FAQ

What is the difference between "reportage" and "classical" wedding photography?

Classical wedding photography tends to produce an album consisting of a series of posed photos - group photos, the mandatory exchanging of the rings and cutting of the cake, and some "spontaneous" romantic photos of the bride and groom. Reportage photography is done in a more journalistic style. The aim is for the photographer to be a fly on the wall, to capture real, honest, spontaneous moments. The end result is a Wedding Story Book Album that tells the story of your day as it really happened. This involves starting early in the morning and shooting the bride getting ready, the tears of pride of the bride's parents, the groom waiting anxiously at the church, and so on, capturing each moment until finally the cake is cut, the speeches made, the guests are all dancing and the night is coming to an end.

We like the idea of reportage photography, but also want to ensure we have good representation of more traditional photos such as family group photos. Is this possible?

Of course! While I aim to take spontaneous, intimate photos, I understand the need to take some formal group photos. But taking group photos doesn't have to be painfully boring. I work quickly and try to keep them fun, even if they are formal, so as not to kill the spirit of such a happy day. I recommend that my clients put together a list with the essential groups they want to have photos of and to nominate a person who is familiar with the guests and family to organise everyone into the groups when the time comes. The point is to get it over as quickly and painlessly as possible with the best results.

Will there be any posing for photos?

I do not pose my clients into over-romanticised, traditional poses. I may offer a few suggestions, like looking in a certain direction or trying not to smile for a few "serious" photos, but my usual instructions to my clients is to act natural and try to pretend I'm not there. This can be difficult initially, but believe me, after half an hour or so you will get so used to me that I will become part of the furniture.

Do you work alone?

I always work with an assistant photographer who will also take photos on the day, ensuring that we never miss a moment. When I am shooting the bride entering the church, my assistant is able to catch the reaction of the groom and guests. In addition, my assistant photographer and I have different approaches to photography, which adds interest and contrast to your album. (Please note however that if choosing the Basic Packages, as stated on the price list, only one photographer is provided)

What kind of camera do you use?

My company only shoots digitally, using the Fuji S5 Pro and the Canon Mark 3, which can produce files up to 80MB. In my opinion these cameras are the best in their bracket, and for the job description. A photographer is only as good as his or her equipment. Quality is everything.

Why digital?

I haven't used film since 1999 and I will never go back for the reasons listed below:
1. I don't have to limit the amount of photographs I take - I usually shoot around 1000 shots per wedding. This increases the chance of getting great pictures.
2. I can change the light sensitivity, colours, etc. in the blink of an eye. This gives me absolute freedom to read the situation and adapt. I don't have to stop and change film every time I want to swap from colour to black and white, or every time the light conditions change (e.g. walking out of a dark church into the blazing sun). It also means that I never miss a shot, since I can shoot hundreds of photos one after the other before needing to change memory cards.
3. I can immediately check that the image came out well.
4. The quality is just the same as film (and, I have to say, in some cases much better).
5. It allows me to work on the pictures afterwards, so I can take away that untimely spot, add subtle colour effects, etc - perfecting them just as if they were to be published in glossy magazines. This gives me an edge over traditional film photography, as the only way to touch up photos shot from film is to scan each image first, which results in a loss of quality.
6. With digital, there are very few ways you can loose the images. With film, that list is endless: a bad batch of film, the film doesn't load, the film gets fogged, the lab messes up development, the film gets scratched or dusty... I just find using film much too risky for such a special day, and since I am responsible, it's my job to minimise such risks.

Colour versus black and white...

This will depend on your preferences. I usually shoot a mix of black and white and colour. I then choose which version to go with based on the mood of the scene. The beauty of digital photography is that I can change colour photos to black and white back at my studio, if I think this works better.

What does "touching up" photos mean?

When I touch up an image I use a computer program to bring out the best in a photo. I may make a number of alterations, from covering up any skin blemishes or imperfections to improving the light and enhancing the colours, for example bringing out the blue in someone's eyes. This is done very subtly so that you would never know the image had been altered unless you had seen the original photo.

What are your rates?

My price list is available by request. Please contact me and I will forward a copy of my price list to you.

How do I make a booking?

The best way is to send me an email so that I can confirm availability, let you know about prices and answer any questions you might have. If you then wish to make a booking, I will hold the date for you. The booking will be confirmed once I receive a signed copy of the contract and a deposit.

How do I decide which package is right for me?

You need to ask yourselves:
- Do you want a professionally presented album, with touched up photos, or do you just want all of your photos from the day given to you on a DVD so that you can make your own album?
- Do you want a video made?
- Do have a cake cutting ceremony at a set time that you want to be included?
- Are you and your groom both getting ready at the same hotel?
- Are your ceremony and reception located close together?
- How many guests will you have?
- What is your budget?

You say you shoot around 1000 photos on the day, however your packages offer only up to 100 photos in the album. What happens to the rest of the photos?

For your album, only the 100 most fabulous photographs are selected. These will be chosen to tell your story, the story of your wedding day. I also give my clients the option to buy a DVD that contains 350 of the best images of the day. Why not all 1000? Well, with reportage photography, there are always a lot of funny faces, closed eyes, etc. I will place only the best 350 on the DVD.

Can I choose the photos for the album myself?

Usually my clients ask me to choose the images for their albums. This is because I have an artist's eye and I am able to carefully construct the storyline and make the most of the themes and colours - not to mention that this is a painstaking and time-consuming process! Having said that, a wedding album is a very personal thing, and some clients like to choose their own photos. I am able to offer my clients the added option of digital proofing. This means I send you 350 images on CD (in small format, 300px by 300px, the same size my large images appear on my website). You can select from here the images you would like in your album. The 350 images will not have been touched up yet and so will look quite different from the finished product. However, I will include a few touched up photos on the CD just to give you an idea of the difference!

Choosing the Traditional White album

While white albums are traditionally beautiful, we do try to steer people away from them - only because they become worn and dirty so quickly. If you do have your heart set on a white album, however, we do stock them - you might just have to invest in a pair of "album viewing gloves".

What if I want to order additional prints?

Copies and prints of all the images taken at the wedding are available to order on the web. Should you desire, they may be protected from public viewing with a secret code. If you choose to purchase the DVD with the 350 best images of the day, you have my permission to print and reprint these photos, but you may not print or copy proofs (these are watermarked to prevent copying/printing).

Do we get to keep the negatives?

As I shoot digital, the negatives are essentially a DVD. As mentioned above, if you wish to purchase the DVD with the best 350 images of the day, this will be your set of negatives, which you can use to print and reprint as you wish. I also keep copies of the photos on DVD as a backup both for myself and for you.

The video production and editing

Our videos usually play between 30 and 40 minutes after they have been edited. Most clients ask us to keep them to this length, as they don't want them too long. But if you want it to be longer, say one hour, you can just let us know. You are also given all the original footage on small cassettes. A nice little touch is that you are also able to select the music you want playing in the background - why not choose your favourite songs? I don't want my photos displayed on the internet, is this a You need to ask yourselves:
Do you want a professionally presented album, with touched up photos, or do you just want all of your photos from the day given to you on a DVD so that you can make your own album?
Do you want a video made?
Do have a cake cutting ceremony at a set time that you want to be included?
Are you and your groom both getting ready at the same hotel?
Are your ceremony and reception located close together?
How many guests will you have?
What is your budget?problem?
I retain copyright of the photos, however I will not display your photos on the internet or use the photos for my own advertising without your permission.

How do I know how long I need to book you for?

It really depends on what you want and the kind of wedding you are having. For most weddings I arrive 1.5 to 2 hours before the ceremony to capture the bridal party getting ready and to take a few portraits of the bride and groom before the ceremony. Most people then like me to stay for speeches, cake cutting and a little bit of dancing at the reception. However, every wedding is different and I work to suit my clients' wishes.

Do you only work in Italy?

I'd say that 90% of my jobs are in Italy. However, depending on my availability, I would consider jobs elsewhere in Europe and further afield.

What can I do to ensure that my photos will be great?

It is important to realise that my level of photographic skill remains the same for each wedding. What makes the difference between "good" and "great" photos is when my clients have gone that extra mile. I love it when my clients play along with me, rather than try to hide from the camera. It is also very important to give me ample time. The worst thing is to be running late and for the day to be a huge rush. The best time is in between the church and the reception. The more time I have, the better the photos will be. At this time we can take any group photos you like, but also some with just the bride and groom. This can be a great time for you to catch your breath and enjoy some time alone together.

We only have a small wedding and guest party, will you be able to take all the photos that are included in our package?

Small groups do not in any way restrict the number of photos that we can take, or the style and flow of the photos. We often photograph small, intimate weddings with small guest parties, and they always come out with a large selection of wonderful photos. Once, a party of 12 came out with around 2000 images.

How do I know if you are the photographer for me?

Have a look at my website to see the weddings displayed there from beginning to end. This way you can be sure I offer what you are looking for.

It is important to realise that the images, album, etc. are only part of what I offer. I also pride myself on offering the best kind of personal service. I encourage you to discuss all your thoughts and concerns with me. Each and every wedding is important to me and I spend a lot of time and effort on every detail, before, during and after the wedding. To get really good pictures you need to feel there is a friend who has an idea of who you are and what you want from the day of your wedding. I consider it part of my job to go this extra mile, since my photographs will be all that remain after the cake has been eaten.