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Wedding Package F A Q’s
1. How do I reserve my wedding date with GDP?
Simply email or call at your earliest convenience and let GDP know your intentions. After a consultation interview we will invoice you for $100.00 the applies toward your total.
2. When is all the money for my package due?
We actually do not require the full amount due until about 60-90 days after the wedding.
3. Are their any hidden fees?
Absolutely not!!! You will know not only what you are getting in a package, but also we will give you even more options to choose from after your wedding so you can make informed decisions.
4. What are the advantages of hiring a professional?
A professional photographer will be timely - arriving at your wedding promptly, and getting the results to you on time. A professional has just the right equipment and film for photographing your wedding. Having attended many weddings, an experienced wedding photographer will be at ease at your wedding. A professional uses a color laboratory that is in the business of meeting high professional standards of print quality. And, a professional is used to working with individuals, couples, and groups to make the formal photography go smoothly. When you think about the cost of photography, remember that the photographer's fee is only part of your investment: You, your parents, your extended family and your friends will be investing time with the photographer during your wedding. Don't waste time on your wedding day with a photographer who won't produce results you love!
5. So, how much does wedding photography cost?
Prices range from $950 to $10,000, and even more! Photographs (and maybe video) will be your only permanent record of the day. You want good photographs (or you would not have read so far), so be prepared to spend a minimum of $1,500 for a small wedding on a weekday or Sunday, and $2,000 and up for Saturdays. Also, for additional copies, an 8x10 reprint will cost $20 to $40 each. Expect better photographers to charge the higher rates. If you are looking for a bargain and shop via phone for pricing, you are following a recipe for poor to mediocre photography. My research indicates that photography runs between nine and fifteen percent of the total wedding budget. When couples value photography highly and are on a limited budget, they will spend up to 30% of their wedding budget on photography.
Most brides initially underestimate the cost of photography by 50% - in other words, you will probably spend at least twice as much as you budgeted, unless you have advice from a wedding coordinator who is familiar with prices in your area.
6. Should we do the formals before or after the ceremony?
Some couples think it is bad luck to see each other before the ceremony. If following this tradition is important to you, all of the photos of the bride and groom together will be done afterwards, but solo shots can be done before. However, getting all the formals done at the beginning has several advantages: Flowers, clothing and make-up are fresh, and you can carefully budget time for formals. (And, if your ceremony ends after dark, the only time for natural light pictures of the two of you will be before the ceremony!) Couples who feel formal photos are important will set aside one, two, or even three hours for formals, which finish up about half an hour before the ceremony begins. If you do formals immediately after the ceremony, guests have to wait before they can greet you, and members of the bridal party will have pose for pictures rather than mingle. About half of the weddings I photograph have all the formals taken before the ceremony. Sometimes the bride and groom are not sure of what their preference is until just weeks before the wedding
7. Some photographers ask that no one else take pictures during the formal photography. Is that reasonable?
Yes. If the photographer is trying to work quickly through a series of formal pictures, a snap-shooter might slow the process. A problem arises when there are several cameras aimed at a formal group - the subjects will be looking at different lenses. The diverted attention will ruin the professional's picture. Or, if the professional is using a light-sensing trigger device ("slave") on a second flash, other flashes will trigger this flash, ruining the pictures [that you are paying for] and wasting battery power. There are many other reasons why a professional might ask others to refrain from picture taking during formals. On the other hand, many guests find snapping a few pictures a pleasant part of attending weddings, so it should not be a big deal for your professional to be relaxed and let people snap away when formals are over. Ideally, guests should show respect for the bridal party and photographer and put down their cameras during the formal photos.
8. I want to make copies of my photos. Does my photographer really own the copyright of his/her pictures? Do I still have to pay the photographer if I make the copies myself at a copy shop?
Yes and yes. According to federal law, images produced by a professional photographer are copyrighted the moment they are created. Federal law prohibits copying or reproducing copyrighted material without permission from the owner of the copyright, i.e., the photographer. If you copy or scan your photos, the photographer should be paid just as if you were buying reprints
9. How long for finished print orders or albums?
Allow 2 weeks for print orders, and 6-8 weeks for album orders from the time you place the order. Wedding clients are offered a 10-50% discount on print orders not included in the package if your order is placed within a 30 day deadline of receiving proofs online. Turn around time on albums is not guaranteed if you do not meet the deadline. Reprints may be ordered ( at regular pricing) after the event. Album orders must be placed within 30 days of the wedding date.
9. Are their any travel
fees?
Based in Columbus, Ohio - we have zero travel fees within a 2 hour radius for wedding packages of $1599.00 or more. If travel is required and a charge for this is estimated it is done at $.33 cents a mile round trip plus expenses for rooming ( i f required)
10. Do you want a check list of photos?
Those dreaded lists published in bridal magazines are for cookie-cutter traditional photographers. Our photography is all about creative spontaneity. Of course, we will photograph all the key moments in the wedding, and don't need a list. The best photos we take are the ones that everything came together in seconds totally unexpectedly. The only list we use is the one a bride may want “special” photographs specifically requested.
Not only do we offer a set of “Bonus” Offers with each wedding package, but also for those that refer our photography ( weddings children, family, seniors, etc...), instruction and artistic services to others.
We invite you to not only look through our Package Collections, but also click here for a comparison chart: