This is my very FIRST… gasp!… reader FAQ post! I asked for your questions on Facebook and twitter a few days ago and got some great questions in response. Most of these questions are photography related, but brides and wedding pros please feel free to send in your questions for the next post and I’ll hang on to them.
Q:What lighting equipment do you use during weddings?
A:I prefer using the sun, my camera, and finding great light for most of my image creation.
However, I always have my lighting equipment with me when I go to a wedding. I have a Dynalite Pack with 3 heads. I love these lights because they’re small, compact and really simple to travel with. I also have a couple of compact lightstands and it all fits in a case the size of a carry on. Do I often need to use these lights? No. But I’m prepared.
I also use on camera and off camera flashes, synced with Pocket Wizards for lighting details and reception events when needed.
Q: How many images do you give your clients?
A: We deliver 100 images per hour of coverage, so an average wedding for me equates to about 600-800 images. I remove all duplicates and blinks in my editing process and only deliver the best. I’ve heard lots of schools of thought on this one, but any more becomes overwhelming and unnecessary for my clients.
Q: Do you offer them digital files?
A: I feel that the service we provide our couples is more than individual image capture. It’s the storytelling of their family history. That’s why it is always my dream to have my clients view their day in an album first… rather than 700 individual images. Their story is best told through a tangible item they can hand down through generations, share with their grandchildren, and cherish for eternity. The reality is, our clients want their images in addition to this. I provide my clients with a digital record of their images as a gift with any album, or it can be purchased a la carte.
Q: Do you use any outsource anything?
A: This is an important and excellent question. YES. I’m not going to hide behind any charades here. I have to outsource parts of my business, because quite frankly I don’t like doing them, or they take me FOREVER.
- Processing. Let me be clear here, I know how to process my own imagery. I’m educated in the tools, I just choose to spend my time on things I’d rather be doing, like living my life. Much like we used to send out our film to be processed, I send out my digital negatives to be processed too. I use a FANTASTIC company out of Ohio called Pro Image Editors. I highly recommend them. You don’t have to be grossing a million dollars to take this off your plate, they’re affordable. Try them out, then thank me. I do about 100 artful edits in Photoshop for my clients, but the majority of the grunt work I leave to PIE. If you use this code: “PIE_wants _U2_save” it will save you 75% off your first order. Now you don’t have an excuse not to try it!
- Accounting. I went to art school for a reason people. Don’t hate.
- Album Design. The albums we offer are not the simplest to design. They have some crazy margin requirements, if you mess up, it can be a costly mistake. Queensberry (our amazing book binder) has a team of graphic designers standing by to create gorgeous designs for these albums, and they know their product the best so I let them handle it.
- Blogging… Just kidding!
Q: What softwares do you use to manage your business?
A: I use ShootQ to manage all of my leads, inquiries and bookings. It’s been a Godsend. Took me a while to get it implemented, but now I couldn’t go without it. It’s my organizational tool.
I also use Two Bright Lights to manage my publication submissions. This is a new tool for me, so I’ll let you know how it works out.
My print sales are all through a storefront hosted by Digilabs. I think it works great for proofing, but prints are also not my focus. I try to do all of my portrait orders in person with my clients, and don’t push the print sales for weddings a whole lot.
Q: How do you choose what to blog and what to write about?
A: If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you know that most of what I write usually sounds like ramblings of a crazy person. I write the way I want to remember the events, people, or things I blog about. No offense, but the writing itself is mostly for me.
I have a terrible memory.
It’s something I struggle with daily, and I’m pretty sure it’s hereditary because two years ago my parents actually forgot my birthday. As in, the day I was born. I waited patiently for them to call me…. no call. Around 9pm I called my mother and asked her “are you forgetting something”, and she said “….ummm I don’t think so, no”. Yeah. Win. That’s what I’m working with here. I want to remember the stories I write about, so I write them.
The images I choose, tell the story as I saw it. Some of them are artful, some are sentimental, all are representative of the type of images I would like to create more of for my clients. You can’t show EVERYTHING, but if it speaks to the photographic soul inside me, and it’s on par with the direction of my brand…. it’s getting blogged.
Q: Which is more important, blog or website?
A: In my opinion you need both. I get a lot of Google traffic because of my blog (thank you readers!) but my website sends it home for couples interested in working with me. Best case scenario, you have someone custom design you a “blog-site” a site that integrates both seamlessly. Give Liz at CMD+Shift Design a shout, and she’ll hook you up. She is the fine creator of this blog, and super awesome WordPress specialist.
Whew! That was a mouthful! thanks for reading…. and because every post is best with a picture, here is a recent image of my pumpkin pie, Ladybug. She was modeling for me to test light on a shoot earlier this month. This is right before we took her in for her hair appointment, and cut off all these gorgeous curls.
the Bloggers Day of Silence, remembering all of those lives lost in Japan. I hope you’ll all go to this 
12 people have commented
seriously gorgeous!!!! ohmygoodness, the barn door/window image….. love.
I love the window shot, definitely a Marchbanks branded picture!
ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS PICS!! it isn’t hard when you have such beautiful/handsome models!! I’m in complete AWE!!
My little girl all grown up! A perfect couple.
Wonderful Pictures.
You guys are gorg!!! What beautiful pictures!
Soooo stunning Laura! Seriously amazing, love, love, love!
You are awesome Lola girl!!! Great images and what an adorable couple.
What awesome beautiful amazing photos. They bring a tear to my eye. You are both so lovely together! XOXOX
Pictures should be in Bride Magazine. What an attractive couple.
Amazing Photos I Like it…..
Stunning Photos! I will be styling Kelsey’s hair for their big day! Can’t wait to see wedding pictures!!! :)
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