Vivid Photography - Weddings

Congratulations on booking your wedding photography with Vivid Photography!

What happens now that I have booked Vivid Photography?
You will receive written confirmation from the studio confirming your booking, along with a receipt when the deposit has been paid. If there are any aspects of the wedding that may effect the photography, or you would like advice regarding other aspects of your wedding day, you should discuss them with us as we may have some helpful suggestions to make. The next step is to book in your complimentary portrait session.

What do I need to know about the pre wedding portrait session?
As part of your wedding photography package you receive a free portrait session. It is great if the location for this can be somewhere which is meaningful for the two of you, however we can help with some great locations around Brisbane if you like. You can dress up as well, as we find this photographs much better than casual clothes. Please avoid clothing which is too busy or which will date quickly. We suggest dinner out afterwards as it gives you a chance to talk about the shoot. Well hey... you are dressed for it anyway, so why not.

What happens to our pre wedding portrait images?
You will be invited in to the studio to view your images and, whilst enjoying a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, you will have the opportunity to discuss the wonderful images we have created and view any of the display options we have available.

When should I see the photographer leading up to the wedding?
Although we are available to help you with planning your wedding day any time, we generally schedule a wedding planning session one week before the wedding day. It is at this time we finalise all times, locations, family details, as well as styles and concepts for photography on the day.

Can I give you magazine clippings of certain images I like or a list of photos I want?
As you have chosen Vivid Photography to photograph your wedding day, we are sure you like our style of photography. We do however encourage input regarding locations, style, and special requests. Magazine clippings can further help us identify the style of imagery you are looking for, even though we do not try to copy other photographer’s concepts. Special requests are of course welcome and we encourage requests for particular shots like guests who have travelled, or a special Aunt or Uncle.

How much time should we set aside for photography?
Things to keep in mind are the size of your bridal party, travel to locations and type of car being used (some vintage cars are extremely slow!) As a guide, 1.5 - 2.5 hours (excluding travel) is a good amount of photographic time after the service to get the family groups, bridal party and have a location shoot. It is better to have too much time than not enough. Remember, if anything makes you run late during the day the photo shoot is usually where time is taken to get back on track. So having some contingency time up your sleeve is a good idea.

What is the best time of day to take photographs?
That really depends on the weather. On a cloudy day it doesn’t really matter. On a sunny day the best time is the hour before sunset and the half hour after. This is something we will take into consideration and advise you about as you plan your day. It is sometimes better to use locations where the light is most flattering rather than to have hard and fast ideas about particular locations, and we can assist you with this. It is our job after all.

What if I hate posing for photos?
While many couples prefer to have their wedding captured candidly it is not necessarily the best way to shoot the whole day. Candid photos can be taken while your attention is on something else, during the ceremony, while interacting with guests etc. But there are other times during the day that you will need to be directed or posed for good results. A good photographer is skilled in making people feel comfortable. They are able to create an atmosphere, mood or feeling that
allows them to pose you in a fluid and flattering way, in a way that will make your images look relaxed. You experience this whilst posing for your pre wedding portrait images, and this will help in allaying any fears. The most important thing is to relax and be yourself.

How long will our photographer stay with us on the wedding day?
All wedding photography packages at Vivid Photography include the photography coverage of the Bride and Groom’s preparation locations before the wedding, and all that follows until the guests are seated at the reception. If you require any extra time please make the request prior to the wedding day.

What about red-eye & glasses?
Red eye is caused by amateur flash cameras and will not be an issue for a professional photographer. Glasses can present a few challenges to us such as unwanted glare which can effect the final image. Wearing non-reflective lenses can be a great help.

I have certain features that usually don’t photograph well. Can they be fixed in my wedding pictures?
We all tend to be a bit self-conscious about aspects of our appearance. If you are concerned you can discuss it with us before the wedding so that we can suggest angles and poses that are the most flattering for you. Some things can be fixed in post-production, however minimizing problems on the day helps, as there can sometimes be an extra charge depending on the digital work involved.

Can my uncle who is a keen photographer come on our photo shoot as well?
At Vivid Photography we do not mind if your guests take pictures of the day’s proceedings. We only request that there are no other photographers whilst we are on location after the ceremony and before the reception. This enables us to have your full attention, and allows us to work more efficiently with you, as well as the light and the time.

What equipment will you be using on the day?

What happens after the wedding?
Once you return from your honeymoon your images will be ready for viewing. Your viewing appointment will have been made at your final meeting before the wedding. We like to create a fun celebratory atmosphere at the viewing so feel free to invite family and friends to the viewing... the champagne is on us! Your proof book should arrive a week after the viewing, and the album design begins a week after that.

Will we be viewing proofs or finished files?
Vivid Photography is a full service studio and does not give you images straight from the camera (proofs). Every image you get has been lovingly developed by hand and assessed for colour accuracy and tone so you get a refined and finished product. We also process a number of images as black and whites, apply various tints and special effects. When your album is created, images to be included in the album are also developed further; for example removing skin blemishes or applying subtle airbrushing, cleaning up distracting elements to improve composition etc. We call this reality enhancement.

How much input will we have in the design of our wedding album?
Our albums have won many awards and are all individually designed to be a feature of your home and your life. However, all clients want something different when creating their wedding album. With this in mind we design your album in advance and include more images than less. This enables us to show you all the possibilities we see available with your unique set of wedding images, and how the story might flow. It is then up to you to work together with us to refine the album reflecting preferences and budget.

How long does the album take to create?
Once the initial album design is created with you, the magazine pages are then designed. You are invited to come in and view the designs after 7 days, signing off once you are happy with the design work. The design process can be completed within one week provided you provide us with text etc when requested. The album construction takes place over the next three weeks with the completed album ready to be delivered one month from the initial design appointment.

What about the negatives?
Unless you have booked a package which specifically allows the release of high resolution files, all your wedding files will be available for copyright release two years from your wedding date. You may however purchase image files before this, so please refer to the package information for more details.

How long will my wedding photos last?
The longevity of your images depends on their proper storage and care. If you take ownership of of digital images, they should be backed-up regularly. As we only use professional products, your photographic or inkjet prints can last up to 200 years depending on the paper/ink combination and if stored in cool, dry conditions. All our products and albums are archival quality that will give you decades enjoyment. Your album will be a family heirloom that you can pass on to successive generations.

Great tips for the wedding day

Always get plenty of sleep the night before and restrict heavy drinking (red eyes).
Try to delegate all the jobs set aside for the morning to someone else, maybe a family member.
Do not play any contact sports the week before that might cause injury or disfigurement.
If using your own, or will be borrowing cars, ensure the drivers are local and know where they are going.
Always try on your suits when you pick them up and practice tying ties to ensure all runs smoothly on the day.
Please take note of your ready times given to you by Vivid. It is extremely important we do not run behind schedule. Ensure both hair & makeup are aware of these times and work to them. If they run over time, we will not be able to provide you with quite the same coverage.
For the photo shoot an esky is essential for you and your bridal party. After the ceremony everyone is ready to relax and as the bridal party are not always in the photos, this gives them something to do whilst chatting. For example, you might pack champagne for photos as well as a cheese platter or just crisps.
It is a great idea to brief the family and bridal party about what will be required of them in terms of photography. For example family need to be around after the ceremony for family photos - not off home to feed the baby. The bridal party might be briefed about how important the photos are to you, and you would appreciate them not disappearing somewhere for a smoke.

The day is here... all the hard work has been done... now it is time to relax, have fun, and enjoy the experience.