If you are booked, can you recommend someone else who works like you?

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Why is your pricing so different from most Wedding Photographers?

It allows you to control your cash flow (EVERYBODY, it seems, wants their money "up front!") and it gives you a guarantee that I will personally do your wedding; not a substitute, when the time comes. And let's be honest: These are tough times; many people are out-of-work or don't have the income they did several years ago.  Today, VALUE is more important than ever. 

My pricing structure also gives us both a different kind of working relationship: 

1.) I make my money by selling you TALENT, not by collecting for a "package" up front. Therefore I am always trying to take the very best pictures possible, as many as possible and I am always looking for a good picture situation at your wedding. If a photographer is paid "up front," all he or she has to do is take a set number of pictures and the obligation is done. And why should you have to buy an album or "package" if you don't want it? If you DO want it, then the cost control is YOURS.

2.) Time is important to us both. Instead of trying to finish and "get out," I am interested in staying as long as possible. Remember, I WANT to take lots of good pictures because I WANT you to like them and refer me to more business. For you, it means you have a photographer who is trying very hard to take very good pictures because his future income depends on it.

These are difficult times and getting your money's worth is VITAL.  

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How can you operate without a "minimum" or "obligation" for me to buy pictures?

I’m a professional. If I can’t take pictures good enough for you to want them and be happy with them, I’m in the wrong business. Remember, this is my livelihood. Ask my past clients.   They refer me to more business. That’s the "catch" in my pricing. It’s the pictures that sell, not the promises. Just click on "References" and see what my clients have to say.  RETURN TO TOP

How do I know you will take the pictures I want?

Easy. Just ask me. Again, I make my money by taking pictures you want. If you ask for a picture, that’s a pretty good indication you will want it and will be happy with it.  I WANT you to want my pictures. RETURN TO TOP

What do you do if your equipment breaks down?

Go to my back-up. I carry a minimum of three cameras with all the accessories. I have extra lenses and extra film and digital cards. If a piece of equipment breaks down (and that can happen, although rarely!) I just switch to another "back-up." RETURN TO TOP

Do you develop and print your own pictures?

No.  I am a professional PHOTOGRAPHER, not a chemist nor a computer geek. I leave the chemistry and computers to a PROFESSIONAL photo lab. I use the best. Your picture quality cannot be duplicated anywhere. My pictures are contemporary in every way, and I invite you to compare them ANYWHERE. 

My philosophy of business has been written up in national publications.  Ask if you'd like to see a copy of an article. RETURN TO TOP

 Do you charge extra for travel?

Only if it costs me extra.  I usually make no extra charge anywhere in California or in Colorado.  I have offices both in the San Francisco Area and the Denver area. .  If I have to spend the night anywhere else, I charge you actual expenses.  If I go out of the California or Colorado area, I charge you actual out-of-pocket expenses.  Last year I went to Rome, Mexico, Montreal, Memphis,  North Carolina; Spain, Gibraltar and London. Those weddings were charged actual out-of-pocket travel expenses..

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What happens if you can’t make it to my wedding? Or if you get sick or have an accident?

It has never happened to me….but of course things can happen. Professional Wedding Photographers, while highly competitive, are still professional. In the case of an accident or illness, we fill in for each other. While it has never happened to me, I have filled in for others and so have a lot of my colleagues. In such a situation, the word goes out and we all try to fill in for at least a portion of a wedding. You might have as many as three photographers come and go taking pictures for part of your wedding, but we will not let you get married without professional pictures being taken. That’s what the term "professional" really means. We compete, but we see that the profession maintains very high standards. RETURN TO TOP

What if we have to cancel our wedding?

Remember, I promise first-come, first-served and I do NOT double-book weddings. Many times I am booked up to a year in advance. So if I have contracted to do your wedding I CANNOT cancel on YOU. RETURN TO TOP

How do I know you know what you’re doing?

Two ways. First, look at my pictures. After all, that’s what this is all about, Pictures. If you don’t like my pictures, don’t hire me. If you DO like my pictures, that’s the bottom line. There are some pictures on this website.  IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE A COMPLETE WEDDING, I can direct you to some right on this website.  Go back to my Home Page and then Click on RECENT WEDDINGS.

Second, ask my past clients. How many photographers do you know who will give you the names of their past clients? I will. Ask them how they liked me? How they liked my pictures? How they liked working with me? Did I do what they wanted? My clients are my best references. Just click on "References" on the top of this website and you can see what some of my clients have to say in their own writing. RETURN TO TOP

Do I have to buy pictures all at one time?

No. You don't have to buy any at all. As a matter of fact however, many of my clients friends and family place several orders within a year or so. This keeps you from having to pay for them ! ! !  Or you may want to order an album.  Or you may want to order nothing from me. It's up to YOU.  It's up to YOU. For $200 you can purchase CD's or a DVD with ALL the digital files from your wedding which will allow you to print your own pictures, albums or etc. RETURN TO TOP

My family is from out-of-town. How can they see the pictures?

I post them on the web so anyone with a computer and a password from you can access them.  There is NO extra charge for this.  It’s to my advantage for as many people as possible to see them; they might want to order some pictures. It’s an advantage for you, too, because if family members want some pictures they can write you a check or pay by credit card right on the web and you don’t get stuck with having to pay for everybody else’s pictures.  Their quality is guaranteed or you get your money back. No questions asked.

But isn’t this method much better than having to come into the Photographer’s Studio and make your selection while someone is standing over you trying to sell you? You can make your choice in the privacy of your own home without any pressure. And you can buy prints or albums wherever you want.

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What about albums, frames? Other photographers include things like that in their packages?

I know. Some even promise a "free" album for your grandmothers' second cousin too. Not me. (Besides, when is the last time you got anything really "free?")

I am in the picture business, not the album or frame business. I suggest you try a Hallmark store or a department store first. You really shouldn’t even think about albums anyway until you see your pictures. YOU are the one who should decide what size, what page treatment etc. for your album. Not the photographer.

But if you want a professional album I can supply the most beautiful in the world.  Click on "Albums, etc." on my website and take a look, page-by-page, at one beautiful album I sell.  There are many others. But you want to see your pictures FIRST.  Doesn't that make sense?

If you want a professional album, I’ll be happy to provide you with a professional catalog and help you pick one out; then I will order it for you through my business. I make a mark-up on any sales like this. I work with only top-of-the-line album manufacturers. I can offer you the finest leather or bound albums in the world. Also the newest "bound book" albums.  It is something you will keep a lifetime.  You can even pick out your Albums right on the website.   But, again, the choice is YOURS. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BUY ANYTHING FROM ME.

But DON'T pay for an album before you've seen your pictures !

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What kind of equipment do you use?

The best.  I use 35 mm Nikon DSLR cameras for photo-journalistic and on-site traditional wedding pictures. They are Nikon D-300 cameras. There used to be an important difference in the "formats;" not anymore. The state-of-the-art of cameras, lenses, sensors, film and photographic paper we use today allows us to "blow up," or enlarge a 35 mm print the size of a billboard without any "graininess" or "noise," or distortion. Next time you see a Presidential Press Conference or a sporting event, look at the cameras all lined up taking pictures. They are all 35mm with superb lenses. This is what I use in taking your wedding pictures. I'll be happy to SHOW you the difference. Film or digital capture; whichever is most appropriate. 

Of course canvas prints, mounted pictures, frames and all the "extras" are available if you want them. Stunning black and white photography, sepia and "sloppy" borders" are also available.  If it can be done, we can do it. If you are interested in the technical aspects of my wedding photography, I’ll be happy to go over it with you in detail. If not, just look at the finished pictures. After all, that’s what really counts. 

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Do you take black-and-white pictures?

I most certainly do. But let me dispel a myth you may have heard in your high school photo class. Today the quality of film and digital capture and photographic paper is such that we can take pictures with high quality color negatives or digital cameras and print them on high contrast black-and-white paper. I know you don't believe this; many photographers don't either.  But I can SHOW IT TO YOU! This gives you the option to have either color or black and white or sepia on ANY of your pictures. I can also take pictures on black-and-white film if you prefer. I can also take digital pictures in color or black-and-white. But let me say this: If Ansel Adams were alive today, I believe he would take his pictures on digital capture and PRINT them on black-and-white paper. It's the tonality and contrast and quality of the paper that affects the end product. But YOU are the client. The choice is YOURS. RETURN TO TOP

Can I buy the negatives and/or digital files?

You most certainly can, with rare exception. Read the CONTRACT. Not only can you buy them; I will urge you to buy them and store them in a safe place. They are more precious than your wedding dress. On your 25^th wedding anniversary, when the dog has "eaten" some of your prints, you can always have them reprinted if you have the negatives or digital files or CD.  Without these  however, you cannot get as good a print. And, I can also furnish a CD or DVD with high resolution digital copies of your pictures for you to keep.  The total cost, regardless of the number of images, is $200.

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What about digital pictures? Aren’t they taking the place of negatives and prints?

Yes they are.  As a matter of fact when you take your vacation film to the Drug Store for prints, or Costco or Walmart, what you get back are DIGITAL prints.  Hardly anyone makes chemistry prints anymore.  As far as the "taking" of the pictures, digital is actually superior to film today with professional cameras, especially in low light.  But YOU ARE THE BOSS.  We take them the way YOU want them.

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How long does it take to see my pictures?

Usually within two weeks of your wedding. They are processed and scanned onto the web by a professional lab.  If you decide to purchase prints through me, it takes about three to six weeks to have any enlargements or reprints made. You can also, of course, order directly online from your personal wedding website.  Or you can print your own on your own computer or anywhere you want.

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