At some point before or after booking you will have some questions. Here are a few of my frequently asked questions, where I can offer you advice that will make your photography experience everything you want it to be and more.
What will it be like having you shoot our wedding?
The easiest way to let you know what to expect from having me as your wedding photographer is to pass on the kind words of one of my brides, after all, she has been there first hand!
“Fiona’s ability to take natural shots that capture the moment separates her from the crowd. She has exceptional vision and a knack for being in the right place at the right time. Fiona’s clearly a professional in her field, but she’s also so warm and kind that it makes us happy that she got to share our special day with us.”
What’s your style and approach to photographing a wedding?
My style is natural, beautiful, creative and authentic. The style of my work leads from my approach, which is primarily to document the day as it happens, capturing the natural and intimate moments. Even when photographing the couples portraits I will give a little direction, but in the main I want you to be you and to feel relaxed and have fun. Take a look through the wedding galleries to share some of the wedding day joy I love to capture.
We aren’t really comfortable in front of the camera and don’t want to feel like we are being posed!
This is completely fine, and more common than you probably think! I don’t like fake reactions in photos and overly posed formal shots either. How I work is to just be there, to watch and to anticipate those moments that you actually want to see in your photographs. I have learned how to observe people and to capture the reactions that are really going to make you smile when you see the photos after! There will be times when you won’t even notice that I am taking your photo. This is often why engagement shoots are a good idea; it gives you a chance to get used to being in front of the camera. Take a look at my engagement shoot portfolio for some inspiration. When we go for photos with the two of you I might do a small bit of directing. Simple things, such as to get you to stand in a certain spot or show you some simple poses. It will be very relaxed, the aim being for you to react naturally, be comfortable and have fun! After all, it is your wedding day and you want to enjoy your time, not end up feeling stressed about the photos.
Do you take family photos on the day?
Yes, of course. This is the one time you have all your loved ones together so I understand you might want some family photos. They can easily end up eating up the time, so I aim to keep this part of the day short and informal so you can spend lots of time with your family and friends. I recommend no more than 10 set ups, which will take about 20 minutes. I also wrote a handy blog post all about how to make group photos easy.
How many photos do we get?
There is no set number of images but you will get all the fabulous ones from the day. You can, on average, expect roughly 600-800 from a full day’s wedding coverage and about 100 or so from an engagement shoot. All of these come with a full personal print licence in both high and low resolution, ready for printing or sharing online.
How soon after the wedding do we get our images?
Your photos will be ready approximately 8-10 weeks after your wedding day (sometimes sooner). Your online gallery will be set up first and the link and password sent to you so you can start sharing the photos with your friends and family. The gallery is password-protected and has a secure shopping facility so you can purchase prints there. I will then post your USB to you about a week later. If you have an album or prints as part of your package we will have a chat about these once you have received all your images. As a general rule, I do all album designs in the winter months when things have quietened down and I can give them my full attention.
Do you offer engagement/pre wedding shoots?
Yes, I do. A pre-wedding or engagement shoot is a great way to get used to being in front of the camera, if you’re a little camera shy. It’s a chance to get some lovely, relaxed photos of the two of you, and if you have children you can include them in the shoot and make it a real family experience. There’s no pressure with this shoot, it’s a very relaxed and fun experience. We can do the photos at your favourite place or choose to do something that’s special to the two of you. You will get the final edited images on USB as high-res files, so if you want to use them for a save the date card, wedding invitation or a guest book, you can. I wrote a useful blog post on how I approach engagement shoots so you can read more here.
Are you insured?
Yes, as a professional photographer I have public liability and professional indemnity insurance, as well as insurance for all my gear.
Which areas do you cover? Do you travel?
Yes, I shoot weddings all over the UK and abroad. I am based in London and for any weddings in England the travel costs are included in the packages. For the rest of the UK and further afield, the fee will include the price of the package you want plus any travel expenses such as trains, flights and accommodation.
We would like to book you. What do we need to do? That’s fabulous! I am very happy you would like me to be your photographer. First things first is to pay a retainer and sign an online contract. Sometime between now and your wedding we’ll sort out a date to meet up and run through the details of your wedding day, timings, family names etc. If you have an engagement session we will also get this booked in as soon as possible.
If you’d like to see more of what I’ve been up to lately, you can take a look at my blog for recent examples of my work. Alternatively, you can follow me on Twitter, Instagram or like Fiona Kelly Photography on Facebook to keep in touch.
If you can’t wait to chat and tell me all about your plans, get in touch by filling out the online form.
