What kind of camera equipment to you shoot with?

Camera Body: Canon 5D Markii

Camera Lenses: (All Canon) 24mm 1.4 L, 35 mm 2.0, 50mm 1.2 L, 70-200mm 2.8 L, 100mm Macro 2.8, 45mm T/S 2.8

Lighting: (2) Canon 580 Speedlights, (1) 430 Canon Speedlight, 4 Pocket Wizards, (2) Cheeta Light Stands

Other Equipment: Mega-awesome tripod, Large Reflector, Small Reflector, Lens Hoods, UV Filters, Polarizers (rarely use for portrait use, mainly landscape), a slew of eneloop rechargeable batteries (LOVE THESE) us in all light gear, extra camera batteries.

Do you release digital files? What does that mean, can I print my own images?

All portrait sessions and wedding packages include digital images. Portrait sessions include low resolution digital files and wedding packages include high and low resolution files. This means that you get the images from your session or wedding on a CD or DVD and you have a partial copyright which allows you the right to print as many copies as you would like at the printer of your choosing, although I have a preferred printer that I recommend you use for accurate colors and printing quality. When you book the session you will sign an electronic document which releases me to publish your images on my blog and in a password protected gallery for you to view and share with friends and family. I will also sign the contract releasing a partial copyright to you.

What are the differences between low and high resolution files?

The difference is in the file size. Low resolution files are for internet sharing (via facebook, email, personal blog etc…), they are formatted for quick upload and are not intended to be printed. High resolution files can be printed up to size 24×36.

How many images will I receive with my portrait session? Wedding?

I will take anywhere from 200-300 images during a photoshoot and between 1,000-1,500 images during a wedding. I do not limit the number of images taken. The longer the wedding, the more images. After going through a culling process and sorting through the images I end up with around 40 images for most portrait sessions and 500 images for most weddings.

Do you edit all of the images from the session? wedding?

All images are captured in RAW format. Shooting in RAW allows for the most precise and accurate corrections if needed. Images are edited for exposure, color balance and contrast and then converted to JPG. All of the images in your online gallery as well as the images you will receive on DVD or CD will be edited in this manor. A few images that I blog will be further edited in photoshop. These images are the images that I share on my blog or use on my website. I am not a fan of over-photoshopping an image, however, I do use photoshop to pop colors, remove blemishes or other distracting objects or even add a texture to an image. If there is an image in your gallery that you wish to be further edited in this way you may place an order for a print online through your gallery. All orders placed through me will be further edited. If you wish to have the digital file for a further edited (or photoshopped) image, you can also purchase this through your online gallery. Here are a few examples:

How long is my online gallery avaliable?

Portrait session galleries are online for 30 days and wedding galleries are online for 90 days after their posting date. Once the gallery has expired there is a $30 fee to re-post the gallery for another 30 days (for both portrait and wedding galleries).

What is a print credit?

A print credit is like a gift certificate that can be redeemed for prints and products ordered online through your gallery. There are many different types of products available besides prints such as photobooks, accordion albums, greeting cards, gallery canvas wraps, acrylic and metal prints and flushmount albums. If you would like to take a look at examples of any of these products before placing your order feel free to set up an appointment to come by the office and view them.

If you are sold on DIY and you would rather have the High Resolution files than a print credit with your session, you can exchange the print credit for the High Resolution Digital Files which can be printed up to size 24×36.

Why are the 5×7 images that I ordered cropped? 

Your images are captured with a full frame camera and will print in ratios of 4×6. This means they will print at sizes: 4×6, 6×9, 8×12, 12×18, 24×34. You are probably use to sizes like 4×5, 5×7, 8×10 and 11×14. I can explain this best by using the current TV switch from STANDARD SCREEN to WIDESCREEN. Before people had widescreen televisions in their home, widescreen was the format that you watched movies in at the theatre and standard screen was the size that a general consumer watched a movie at home. When the movie was converted from widescreen to standard screen, movie detail was lost (the sides were cut off). This is similar to professional full frame cameras vs. the standard consumer’s camera. Our cameras are full frame. Professional print sizes differ from consumer print sizes. It is recommended to keep your images at their full frame, meaning order in sizes that are the ration 4×6. If you place an order for prints through me, I will remind you at the time of your order if you choose a size that will crop the image (such as 5×7 or 8×10). However, if you order on your own via our recommended printer (MPix.com) the full frame print sizes are available but so are standard sizes so make sure you choose wisely. If you choose to print at a standard size (5×7, 8×10) your images will be cropped.

Are you in Corpus Christi or Fort Worth? Do you charge a travel fee? Will you travel anywhere within Texas for a Wedding? Portrait Session?

I apologize for the mass confusion about my location. We recently relocated from Fort Worth, TX to Corpus Christi, TX. We still have family and dear friends in Fort Worth and will travel back often. Currently there is no travel fee for weddings booked in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. However, for most weddings outside of Corpus Christi there is a small travel fee. I do not travel for portrait sessions, however, I do post on my blog and Facebook when I will be in town and available for portrait sessions. There is never a travel fee added for portrait sessions when I am already in town. If you are in DFW and would like to be on my Dallas/Fort Worth photography mailing list enter your info below and you will be the first to know when I am in town and avaliable to book portrait sessions:

Do you still sell organic bloom frames?

Sorry, I am not selling organic bloom frames at this time.

What is first sight?

First sight is a time when the Bride and Groom see each other for the first time on their wedding day in their wedding attire. No one else is around for this moment except the Bride, Groom and wedding photographers. This can be done in the ceremony location or another specified location. Usually the Groom stands facing one direction and the Bride walks towards him and signals when she is near for him to turn and face her. It is a beautiful moment.

Benefits of First Sight:

• Bride and Groom get a few minutes alone without anyone else around

• Generally speaking, everyone is about 90% less stressed once the Bride and Groom have seen each other

• All formal pictures can be done ahead of time

• There is time for unique and creative shots outdoors in the beautiful, natural light.

• Your ceremony can start later (for those desiring an evening wedding) and you do not have to worry about having enough natural light for fun and creative wedding photos

• You can go straight to the reception after your ceremony

Most evening weddings which choose not to do first sight end up with a few flash pictures of the bride and groom together and the rest of the formal images are all indoor flash images. The reason most people hire me is because of the creative and fun images they want of their wedding day. In order to produce these images I need time and light.

When will my wedding images be ready?

I will blog a sneak peak of your wedding within 2 weeks after your wedding date. Your full wedding gallery will be online for viewing and sharing 4-6 weeks after your wedding date and the disc of with your digital images will be mailed soon after that.

Can we bring our dog to our portrait session?

Well, of course! I love dogs. Make sure you also bring a long leash, short leash, water dish, bottle of water, and possibly an extra person to take the dog for shots that the dog will not be included in.

What should I wear?

A fellow photographer wrote an excellent article about how to dress for engagement sessions, I believe this can also be translated to any other session as well. Check out that article by clicking here.