How many weddings do you shoot a year?
We limit the number of weddings we shoot every year (20/yr) to ensure that we can take the time to get to know our clients and provide a higher level of service. We believe the process in getting to know our clients is just as important as the coverage for the day of the wedding in order to fully capture all the little details that make our couples who they are. Your wedding photos should be a unique reflection of who you are.
What is your experience? How long have you been photographing weddings?
My love for photography started in 2000 when I received my first film SLR camera. I began shooting anything and everything, including landscapes, travel, and portraits. It progressed into shooting weddings in 2005, and I’ve been focusing mainly on weddings ever since. I have studied and all our photographers continue to study under some of the top renowned photographers in the world (ie Joe Buissink, Matthew Jordan Smith, Mike Colon, Scott Robert, Yervant, Zack Arias), so that the photography here at Esther JuLee never stops growing and improving and that we are continually updated with the newest trends in the industry.
Do you do other kinds of photography aside from weddings?
We primarily focus on weddings, bridals, engagements, and trash-the-dress sessions, but we also do many other types of portraiture, including maternity and family. We would love to not only document your wedding day but to continue photographing and documenting every important stage in your lives.
How many hours of wedding coverage will you provide?
Our base coverage starts at six hours and go up to full day. Full day coverage includes any coverage you need within the 24 hour period of your wedding day. After discussing the order of events with you, together, we can decide the optimal amount of time in order to capture the story of your wedding day.
Do you shoot alone or will you have an assistant? Do we have to pay him/her too?
For a wedding day, there are two photographers that will be present. We do not recommend having only one photographer to cover a wedding. For engagement, trash the dress, and bridal shoots, there will be one photographer and possibly an additional photographer or assistant determined by what each session requires. If requested, there is an additional fee of 150 per hour per additional photographer and 50 per hour for assistant.
What is the difference between an assistant and second photographer?
An assistant is not required to take any photos. They may or may not take photos. Their main job is to help the main photographer. and their tasks include assisting with lighting, carrying and holding equipment, and organizing group photos. Their experience is minimal compared to a second shooter. A second shooter is required to have a minimum of 3 months training under our company and have shot at least 10 weddings. They will provide photographic coverage with the same signature Esther JuLee look and feel.
For a destination weddings, is travel fee included?
We include travel fees (including airfare, accommodations, rental cars) nationwide in the continental U.S. (48 states). International travel is not included. We can provide you with a more accurate quote depending on your wedding location.
What is a photobooth?
Photobooths can mean a lot of different things to different people. Old school photobooths were those cramped machines you’d hop into, pull a curtain, then poof, you have your little strip of photos. Ours is a bit different but the perfect accessory for any reception or party and is a unique way for your guests to leave you a memory of them. We set up a mini studio then direct your family and friends for the photos. We don’t do any of the “1, 2, 3, Cheese!” business but really bring out the crazy, fun, and wild side of guests – even the ones you’d least expect it from! The photobooth includes set up and tear down and all booth images are included in your DVD. You’ll need roughly a 12×12 foot area and guests ready to have some fun! Here is an example of a photobooth.
What are digital negatives?
Digital negatives are high resolution image files individually color corrected to our strict proofing standards and burned on DVD.
All color corrected digital negatives on DVD – how many exactly do we get? What does with album delivery mean?
On average, you may get anywhere from 800-1200 depending on how many many hours of coverage and how many photographers are covering the event. You will receive these with the delivery of your wedding album. You will not receive the digital negatives without an album. We do this to ensure the quality of our final products and do not want to have associations with album makers that we do not trust to be of the highest quality.
Who owns the copyrights and what rights do I have to digital negatives?
Per federal law, the author of the photo or image owns the copyright. Copyright ownership cannot be sold to any person for any price. All work from photographers with our company belong to Esther JuLee Photography, LLC. We highly recommend that you order prints through us to ensure the quality from a professional printing lab. However, when you receive a DVD of images, you will also receive a print release form that allows you to make prints or for personal use. The release is specific to the person or persons purchasing the digital negatives only and cannot be copied or reproduced for others’ use. If family or other wedding guests would like to purchase digital negatives or prints, they can do so through our proofing site.
Can we post them in our Facebook account?
If you would like to share the photos on facebook, blog, other social media, we ask that you use the smaller resolution files with our logo or alternatively a photo credit with a link.
What are color corrected digital negatives?
Color correction is the first step towards finishing a photo. To the left is an example of an original image straight out of camera. You generally never see the photos at this stage, but this is where we begin. Sadly, this is what a lot of photographers present as their images. To the right is an example of a color corrected image after making minor adjustments to adjust exposure, color temperature, etc.
Sometimes the original photos may not need much color correction. However, color correction is necessary to to provide consistency with all photos delivered to the client.
What’s the difference between color corrected and artistically retouched images?
See above for color corrected example. Artistic retouching is the finishing step to give each photo its own personality and the signature Esther JuLee look and feel. It also includes skin tone, mild acne, and other small imperfections. This is the finished product. See more examples of originals and artistically enhanced photos here. Online proofing galleries will have the finished images for purchase as prints or high resolution files.
Can we discuss how we want the post-processing on the photos to look?
We are more than happy to hear your feedback on your own style and preferences. We do, however, ask our clients to allow Esther JuLee Photography complete creative control, and ask that the client agrees and understands that the type of work we produce will be of similar style and quality to the images shown on our website.
Why is there a price difference between your prints and other photographers and labs?
When any image is being printed, the process to prepare the photo can take hours. It is a very specialized skill so we charge accordingly. There is a big price difference for a number of reasons. Below are just a few explaining the differences between your local one-hour photo centers to the professional photo lab where we do our prints.
- The Qualify of Paper – Your local photo center uses low quality printing paper. They may be great for everyday use, but for the sake of keepsakes our professional photo lab uses high-quality photographic archival paper.
- Printing Equipment – Most local photo centers use antiquated and out-dated printing equipment. This will result in lower quality photos. Our photo lab uses the latest and greatest equipment to ensure accuracy and quality.
- Calibration – Have you ever received a photo back from your local photo center that looked too blue? Or too yellow? That’s because before printing, the photos are slightly tweaked. Although they are supposed to make the photo look better, many times they make the photo look worse. We work closely with the lab to ensure that the photos are carefully tweaked. We retouch the images and calibrate it according to the specific printer.
- Size – Size may not be everything but when it comes to prints of your wedding day, a nice large print or canvas print is truly a great thing to have in the house. Local photo centers simply stretch the photos to the size you are looking for, resulting in a large print but low quality. We have a special process that allows us to enlarge the image to virtually any size without loss of quality.
- Time, Time, and Time – Your local photo center will definitely be quick, but they will not use the time, software, or hardware required to give each photo the attention they truly deserve.
- Guarantee – We want to make sure you’re happy with your photos. If you ever receive a print that isn’t up to par, just let us know and we’ll do our best to ensure you have amazing prints that match the amazing memories we have captured!
Who picks the photoshoot locations?
It’s a collaborative process, and we will be in open communication with you throughout the process and hope to include your ideas as well. However, Esther JuLee Photography reserves the right to have complete creative control, which includes the final location and direction of any shoot. Some locations, although very scenic, may not be good choices for photoshoots.
Do you guide us on what to do, what to wear, what to bring (props, etc)?
If you would like direction in how to style the shoot, we’d love to give more feedback. It is a collaborative effort, and because we take a limited number of weddings a year, we love being part of the process just as much as the day of the shoot. For a 1-3 hour engagement, we recommend up to only one outfit change and up to two locations. As far as guiding on posing, it depends on the couple and how comfortable they are in front of the camera. We generally provide most of the direction. What we recommend for clothing: simple, bright colors; nothing too busy; no white; and unless you dress like twins on a regular basis, we recommend you not dressing like twins for the shoot.
How long are engagement sessions? If the session says up to three hours, do we get the full three hours?
Engagement sessions on average run anywhere from 1-3 hours. More often than not, the session may run to the full 3 hours. If you request additional time to add multiple locations and outfit changes, it will be an additional $150 per photographer per hour. Esther JuLee photographers may end the session at their discretion after determining having captured adequate images both in quality and quantity. If the session is ended prior to the maximum amount of time, there will be no refund or credit for unused time.
What is your payment process?
50% is paid up front to reserve the date. 50% is paid 30 days before the wedding date. Non-wedding sessions require a $100 deposit in order to reserve the date.
For the camera geeks: What photography gear do you use?
Two 5D Mark IIs and a 5D. To a wedding, we generally shoot with a 16-35/2.8L, 24-105/4L, 70-200/2.8L with IS, 50/1.2L, and a 50/2.5 macro.
Are you bundled up with other wedding vendors, like coordinators, caterers, etc?
No, we are not officially working with other vendors, but we do have a preferred vendors list whom we love working with.
If you have any other questions not answered here, please send them to: esther@estherjulee.com