Photography Pricing

My charges for wedding photography are very simple. See the following chart for the most common times that coverage is requested. Charges start from the beginning of the day (when I arrive and unpack) and end when I leave (at some point during the reception).

The amount of time I shoot is very flexible, and every wedding has a life of its own. Sometimes you might want me to stay an extra hour to capture all the fun. Other times, I may pull you aside an hour early and let you know that I am confident I have the shots you want. You might save yourself some money, or will happily agree to another hour depending on how things are going!

The most common times that coverage is requested are:

	5 hours	$1,700
	6 hours	$1,900
	7 hours	$2,100
	8 hours	$2,300
	9 hours	$2,500

Included in these figures are the following:

• Actual shooting time on day of wedding
• Downloading and editing of all images after the wedding
• CD's with all of your images
• Contact sheets with all of your images
• Temporary web gallery
• Travel within central Massachusetts

To give you some more background information, I'd like to detail each of these items.

Downloading and editing is what I do when I return from your wedding and transfer all of the images into my computer. I then use Photoshop to open each image and make necessary adjustments. Most commonly, I will adjust color and contrast, edit out skin blemishes or distracting elements, sharpen the image somewhat and crop if that will help to strengthen the image. Images get saved as PSD files. They are then batch converted into large JPG files and small JPG files. (Large ones for printing, small ones for web or email use.)

CD's are burned and labeled according to which files they contain. JPG's are a universal file format, you can open them on most computers even if you don't have a fancy editing program. I keep a backup copy of all images, including the PSD files. If you ever damage or lose your CD's, just call me and I will make new ones for you.

Contact sheets are printed for all edited images, with 12 to a page. Each page is a standard 8.5 x 11 piece of enhanced matte photo paper. They show you small thumbnail versions of each photo, and make a great reference for your entire wedding day. These contact sheets are put into a binder and labeled.

The temporary web gallery is going to be at www.pbase.com/erikajake and will have a private password. I usually keep them up for two months after the wedding. You can't print from it or place orders, but it is a nice way to share the day with friends and family that live far away.

For any wedding, my preference is to bring an assistant with me. Having the added perspective from a second photographer is an invaluable addition to the day. A second photographer is $300 more, and this is a flat fee that covers the whole day. I will start the day with the bride, while my assistant goes to be with the groom. When we meet up again at the ceremony site, we work together to cover the rest of the day from different angles.

Additional charges:

Prices for proofs and albums are separate from the hourly shooting charge. For proofs, a full set of 4 x 6's is $300. Album prices will vary depending on which album you select, and how many images you'd like in it. These are not required purchases, but are available to you if you'd like them.

If you have any questions about my pricing system, please email or call. I have no hidden fees, and what you see is what you get. I take lots of great photos, deliver them to you within a month of your wedding, and print on quality photo paper with archival inks. I control every aspect of your images, from shooting to editing to printing, and to me, that personal aspect of my work makes all the difference!

Initial meeting:

When you decide to set up a time to sit down and talk about your wedding plans and photography needs, I am happy to schedule this at your convenience. Evenings and weekends are always flexible. I have my office in my home (Worcester) and can either meet you there, or we can arrange a meeting someplace that is convenient for you. There is no obligation on your behalf to contract me, it is simply an opportunity to meet, get some questions answered, and see a few sample albums.

Deposits:

A deposit of $300 sent with the contract will hold the date for you, and the remaining balance is due when the CD and contact sheets are delivered. Delivery is usually one month after the wedding.

Promotional Images:

From each wedding, I pick between 10 and 15 of my favorite images to add to my web galleries. These images may also be used in advertisements, business cards and brochures.

Assistant Photographer:

An assistant photographer is an additional $300.