“Uncle Ed" just bought a new digital camera with all the bells and whistles. Why should I hire a professional photographer when he is willing to photograph the wedding”?

Hmmm. Where to start?

This is your wedding….something you’ve no doubt dreamed about for a long time. A one-time event, where you don’t get a second chance at taking photos that form memories to last a lifetime. Has Uncle Ed ever shot a wedding? Has he told you “don’t worry kid…what I don’t get right, I can fix in Photoshop”? To a small extent, you might make a slightly better image out of a botched shot, but computer programs can’t compose a photo or “see” a photo before it happens. Artistic vision is what allows a professional to capture that fleeting moment in time…a moment that could be lost forever if not captured in all its splendor. A professional photographer ensures that photo opportunities are captured, not lost. Hiring (or accepting a freebie from) an amateur would be akin to buying an expensive video camera and expecting to be instantly transformed into a cinematographer.

My suggestion is that you thank Uncle Ed for his generous offer, let him bring his camera and practice at your wedding…(it’s OK with me), but by all means, don't gamble everything on his photos.

“Do you offer Packages”?

No…I charge a fee for the wedding that includes an album with 4x6 photos. I do not lock you in to or make you have to decide about any package deals. If you look at the photos and decide which ones you want enlarged, I can certainly do that for you. I use the services of a Professional Photo Lab in the Dallas area and can provide enlargements on matte paper, a unique metallic gloss paper, even stretched canvas, in many different sizes.

“Do you offer Black and White photography”?

All the images I shoot at a wedding are in color, but since they are digital, as I edit the images after the event, I am able to convert some to black and white if the client is agreeable. I’ve always liked black and white…. the lack of color forces the viewer to focus on what is happening in the photo….people laughing, catching up with each other, the preparations before the event…all these thing have a much different impact in a black and white image.

In addition to black and white images, I can also provide samples of special sepia ("antique") filters and other special effects that can be used to add an extra "dimension" to a photo. Please inquire!

“Do you offer engagement photos”?

Yes. I’ll do engagement photos at a site you choose (your home or a local outdoor venue) for a fee of $100. This is a package deal (unlike the weddings). The price includes two hours of my time, 2-5x7 prints or one 8x10 print and a digital copy of the selected image so you can use it for newspaper or mail out announcements.

And while we’re at it, if you would like to have Engagement Party photos, Bridal Shower photos, Bachelor/Bachelorette Party photos or Rehearsal Dinner photos, I would be available for them also. If you are interested, let’s talk about the prices for those services when we discuss the wedding plans.

“What other kinds of Photography do you offer?”

I offer a full range of photo services from Wedding, Portraits, Commercial/Aerial. I can cover special event parties (birthday, anniversary) allowing you the freedom to enjoy yourself knowing you will have professional quality photographs of the special times.

I also have approximately 10 years of background in doing photography for the legal profession, in the area of accident site photography, (both land based and aerial) as well as vehicle and injury photography, most often as required to make courtroom exhibits.

“Do you work with children and pets?”

Some of my favorite subjects! I love working with both, since children and animals are so spontaneous. This can prove challenging for some photographers ... I actually consider it a blessing. While I pride myself on being able to help adults subjects "loosen up", I also have a great rapport with kids, and have a certain knack for capturing the wonder and the whimsy that permeates the photography of my child and animal "clients".

“Can we see your work displayed anywhere?”

Currently I have a range of prints matted and framed on display at The Love of Art Gallery in the Off Broadway Shopper Center in Tyler, Texas at 2301 S. Broadway. The Gallery is located in Suite 4-A, right off Broadway.

If you have any questions, please take the time and email them to me. I’ll do my best to answer them and reply to you in a timely manner. I hope some of this information is useful to you in making your decision about a photographer.