FAQ
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
We decided to create this portion of the website to address some of the typical questions we’ve been asked as well as answer some questions you may not have even thought of. If there’s something you’d like to ask that’s not listed below, please feel free to contact us and we’ll get back to you as soon as we have an answer.
Who is Alan Abrams Photography?
Alan Abrams Photography is a husband/wife Long Island wedding photographer team consisting of Alan Abrams, who is the primary photographer and Silke Abrams, who serves as business manager and assistant.
How would you describe your style of photography?
Our style is a blend of shooting styles. We primarily take a candid/documentary approach (often referred to as “photojournalistic”) and mix in some of the more traditional posed formal photographs. Although we can adapt our shooting style to some degree based on what the bride and groom request, in most cases our clients rely on us to capture the day as we see it.
How many photographers and assistants do you use for weddings?
Alan Abrams is the primary photographer. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, when you book anything with Alan Abrams Photography you get Alan Abrams. In most cases one assistant/additional photographer is in attendance. If we feel your wedding requires the use of a second photographer, we will suggest it to you at your consultation. Keep in mind that there is an additional cost for the second photographer option. and you will not be obligated to add a second photographer if you choose not to. Of course, you will always have the option of adding a second photographer to your package if it’s something you’d like to have.
Why should we have a wedding consultation?
We strongly encourage a personal consultation for each couple considering us for their wedding photography. Meeting clients in person and having a chance to get to know them a bit is something we enjoy doing and something that we feel is mutually beneficial. Consultations also present prospective clients with a chance to become familiar with us and how we work. This helps both parties in deciding if we are a good fit for each other.
How do we arrange for a consultation and what is covered during the consultation?
Setting up the consultation is as simple as giving us a call or sending an e-mail and setting up a time to meet. We ask that you allow at least one full hour to discuss your wedding needs.
The consultation will allow us to find out how you envision your wedding day. We’ll discuss the details of your day from beginning to end and explain to you what we’ll be doing at the various points of the day. The objective is to make the day enjoyable for you while allowing us to capture those cherished images. The consultation helps us get a feel for your likes and dislikes, ensuring that the day flows smoothly with minimal intrusion from us.
During the consultation you will also be able to view samples of our work as well as some of our product offerings. Seeing and handling these products in person will help you make a decision as to which size and options you’d be interested in adding to your package. We also show you a contract for our base wedding packages. Just as our wedding packages are tailored to your particular wedding, our wedding contract is revised to reflect the products and services you decide to include in your wedding package.
Okay, so we’ve decided we want to book you for our wedding, what happens next?
The very first step is to build your wedding package, including all of the requested products and services. Once we’ve built the package and the cost is calculated, we modify the contract to reflect your package. We then e-mail the contract to you for your review and approval. Once the contract is signed and returned to us along with the retainer fee, we sign the contract, reserve the date on our calendar, and your booking is finalized! We will send you a copy of the signed contract to keep for your records.
The next step would be to schedule your engagement session. We recommend scheduling the engagement session with enough lead time to have the images ready for use in your guestbook. Engagement sessions should take place at least 2 months prior to your wedding date. If your booking is a late one and there is less than 2 month to your date, we will make every effort to have the guestbook ready in time for your wedding. Obviously, this is a call we’d have to make on a case-by-case basis. Additionally, if an outdoor bridal or engagement session is planned, scheduling these sessions well in advance of the wedding date allows for rescheduling if any weather-related delays occur.
Could you tell us a little more about the Engagement Session and why you think it’s necessary?
The Engagement Session has really become the foundation of the relationship we build with our wedding clients. It gives us a chance to connect with the couple prior to their wedding day. We all know that weddings can be pretty hectic, so it’s important for us to spend some quality time together in a more relaxed setting. We’ll normally meet at a restaurant or coffee shop, maybe have drink or a cup of coffee, and then spend the next couple of hours just hanging out and getting to know each other. It’s like a double date, except we have cameras pointed at them most of the time.
Why do we need a wedding contract?
The wedding contract serves several purposes. It is a legally binding agreement, which means we are legally bound to provide the products/services detailed in the contract. This is something we take very seriously. You are paying for us to provide these services and deserve the ‘peace of mind’ that comes with making a financial commitment to us. Secondly, each side knows exactly what is expected of the other. All terms agreed upon (payments, deadlines, product, services, delivery times, etc.) are spelled out very clearly in the contract.
Why do you require a retainer?
The retainer is required in order for us to secure your wedding date. Until we have a signed contract along with your retainer, your date is still considered to be open. In cases where more than one couple are looking to book us for the same date, preference will be given to the first couple to commit and send us their signed contract and retainer. Once you have decided to book us, it’s important to finalize the agreement as soon as possible.
Why is payment due 2 weeks prior to our wedding date?
In an effort to make your day as stress free as possible, we like to get all financials done well before your wedding date. The last thing should worry about on the day of your wedding is money and making payments to vendors. Setting a deadline 2 weeks in advance gives us more than enough time for payments to clear and for us to focus to making your day go as smoothly as possible.
What type of photos do you take during a wedding and what moments do you capture?
We take photos that capture the moment and help us tell the story of your day. Many of these photos will be spontaneous and unpredictable in nature. If we see something that adds to telling the story of your day, we’re going to capture it. Some of the photos will be fairly standard detail shots (the cake, the bouquet, the wedding dress, etc.). Some photos such as formal shots, will be staged.
Do you allow other people to take photos while you’re working?
Absolutely! For the most part, there is no problem with friends and relatives taking photographs while we are doing our work. We understand that they want to preserve those memories for themselves as well. All that we ask is that any friends or relatives respect the fact that we have been hired to do a job as quickly and efficiently as possible, and that it is especially important that we have minimal interference during the posed formals shots. It’s important for your bridal party to have their eyes on us and not looking at other cameras. It’s perfectly okay for someone to take a photo after we’ve gotten what we need, but people taking excessive photos during this time can lead to delays in the formal session and thus delays in getting you to the reception.
How many photos do you take during a typical wedding day?
This may be the one question that we really don’t have an answer to. Every wedding is different and some will present more opportunities to take photos than others. There are so many factors that affect the actual amount of photos taken on a particular day. A lot depends on the length of time we shoot, how many different locations we’re shooting at, how many people are present, and whether there are restrictions placed on us by the venues we visit. I will say this: When all is said and done, you will have more than enough images to look through.
At the reception, is the client expected to make arrangements to feed the photographer and assistant along with the other guests?
No, this is not an expectation. If we are invited to join the guests for a meal, we’re more than happy to accept. It’s always a nice gesture, but we don’t expect the bride and groom to feel obligated to include us on the guest list for meals.
How soon after the wedding can we expect to see our images?
We try to have your images sorted through and rough edits completed within a few days of the event, at which point we will post some of the images on our website. All of the images from the day are normally posted on our proofing site within 2-3 weeks.
Who processes your images and who does the printing for your photo products?
We do all of our processing in-house. All of our printing is done by professional labs. Which lab we use is completely dependent on the product. We use one lab for prints and enlargements, a few different labs for canvas prints, and another lab for books and albums.
Do you carry insurance?
Yes, we are fully insured and carry enough insurance to satisfy just about every venue that is involved with weddings. If your wedding venue requires you to supply proof of insurance (some do), we will be more than happy to send them a copy of our insurance certificate which outlines the type and amount of insurance coverage we carry.
What professional organizations are you a member of?
As of this writing, we are full professional members of the Professional Photographers of America (PPA)