Can you provide us with pricing?
Please email me at info@ryansandsphotography.com and I will be more than happy to send you my full pdf pricing packet containing all the information you need.
How do we pay our deposit? Credit card, check or cash?
I accept cash, checks and all major credit cards. Please note: Beginning in 2018, there is now a 2.5% convenience fee applied to all credit card transactions. There is no fee with cash and check transactions.
When should we book our wedding date with you?
It is fairly typical to book your photographer shortly after securing your wedding date at your preferred venue. Please contact me at info@ryansandsphotography.com and I will be more than happy to speak with you and your fiance about your wedding or special event.
Is this your career? Do you do this full time and are you insured?
Yes, yes and yes haha. Wedding and event photography is my full time job. I have been blessed to have a career that I absolutely love and I really think it shows with the quality of my work. I am a full time photographer and rarely have a weekend to myself. Something I think my wife wishes wasn’t so true lol. My business is incorporated and I am insured through PPA, The Professional Photographers of America.
We want to setup a consultation. How does this work?
First use the contact form located at the top of my website and send me your information or just simply email me at info@ryansandsphotography.com. The most important piece is your actual wedding date. That way, I can check my calendar to see if I’m available for your day. I would never make a couple meet with me if I was already booked. Next, at your convenience, we pick a date to get together. All meetings take place in my home in Hunterdon County. This gives us a chance to sit down, relax and get to know each other. We can go over all the details of your wedding, looking over albums and I will be happy to answer any questions you may have. After all, most couples have never hired a professional photographer before, so questions are a must! It’s important you do your homework.
My parents would like to come with us during our consultation. Is that allowed?
Of course! The more the merrier. I am always excited when families are close and want to visit their vendors together. We can all sit down and mom/dad can ask me as many questions as they like. I love answering tough questions so ask away!
Will you be giving us any paperwork during our wedding consultation?
Yes. You will be receiving a folder containing all the information that needs to be filled out for your wedding day. There is a five page wedding questionnaire, a formals configuration list, your wedding contract and my pricing sheet. The five page wedding questionnaire needs to be filled out a few months before your wedding day. This provides me with family member’s names, telephone numbers and tons of details about your wedding day. The formal configurations list is a list of all formals that we will need to take during your wedding. I give you a copy of this list so you can cross off any formals you do not need and add on any new formals you would like me to shoot. These forms are all necessary. The more organized we stay the better.
What kind of equipment do you use? Do you have backups in case of an accident?
Very good question and one that you should ask of all your vendors. Backup equipment is extremely important. Obviously there are no “do-overs” on a wedding day so you must be prepared for all situations. Having backups of everything is essential. This is why I carry not one, now two or even three…but four cameras to my weddings. I have backups of everything I own, including flashes, batteries, memory cards, light stands, wires and chargers. You name it and I have backups of it. I use top of the line Canon cameras and very expensive L-series lenses. I have the highest respects when it comes to the importance of my couple’s wedding day. I take this responsibility very seriously.
So you’re a Canon shooter? My fiancé has a Canon. What model do you shoot with?
My main two cameras are dual Canon 5d mark IV bodies and my backups are Canon 5d mark iii bodies. My lenses are the Canon 70-200 2.8 ii, Canon 24-70 2.8 ii, Canon 35 1.4 ii, Canon 16-35 2.8 ii, Tamron 85 1.8 IS and my flashes are Canon 600 ex ii units.
Are our wedding photographs safe after our wedding day?
Another very important question. After your wedding day the very first thing I do when I get home that night is backup your images on 3 different separate hard drives. Then after that, I backup to the cloud for even further safety. Your wedding images are very important to me and I would never do anything to jeopardize your memories.
Have you ever shot at our venue before?
Great question! I’ve shot weddings at over 100 venues across New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York. While it is always nice for your photographer to have shot at your venue it is not necessary. I am more than comfortable in any lighting situation. From dimly lit churches to wedding venues with nothing but table lighting, I can shoot in any lighting condition. If after booking me you want me to see your ceremony space and your venue I’d be happy to take a trip with you and visit your spot! This gives us a chance to see the space together and to plan out the details of your day.
How do your engagement sessions work? What is involved?
Engagement sessions are a ton of fun! Once you book your wedding coverage with me, we can then chat about a date to get together for your engagement session. Normally sessions are booked several months before your wedding date. Couples tend to use their engagement photographs for their save-the-date cards or guest sign-in books. I will research several locations we can shoot at or feel free to tell me about a spot you are interested in. Perhaps a place where you had your first date or a cozy little spot that is special to you both.
What happens if it rains on our engagement session date?
No worries. I completely understand that neither of us can control the weather. If it happens to rain on your engagement session date, we just postpone and choose another date that works for us both. Simple as that!
An engagement session sounds fun. What should we wear?
For your session you want to dress a little nicer than normal but still be quite comfortable. Ladies should be aware that you may be walking in grass or through a park so make sure your shoes are comfortable enough for a stroll. It’s always nice to bring a light jacket or something warm to throw over you in case the weather gets a little chilly. Also hair ties, hair spray and a comb is suggested just in case it gets a little windy.
We are a bit nervous. We have never posed before and don’t know what to do.
Your engagement session is less about “posing” and more about spending time with your significant other. If you are comfortable enough to laugh together and goof around you will do great! I’m very easy going. I give small directions and always utilize my surroundings to help my couples relax and get cozy together.
When do we receive our engagement session photographs?
Your online gallery is ready within one week of your engagement and within 30 days after your wedding date.
Can you tell us about how you document a wedding day?
Absolutely. I am big believer of blending in with your day as much as I can. I want to document the proceedings and not alter them with my presence. I am extremely easy going when it comes to your wedding and will never push, prod or bother you on your day. I am there to document the start of your new family and not to lead the show. With that being said, there is a clear distinction between not leading the show and giving slight direction when it comes to documenting your moments. For instance, if you are standing in less than ideal location, I may move you and your family or friends to a different location in order to capture your memories in the most pleasing light. I tend to use long focal length lenses to photograph my subjects. This gives me the ability to be a far distance from you so that you can relax and not worry about my camera. Longer focal lengths also provide a beautiful amount of compression which helps to make people look slender and thin. Something we all want on our wedding day! haha
How does the album design process work?
Your online gallery will be emailed to you within 30 days after your wedding date. Using your gallery, you will “favorite” 50 photographs to be used in the design of your wedding album. Once you have approved your design, your album is ordered and will be mailed right to your home within 4-6 weeks.
When do we receive our album?
Depending upon the time of the year you order your album and my album company’s workload, it can take anywhere between 4-6 weeks to receive your album once I officially place your order.
When do we receive our USB stick from our wedding day?
Your USB stick is mailed to your home after your album has been officially ordered. If I have missed something here on my FAQ page and you still have additional questions for me please don’t hesitate to email me at info@ryansandsphotography.com and I will be more than happy to chat. Thank you so much and I look forward to hearing you.