General Questions

There are a few things you can do to help us prepare before the wedding. Let us know if there are certain people that you definitely want photographs with. As well, if there is a special shot or detail that you have been wanting for a long time, let us know of that.  We are an open book and want to make sure you are happy.

If you have ideas for the photography, please feel free to share them. But, try to keep them to a minimum to allow the photographer to push their own creative envelope.  On the day of the wedding, we feel that your job is to show up and look pretty, and trust that you've hired an amazing photography team :) Allowing your photographer to be creative will allow you to see images that you haven't seen before!

Our style is often described by wedding couples as timeless photography with an edge. We like to stylize the images while making sure that true emotion shines through. We like to keep things very simple, clean and sophisticated. We want to produce images that stand the test of time and fifty years from now your grandchildren will still think the pictures are cool. That's if cool is still a cool word fifty years from now.

It is also important to have a nice balance. So we produce a nice variety of candids, details, stylized artistic shots, and clean portraits

An organized hour should be enough. The key is to have a good plan. What we do at True Photography is make sure that our photographers know what to do before the wedding, and aren't just figuring where to shoot for the first time. We show up with a game plan. We know the type of lighting we want to achieve, and the feeling that we are trying to evoke. This allows us to be much more efficient within each hour, including the hour following the ceremony.

In order to make the post-ceremony photography as efficient as it can be, it takes cooperation. Everyone involved (i.e. your family) needs to know exactly where they need to be after the ceremony, and they should be ready to listen during those formal photos. If we have to chase after Uncle Joe for five minutes, that's five less minutes that you get for your own portraits. We suggest using this example to share with your family, so they understand the importance of being on time!

A list is good for piece of mind, and can help you determine who you want included in the photos. It is much better to figure this out beforehand than at the wedding itself. So if a list helps to accomplish this, we are all for it :) For us, rather than a shot-by-shot guide, it is most important that every person you would like included in the formals to be on time, present and ready to be photographed.

One tip to be successful is to designate a family member or two on each side of the family, and put then in charge of your formal photo participants. Give them your list and ask them to keep everyone in a designated area, so no one leaves to go to cocktail hour. You can also have your officiant make a similar announcement at the conclusion of the ceremony. The reason for keeping everyone in one spot is because if one person leaves for any reason, we will be spending valuable shooting time trying to track them down, rather than using the time most effectively.

Once we have everyone, our typical approach is to start with one side of the family. We organize this large group together and take a few pictures. Then, if there are cousins present, we will ask them to exit the image. This leaves the immediate family alongside any aunts, uncles and grandparents. We take another few pictures, and then ask extended family to exit the setup. By narrowing down the participants like this, it enables guests to enjoy the cocktail hour as soon as they are finished.

After we photograph the immediate family, we take individual photos of each of the immediate family members with the couple, adding in any grandparents and children. We repeat this process with the other side of the family, and photograph until the entire group is well covered.

If there are specific formals that you would like captured outside of this process, (ex: an aunt and cousin photographed together), you will want to give us a heads up, so we can be prepared. Also, it’s helpful if we understand the family dynamic before the wedding, like who the couples are, or any other scenarios unique to your family. Please also let us know if there is a certain group of friends to make sure to photograph together.

Sometimes, couples will say, “We will just get ‘so and so’ together later at the reception,” but we always suggest not to rely on later. Meaning that there is no later – there will be lots of other exciting events throughout the day, and anything postponed will probably take a back seat. If there is a family shot that is very important to you, it should take place within the designated time, with everyone ready and on standby.

By helping us finish the family pictures quickly and efficiently, we will be set up to be successful for all the other amazing images that need to be accomplished throughout the day :)

Aaron Feldman says: "My favorite part of a wedding to photograph is of the wedding couple right after the ceremony, when they're super happy and their adrenaline is flowing. I love capturing the real emotion while still stylizing the scene."

We understand that during your event, there may be significant gaps in the schedule where our photography service is not required. However, the reality is that we also incur costs during downtime, while we are on standby and waiting to resume shooting. Once shooting starts, all hours are billed straight through, including obligatory downtime and/or travel.

As part of our wedding packages, you are provided with all of your images in full resolution, without our watermark. This allows you to print images wherever and whenever you please, without limitation.

As soon as your files are ready, we will contact you with download instructions, and a step-by-step walkthrough. Our free online system enables you to download all images at once, and is recommended to most clients. We guarantee that your images will be ready for direct download within 26 business days of your wedding.

In select cases where direct download is not feasible, a Flash drive will be prepared and mailed out upon request.

We have a very fast turnaround time! Our guarantee is that your images will be ready for viewing within 26 business days following your wedding. Typically we post the images online first, with with a private password, so you can share them with your friends and family. We also prepare a digital download just for you, so you can download your images all at once, and email the link directly to you :) The download images are high-resolution and non-watermarked, which will allow you to print anywhere without limitation.

Yes! Within 26 business day from your wedding, a private gallery website containing every image is created for you and your guests. This enables everyone to view and order images from the big day!

All of the wedding pictures are guaranteed to be ready for viewing within 26 business days. The images are typically posted online first, with with a private password, so you can share them with your friends and family. Next, a flash drive is prepared and sent out once your address is confirmed. The flash drive images are full resolution and non-watermarked, which will allow you to print anywhere without limitation.

We guarantee that your pictures will be ready for viewing within 26 business days. All of the images you receive will be enhanced by our team to ensure the highest quality.

Your pictures are guaranteed to be ready for viewing and up to the True Photography standards within 26 business days. We will post them online with a private password that you can share with your friends and family to view the images. Your images will also be provided digitally by direct download (or in some instances, on a  flash drive) in full resolution, without a watermark. This will allow you to print anywhere without limitation.

We have actually seen the dinosaur picture quite a bit. We agree, It is a really funny shot :)  We really try on our end to have our own creative images for you. That way you have pictures unique to you rather than just duplicating other photographers' ideas. We want to make sure that when you get your pictures, they feel original and unique rather than a duplicate of a lot of other weddings you have seen.

We love to have fun, and my suggestion would be to think of something that can be your own. Example: Lets do a shot of all the guys on jungle gym bars hanging upside down if we are going for humor. Or do a picture where it looks like the groom is levitating. Or do something really stylized and unique.

These are pictures that nobody else has because we used the environment and got creative within it. That really is our style and represents what we do best. We want you to be very happy clients while also staying "True" to what we produce for you. Expect the unexpected and  you will treasure those images even more.

We offer four size categories (Small, Classic, Large, and Supersize), with your choice between either a Square or Horizontal orientation. The "Small" formats make perfect parent albums, and the standard-sized "Classic" books are ideal for a couple's wedding album. For those who go big, there are also breathtaking oversized options!

10x10 (Small Square)

"Popular parent books!"
Up to 65 images

14x10 (Classic Horizontal)

Our most popular choice
Up to 85 images

12x12 (Classic Square)

Modern square orientation
Up to 85 images

15x12 (Large Horizontal)

A step up - show off the love
Up to 105 images

18x12 (Yowza!)

It's big, it's bold, and it's fun
Up to 120 images

There is no tax when using our direct download solution, which enables you to download all your images online, all at once, at no additional cost. The images are uploaded to a free download link, with a step-by-step walkthrough guide explaining how to access and download the files.

If we are required to deliver a physical product, such as a Flash drive, we are happy to do so. However, in many cases, tax must be charged on the whole package. So in most instances, direct download will be the fastest and most cost-effective solution.

We always back up your images in storage and online for an initial 90 day period, as a courtesy. As soon as production of your images is finished, we also provide you with a digital download (or in select cases, a Flash drive), containing all image files at high resolution, without any watermark. These files have everything you need, and you are welcome to make file backups independent of our studio. We always advise our clients to keep their files in a safe, secure place, and to make backup copies, so they can easily access their images years down the road.

If you would like the additional security of a long-term offsite backup, at a secure data center, we do offer an annual archiving service. Before the images expire online, you'll be given the option of whether to extend our backup service, or rely on your own backup solution.

We photograph with top-of-the-line Canon and Nikon Cameras and lenses. This means that the images are of the highest quality and resolution. For the techinical answer, the files when saved are 4500-5500 pixels for the largest edge. We save everything full-res jpeg at 300 dpi. The cameras range from 16-28 megapixels as of this writing. The end result is that you are able to enlarge the images as large as you want, and the quality will be top notch.

Much like a brain, a larger amount of megapixels doesn't always mean a smarter system ;) For example, there are 40 megapixel phones out now, but the resulting images would not print nearly as well as an image from a 16 megapixel professional camera. We always evolve to take advantage of the latest technology, but megapixels are only one factor in a much larger process.

We love inspiration and invite it. So yes, if there are pictures on our site that you love and connect with, please feel free to share. We are an open book and promise not to be photo snobs ;)

We do have advice/insight to go along with this in an effort to help. In the past, we have had many couples hand us a written list of exactly what they would like to have photographed. Sometimes, that list can be a long one. We want to first give reassurance that whether or not we have a list, your pictures will be amazing. So please don't feel obligated to make one, with the fear of: "If I don’t do it, I won’t have nice pictures."

The reality is that every couple is different. What may look great for one couple might not be as flattering for another couple. Here is a funny example: there is this image take that I LOVE and it is a profile of a groom looking off in the distance. It’s a very cool shot. Now if I (Aaron owner of True) personally was in this image, it just wouldn't work, because I have a big ole nose. So me being positioned at a 3/4 angle would be a much more flattering shot. It is our job as photographers to bring out the very best in each person.

If you have a few must-have shots, it is very important to make sure that the requests are limited. When a list gets too long, then we find ourselves just copying our old shots, but not creating new photographs. We are a creative studio, and always want to produce something unique for each of our couples. So allowing that creativity will bring a much better end result for you than if a shot list were to become very long.

We understand that it can be tricky to put that much trust in a studio for such an important event. That is why we always suggest to the couples to look at our website, as well as others, to make sure that overall you really connect with the majority of the images that we produce. We have posted over 135,000 images to show our consistency and creativity every time.

Aaron (owner of True) note: I always say, the couples that say yes to everything seem to get the best pictures. Keep in mind that part of the creative process is that there will be pictures that you don't like. Some you will want to get rid of right away. Sometimes it will take shooting ten pictures in order to get that one great photograph. It is our job to provide enough variety that you have plenty of amazing pictures to choose from.

I remember that at my engagement shoot, I had to take my own advice. I wasn't a big fan of piggy back ride pictures. I thought they were a bit cheesy. Then my photographer (I hired True Photography) said to April (my wife) "hop on Aaron's back for some fun shots." I almost said no, but then remembered the advice I give to our clients. So I went with it and embraced it 100%. The end result is that there were a few in that series I LOVED. I got this one shot where my wife is smiling at me, and it is so genuine and real.

Once you are in the photograph, your opinion of that shot or pose may drastically change. The easiest thing to do is throw away a picture. The hardest thing is to not have it.

As a final thought, some shots are just not possible based on time allotted, time of day, location and style. As an example, we may get a request for a shot that has really moody evening light, but the wedding is outdoors, in broad daylight. Or the couple wants a bunch of really silly fun shots of the bridal party, yet the bridal party is super reserved and quiet. What we find produces the best result is to make sense of your style through your wedding. We play off of your dress, décor, natural personalities, location, time of day, etc. We love to push the envelope while also making sure that we aren't pushing too far. We want to make sure to represent the true essence of who you are as well as the wedding day. We promise within our name to keep everything TRUE.

Below is a sample timeline. It is meant to just be a starting point to help give guidance and is based off a seven hour package. If you have more or less hours it will greatly vary and definitely needs to be discuss directly with your assigned lead photographer. Also there will be different wants, as well as events that take place that day to make sure to discuss with your photographer.

Example Timeline based off a 7 hour package with wedding starting at 5:00pm and 2 photographers. If clients want a first look, 45-ish minutes more time is suggested to the beginning of the day.

• 3:00pm-3:45pm arrive to photograph final getting ready shots. Bride should be 90% ready with exception of dress being put on. Bridesmaids should be 100% ready
• 3:45-4:15 photograph bridesmaids
• 4:15-4:45 photograph groomsmen
• 5:00-5:30 photograph ceremony
• 5:30-6:30 cocktail hr (one photographer will head to cocktail hour and photograph the room details)
• 5:30-6:00 photograph family (this is the most important part of the day, it is vital that all family know where to be and are present. If we are chasing after an uncle that went to cocktail hour by accident, there is a domino affect and it takes away from the couple's photos as there isn’t a lot of makeup time on the wedding day.) After the pics, the family heads to cocktail hour
• 6:00-6:15 bridal party  (bridal party needs to stay and not head to cocktail hour until after the pictures)
• 6:15-6:35 Pictures of the wedding couple (If more time is needed we will pull you out during salads to get a few more portraits)
• 6:35-10:00 Photograph dances and traditional reception events

Yes. Because you have the ability to create your own wedding package based on the number of photographers and hours you need, there are no restrictions on the number of hours we will photograph. We always recommend that you book us for the least number of hours you think they’ll need. That way, you will only pay for what you need and won’t be penalized by contracting us for too much time. You always have the option to add time on at the event if necessary. Our additional hourly rates will range slightly, but they will be based around your package and the number of hours booked.

If you have questions on extra time, please contact [email protected]