Wedding FAQ
Q. What is your style of photography?
We love to tell the story of your day, and we feel that a photojournalist approach is the best way to do this. We live for those beautiful authentic moments and we know that the wedding day isn’t just about you- its about the love of your family and friends that helped make this whole day possible. Through an artistic candid / photojournalist approach, we aim to capture the essence of your wedding day for you to remember it by.
Q. I am having an indoor wedding, but I like your work. Can you still photograph our wedding?
Absolutely! While we shoot many outdoor ceremonies, the majority of our receptions are indoors. We especially love photographing at farms, gardens, barns, rustic venues, and any place surrounded by beautiful scenery. We have the lighting and equipment to shoot anywhere.
Q. Do you airbrush or edit your photos?
Yes. Everything we give to our clients is edited to look natural, professional and polished. We will also take select images to copy into black and white. Minor editing and airbrushing will be used, but we will always keep things looking realistic and natural. We want you to look like the best version of yourself on your wedding day!
Q. Can I have a digital copy of all my wedding photographs?
Of course! After we have finished editing your wedding photos, we will upload them to an online gallery for you to view, download, or print, or share with family. We have found that this approach works really well for couples with family who live out of town. No need to worry about mailing mom and dad a USB. We just like to keep it simple.
Q. Do you offer services for adventure weddings and destination weddings?
Yes Please! Every year we photograph a number of destination and adventure weddings. We actually love to travel so much, that we now live in a tiny fiberglass RV to drive with us to our weddings across the US.
We think it’s great when couples think outside the box and we are prepared to photograph whatever adventure you have chosen. We have photographed on top of mountains, under waterfalls, scuba diving, kayaking- even backpacking in the snow. Go ahead and tell us about your wedding plans- it might be more affordable than you expected!
Q. What about black and white photos?
Black and white photos are our favorite and we will most definitely include them in your online gallery. The number of photos listed in our wedding package contract does not include black and white images- so the number you receive will be much higher. Bonus!
Q. How far in advance should I book my wedding with Hartman Outdoor Photography?
We would recommend booking your wedding as far in advance and possible, preferably at least six to twelve months in advance in order to ensure that the day is available for us. Spring and Fall months book the fastest, so keep that in mind as you do your planning. :)
Q. How do we book?
We would love to hear from you! To get started, send us an email at photosbyhartman@gmail.com or give us a call at 630-373-3001. From there, we can chat details, set up a time to meet, show you more of our print work and albums, and answer any of your questions.
Q: If I book you, am I required to print through you?
No. All of our wedding packages and engagement sessions give you the printing rights to the images and the high-resolution files to download to your computer. We like our packages to be very straightforward.
Q. Do you offer printing?
Yes! We love printing for our clients. While we like to give people the freedom to print wherever they like, we do offer high quality canvas gallery wraps and photo prints. The printers we use are color calibrated using archival ink (which is a fancy way of saying that they are true to color and durable) and are priced competitively with the Shutterflies and Targets of this world.
Q. When should we start taking pictures?
When we meet with you, we can discuss your plans for the big day and talk about the amount of coverage that might work best for you. Depending on the time of year, venue, and what your preferences are, we can decide on the start time from there. All of our wedding packages include timeline assistance to make sure that the lighting is best for your photos throughout the day.
Q. What time of day should I schedule my ceremony?
This also is something that largely depends on the time of year, and your ceremony location. Sometimes, if the ceremony spot is very shaded, it might be best to start a bit earlier for the best light. Other times, if there is no shade and the light is very direct, it might be best to start a little later. We are happy to help our clients plan their day for the best photos, so feel free to email us with any questions!
Q. How much time should I schedule between the ceremony and the reception?
Scheduling too little time between the ceremony and reception is probably the most common mistake that couples make- especially if you plan to do group shots or couples portraits during this time. Many brides and grooms worry that their guests will be waiting on them during this time, but the truth is that they’re all just getting the party started during cocktail hour. As long as there is enough booze and appetizers, most guests won’t even notice.
Q. When should I schedule the group shots and how much time do they take?
Not all couples choose to do group shots. But when they do, they are usually taken right after the ceremony. Some couples schedule the group shots before the ceremony, but usually we find that it works better afterward. Whether you decide to schedule the group shots before or after the ceremony, please allow at least 30 minutes and even more time if you plan to go to a separate location. When the wedding date gets near, we will also send out a questionnaire to make sure the family photos run smoothly, and we get all the photos you want.
Q. What time of day should I schedule my couple portraits?
Typically, we recommend that you schedule your couple’s portraits about an hour or so before sunset- depending on how the light is at your venue. This is the time when the light is beautiful and golden. If you can slip away for 20-30 minutes during this time, you won’t be disappointed. You can view the sunset time for your wedding day using this Free Sunset Calculator. And, of course, you can always ask us for advice in planning your itinerary. If we have photographed at your venue, we might have some helpful tips :).
Q. How much time should I allow before my engagement photo session and my wedding?
A general rule of thumb is to have your engagement photos taken at least two months before your wedding. That allows us enough time to process the photographs and gives you plenty of time to enjoy them before the big day.
Q. How long after the wedding will my pictures be available?
It generally takes about one to two months for the photographs to be processed and available online. We like to take our time going through the photos, editing them, and converting them to black and white. Everything we give to our clients is edited to our style. We appreciate your patience!
Q. How soon will my engagement photos be available to view?
Please allow us three to four weeks to process and post the photos from your engagement session. Just like our wedding photos, all of the engagement images are edited, selectively copied into black and white, and uploaded to a password-protected online gallery where they can be downloaded, printed, and shared with family and friends.
