I'm about to get REAL with ya'll.
On average, according to the knot, it takes about 3 MONTHS to get all of your wedding photos back.
SO WHY ON EARTH does anyone think it will any sooner? I GET IT. I was THE BRIDE. I wanted Emily to send me previews previews previews. but did I once ever bug her? NOPE. Because I know what it truly is like on the other side.
I don't say that to sound ungrateful or like I don't get it....cause believe me patience doesn't come natural to me.
But I do recognize that we all have lives outside of our occupations. and for me, I have four and about 10 minutes of free time each day, that I gladly spend with my husband and pup and Smallville over editing every single night.
I have a schedule and I tend to stick to it, editing no more than 3 times per week. CUE TO CHAOS!
Some of us over-deliver (ME! HA!) and some are able to do photography as their full-time job
....and STILL take the 6-8 weeks to get them back. We pride ourselves on getting things as perfect as possible for YOU!
TRANSPARENT MOMENTS: get ready for it.
as far as editing goes... My timeline is typically 6-8 weeks, sometimes I push the 8-10 just because of my schedule.
I like to set up an editing timeline but that doesn't ALWAYS mean I'll be able to upload them, then.
But FIRST, let's talk about what all happens BEFORE THE BIG DAY, cause that's a lot, too.
And I want you all to feel prepared as you dive into the book your wedding photographer phase of planning,
and when you choose us, this is what you can expect.
My new work flow looks a lil' something like this for each of my brides:
> POST CONTENT ON WEBSITE, BLOG, IG/ALIGNABLE/FACEBOOK
> HAND OUT BUSINESS CARDS AT WEDDINGS, SESSIONS, TO OTHER VENDORS
> GET INQUIRY FOR A WEDDING, HAVE BRIDE+GROOM EMAIL ME
> BRIDE EMAILS ME, I DIRECT THEM TO WEBSITE QUESTIONNIARE + CONTACT FORM
> BRIDE INQUIRES ABOUT PHOTO PACKAGES OR SESSION INFORMATION
> I SEND THE BRIDE INFORMATION ABOUT RATES/TRAVEL/MILEAGE/TAX
> BRIDE SENDS BACK THE PACKAGES SHE LIKES BEST
> I SEND BRIDE A PROPOSAL OF HER FAV PACKAGE THAT BREAKS DOWN THE PROPOSAL, INVOICE, CONTRACT, AND ANY FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
> BRIDE FILLS OUT DOCUMENTS AND I SEND THEM A TIMELINE, PHOTO CHECKLIST,
AND WORKFLOW VIA MY ONLINE BOOKING SERVICE:
> BRIDE BOOKS AND COMPLETES HER PROPOSAL WITH A DEPOSIT TO LOCK IN DATE!
> NOW WE ARE BOOKED! whoo. that's JUST the beginning of us working together.
I help my brides with almost everything to do with wedding planning, esp. if they don't have a wedding planner.
We reflect that help in our typical prices. During COVID-19, we adjusted our packages to reflect job loss, the strain brides faced when they were rescheduling and moving dates to later this fall and to next year completely, and we offered discounts. We did that because we LOVE what we do, and after all, this business is about love and watching it grow.
What better way to model that than to foster it through gratitude, patience, kindness, and flexibility?
We know that our brides have appreciated what we have offered them in package discounts for all of 2021,
and we are well aware of the cost that took for us to sustain our business and provide for our team.
We are learning, growing, and becoming too, during this season of the unknown and the global pandemic.
What's most important to me is that timeline and photo checklist I mentioned above.
At first, it's just tentative, but as we get closer to your wedding date....a lot of things factor into WHY we need that.
For 1, the family portion of the photo checklist is a MUST HAVE. We run off of it during the after ceremony portion of your photos. If we get off track, we will pick back up, we always do. But please explain to friends and family that any additional requests need to be made THROUGH YOU GUYS, before the day of the wedding.
Any they want AFTER our list (that you made, friend) can be done, FOR SURE.
We DO NOT want you and your friends and family to go without.
That's not the point, we just don't want to miss any you actually told us to capture.
We're super flexible and can go with the flow but this plan is what we need to thrive.
The timeline helps us work with coordinators, day of or planners, videographers, the photo booth, the details, the caterer, the venue, the DJ, the preacher or officiant, the florist, the cake/dessert specialist, any other vendors who we need to collab before during and after with. It helps us to remain consistent, on time, to manage ourselves well, and to know when to be and where.
I bring a second shooter and sometimes two to every wedding we do.
It's something that's ESSENTIAL to my lively-hood first off, haha.
but also, I need it. We need it. YOU need it.
We need help, and I'm OKAY with asking for it.
I love the second footage, the second view, the voice direction for the family portraits, and the extra hands.
So, do ya'll see that we are much more than just "picture takers" as I've been misidentified as before? Again, I laugh.
Because people have a skewed perception of the art we are capable of creating. It's okay to not get it. I am definitely not good at math, at being an engineer, a scientist, or wrangling up 30 children to learn in a classroom. But don't discredit us.
We value the good work that all of our clients, their friends, and their families do. We just want the same respect, admiration, and to be seen/heard/and valued for what we do and what all we have to offer. The next time you see a photographer doing what they love, organizing people well, shooting all the details at a wedding, or literally lunging to get the perfect shot, tell them they're doing a great job and offer them a water. Seriously that's one of the best feelings of being complimented on at a wedding in the middle of the magic.
We LOVE taking photos, but it is so much more than just a click, it's the ideas, the creation, the art, the poses, the prompts, knowing your gear, knowing about manual settings and lighting, knowing where to place people, how the details all flow together, having someone double check your pose/prompt/and the details of the hair, make up, dress, attire...where everyone's AWKWARD hands are...hahaha. the laughter, twirls, dips, kisses, forehead sweats. We do more than just
c l i c k. We plan, we prepare, we help. And there's much more that we do on the wedding day, as well as before and after, and I'm excited to share "the timeline and photo checklist" with you in our next blog post.
Talk to you soon!
Best,
Burt XOXO
