First and foremost, I consider myself a storyteller. This means that my style is primarily documentary (candid photos and real moments) with editorial elements brought forward when it comes to your wedding portraits.
My style is always very much influenced by the unique personalities and dynamics of each couple I work with. Since every wedding (and every couple) is so unique, I take a collaborative approach, combining my own artistic eye with the vibe and energy of each couple.
Your wedding day isn't a photo shoot, and I strive to create authentic and sincere imagery without distracting from this hugely important day in your lives.
I love shadows and silhouettes, movement, grain, deep tones, vibrant colours and images that provoke emotion.
How far in advance do we need to book?
Depending on the month you’re getting married, I’m often booked a year or two in advance. I limit the number of weddings that I take on each year to assure that I’ll have ample time to focus on each one individually, so it’s worth reaching out sooner rather than later to reserve your date.
It’s always best to complete your booking as soon as you’re sure I’m the photographer for you. A signed contract and a retainer are due to reserve your date.
Can we ask you to tentatively hold a date for us?
All dates are available on a first come, first served basis. I'm only able to reserve your date when both a contract and a retainer have been submitted.
Do you travel for weddings?
My standard wedding packages include 150km of total travel from Wakefield, Quebec. Additional travel is charged at $1.00/km thereafter.
These fees are only associated with the travel to the first location and from the final location on your wedding day (i.e. travel that falls before or after your actual wedding day coverage). Travel from location to location throughout your wedding day is not billed.
I’m happy to travel to wherever your wedding is taking place; depending on the distance from Ottawa an overnight stay may be required. I have flat travel rates for Montreal, PEC, Kingston, and the Kawarthas.
Are engagement photos included in your packages?
My wedding collections are always custom tailored to fit your day. Once you reach out we'll discuss your wedding day needs and I'll put a collection together that fits the bill (with or without an engagement shoot).
Do you only photograph weddings that take place outdoors?
While I do love outdoor weddings/outdoor venues, I also photograph many urban weddings each year. Always feel free to reach to tell me about your plans and I can let you know if I think my photography style would be a good fit.
We’re eloping, or having a small backyard/city hall wedding and only need a photographer for a couple of hours. Is this something you offer?
I adore shooting small weddings/elopements and I’m always happy to provide partial day coverage. Please reach out to discuss your plans and we can figure out how much coverage is right for you.
Are you the photographer that will be shooting my wedding?
Yes, absolutely! I don’t have a team of associate photographers shooting weddings for me. I will always be the primary photographer at your wedding.
Do you bring a second photographer?
A second (and third) photographer are always available with your wedding coverage depending on your wedding day plans and needs.
I shoot many of my weddings solo. I’m very comfortable and confident in my ability to capture most typical wedding days on my own.
That being said, there are definitely advantages to having two photographers. It allows for more options/flexibility in terms of your getting ready photos, better coverage of your ceremony, and it also means that there’s someone to stay behind and photograph the cocktail hour/reception if we have to step away for group photos or portraits.
Having a second photographer also means I can let them take care of the more standard wedding photos (such as the family/group photos), allowing me to produce more creative photos throughout your wedding day.
It really comes down to your wedding, your preference and the coverage that you desire.
When do you recommend starting photographic coverage, and when do you recommend it ends?
A typical full day of wedding coverage starts ~45 minutes before you get dressed, and ends 20-30 minutes into dancing (or after the last scheduled item you want photographed).
My clients have access to my sample wedding timelines which should help you figure out how much time is needed for each part of the day.
What equipment do you bring to a wedding?
My main camera body is a Canon R5, which is a high-end mirrorless digital camera. The majority of the time I shoot with a 50mm or 35mm lens, but I also carry a 24mm, 85mm, 135mm and a 100mm macro lens.
After dark I rely on flashes, either on camera or on stands, depending on your venue.
Of course, every important piece of equipment in my bag is backed up with a second piece of equipment of equal quality, just in case (knock on wood, I’ve never had any equipment malfunctions).
Are you bilingual?
Unfortunately I don't consider myself fully bilingual. I can understand spoken French however I’m still working on my ability to converse in French.
What type of payments do you accept?
Most people choose to pay via e-transfer, I also accept cash and cheques. Unfortunately, due to the associated fees, I’m not able to accept credit cards at this time.
Are we able to change the details of our wedding day coverage as our wedding day approaches and we have a better grasp of our timeline?
Of course! It’s hard to know, so far in advance, exactly how many hours of photographic coverage you’ll want/need. It’s no trouble at all if you decide to increase or decrease your coverage in the weeks and months leading up to your wedding. I’m always happy to look over your itinerary (once you have it figured out) and let you know if I think your coverage aligns itself with the photos you want from your wedding day.
Will our photos be in colour, black and white, or a mix?
Typically, you should expect your gallery to contain somewhere between 20%-30% black and white images, it really depends on the particular wedding. Some days (or some parts of the day) may lend themselves better to black and white conversion.
If you have an inclination one way or the other I’m happy to edit to suit your preference.
Do you provide retouching, color adjustment, or other corrective services?
Every photo you receive will be fully edited to the extent that you see on my website. This includes tone and white balance adjustment, exposure adjustment, cropping and straightening the images, black and white conversion (when appropriate) and sharpening.
Skin softening/retouching will always be done on you and your partner, however I don’t (by default) edit out moles, freckles, scars, etc.. as they are permanent markings on your face. If you wish to have anything like that removed please let me know prior to the editing process.
How long after our wedding do we have to wait to get our photos?
A sneak peek will be sent to you within seven days of your wedding.
My contract stipulates a maximum of sixty days for delivery of your full gallery, but I always strive to deliver wedding galleries within two to four weeks of your wedding date.
How will we receive our photos?
Once your photos are ready, you will receive a link to a password protected online gallery that contains all of the finished photos from your wedding day for you to view, download and share.
How many photos should we expect?
Every wedding is different. The size of your wedding party, number of guests, length of time allocated for portraits, your florals/decorations/details, number of locations, number of photographers, travel time between locations, etc.. all play their part in how many photos you will end up with.
That being said, 400-600 photos is typical for a standard wedding day (getting ready through dancing).
What happens to the photos that we don’t get?
I am a strong believer that the photos taken by a photographer at a wedding should be seen and loved.
I don’t go through the photos that I’ve shot, choose the top 500 and a call it a day, I provide you with every single photo that I take that is worth delivering (every photo that is well exposed, non-duplicate and, of course, flattering). I cull on camera throughout the day, and while there are always a few photos that (for one reason or another) don’t make the cut once I see them full size on the computer, I don’t withhold photos for no reason.
Don't ever overlook the importance of culling, it's one of your wedding photographer's most important jobs.
How do we go about printing our images?
You have full printing rights for all of the images in your final gallery, and you may use whatever printing vendor you’d like. Printing can also be done directly through your online gallery using my professional print lab.
Can you recommend a vendor for printing our photos ourselves?
I highly recommend Artifact Uprising for all your printing needs. Click here to get a referral to Artifact Uprising and receive $20 off your first order.
Will you be posting images of our wedding on your website, Instagram, etc..?
Yes, I may share some of your images in my portfolio. If this is an issue for you please let me know when you book.
You offer both digital and film photography?
Yep! All wedding packages include both digital and film photography. While the bulk of your wedding day will be digital, I always bring along a few film cameras and snap some photos throughout the day.
How long have you been a professional photographer for?
I started photographing weddings in 2009 as a second shooter. After a few years of second shooting, I started photographing weddings on my own.
What are the next steps if we would like to book you?
If you book me as your wedding photographer there will be an initial questionnaire that I’ll ask you to fill out to get a basic feel for your wedding day. A signed contract and retainer ($1000) will be due to reserve your date.
Serving La Pêche (Wakefield), Ottawa, PEC, Montreal + The Kawarthas
Ottawa & Wakefield wedding photographer specializing in outdoor and urban weddings
Love is love - this is an inclusive space for everyone