almost any setting, and know how to photograph your venue from experience
• The better connected the photographer, the better their recommendations will be in your search for vendors

The short answer is yes, we all share a signature style that is unique to True Photography Weddings. When you hire our studio, you are hiring a brand, and with a solid brand comes consistency and reliability in the end product. All photographers on our team produce images with a similar aesthetic, and continuously amazing results. We keep our team small and tight-knit on purpose so that our company can remain very personable, with a high caliber of work.

Our photographers have many elements in common, including:
 

• They are well-balanced shooters. All of our photographers are seasoned professionals, with extensive training. Instead of having one photographer that is documentary style, one that is a portrait photographer, one that does candids, and another that has more of a fashion approach, our photographers are true specialists in all areas.
   
• They each have the technical knowledge to shoot great images in any lighting condition. We always work with the natural light that exists so that the images look true to life. However, there are situations where light must be created to produce the most dynamic and flattering image. Our photographers know how to use natural light to its best advantage, and when to use expert techniques for creating light when circumstances demand it.
   
• Each person has that indescribable "it factor" that makes them a unique and exciting individual, in addition to a talented photographer.
   
• Everyone on our team has a great, fun personality. We are unobtrusive throughout the event, and vocal when it is time to give direction. We make the photography an enjoyable and memorable part of the event for the guests and couple.

We have incredibly high standards when it comes to our photographers. It takes a very special and talented person to be a True Photographer :) The consistency that you see is the result of a team effort and a lot of work!

Although staged props are popular right now, our preference is to create moments with found objects, and make use of our surroundings. For example, if we are photographing in an open field, and there are pinecones on the ground, we will get creative with the pinecones. Maybe we'll try an image of juggling the pinecones, for a fun, whimsical photo. Or we'll shoot from a low angle, so that the pinecones are sharp in the foreground, with the couple blurred off kissing in the background. These "environment props" make for spontaneous moments and stronger images because they force the photographer to be much more creative, and to approach each shoot from a new perspective.

If you are interested in bringing along a couple of props, we suggest items that have a personal meaning, and are representative of the two of you. This will ensure that your shoot is centered on your personality as a couple, and that your your images remain timeless over the years.

Everything is photographed in color, initially. During our enhancing process, we select specific images that will have impact in black and white, and we convert them. We put time and effort into both color and black/white enhancement, and do specific treatments on the images for each method to ensure they look their best. When you see your finished images, the majority will be in vibrant color.