FAQ's and other things to think about...Before Your Wedding!


•   Who will be photographing my wedding?  You have hired a professional photographer to take beautiful and memorable picture of your special day.  It is important that the professional be allowed to do his very best.  Until I get so booked up, and I cannot photograph all the weddings, I will hire someone else that is equally qualified, and you will know this, too, and if you don't like him/her and her work, you are free to go somewhere else.


•   What are the advantages of having a solo photographer?

•   Many photographers want their subjects to be themselves and act naturally, and forget there's a photographer in the room. This is very easy for the solo wedding photographer. One of the things many photographers want to hear, is that the bride and groom "didn't notice that the photographer was there." The bride and groom can relax and enjoy their friends and family. Working alone allows that single photographer to blend in, to disappear in the crowd, and to be easily forgotten, while capturing magnificent, natural, images.

•   There are many photographers who feel that by working alone, they provide their clients with the best possible images. Having one photographer means you're dealing with one person who's had many conversations with you since you first met. The solo wedding photographer know your wants and your needs and understands WHO you are: The photographer can sense when you're going smile or cry or do that cute thing with your nose that your groom so loves about you. The photographer knows you. The better your photographer knows you, the better and more personal the images are going to be.

•   CREDITS: Rob Rife Photography
http://www.rifephoto.com/ http://www.rifephoto.com



•   HOW TO NOT CHOOSE A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

•    You have seen it on practically every wedding photographer's web page and in bridal magazines.  It seems that everyone wants to give the bride and groom advice on how to choose a wedding photographer.   Most of what I have read is sound and useful advice, but I thought it might be helpful to write an article that explores this in more detail.   So lets look at the mistakes brides and grooms often make in choosing their photographer.

•   .  Over the past 25 years as a wedding photographer, I have had the opportunity to speak with well over a thousand engaged couples. .   I am always surprised by some of the criteria many of them use to choose their wedding photographer. .   Here are the top 7 mistakes I feel many brides and grooms make when selecting a photographer for their big day:


•   1. RELYING ON WEDDING VENDOR REFERRALS. This may be the worst mistake of them all. Many wedding vendors trade referrals with other wedding professionals with no real knowledge of the other's work. And yes, many times it's an honest referral based upon working a few weddings with one another. But how much can a DJ, for example, really know about the quality of a wedding photographer's work? Often times this type of referral is just based on the fact that the DJ has worked with the photographer at a number of events and liked him or her. Did the DJ ever see the final result? Did they see the wedding album? Probably not.


•   2. JUDGING A PHOTOGRAPHER BASED SOLELY ON A "GREATEST HITS" WEDDING ALBUM PORTFOLIO. There is nothing more misleading regarding a photographer's talent than looking at a sample wedding album that is a compilation of their best shots at 50 different weddings. An album such as this may be useful in understanding just how great an image they are capable of producing, but that's really all it tells you. Ask to be shown an album of one entire wedding from start to finish. A good wedding photographer should be able to produce a number of complete albums, which will give you a better idea of how your own wedding will be photographed. Virtually anybody with a decent camera can get one great shot per wedding!


•   3. PAYING TOO MUCH ATTENTION TO THE SALES PITCH. Every photographer can tell you great things about themselves and so they should. But in your initial wedding consultation, look for photographers who are interested in YOU. A good photographer will want to know the types of photography styles you are interested in and what you are looking for in a wedding photographer. A photographer who asks you lots of questions about your wedding and your preferences will probably also be more likely to listen to you and have a better sense of what you want. If the wedding meeting is just one long lecture from the photographer, move on to the next photographer. Find someone who cares.


•   4. NOT ASSESSING THE PHOTOGRAPHER'S PERSONALITY. This is a biggie. You will spend the entire day with your photographer. If you don't get along with him or her, it can ruin what should be the happiest day of your life. Rude and bossy photographers can also cause problems with your guests. Find a photographer who is easy to talk to and who you can establish good rapport with.


•   5. CHOOSING "UNCLE BOB" TO SHOOT YOUR WEDDING! With digital cameras now in practically everyone's hands, there seems to be a lot more "wedding photographers" out there. The fact that a friend or relative is good with his new digital camera does not mean he can handle a wedding. And what about file backups? Does your family photographer know how to do a correct backup, or even have the proper computer hardware to do it? In my business, I bring a portable hard drive to every wedding and the images are uploaded and checked on the spot. When I get back to my studio, the images are uploaded to my main computer and then backed up on an external hard drive. Once that is complete, 2 back up DVD's are burned. Only then will I erase the cards I used for the wedding. You don't want your memories to go up in smoke along with a burnt out hard drive.


•   6. CARING ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHERS TYPE OF CAMERA EQUIPMENT. In this day and age, a photographer can make great images with any medium to high quality camera. Wedding photographers who spend an inordinate amount of time discussing the type of equipment they use may not be the right person for you. What you really want to know is what type of images they can produce and if they can show you plenty of samples. It's the final result that matters. If you are happy with what they show you and everything else checks out OK, you can assume their equipment is adequate for the task.


•   7. CONFUSION OVER PRICING. If you can't understand the pricing or packages, keep looking. Package pricing, if flexible, is the best way to go. It allows you to have a better idea of what your final bill will be. Ala carte pricing can confuse and be misleading. You may assume that something you though was included in their coverage costs extra. Like a wedding album! However, a photographer who only offers strictly structured packages should also be avoided. Ultimately, you want to find someone who will work within your budget and give you exactly what you want. If you don't see a package that fits your needs, ask the photographer to let you design your own.


•   This list was not intended to intimidate people in the market for a wedding photographer. It should, however, help you understand what's important. Find a photographer with a style you prefer and who shows you images that you love. Use that initial consultation as a way to get to know your photographer and develop rapport. Talk to some former clients to get a sense of how the photographer behaved at the wedding. If everything looks good, you are ready to make your decision!

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CREDITS: MIKE DUBONOFF of Dubonoff Photography http://www.dubnoffphotography.com



•   Someone I know has offered to do our wedding for $700 and give us the digital files. Wouldn't that be a great way to save money?

•   Wedding photography is similar to other services in that there are people operating at all levels of experience and expertise. Pricing is one way that those with the most experience or expertise distinguish themselves. So, if you commission a wedding photographer who will shoot all day and hand over the files for such a low price, you may not be getting the quality images that you'd hoped for. Wedding photographers operating at this level are often either beginners with little experience or casual part-time shooters. Most professional wedding photographers have invested hundreds of hours perfecting their craft, from the actual use of the camera to the skill and artistic ability required to create the perfect album design. Keep in mind that operating any small business incurs expenses, and professional wedding photography is no exception. This includes not only standard photographic equipment, but also more specialized items and backup equipment. Wedding photographers who charge as low a rate as you describe may have neither the backup gear should something go wrong nor the insurance to cover themselves in the event of an accident.

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CREDITS: WEDFOG.COM http://www.wedfog.com

•   Is it OK for my family to photograph the pictures that you just photographed?   In regards to Flash lighting, PLEASE ask your friends and family to be sure to wait until the photographer has finished taking his picture before they start shooting.  This is especially important during the formal pictures at the church in front of the altar and at the reception during the cake cutting.  

•   There are two reasons for this:  First of all the photographer composes the formal pictures as well as those at the reception to produce the best images possible for your album.   I use highly powered flash units that require a lot of battery power to do this.   Secondly, the flash may require a few seconds to recycle for the next flash.  If the flash has just gone off from another person's flash, or has not quite recycled all the way, the photographer might miss a precious moment or you will get the pictures where his flash did not fire completely because it did not have time to fully recycle - thus, creating a bad picture.  It creates an overexposed look that isn't glamorous.

Do you do Gift Certificates? And if so, how much are they? What kind of increments can I buy for my friend that's getting married? I've used your services before, and would like to give them a gift certificate. No Problem! See the "gift certificate" icon above, and purchase a gift certificate for your friends and loved ones.
•   Is it edited?  Put onto DVD?---The answer to that is YES! You'll get 4 sets: 1 Draft DVD set; and 3 DVD sets for you, and your families.

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•   How do I get a list of all the people that I want photographed for my formal pictures?  There are just so many!
No need to worry!  I have a check list and will give you one so you can check off all the pictures you want, and if for some reason one of the pictures aren't checked off, no sweat, I will be more than happy to take care of you right on the spot.  Also, there will be spaces left on that check list that you can write additional pictures not listed on my check off sheet.

•   Do you have a cell phone, just in case I have to get a hold of you while you're not home?  Or, while you're photographing our wedding, plans change?
Yes, I do.  It's 414/881-7137.

•   How many pictures do I get?  Or do I only get a few pictures.  I have looked at a lot of other photographer's/photo studios, and they only give like 25 pictures to pick from.  How does it work for you?
No need to worry,  you will be receiving 400 photographs, plus 50 photographs if you have me photograph your Engagement session(all day-ABSOLUTE PACKAGE ONLY) from your wedding.  

•   I do photograph in digital. 
 Even in 2011, I will be investing thousands of dollars in perfecting that area of my business so you, too will get the absolute best quality for your photographs.


•   What kind of camera equipment do you use?  I use a lot of Professional Digital Canon cameras and lenses, and I upgrade to better ones all the time.    I have specialty filters from B & W, Metz Flashes (definitely the best for weddings, bar none!)   And, I use only professional films and products for my clientele'.   As well as professional imaging services.

Any questions outside of these areas, please e-mail

Thank you,



Eric's Expressions Photography
Eric R. Klingsten
Owner/Photography Artist










•   Any more questions?  You may click on   ericsexpressions@gmail.com