FAQs

Do you deliver every image you shoot?
No, we do not. We eliminate duplicate images, test shots, missed focused shots, shots with bad expressions and other images that may dilute the overall product delivery. For example, because we shoot with low apertures, sometimes we take a few extra shots to make sure we have the perfect focus. We don’t expect you to have the expertise or the time to zoom into each image to select the one with the sharpest focus, so we spend hours doing that on our end. In another example, candid laughs and emotional tears are some of the best images from the day. Unfortunately, they can also yield some unflattering facial expressions. We might snap a few extras of any of these moments to make sure we have a great shot with the ideal expression for the moment. With our expertise of processing millions of images each year, we may eliminate ones that we feel are duplicates and only deliver the best one.
 
Have you shot at my venue before?
We have shot at hundreds of venues, so there is a good chance that we have. However, if we have not, we will get to the venue early on the day of and be sure to perform a thorough walk-through to scout out the best photography locations. We also do extensive online research prior to your big day!
 
Can I see a full event from start to finish?
Of course you may! We pride ourselves on the consistency of our work. We understand all photographers post their best shots from each wedding on their websites so it’s hard to determine how well he or she will perform on the wedding day. That is why we encourage all of our potential clients to view full events from all photographers they meet with to see how well the photographer performs throughout the day.
 
Can I get a full refund?
Of course you may! We pride ourselves on the consistency of our work. We understand all photographers post their best shots from each wedding on their websites so it’s hard to determine how well he or she will perform on the wedding day. That is why we encourage all of our potential clients to view full events from all photographers they meet with to see how well the photographer performs throughout the day.
 
Do you touch up all the images in our image download?
Yes we do. Every image we deliver is post produced with our unique signature style of post-production. This involves color correction, exposure adjustment, selective black and white processing, clarity adjustments, tone-mapping, and other corrections. Many photographers will not post produce any images, or will only post produce “select” images from your wedding. This means that you may have pictures that are too dark, have strange skin tones or other common photography flaws.
 
Why do we need to charge for additional coverage?
A: We’ve dedicated the entire day to your wedding, so we won’t be racing off to catch other plans that evening. However, we need to charge for additional coverage primarily because there are costs of having the team stay for additional hours. The shooters and lighting assistants all require additional compensation. Furthermore, the additional photos taken will need to be post-produced which adds to our overall costs.
 
I have downtime between events on my wedding day. Will I be charged for that downtime?
For a variety of reasons, we have to charge for the time in between events. The fact is, we’re never truly resting during the day, whether we’re backing up images, setting up for the second venue, traveling to the second location, taking venue shots, or making up for lost photo time because of unforeseen wedding day delays. In many cases, we use that “downtime” to take you and your significant other out for a photo session or more family portraits.
 
When can we expect to see our photos from our engagement session?
Post-production for engagement sessions are completed 6-8 weeks after the date of the shoot. If you require the images to be completed prior to 6-8 weeks after the date of the shoot, a rush process fee will be charged.
 
When should we do our engagement session?
We encourage you to do your engagement session as soon as possible. The latest we suggest is at least 10-12 weeks prior to the wedding date due to the time necessary to post produce each image and complete your product order(s). See the engagement session post-production delivery time and engagement session product delivery time FAQ’s for more details.

I’d like you to Photoshop our name and date into the save-the-dates, is that included in the package pricing?
Custom save-the-date images are priced at $250 for 4 save the date options.

Do you provide the RAW files from my engagement session and/or wedding day?
Each of our packages comes with a full resolution image download. However, we typically do not provide RAW (unprocessed) files from our shoots because we believe in delivering a finished product. In fact, we’re often shooting with the end (post-produced) product in mind. However, on occasion, we may provide RAW images along with our post-produced JPG’s for an additional fee and restrictions.
 

What rights do I have to the digital prints?
You have the right to reprint images whenever you want. However, you may not sell your images for profit or publish your images without the written consent of Always Elizabeth Lanae Photography.
 

Do you back up our images? How can we ensure that our images won’t be lost?
We have never lost an image from a wedding due to the following backup workflow for each our events:

During the event, we shoot on two cards at the same time. This instantly creates a backup of every image in the camera. Afterward, we separate the primary cards from the backup cards, should anything happen to one set. as We  copy them to an offsite hard drive. At any given point before delivery of the images, there are two copies of the files in separate locations.
 

Do you have liability insurance?
Yes. Many venues require the photographer to have Liability Insurance.
 

We’re very busy and won’t be able to meet. Are there any other options?
We would love to meet with you prior to our engagement shoot or wedding; however, if you’re too busy or too far away, we can handle everything remotely. Just let us know what information you need and we will do our best to accommodate your request. For example, if you would like to see more of our work, we can gladly show you complete events online. If you would like to talk about packages and get a sense of the photographer’s personality, telephone calls, and webcam appointments can be arranged.
 

How do I reserve you for my date?
All dates are reserved once we receive your signed contract and Retainer.
 

What if we exceed our contracted time for our engagement shoot and/or wedding day coverage?
Standard rates apply for overtime. Overtime is billed at the rate of $400/hour per Master Photographer/Videographer.
 

If we cancel the wedding, will we receive our retainer fee back?
Unfortunately no. Retainer fees are used to reserve your date. Once we’ve reserved your date, we do not accept new clients for your date.
 

If we change our wedding to a different date, will we be able to use our retainer fee towards a future date?

Generally no, but this is taken on a case by case basis. The reason for canceling and our availability is taken into account. Also, if rates change from your original date to your new date, the new rates will apply.