1) Do you shoot weddings? Yes! What other kinds of events do you shoot? We shoot weddings, showers, parties, theatrical productions, bar/bat mitzvahs, christenings, reunions, corporate gatherings and more – talk to us about your event and we will work out a plan for you.
2) What is the price? Please see the Prices link for the most current price lists.
3) Do you offer discounts? If your wedding/event is during the “off season” of January and February, there is a 10% discount available.
4) Do you use black and white or color film? How much of each? We use both, about equal amounts unless you specify otherwise.
5) What kind of coverage do you do at weddings and events? We are photojournalists and will document your wedding/event as it naturally unfolds and occurs. We don’t shoot in a “documentary style,” we are real photojournalists.
6) What is photojournalism/documentary photography? Photojournalism or documentary photography means that we are there to capture real moments in time exactly as they happen. We are visual historians. A photojournalist records events as they unfold and the result is a series of picture that tell a true story. A photojournalist is unobtrusive, they move through an event without “setting up pictures” or asking anyone to pose. Your wedding or event will be forever captured on film and your memories will take shape through photographs that are honest and real. Photojournalism is not a “style” of photography, it is a way of seeing that takes years of training and practice to perfect.
7) How far will you travel for an event? No distance is too far, we’ve even shot pictures on other continents. 100 miles roundtrip from the base studio is included for any 8-hour event coverage. Additional mileage is billed per mile. Distances too long to travel the day of the event will be billed travel days. All expenses incurred during travel such as hotels, airfare, etc. must be covered by the client.
8) Can I get my negatives? Negatives
will be for sale one year from the date of your
wedding or event for $25 per roll.
9) Do you accept credit cards? Yes, via Paypal.
10) Do you shoot digital or medium format pictures? We shoot 35mm film on Nikon SLR cameras. We do not offer digital or medium format services for weddings/events at this time.
11) Do you have references? Yes, contact us for details.
12) How long will it take to see our photographs? In about 2-3 weeks your proofs and website will be ready for you.
13) Do you have a back-up camera? Yes, we each have multiple camera bodies and lenses.
14) Do you work alone or with another photographer/assistant? Generally it is just Nathaniel and Rissa at your wedding/event. If your wedding/event is larger than 200 people, we will likely hire an assistant to help us.
15) What about overtime? Overtime is available for any wedding/event. See the prices page for current overtime charges beyond eight hours.
16) Is the deposit refundable? Your deposit is not refundable unless we book another wedding on the date your wedding was cancelled.
17) What is your cancellation policy?If more than 120 days precede the wedding/event, there are no additional fees beyond the deposit if the wedding/event is cancelled or postponed. If less than 120 days precede the wedding/event, there is a $100 lost date fee in addition to the deposit. If your wedding/event is rescheduled, you may apply forfeited funds, less the non-refundable Retainer, to future services, subject to availability and current pricing.
18) Can you do sepia tones/infared film? Both are available, call for details.
19) Will you check out the site of out event beforehand? Sure. And if your wedding, reception or event is being held at an unusual venue we would like to see it beforehand.
20) Do you need to eat during the day? Yes! We will need a break to eat and are both strict vegetarians. If you cannot feed us at your reception/event for any reason, we will need a short break to go get food.
21) Can you work in dim light, such as a nightclub or by candlelight? Yes, we are experienced in all kinds of shooting situations. We may need to use a flash or set up lights, depending on the kind of photography you want/need from your event.
22) Who will actually take the photos from your studio? Nathaniel and Rissa take all the pictures for Balance Photography. What if one of you gets sick or something like that? We have never had this happen, but if it occurs, we will hire another photographer to fill in. Please call for details
Specifically about weddings…
1) Do you do formals? Yes, we will accept a list of formals.
2) Will you accept a must-shoot list? Of course. But remember, the longer the list of formals & must-shoots, the less time we will have to focus on the documentary aspects of your wedding.
3) Do you shoot more than one wedding in a day? No, we don’t have enough time in a day to focus on more than one wedding.
4) What is your photo philosophy about wedding photography? Our philosophy about wedding and event photography is to be there and record the day unobtrusively. Our goal is to create elegant images, to tell your story with pictures without missing a single beautiful memory. We want to record your wedding in a way that will create exquisite and real moments that you and your family will continue to cherish for a lifetime.
5) Do you offer packages? Yes,
we offer three packages to fit your individual needs.
Additionally, we offer a la carte services after
the wedding packages, and we will do substitutions
in our packages.
6) How much are reprints and albums? Please see our Prices page. The prices of reprints and albums will remain the same as the day of your wedding for two years from your wedding day.
7) How long will you stay at the wedding/reception?
Six, eight or ten hours of coverage by
two photographers is included in each package. Hours
beyond that will be billed as overtime.
8) Do you have suggestions for other vendors? Sure, let us know what you are looking for. A make-up artist? A DJ? A wedding planner? A videographers? A baker? A place for your bridal tea? We’ll be happy to help!
9) Do you shoot pre-wedding preparations? Always. In addition, we can also shoot your showers, brunches, rehearsal dinner, dress fitting or other pre-wedding events. Please call for details
10) How much film will you actually shoot?
20, 30 or 40 rolls are included for a wedding depending
on your package. How many pictures is that? That’s
about 700, 1,000 or 1,400 pictures.
11) Do you do proof books? We can. Generally, to give you more proofs, we package the 4x6 prints in a proof box for delivery.
12) What about working with a videographer? We have worked with videographers many times and it has never been a problem. We can even recommend a few good ones.
13) I have heard many photojournalists miss particular weddings shots. What can you do about that to prevent missing important people/moments? Since there are two of us, the chance of us missing an important moment is greatly reduced. However, if there are special guests/moments you definitely want pictures of, please advise us in advance so we are sure to include them in a few shots.
14) Can you set up a website so guests can buy photos from my wedding? A proof website is included with your wedding. As soon as it is ready, we will contact you with the link. It will take about 2-3 weeks to get online after your wedding day.
15) Can I do my own album? Of course!
16) When do you recommend doing the formal portraits – before the ceremony, between the ceremony and reception, at the reception or after the reception? It’s really up to you. Just make sure you allot enough time to get all the shots you want. We will be happy to help you plan your timing.
17) Do you do the wedding “photo booth”? For an extra fee, we can offer this service.
18) What is a photo collage and how could that fit into my coverage? Photo collage is a way of combining many pictures to create one large image. At weddings, it is an ideal way to make a beautiful large scenic of your ceremony or an overall of a gorgeous reception. Situations vary, but as few as 25 and as many as 100 individual pictures can be combined into a photo collage. Call for details.
19) What if the bride and groom don’t want to see each other before the ceremony? Can you work with that? Sure, that’s no problem at all.
20) Do you do 1/2 days, such as shooting just the reception? We prefer not to as we believe the best pictures come from telling the entire story of the wedding.
21) Can you do engagement and bridal portraits? Sure. Please see the prices page for more info.
22) Do you have any suggestions as we plan our wedding? We can offer lots of advice as we have not only attended many, many weddings, but we just got married recently ourselves. Here are a few tips for you to consider… Plan enough time for everything, from your hair appointment to your formals. It makes everyone feel stressed if time is crunched on the Big Day and really it will go by fast enough already. * Hire a make-up artist – this is not the time to do your own make-up or let a well-meaning friend try her hand at it. Your face will look different in photos with camera-ready make-up than with the make-up you use for everyday wear. This is the time to splurge and hire a pro. * Make sure you get a few minutes to eat before your wedding. Many brides are nervous and fainting is a common problem. It helps if you get some food before you walk down the aisle and as soon as you get to the reception. * Try on your dress, shoes, veil and headpiece before the wedding day. Make sure of fit and comfort. * Get everything in writing from all your vendors. A good businessperson will prefer it that way. And be sure to hire early – wedding vendors book up to a year or two in advance sometimes. * Enjoy your day and all the plans leading up to it! This will be like no other day in your life – be sure to take a few moments to look around and take it all in! |
