About Matt Needham Photography
Matt's
Wedding Photography Contract
What do the Terms and Conditions on the contract mean?
I want to meet with Matt, and see some of his photographs.
I live too far away to meet with Matt in person right now.
How do I book Matt for my wedding?
Does Matt travel?
Does Matt have an assistant?
What does Matt wear while photographing weddings?
How many weddings does Matt photograph in one day?
Can Matt provide references?
What is Matt's photography education and background?
Who should sign the contract?
What size (aspect ratio) are the photographs?
What do the Terms and Conditions on the contract mean?
I want to meet with Matt, and see some of his photographs.
I live too far away to meet with Matt in person right now.
How do I book Matt for my wedding?
Does Matt travel?
Does Matt have an assistant?
What does Matt wear while photographing weddings?
How many weddings does Matt photograph in one day?
Can Matt provide references?
What is Matt's photography education and background?
Who should sign the contract?
What size (aspect ratio) are the photographs?
What information does Matt need?
How much coverage do we need?
Does Matt attend the wedding rehearsal?
When are the posed photos taken?
How long do the posed photos take?
How many photos does Matt take?
Does Matt deliver every single photograph he takes?
Is the shot list guaranteed?
What about black and white and sepia toned photographs?
What about selective coloration and other special effects?
Does Matt retouch the photographs?
Tips for great wedding photos
What if we want Matt to stay later or arrive earlier than originally scheduled?
There is a long break scheduled between the ceremony and the reception
Impromptu portraits
Does Matt need dinner?
When will the album(s) be ready?
Who keeps the prints and the high resolution image files?
Does Matt keep back-ups of the image files?
Who owns the copyright to the photographs?
Where to get reprints and enlargements and Wedding Albums
Can a color photo be printed BW? or vice versa?
Can the photos be re-edited?
We need an extra copy of the DVD or extra set of the 4x6 prints
Sharing your photos
Taking care of your prints and image files
Does Matt have back-up gear?
Gear shmear!
What type of cameras does Matt use?
File information
What resolution are the photographs?
How large can they be printed?
Does Matt calibrate his monitors?
Glossary of photography related terms
What do the Terms and Conditions on the contract mean?
Sometimes contracts can seem a bit stiff. My wedding photography contract is fairly typical, but if you have any questions please email or phone for clarification. I think you will find that I am friendly, understanding, and flexible.
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I want to meet with Matt, and see some of his photographs.
Call or email to see if I still have your wedding date available. We can schedule a meeting so you look at some of my photographs in person, and we can discuss your wedding. I usually meet with people at a downtown Lawrence, KS coffee shop, bookstore, or restaurant.
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I live too far away to meet with Matt in person right now.
Many of my clients are getting married in Lawrence, but live somewhere far away, so I'm very used to working with people who are planning their wedding long distance. I'd be glad to meet with you over the phone, or meet with your family or friends who do live near Lawrence.
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How do I book Matt Needham for my wedding?
A $400.00 non-refundable retainer (counts towards your final balance), and a signed copy of the wedding photography contract reserves my services for your wedding day. All dates are considered available until I receive a signed contract and the retainer. I would be happy to pencil your wedding into my schedule for the date, but if I don't have a signed contract and retainer within a reasonable amount of time I will consider the date open.
I can provide you with a contract; just let me know where to send or drop it off. Or you can copy and paste the contract on my web site into your favorite word processor, and print it out yourself. Read the contract; call or email me with any questions you have. Fill out as much information as you know, but don't worry about leaving blanks if you don't know all the times, specifics, etc.... We can work out the details closer to your wedding date. I only book one wedding per date so I can be flexible and organize the wedding photography schedule to suit you. Sign the contract. Signing the contract means we are agreeing to the terms of the contract, the pricing structure on the contract, and the date. My mailing address is on the contract. Send the contract with a check for the $400 retainer, and phone or email me to let me know it's on the way. When I receive it I will let you know, sign the contract myself, and return a copy of the contract to you.
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Does Matt travel?
I would be glad to travel and photograph almost anywhere in the world. Let me know where your wedding is taking place, and I'll quote you a travel fee. No travel charge for weddings inside Douglas County.
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Does Matt have an assistant?
I normally work alone, but I can arrange for an additional professional photographer if you would like multiple photographer coverage. If you have a family member or friend who is an avid photographer there may be opportunities to coordinate with me if they are interested. Just let me know.
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What does Matt wear while photographing weddings?
I wear long pants, a button-up shirt with collar, and practical shoes. I normally don't wear a tie, because I already have several cameras hanging around my neck, but if you would like me to wear one just let me know.
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How many weddings does Matt photograph in one day?
I only book one wedding per date, even if the schedule would allow more. Wedding photography requires a lot of planning and attention. I want to give 100% of my energy and effort to your wedding.
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Can Matt provide references?
I would be happy to provide references if you would like to speak to someone whose wedding I have photographed. Click here to see what some of my clients have said about their wedding photography.
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What is Matt's photography education and background?
I've been interested in the visual arts all of my life, and have been studying and practicing photography for over a decade. I have completed many college courses in photography and art, worked in a full service photo lab for four years, and taught photography and darkroom classes at the Lawrence Arts Center. I am fully skilled in the use of film cameras from 35mm to 4x5 large format, digital cameras, the traditional chemical darkroom, and Photoshop. Photography and art are my passion, and I avidly continue to learn and explore.
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Who should sign the contract and make the payments?
I would prefer that the contract be signed by the Bride and/or Groom, and payments be made through the Bride and Groom. I understand that parents are very often involved in the wedding planning, hiring, and payment of wedding day vendors and services. I have found that sometimes there are differences in opinion between the Bride, the Mother of the Bride, and/or the Mother of the Groom as to how the wedding photography is carried out. My goal is to do my very best to make everyone happy, but ultimately I am responsible to the person who has signed the wedding photography contract. Also all materials such as high resolution files, prints, and albums will be delivered to the person signing the contract.
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What size (aspect ratio) are the photographs?
You are probably used to 4"x6", 5"x7", and 8"x10" as standard print sizes, but do the math; if 4"x6" is the full print, then 5"x7" and 8"x10" have to have some of the photo cropped (see the example photograph below). Photographs from digital SLR cameras (and 35mm film) have an aspect ratio of 2:3. This means the prints are normally 4"x6", 5"x7.5",6"x9", 8"x12", 10"x15", 12"x18", etc... Unless you specify otherwise, I will compose most of your wedding photographs with this aspect ratio in mind. All full service photo labs offer reprints and enlargements in these sizes. I will occasionally create a few square or panoramic photographs; let me know if you really like squares and/or panos, and I'll create more.
Other aspect ratios are available upon request. Some traditional style wedding albums require photographs with an aspect ratio of 4:5 or 1:1. 4:5 ratio makes prints sized 4"x5", 8"x10", and 16"x20". 1:1 makes square prints sized 5"x5", 8"x8", 10"x10", etc... 5"x7" and 11"x14" are each different aspect ratios. Often it will be possible to crop a 2:3 ratio photograph into a 5"x7", 8"x10", or 11"x14" without problems, but if you need your photographs to have an aspect ratio other than 2:3 it is best if you tell me ahead of time. I know that this can be confusing so please ask any questions you have.
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When will get together to plan the wedding photography in more detail?
We can get together to discuss your wedding photography in more detail whenever is convenient for you. I often meet with people between four and eight weeks before the wedding, but if you are ready to meet earlier just let me know. If you are out of town, and meeting in Lawrence won't work for you we can doing our planning over the phone or via email.
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What information does Matt need?
If you decide to hire me to photograph your wedding I will need to know:
The names, addresses, phone numbers, and email for the bride and groom, and anyone else involved in hiring me or planning the wedding (such as parents of the bride and groom or the wedding coordinator).
A simple schedule of the wedding day, and what parts of the day you are interested in having me cover. A brief description of your ceremony and reception would also be helpful. Be sure to mention any special details, people, events, etc...
Pre-ceremony, ceremony, and reception location addresses, phone numbers, etc...
If there are any photography restrictions from the officiator or ceremony site. Please ask them; more often than not there are photography restrictions.
Whether the ceremony and reception is indoors or outdoors. Alternate plans in case of bad weather.
Can the bride and groom see each other before the ceremony?
A list of the groups of people for the posed portrait sessions (see the sample list below). Please include first names on your list. We can vary from, or add to the list at any time, including during the portrait session itself, but you'll have a lot on your mind on your wedding day, and it's nice to have a list of the portraits you know you want to make sure I get.
Please let me know any of your ideas about your wedding photography.
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How much coverage do we need?
Everyone's wedding day is different. Some ceremonies last 15 minutes, and others an hour and a half. Big families will take longer than small families. Some people would like to spend more time with the posed portraits at different locations, others would like to keep the posed portraits as short and sweet as possible, and stick mainly to candids and impromptu portraits. The number of guests, reception activities, and whether or not the Bride and Groom can see each other before the ceremony will all affect how much coverage you need. We will sit down together and discuss what you would like from the wedding photography coverage, write up some lists of the photos you want, and make a schedule/plan.
Since I only book one wedding a day it's not vital that we know exactly what you need when you reserve the date. People often don't have everything figured out yet when I am hired. In general if you want me to cover some of getting ready, the ceremony, posed photos, and the important parts of the reception I have found it will usually require at least eight hours of wedding photography coverage.
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Does Matt attend the wedding rehearsal?
I am happy to attend wedding rehearsals in Lawrence for no extra charge as long as my schedule is open. To book me to photograph your wedding rehearsal the charge is $250.00 for up to 2 hours plus any travel charge. I will shoot photojournalism style candids, as well as get some posed portraits of friends and family if you like. You receive a set of 4"x6" prints and the high resolution image files on DVD delivered with the photographs from your wedding day.
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When are the posed photos taken?
Posed photos of the wedding party and families of the Bride and Groom may be taken before and/or after the ceremony. People tend to be fresher before the ceremony, but I'll gladly respect your wishes as to when the posed portraits are taken. Possibly some of the posed portraits could be taken before the ceremony, and some after if that fits your schedule better.
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How long do the posed photos take?
I try to make the posed portrait sessions as quick as possible so that people don’t get hot, uncomfortable, bored, etc... I know it’s a very busy day for everyone involved with the wedding, but setting up, and creating a nice variety of portraits does take some time. It is important to schedule enough time for the portraits you want, and to make sure the portrait sessions start on time. My experience is that when things start running behind on the wedding day that it’s the photography time that gets cut short. The difference between nice wedding portraits and amazing wedding portraits has a lot to do with how rushed we are.
A typical list of posed portraits usually includes photos of the Bride, the Bride and her attendants, the Bride and her family, the Groom, the Groom and his attendants, the Groom and his family, the Bride & Groom together, the Bride & Groom with the ceremony officiator(s), the Bride & Groom with the wedding party, and the Bride & Groom with their families. I want to hear your ideas and know what you want.
If possible I would like to schedule one hour to create an assortment of portraits with the Bride and her attendants, one hour for the Groom and his attendants, and another hour for assorted portraits of the Bride and Groom together and with the wedding party. These portrait sessions can be seperate or combined depending on what works best for you; I try to be flexible to suit your needs. It may be possible to get portraits done in less time if neccessary, but more time allows for more creativity, more locations, more variety, etc... Throughout the reception I like to do one or two short portrait sessions (10 - 15 min) with the Bride and Groom. These may be scheduled whenever is most convenient, or to take advantage of locations or events such as the sunset.
How much time to schedule for the posed portraits of the Bride and Groom together with their families depends on how many different poses/groups, and how creative you would like to get. A short list of simple family group portraits like the one below can be photographed as quickly as 15 minutes if everyone is on time, and ready to go, but in my experience that's rarely the case, and it's safer to schedule at least 30 minutes. These portraits can be taken before or after the ceremony.
Bride with her Parents
Bride and Groom with Bride's Parents
Bride with her Parents, Grandparents, and Siblings
Bride and Groom with Bride’s Parents, Grandparents, and Siblings
Groom with his Parents
Bride and Groom with Groom's Parents
Groom with his Parents, Grandparents, and Siblings
Bride and Groom with Groom's Parents, Grandparents, and Siblings
Bride and/or Groom with other family and friends
Everyone's families are different, and a simple list like the one above may not suit your needs. Please make your own list of family and wedding party portraits, email it to me, and I can give you an estimate as to how long it will require. Including the first names of the people in the photos, and their relationship to the Bride and Groom helps me keep things moving along on the wedding day. When making your list consider that there may be time for impromptu portraits and group shots during the reception. Anytime you want a photo of someone or something during the wedding day just ask. If you want a photo of the Bride and Groom with the ceremony officiator it should usually be taken soon after the ceremony.
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How many photos does Matt take?
How many photos are taken depends on how long I am hired for, what parts of the day I'll be covering, how the action unfolds, etc.... I take a lot of photos on my own, and feel free to request any photos you or your friends and family want on the wedding day. I don't have a guaranteed minimum quantity, but I typically deliver 350+ photographs with eight hours of wedding photography coverage.
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Does Matt deliver every single photograph he takes?
No. I will make many exposures throughout the day, and some will be out of focus, mis-exposed, eyes closed, people walking in front of the camera, etc... Some shots are experiments or "sketches" in the creative process; sometimes they work out, sometimes they don't. I also take duplicate photos when possible, such as the formal posed portraits, so that I can select the one where everyone has their eyes open and looks the best.
Mistakes and duplicates are discarded as I edit. I make tens of thousands of exposures at all the weddings I photograph each year. I keep copies of all of the finished photographs, but I cannot afford the archiving space necessary to store every single exposure from every wedding I photograph. On the other hand I don't edit everything out except the masterpieces. If the photo is halfway decent, and not a duplicate exposure, I'll include it in the photos I deliver.
Occasionally I receive requests to see all of the photos taken at the wedding. Usually from a Mother or Grandmother of the Bride and Groom who want to see if I photographed a family member not represented in the photos I delivered. Please ask close family members (especially the Moms) before the wedding if they have any photos they'd like to make sure I get. If you can get me that information when we are making our plan I can usually accommodate their wishes as well as yours. At the reception I'd also be glad to follow a Mom or Aunt around getting impromptu portraits at their request. Some couples appoint a "photo wrangler". A photo wrangler is someone that knows you and your family who can help make sure I get photos of your VIP's. There is a lot I can do to make sure I get the shots everyone wants before and during the wedding, but not much I can do about it afterwards.
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Is the shot list guaranteed?
Shot lists help me get the photos that are important to you, and I try my best to do so, but the shot list is not guaranteed. The wedding day tends to be busier than people expect even with planning. I've found it's more common than not that the Bride and Groom, the wedding party, and/or family members are running late, and unfortunately that usually means the scheduled photography time gets cut short. It's easy to forget important photos in the excitement of the day so make sure you let me know about the photos and portraits you want before the wedding, and I will put them into my plan.
Tips for getting all the photos you want:
Tell Matt about photos you want, and ideas you have before the wedding if possible, and during the wedding as they occur to you.
Make sure everyone in the posed photos knows where and when they need to be ready to be photographed. "Ready to be photographed" means everything is in place: hair, flowers, make-up, clothes, etc....
Don't try to do too much on your wedding day. It's going to be a very busy day. Schedule plenty of time to get the things done that need to get done. Leave some room in case things do get behind. Make sure you schedule some breaks; everyone needs a break here and there to get away from the hustle and bustle and relax for a few minutes.
During the wedding if you find yourself with someone you want a photo of/with let me know and we'll take a quick photo. It's easy and quick. Don't put it off until later; later might not occur.
Appoint someone to be the "photo wrangler". The wrangler(s) knows most of your friends and family and can help point out VIPs to Matt as well as help gather people for photos.
Let your friends and family know that they can request photos and portraits from me during the reception (or whenever it's convenient).
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What about black and white and sepia toned photographs?
I will create a mix of color and BW photographs at your wedding. Normally I deliver about 1/3rd to 1/2 of the photos in BW, but it depends on the location, the lighting, the colors available, etc.... Technically all of the photos are taken in color, but coming from a film background I'm used to deciding which looks better before I make the exposure. Color is possibly the most dominate aspect of how we see and react to images. If the colors in a scene don't improve the photograph then they'll be a distraction. I also feel that BW usually looks better for the low light conditions that I may encounter during the wedding day; color is often the first thing to break down when the exposure is pushed to extremes. Black and white also deals with color cast problems that happen with some kinds of artificial lighting such as fluorescent tubes.
Most people like a mix, and I find that's what I would normally do at most weddings, but if you really love BW, and want me to make all of your wedding photos BW just let me know. That would be easy to do. On the other hand I have rarely seen a wedding that I would shoot in all color. It may be possible, and I'd be willing to discuss that with you, but it's going to depend a lot on the suitability of the lighting and location.
Below you can see some examples of toning effects. I normally deliver the BW photos in either warm tone or neutral BW. Let me know if you'd be interested in a different toning effect. If your photos have a toned effect, they will need to be printed on color paper (the regular choice for prints). If you order them printed on BW paper they will come out neutral BW.
What about selective coloration, borders, and other special effects?
If you are interested in a special effect or style you've seen on in my photo gallery, portfolio, or elsewhere, just let me know. Selective color, toning, painting styles, borders, vignettes, soft-focus, and more are available for your wedding photographs. There may be a fee for complex or large editing and effects jobs, but if you can tell me what you want before I begin creating your wedding photos I usually don't charge extra, and I will probably have greater success, .
Does Matt retouch the photographs?
I examine each photograph and process them individually for the best color and contrast, burning and dodging as neccessary, and occasionally applying effects. In close-ups I will clean up blemishes such as acne and mosquito bites. My normal style for portrait editing is a light touch as far as cosmetics go, but more extensive retouching and editing is available. I don't make judgments about my subjects' looks, so if you would like me to "fix" something please let me know. I may be able to fade wrinkles, remove tattoos, clean up skin, whiten or straighten teeth, etc.... There may be a fee for complex or large editing and effects jobs. It usually costs less (if anything at all) if you can discuss with me any concerns you have before I begin photographing and processing.
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Tips for great wedding photos
In the week before the wedding:
Drink plenty of water. Hydration is better looking than dehydration. Drinking lots of water will improve skin and eye appearance.
Get plenty of sleep. Well rested people are beautiful people.
Make sure that your wedding clothes fit. It's usually too late to have your outfits adjusted on the wedding day.
Make sure the flowers are arriving in time for the photographs. Have someone available to help the guys pin on their boutonniere.
Make sure people who will be in the photos know where and when. They need to be on time, and ready to be in the photos. You know your friends and family; some people need to be told to show up 15 or 30 min early to guarantee they show up on time.
Schedule bachelor/bachelorette parties at least a week before the wedding. You probably won't look your best if you are hung-over. Don't party the night before the wedding; drink lots of water and get a full night of sleep.
Get as much done as possible before the wedding day. The day of the wedding will be busy. it's my experience that when things start running behind it's the photography schedule that gets cut. I can get the job done in a pinch, but the difference between nice wedding photos and great wedding photos is the time I'm allowed.
Practice smiling. This may seem silly, but you will be doing a lot of smiling on your wedding day, both for me and your guests, and your cheek and jaw muscles will get tired. In the weeks before the wedding take a few minutes each day to give your face, jaw, and neck muscles a good stretch, and maybe even do a set or two of ten big smiles. I know you are thinking, "He's nuts!", but trust me, I hear it at every wedding, "My face is getting sore."
Practice smiling in the mirror. Natural smiles are the best, but sometimes you'll need to smile on demand, and getting a good smile-on-demand is a skill. Notice how big, toothy smiles tend to make the eyes smaller, and may emphasize wrinkles under the eyes. A casual smile, just turning up the corners of the mouth (closed or open a bit) is often the most flattering. By the way, I am not one of those photographers that thinks every photo needs a smile.
Sometimes people stretch their chin upwards to make their neck look better. The problem with this is that it emphasizes the chin, and reduces the size of the eyes in the photos. A better solution is to lean slightly forward at the waist, and stretch the neck so that the eyes and chin remain the same distance from the camera.
Email or phone Matt if there have been any last minute changes in the schedule, or anything that would affect the wedding photography. Make sure you have communicated to me all of the important people, events, and things you would like photographed, and I will do my very best to make sure I get photos of them.
On the wedding day:
Be on time. When I estimate the time it will take to do the posed photos of your family, wedding party, etc..., I'm counting on everyone being there, and starting the portrait session on time. It doesn't bother me if we are running late, but it's my experience that the church/officiator, and/or caterer will expect to start on time, and that the photography schedule will get cut short. This means you might not get all the portraits you wanted.
Appoint some helpers. Having someone to help with flowers, make-up, the dress, etc... makes the day run smoothly. Having someone that can point out important people that I should be getting photos of is helpful. Most of the time I haven't met anyone except for the Bride and Groom, and maybe their parents. I don't know if that lady over there is your beloved Aunt Betty, or a stranger who just wandered in.
Don't hide from the photographer. I know you aren't used to having your own paparazzi, and most people are a bit self conscious in front of a camera, but this is your big day! Try not to shy away from the camera. You don't have to ham it up, but try not to turn your back on the camera either.
I'm always on the look out for photogenic action and scenes, but if the action is happening somewhere else I can't capture those moments. For instance if the ladies are having a blast getting ready, and you know I'm waiting in the lobby have someone go get me. If the Bride and Groom take a little walk to get away from the crowd let me know. Just speak up about what you are comfortable with; I can step outside the dressing room when people are getting dressed, or keep my distance during a romantic stroll. I don't want to hassel you, but I want to capture all the special parts of your day.
Ask your guests to refrain from photographing during the posed photo session(s). Additional photographers are distracting to the subjects of the posed photos. If we are to keep on schedule, and get great photos, I need everyone's complete attention. Let your guests know that you can give them a copy of the DVD with all the photos I'm taking. It's best if we can limit the crowd to people who are going to be in the photos, and those who are helping with flowers, the dress, hair, make-up, etc....
Be romantic. It may seem a given being your wedding day and all, but make sure you hug, kiss, hold hands, dance, and flirt with each other often. Not only is it fun, it will make for fantastic wedding photos!
Bring the bouquet to the reception. Most people do, but occasionally it's been stashed away. The reception is usually when I shoot the bouquet and cake, so make sure I have access to the bouquet, and don't cut the cake right away.
Don't worry, be happy. Everything might not go as you had planned. It's too late to be worrying about it once the wedding has started. The day is a gathering of your family and friends to celebrate your commitment to each other, and your new life together. The little problems or mishaps aren't very important in the big picture. Have a good time. Worrying will make you scowl, and that doesn't make for good photos.
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Can family and friends take photos while Matt is photographing?
These days everyone has a camera, and I know how much fun photography is. I have no problem with your guests taking lot's of pictures, although I would prefer that guests and family refrain from photographing during the posed portrait sessions. Extra cameras and people tend to be a distraction that can really slow the session down, and can affect how good the portraits turn out. Even when I tell everyone in the photo to look at my camera, someone is always looking off to the side at someone else taking photos. Let your family and friends know that you can make them a copy of the DVD of the photos I take for no extra charge.
If you have a family member or friend who is a photography enthusiast there may be opportunities to coordinate with me if they are interested. Just let me know.
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What if we want Matt to stay later or arrive earlier than originally scheduled?
No problem. The sooner you can let me know the better, but I understand that things come up and plans change. I don't schedule anything else but your wedding for the day so I can be flexible at a moment's notice.
If payment is made before the wedding begins the charge is my normal wedding photography package prices. Additional wedding photography coverage added after the wedding photography coverage has started is $275 per hour, and payment is due when I deliver the prints and files.
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There is a long break scheduled between the ceremony and the reception
If your reception is scheduled to start significantly later than the end of the ceremony, and we can't take advantage of that time for photographs, then I am willing to take a break so that those hours don't count against your total wedding photography coverage. The charge for breaks in the photography coverage is $30 per hour for weddings within 10 miles of Lawrence, and $60 per hour for weddings located elsewhere.
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Impromptu portraits
The Bride and Groom, and their family and friends should feel free to request portraits at any time. Before the ceremony, at the reception, or whenever you find yourself with someone who you want to have your photo taken with, just let me know. Don't put it off; the wedding day will be very busy, and the opportunity may not arise again. It really only takes a few seconds to get a nice, quick portrait of you and your guests.
I've noticed that the Moms of the Bride and Groom are often more concerned with family portraits than the Bride and Groom are. As long as there is enough time at the reception, and people are willing, I'm very happy to take formal and impromptu family portraits as directed by a Mom or Aunt.
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Does Matt need dinner?
I usually do not eat while working; you do not need to plan for a table setting or meal for me. Although I try not to harass people with photos while they are eating, dinner is a good time for me to get photos of the cake, the bouquet, the rings, and other details.
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When will the prints and files be ready?
I try to have them ready for you as soon as possible. I know you are excited to see them, and I'm excited to give them to you. Usually it takes me about three weeks; during the busier part of the season (June, July, September, and October) it may take longer. My wedding photography contract says that the finished, ready to print, high resolution image files will be ready within 40 business days (8 weeks, not including holidays) from the wedding day. The set of 4"x6" prints is usually ready at this time also.
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When will the album(s) be ready?
I try to have albums and photobooks completed as soon as possible. Usually this is within 8 weeks of when they are ordered, but it could be longer during busier parts of the wedding season.
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Who keeps the prints and the high resolution image files?
You keep the prints and the high resolution image files. You can make as many reprints and enlargements from the files as you would like for the personal use of you, your friends, and your family. You can use the lab of your choice, or one of my recommendations. I encourage you to make copies of the DVD for your family; that way they can make all the photographs they want, and you'll have back-up DVDs if yours were to be lost or damaged.
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Does Matt keep back-ups of the image files?
I'm very proud of my work, and it is my intention to keep every photograph I've ever taken. If your files are lost or destroyed there shouldn't be a problem getting copies, but this is no excuse to avoid properly archiving your wedding photography when it's so easy and inexpensive to burn extra DVDs.
Just type "digital photo archiving" into your favorite search engine for the latest information.
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Who owns the copyright to the photographs?
Matt Needham owns the copyright to all of the photographs. You, your family, and your friends have my permission to reprint and enlarge as many of the photographs as you want for personal, private use. Written permission must be obtained prior to any use for general public or monetary gain. Please read my wedding photography contract for more information.
Wedding photography packages that include exclusive copyright to all the photographs are available for double my normal rates.
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Where to get reprints and enlargements and Wedding Albums
Although almost any photo lab can make reprints and enlargements from digital image files, I recommend using a full service photo lab. Full service labs cost a little more than economy labs, but the difference is well worth it. Higher quality materials, and attention to detail result in a superior, longer lasting, photographic print. Full service photo labs offer a wider variety of services, and usually do a better job of making large prints than economy labs.
Full service labs usually offer "correction" as part of their regular printing service. This means they look at each photograph and make an individual assessment of the color and density (lightness and darkness), and reprint as necessary until they get what they feel is the best print. Some labs offer discounted prices for proofs printed straight from the file without any correction. I calibrate my monitors every two weeks to insure accurate colors and contrast, and the files I deliver should print nicely straight from the file, but I still recommend letting the lab "correct" the prints.
If your photos have a toned effect (sepia or other color), they will need to be printed on color paper (the regular choice for prints). If you order them printed on BW paper they will come out neutral BW (no toning effect).
For prints and enlargements I use Image Works in Lawrence, KS, and Mpix at www.mpix.com .
Here is a list of some other full service labs in the area. I have only used Image Works, Wolfe's Camera, and Douglas Photographic Imaging, but have heard good reviews about the other labs on this list.
Image Works (785) 865-0777
711 W 23rd St (in The Malls shopping center), Lawrence, KS 66044
Wolfe's Camera 800-359-6533 www.wolfes.com
635 S. Kansas Avenue, Topeka, KS 66603
Crick Camera Shop (816) 444-3390 www.crickcamera.com
7715 Stateline Road, Kansas City, MO 64114
Photographx (816) 505-9989 www.photographxunlimited.com
7611 NW Roanridge Road, Kansas City, MO 64151
Process One (913) 648-0871 www.processonekc.com
SW corner of 95th and Metcalf, Overland Park, KS
Hamilton Color Lab, Inc. 800-420-1600 www.hamiltoncolorlab.com
4305 South 120th Street, Omaha, NE 68137
Douglas Photographic Imaging 800-234-0713 www.douglasphoto.com
2300 E Douglas, Wichita, KS 67214
If you want to make your own wedding albums and photo books just use your favorite search engine, or here are some links. I have not used all of these services myself, so please check for online reviews of their products and sevices. If you have received excellent or awful service and/or products from any company (on this list or not), please let me know. Of course I would be happy to design and created your wedding album for you if you prefer.
Photo Books
www.apple.com
www.viovio.com
www.blurb.com
www.kodakgallery.com
www.mypublisher.com
www.visionartbook.com
www.dyowa.com
www.ionahandcraftedbooks.com
www.jennibick.com
Wedding Albums
www.weddingalbumdepot.com
www.kolo.com
www.bridesincorporated.com
www.weddingalbumsandmore.com
www.albumsource.com
www.proweddingalbums.com
www.albumart.com
www.jennibick.com
Album Design and Publishing
www.catprintsdesign.com
www.weddingalbumdepot.com
www.bridesincorporated.com
www.liquidminds.com
www.whiteweddingalbum.com
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Can a color photo be printed BW? Or vice versa? What about sepia?
While it is possible to ask a full service lab to turn a color photo into a BW or sepia photo, you may get better results if you ask me to do the BW or tone conversion, and provide you with a new file.
All of my digital photographs start out in color, so if you would like to see a color version of a photo that I deliver in BW or sepia just let me know. Although most of my BW photos are taken with a monochrome final image in mind, so they may not work as well in color. I only keep the original color files for a few weeks after I deliver, so please notify me as soon as possible if you would like to see the color version of a photograph I delivered as BW.
If your photos have a toned effect (sepia or other color), they will need to be printed on color paper (the regular choice for prints). If you order them printed on BW paper they will come out neutral BW (no toning effect).
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Can the photos be re-edited?
After seeing your wedding photos for the first time you might notice something that you'd like edited, or maybe you think a few would look good with a particular effect. Please let me know as soon as possible. Most of the time there is no problem editing from the finished photographs which I intend to do my best to keep forever. In a few cases it would be better to work from the original raw files, and I only keep those for a few weeks after I deliver the photos to you.
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We need an extra copy of the DVD or extra set of the 4x6 prints
Feel free to make your own copies, or I can make them for you. Extra DVD's are $15 each. Extra sets of 4x6 prints are $0.50 per print.
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Sharing your photos
An easy way to share photos is to use a free online gallery at a photo lab service web site. You can upload your image files to a private gallery and control who can view the photos. Your friends and family can even order reprints and enlargements directly from the site. There are many sites that offer these services. I use www.mpix.com with my family and friends, and recommend them to my clients. Mpix will even send you postage paid CD/DVD mailers, which is usually more convenient than trying to upload 100's of wedding photos online.
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Taking care of your prints and image files
Prints will last for decades if properly processed and cared for. Having prints made at a professional lab takes care of the processing. Storage is up to you. Store and display your prints using archival, acid free materials; don’t just toss them in an old shoebox. Buy an archival photo storage box. Keep prints dry, and away from excessive heat and light. Prints that are handled a lot will deteriorate sooner; if you want a set to pass around, make sure you get clean reprints for your long term albums. Framed photos should be framed with UV protective glass. Even with UV protection measures, prints exposed to strong sunlight will eventually fade.
Backup your digital image files several times. Hard drives, DVDs, etc... can fail. I make at least 3 copies of all my important photos: 1 on my hard drive, 1 on DVD, and 1 on a back-up hard drive. External hard drives are cheap costing less than 50 cents per gigabyte of storage. Having at least one backup somewhere outside your home is important. Keep a DVD at your office, or in a safety deposit box, or store files online. Make copies of the DVD with your photos as soon as possible; make copies for your parents, siblings, and friends. That way they can get the photos they want without bothering you, and you have lots of back-up copies of the DVD.
Have an archiving plan for your digital image files. Backing them up insures you have copies if your hard drive fails. Archiving insures they are accessible over the long term as technology changes. Every few years it is important to make sure you copy the files to more up to date storage technology. If you buy a computer that doesn't have a CD drive, then it's definitely time to get your wedding photos off CD, and onto whatever new media is best. Type "digital photo archiving" into your favorite search engine for the latest information.
Don't skimp on back up equipment and materials. Use a known and respected brand. I use Western Digital hard drives and Mitsui/MAM-A Gold DVD+R discs. Single session (no re-writing) CDs and DVDs are more archival than multiple session media (re-writable). Make sure you have a case for each disc. Store discs in a vertical position, and protect from UV light (sunlight). Don't write or stick labels on the disc itself. The only safe place to write on the disc is the clear ring in the center. Use an archival marking pen.
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Does
Matt have back-up gear?
I always carry back-up cameras and gear. It's not a matter of if something will break, but when something will break. I've had camera bodies malfunction, flashes burn out, and lenses break. I just grab another camera and keep shooting.
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I always carry back-up cameras and gear. It's not a matter of if something will break, but when something will break. I've had camera bodies malfunction, flashes burn out, and lenses break. I just grab another camera and keep shooting.
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Gear shmear
That last question is the only really important gear question you need to ask a wedding photographer as long as you've seen full size examples of their photos and they look good. Camera manufacturers spend millions of dollars emphasizing the importance of gear, photographers get obsessed with the gear, and wedding magazines and web sites give advice on gear (often questionable, in my opinion), but the particulars of the gear have little to do with creative photography.
The recipe for good photographs are a mix of the photographer's skill and imagination, the subject's input and cooperation, and the light. The brand of camera is no more important than the brand of bowl or wooden spoon is when making cookies. I've used Pentax, Canon, Nikon, Leica, Hasselblad, Rollei, etc.... I've used SLR's, TLR's, DSLR's, rangefinders, folding cameras, panoramic cameras, view cameras, toy cameras, disposables, point-n-shoots, and pin-hole cameras. By far the most important gear is the photographer's mind and eyes.
That said, I suppose it is important to know that your wedding photographer is using reliable gear, and knows what they are doing. So on with the geek talk! Actually I love photo geek talk, and can babble it all day long. It's just not as important as many photographers make it out to be.
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I'm using Canon professional, digital, single lens, reflex (DSLR) cameras; in particular EOS 5D's and EOS 20D's. I carry a variety of fast (suitable for low light) zoom and prime lenses covering very wide angle to telephoto. I have an extensive background in film photography with plenty of experience shooting, processing, and printing 35mm, medium format, and 4x5 sheet film. I photographed weddings for years using film, and at first only reluctantly tried digital. It quickly won me over, and now I believe it is superior to film in many ways.
If you have any questions about the quality of digital photography please make arrangements to see the prints in my wedding portfolios. More than a few people who were convinced that digital photographs were somehow inferior to film photographs have changed their minds after looking through my portfolios. There is no doubt in my mind that photographs from digital match, and often surpass photographs from film in terms of appearance and quality.
Someone told me that Martha Stewart was going to make old school, film photography hip again. I know she's responsible for the resurgence in popularity of letterpress, so if you are determined that you want all or some film photography coverage at your wedding I'm willing to discuss the possibilities. I still have plenty of film gear: 35mm, medium format, and 4x5 large format, and I can make wonderful photographs on film as well as digital. The wedding photography prices and delivery times I have listed on my web site are for 100% digital photography coverage.
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File information
The photographs are taken in 12 bit raw file format. They are converted to 8 bit tiff files for editing, and normally delivered as 8 bit, sRGB jpegs. This is the preferred file format for professional and full service photo labs. Raw files are not available. Sets of fully edited tiff files are available: set of 8 bit tiff files for $50, set of 16 bit tiff files for $200.
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What resolution are the photographs?
I shoot with 8 and 13 megapixel DSLRs. The original raw file resolution can be as high as 4368 x 2912. Some photos are cropped in editing.
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How large can they be printed?
A lot of factors go into how large a photo can be enlarged. First and foremost the personal opinion of the viewer. Beyond that it is influenced by subject matter, lighting conditions, camera settings, resolution, viewing distance, printing process and materials, etc... You should have no problem getting good prints (from a good lab) up to 12" x 18" from any of the image files I deliver, and many of the photographs will print very nicely up to 20" x 30".
Since most people are making 20" x 30" or smaller prints of their wedding photos that's what I optimize the files for. Most full service labs won't have any problems making larger prints from these files, but you may get better results with a file optimized for the print size when ordering very large prints. If you are having any problems let me know which photo and what size, and I can make a file specifically for that print size. Sometimes it's nice to have some border (printing the photo on a larger sheet of paper than the photo itself) when matting and framing large photographs; I usually have my photos printed with 1"+ white borders when I intend to mat and frame them. Most labs can do this if you ask, but if you need me to make you a file with borders just let me know
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Does Matt calibrate his computer monitors?
Yes. I calibrate my monitors every two weeks to insure color and contrast accuracy. You probably don't calibrate your computer monitors. This means the photos may look brighter or darker, or have color casts when viewed on your computer.
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Glossary of photography related terms
You may be encountering terms you are unfamiliar with on my web site and other wedding photography web sites. Always feel free to ask me any questions if you are unsure of what something means. I love to talk photography.
Photo book: A bound book with the photos printed directly onto the pages. Usually printed using ink jet. Many sizes, styles, and levels of quality are available.
Photo album: A book where the photographs are mounted in or on the album pages. The photos are usually C-prints, but also may be ink jet prints or silver gelatin prints. Many sizes, styles, bindings, and levels of quality are available. Traditional matted wedding albums have pages with an accented, bordered pocket that the photos are slipped into with a finished result much like a matted and framed photograph. Flush mount album pages have a recess that the photos are permanently glued into so that the surface of the page is the same level as the photo. Flush mount album pages can be borderless, meaning the photo extends tot he edge of the page.
C-print: Chromogenic print. A typical color photograph. C prints use light sensitive silver halides and dyes suspended in an emulsion coating the paper to create the image. These days many black and white photos are also C prints.
Silver gelatin print: An old school black and white photograph. Silver gelatin prints use light sensitive silver halides suspended in an emulsion coating the paper to create the image. Some people claim that silver gelatin prints are the ultimate in BW photographs, and while I'd agree that a silver gelatin print hand crafted by a master printer is a thing of beauty, in general the differences in appearance between BW C-prints and silver gelatin prints are minimal (when printed at a good lab), and usually are a result of differences in the paper surface texture.
Ink jet print: A print created by spraying inks or dyes onto paper. Ink jet prints often get a bad rap because the technology varies so widely. Ink jet prints from a full service lab or professional photographer are not the same as ink jet prints made on the fax/scanner/printer you got for free with your home computer. Ink jet printing allows for many more paper and appearance options than any of the traditional print types, and high quality ink jet prints are usually much more archival than traditional prints. Sometimes there seems to be a general perception that photographers and artists have switched to ink jet technology because it's more convenient than traditional printing methods. This is mostly untrue; creating high quality ink jet prints requires expensive equipment and materials, and a lot of skill and experience. It is often just as time consuming and costly as traditional printing processes.
Glicee print: The French term for ink jet print. Photographers and artists sometimes use this term because they are afraid people will consider an "ink jet print" to be inferior. It's like referring to a bedroom as a "boudoir". It sounds fancier, but the real concern should probably be how comfortable the bed is. :) Personally I don't like to confuse people, and by playing games with the words used to describe the process I feel that the perception that ink jet prints are somehow inferior is perpetuated. I don't have a problem with well made ink jet prints, and I'm probably a lot more picky than you are.
Light jet: C prints and silver gelatin prints used to be made by projecting a light through a negative onto light sensitive paper. A light jet printer uses a laser to "write" the image to the light sensitive paper from a digital file. Today almost all chemical lab prints are made this way. Even prints from film are commonly made this way; the printing machine scans the negative, and the print is made from the file.
Archival: A term used to describe the life and longevity of materials and processes. Archival materials are stable and acid free. Archival materials must be handled and stored properly to maintain their archival properties.
SLR / DSLR: Single lens reflex or digital single lens reflex. The typical camera design used by professional photographers and photo enthusiasts. The camera uses the same lens for composing the scene and for taking the picture. The term "reflex" means a mirror used to redirect what the lens sees into the viewfinder.
ISO: Sometimes called film speed, although it also refers to digital equipment. ISO is the level of light sensitivity of the film or digital sensor. The higher the number the less light is necessary to make a proper exposure. Typically using a higher ISO results in photos with more grain for film and noise for digital. High ISO digital usually looks much cleaner than high ISO film in my experience. When I was photographing weddings using film I rarely went above ISO 400, because I felt the image quality broke down too much beyond that. With digital I often use up to ISO 1600, or even 3200, with good results.
Post processing: Just like film, digital exposures must be developed, but instead of a darkroom this is done using image editing software such as Adobe Photoshop. All digital cameras have processing software built into them, and digital photos can be processed in-camera to some extent. In-camera processing software typically isn't as sophisticated as out-of-camera software like Photoshop, so I prefer to do my processing on the computer.
Jpeg file: A jpeg is a compressed image file. Some of the image quality is sacrificed in order to create a smaller sized (in terms of memory space needed), more convenient to use file. Photo lab equipment is designed to print from jpegs, so that is what I deliver. I save all of my jpegs at the highest quality level, and the unaided human eye cannot spot the difference between a compressed and uncompressed photo file.
Tiff file: A tiff is an uncompressed image file. This is what I use when I am doing the processing to retain maximum quality. Tiff files require three to ten times the amount of memory space as jpeg files, so once I am done with the processing I save the tiff's as jpeg's.
Raw file: A raw file is the original and unedited data captured by the digital camera sensor. There are compressed and uncompressed raw file formats, but most photographers shoot uncompressed raw files. A raw file must be processed by raw file editing software, and converted to a tiff or jpeg to be seen as an image. Shooting in raw allows me to bring all of the original information I captured at the time of exposure into Adobe Photoshop where I have the maximum control and flexibility in processing.
Format: Refers to the size and aspect ratio of the film or digital sensor being used. Common film formats are 35mm, medium format, and large format. You are probably familiar with 35mm film. Medium format film also comes in rolls, but the size of the negative ranges from 6cm x 4.5cm to 6cm x 9cm and even larger. Large format refers to sheets of film 4"x5" or larger. Some film formats, such as 110 or APS, are considered obsolete. Compact digital cameras come in a variety of miniature formats, often with sensors smaller than a fingernail. DSLR's have larger sensors than compact cameras; the most common formats are APS-C and full frame (the size of a 35mm frame of film). The largest digital sensors are usually refered to as medium format digital.
Aspect ratio: The ratio of height to width of a photograph. 35mm film and most DSLR formats have an aspect ratio of 2:3, meaning one dimension is 1.5 times the length of the other. Go here for more info on typical aspect ratios of the photographs I create.
Monochrome: One color. A BW photograph is a monochrome photograph, but the term is usually used to refer to a BW photo that has been toned.
Toning or toned: Refers to replacing the black in a BW photo with a color or tint. Before digital this was only available by chemically replacing the silver in a silver gelatin print with another metal or compound such as sepia toning or selenium toning. With digital it's possible to tone a photograph with any color. Go here for more information on toned monochrome photographs.
Selective color: A BW or monochrome photo where some of the subject matter retains it's original color. A typical use would be a portrait of the Bride and Bridesmaids in BW with the flower bouquets in color. There are many examples of selective coloring all over the web and wedding photography sites. If done well it can be very pleasing; if not done well it can be very cheesy.
Hand colored: In the past this would refer to a BW photo where color has been painted onto the print. It looks very different from a color photo. Today this can be done digitally for a unique look.
Soft focus: Intentionally blurring or softening the sharpness is some areas of the composition. Depending on the strength of the soft focus effect it can result in the disappearance of tiny wrinkles to adding a dreamy look to the photo.
Vignette: A vignette effect can be as simple as a slight shading of the edges and corners, or as drastic as the complete manipulation of the shape of the edges of the photo.
I'm always adding new information to this page so visit often.
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