Pricing and Coverage

Q: Do you travel outside of Minneapolis/Minnesota/the USA?
A: I love to travel, and I have shot weddings all over the country and beyond. There is no additional fee for travel within one hour of the Minneapolis Metro area. Travel beyond 3 hours of Minneapolis may require a travel fee and lodging, but we can discuss your needs.

Q. We don't really like formal photos, do we have to do these?
A. It is your wedding, and we don't have to do anything you don't want to do. You have probably looked through my images and by now you know that the bulk of my work is candid. That said, I am of course happy to do as many family formals as you want. We will make these as fun and efficient as possible.

Q. Do you shoot digital?
A. Yes, I shoot primarily digital and I have for several years. I occassionally shoot some B&W film to add a different look, but I don't guarantee any film coverage. I can also tell you about the kinds of cameras I use and all sorts of technical information, but if you like my portfolio, then you probably don't need all the details. It is not the camera that makes the photograph, it is the photographer. The equipment I use and the way I process images has created the images you see in my website and in my portfolios.

Q: Do you edit your own images? Do you design your own albums?
A: Yes, I handle every aspect of your photos which includes editing photos, correcting colors, designing albums and occasional touch ups. In this regard, I am a “boutique” operation, which means I actually edit and work on my own images, design my own albums and do my own photography.

Q: Do I get every image that you take? What do you "edit out"?
A: I give you the images that complete the story of your wedding. I take more photos than I will deliver. This is because some of those images will have people blinking or odd lighting and some will be duplicates. Since we will talk before your wedding about what you would like for photos, and because I am at your wedding all day, I usually have a good sense of what images will be meaningful for you, and so I make sure not to edit out photos that will be important to you.

Q. How do you dress for weddings?
A: I dress in black dress casual. Between the weird positions I get into for poses and the multiple cameras hanging off me, I can not blend in as a guest. I try to be as unobtrusive as possible, and my dark attire is part of this. I have even been called a "wedding ninja" before.

Q. What if it snows/rains/tornadoes?
A. Well, you know that the Midwest has unpredictable weather. If the weather gets in the way of outdoor photos you wanted, then we need to do your photos inside. I can suggest some possible indoor locations around the Twin Cities, but many require advanced notice. I would be happy to talk with you about ideas and suggestions when we talk about logistics.

Q. What if you get sick and can't come to the wedding?
A. Honestly, short of being dead, I will do everything in my power to photograph your wedding. If I die, I will not be shooting your wedding, but I try my darndest to insure that a professional photographer who I trust implicitly will. In all of my years of shooting I have never missed a wedding.

Q. Do I have to feed you?
A. Well, I do have to eat at some point. But I am not picky and many venues have the option for a “vendor meal” which would suit me fine. You don’t have to seat me with the guests, but I am a lot of fun with old college friends and rowdy coworkers.

Q. Do you work with an assistant?
A. Sometimes. I often bring an assistant to carry my gear for local weddings, but I don't always bring a second shooter. All the images you see on my site are photos taken by me, and I work just fine alone. Unless you have a lot of guests (maybe upwards of 500) I don't think a second shooter is necessary. However, I have a few assistants that I use that are wonderful. Sometimes they shoot with me and I am comfortable sending them to shoot non-critical things like guests arriving while I am with the bride and groom, and sometimes they just carry my gear. And sometimes I have awesome professional photographer friends who come to second shoot with me to get their feet wet in wedding work. But none of these people are guaranteed at your wedding. If you want a guaranteed second shooter let me know your needs and we’ll talk.

Q. My aunt/friend/coworker just got a camera and wants to photograph us in hokey ways, what do you think?
A. I will defer to you. I am always happy to allow other people to take photos at the wedding, and we can talk about the right timeline for you. If you want me to keep your guests in line and have the photos move along quicker, I can do a very good "Camp Counselor" voice.

Q: How will you organize everyone for the formals?
A: Well, I do have a lot of practice, but there is only so much I can do. The most important part is getting the family to the right place at the right time, and we will talk about timelines before the wedding. It is often very helpful for me if you assign someone (a close friend, or a cousin) who knows a lot of the key players for the family photos and can help me rustle up the straglers. That said, I come from a large family, and I am a pro at getting people where they need to be. We can talk if you have any concerns.

Q: Can I get a discount if I don't need you for a whole day?
A: Not usually. I will never shoot more than one wedding on a day, and I prefer to see weddings from beginning to end. I have tried setting time limits before, and I often feel that I am not able to capture the entire story. I also don't want you to have to plan your wedding timing around my schedule. If you have a really small wedding during the week, we can talk.

Q: Do I have to pay for photos to be retouched?
A: Nope, I retouch and edit everything before you ever see it. Usually that includes color correction, some conversions to black and white, and a few other artistic flourishes. If you have specific concerns, let me know before the wedding so I can shoot with that in mind. Occassionally, people would like some other retouching done (fixing blemishes or editing out someone in the background). I am happy to do that, too.

Q: Do you have special rates if we get married on Tuesday?
A: Lower rates are available for Monday through Thursday weddings. I can also offer special rates for weddings on Fridays or Sundays of non-holiday weekends if I don't have to travel too far. Call me and we can discuss.

Q: What is your deposit policy?
A: I require a non-refundable retainer of $500 to secure the date, along with a standard contract. The rest of payment it due on or before the day of the wedding.

Q: Do you have samples of your albums?
A: Yes. We can meet in person and I can show you samples, or you can view album samples and comparisons