time is running out!

So you're thinking of booking us for your upcoming wedding, eh? (no, we're not Canadian...I just really like that word!) We are so excited for you! Congratulations! We can't wait to capture those incredible memories that will be cherished for years to come!

We wanted to let everyone know, however, that due to the upcoming wedding season, our dates are filling up VERY quickly. So act fast to reserve any sessions that you will need within the next few months (engagements, bridals, wedding, etc.) because it's gonna be slim-pickins for a while! Reserve your date here.

We would also like to cover some commonly asked questions in this post to help all of you when deciding on which date to reserve for your engagements or bridals/groomals. So take a few minutes and feast your eyes upon these pearls of wisdom (fyi- cliches all intended...it's just one of those days...):

How long does it take to get our engagement or bridal/groomal photos back after we take them?

               I've got to admit, I love when clients ask this question. The answer reveals so much about who I am, personally. What many of you may not know about me is that I am so incredibly impatient-- not ALL the time, but very much so when I'm excited about something. For example, since I've been married, I don't think we've ever actually waited for Christmas to open our presents. Seriously. We usually make it to about 4 days before. Also, I've decided 9 months is FAR too long to be pregnant. Just my opinion though. In addition, I feel that clients should never, ever have to wait more than 2 weeks to receive their finished photos. I understand how much you have to do if you're planning a wedding, and I understand even MORE how excited you must be to finally see your finished photos! As a result, Folks Photography GUARANTEES your photos back in at LEAST 2 WEEKS. Although I'm proud to announce that Folks Photography typically has your photos back to you in 5 DAYS (on average). We don't currently have any awards for this amazing feat quite yet, but please feel free to design one for us anytime ;)

How many photos can we expect to receive from our engagement or bridal/groomal session?

               This is a toughy, but I'll do my best to be as specific as possible. Each engagement, bridal or groomal session varies based on the session length, the willingness of the clients, the location, the time, the weather, the lighting, etc. Your total number of photos will depend on a combination of all of these factors. Unfortunately, some of those factors are uncontrollable, but Folks Photography tries very hard to make everything perfect for your photo session. And remember, great photos can be taken...even in the rain. Ok, not in the POURING rain, but I'm sure you've heard that cloudy weather is the best lighting-- and it's TRUE. I'd love to bore you with the facts on why, but I'm sure you would just rather Google it. So instead, I'll hurry and throw out some numbers for you to answer this question more thoroughly. On average, Folks Photography has provided clients with about 180 FINISHED engagement photos, and about 167 FINISHED bridal/groomal photos. However, please realize that Folks Photography does not guarantee any final number amount. We love taking photos, and we will provide you with the absolute best service we can.

Should we bring anything to our photo session?

                     Yes, yes, and more yes. Ok, you don't HAVE to, but Folks Photography encourages all couples to bring any props that may represent you as a couple (skateboards, tshirts, hats, glasses, flowers, balloons, special shoes, signs etc.). These props always make for even more incredible photos full of personality, and typically, the couple seems more relaxed during the shoot when they have things that remind them of who they are together.

Are we allowed to select our own photo session location?

                  Absolutely. Folks Photography would like the couple to select a location that they are familiar with or that has special meaning to them. Of course, we are also willing to help if you cannot think of any decent photo locations. It all depends a lot on your style and what you're looking for in your photos. Some people like nature, some people like rugged downtown areas. It's all up to you. Folks Photography does not currently offer a studio for sessions, but we personally prefer the natural backgrounds and lighting outdoors anyway. Please remember that if your location requires traveling, Folks Photography charges an hourly travel rate, so plan your budget accordingly. To view more of our prices, click here.

What tips do you have for people who do not like having their photos taken? 

                 Oh, these are my all-time favorite. Clients who know they should be getting photos taken, but absolutely dread the entire process. Well, I'm here to tell you my friends, with Folks Photography you will look FABULOUS! Why? Because it's our job-- we have years of experience on how to make you look incredible. Yes, you too! We love to make our clients feel comfortable in their own skin. It's what we do. It's why we're here.

Second, before you come to your shoot, make sure you're looking your best. If this means getting your hair or makeup done, DO IT. Or purchasing a new outfit, or some new shoes, or new jewelry. Anything that will make you feel like you're on your A-Game. Because I'm here to tell you my friends, if you show up to a photo session feeling self-concious, it might show. We try to have as much FUN as possible during the photo shoot, but laughter can only go so far when you don't really feel attractive.

When you come to your session, be ready to just laugh and have a great time. We're very laid back photographers and love to laugh--even at ourselves sometimes ;) So be prepared for a session that feels more like you went and hung out with some new friends rather than you getting harassed by a camera. We absolutely love to have a good time, and even though we take what we do very seriously, we want you to feel comfortable in front of the camera. So be yourself. We won't judge.

Last, TRUST YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER! We love photography. We love our clients. We love making you smile and taking photos we hope you will always cherish. As photographers, we here at Folks Photography are hoping you hired us not only because we have the best prices, but also because you love our style and you trust what we do. Photographers, just like artists, view their photography as individual expressions of who we are. Each photographer has their own style, and their own way of getting their ideas portrayed through photos. Select the photographer you want based on their style of photos. For example, Folks Photography likes contrasting something so beautiful (that's YOU!!) with something a little more rough around the edges (ie. downtown building). We also love clean, vibrant photos. We love our photos to pop, to stand out. To view more of our photos, visit us.

Why should we hire a professional photographer for our engagements, bridals/groomals, or wedding? What if we just have a friend that likes to take photos?

               This is one of my favorite questions of all time. And I probably have a better answer for it than most people, because I learned from personal experience...We'll touch more on that very soon.

But for right now, why SHOULD you hire a professional photographer when your mom's best friend's aunt's cousin absolutely loves taking photos and would do it for you as a wedding gift?!? Or at a killer price? Well, I'll tell you why my dear friends...Just because someone has a camera, does not mean they know how to use it. Ok, they may know how to use it well enough to take a photo, but if they are not a professional photographer, they do not have the HUNDREDS and THOUSANDS of hours of experience we have when it comes to taking photos. They probably have never attending a photography workshop on lighting or placement or anything related to photography. They've probably never taken their camera out of the "automatic" position, which means they do not know how to use their equipment to its full potential (which is VERY important to you in the long run) and honestly, I know they haven't edited NEARLY as many photos as professional photographers, meaning they're probably not very familiar with their editing software and don't know how to make each photo as unique and captivating as it could be (if they even edit at all?). Just to name a few.

So back to my personal experience. Once upon a time, I was a poor, stupid engaged girl that thought, "Meh, I don't need a professional photographer for my engagement photos. I'll just have my roommate take them (love you Jules!) and they'll be awesome." Ok, so what did we learn? We had no idea how to pose ourselves so we looked ridiculous! The lighting was...ok...wow...more spotty and uneven and bright than any photo I've ever seen (not my lovely roommate Julia's fault!! She did great for what I gave her to work with :)

And now after 3 years of marriage, I still look back on them and cringe. What was I thinking???? Why oh why didn't I just spend the extra $100 and get some gorgeous, professional shots taken? Trust me, everyone, it's WORTH THE MONEY.

Need I say more?

Love,

Folks Photography

Melissa & Matthew Folks

FolksPhoto.com

805.245.9193

Stay tuned for more tips for your upcoming wedding or senior portrait session!!