FAQ’S

You probably have a million & one questions & don’t even know where to begin. You may have even looked to Pinterest for ‘questions to ask my photographer’! I’ve been there. I know how overwhelming wedding planning can be.

So, below you can find some frequently asked questions that most brides have.

WEDDING DAY

Do you require a retainer?
Yes. To secure your wedding date, I require a signed contract & $1000 which is a non-refundable payment that counts towards the final wedding day total. The remaining amount plus any travel fees or upgrades to your package are split into two installments with the final payment due two weeks before your wedding date. Custom payment plans can be arranged.

What is a ‘first look’? Do you recommend this?
When you & your fiancé decide to have a first look, that means you see each other before the ceremony. The biggest reason for doing a first look is that you get to spend more time together on your wedding day! Want to know the other benefits? Hop over to this blog post! If your ceremony is late in the day, we run the risk of running out of sunlight & may end up trying to take photos in the dark. However, if you want to stick with tradition, I totally understand. 

I’m so uncomfortable in front of the camera. Help!
Worry no more! Part of my job is making you feel comfortable with a camera in your face. Yes, we may be laughing at how unnatural the situation may be, but it translates into the most fantastic photos. Laugh! Smile! The rest is up to me.

When is the best time to start formal photos the day of the wedding?
Ideally, we would start taking photos at least 2.5 hours prior to the ceremony, but this significantly depends on the size of your bridal party, whether or not we’re traveling in between venues, & the number of people involved in your formal family photos, etc. Regardless of how we've scheduled things, 30 minutes before the ceremony, I halt all photos & we get into position. 

How long do family photos normally take?
Depending on the size & cooperation of your family, I can generally get this done in 30 minutes or less. In the weeks before the wedding, you & I will come up with a shot list to ensure we get the shots you want in the time we have. I do prefer to knock these all out at one time, not broken up throughout the day.

How many photos do you deliver for a wedding day?
I deliver on average 600-800 photos per wedding if I'm shooting by myself, 1000-1200 per wedding if there is a second photographer. But, this does not mean I limit myself on the number of photos I take. The number of wedding photos delivered heavily depends on length of wedding day coverage, size of family & bridal party, & number of guests present, & so much more.

COMPLIMENTARY ENgagement session

Tell me more! Can I trade or swap this for something else?
The engagement session is our chance to really get to know each other. I get to know you & your love story better, & you get to experience how I work/direct/pose you guys. When the wedding rolls around, you already know exactly what I mean when I ask you to giggle down your shoulder! There are a few stipulations for this, so let’s talk about it in our next meeting. Because this is truly complimentary, it cannot be traded or swapped for anything else.

PORTRAIT SESSIONS

How many photos do you deliver for engagement or bridal sessions?
I deliver anywhere from 75-150 photos for a portrait session. From there, you get to pick out your favorite 50 to keep. Yes, you can always upgrade & buy all of them!

When should I schedule my bridal session?
Most of my brides schedule theirs within 6-8 weeks of their wedding because it primarily depends on when alterations are completed. However, twice I have done a bridal session SIX DAYS before the wedding day, & each bride had framed prints at their reception. It’s a little hectic, but doable!

TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATIONS

Do you charge any travel expenses?
There are no travel fees for weddings within a 30 mile radius of the capitol building in Austin, Texas. Anything outside of that radius is 67¢/mile for 2024 & is subject to change with each calendar year. Hotel stays, flights, & car rentals are also considered into the final cost. Weddings that are more than 60 miles away from Austin, Tomball (located in NW Houston), Dallas, or Fort Worth, require at least one night in a hotel. This is for everybody’s safety.

PHOTOS & POST-PROCESSING

How quickly do I get to see my photos?
You can expect to see the full set of wedding photos in the online proofing gallery in roughly 4-6 weeks, & engagement photos in 2-3 weeks. During peak wedding seasons, it might take longer.

Will I see all of the photos you take?
Part of my job is combing through every photo taken & determining if it meets my standards & helps tell the story of your wedding day or portrait session. Know that all of the photos in your gallery will be the good photos. "Good" means that the photos are in focus, everyone's eyes are open, it wasn't a test shot or a misfire, the photo makes sense compositionally, the photo wasn't a duplicate of another photo, etc. If I end up with 10 versions of almost the exact same photo (for example, during family portraits) I will choose the best one or two. 

Do you edit any of the photos?
I believe in giving every photo a little bit of extra loving to make them even more special than they already are. Every photo you see in your proofing gallery has already been touched up. Worried about a blemish or two? If it will be gone next week, it will be gone from your photo! One less thing to worry about!

How many copies of each USB do I get?
You will only get one copy of each USB. If you get the USB & discover that it is corrupt or it gets lost in the mail, I will send you a new USB.

Your portrait session photos will initially be delivered via digital transfer (ie, Dropbox, WeTransfer, etc), then included on your final wedding USB. One less thing for you to keep track of!

Where do I go to view my photos? How many can I buy? How long will I have access to the gallery? 
I will upload the final edited photos to my online proofing gallery (www.emilyross.smugmug.com) where you can view all of your photos & order as many prints as your heart desires. Each gallery is password protected, but you are allowed to share the password with anyone. Proofing galleries will remain live for 6 months after being released then will be archived. After 6 months, there will be a $150 reinstatement fee to view your gallery & purchase prints & will expire again after 30 days.