I’ve been saying for a while now that I’d write an new FAQ post…sorry it’s taken so long to deliver!

There are a couple of questions that have been recurring pretty often lately on the blog/facebook/email, and those are the ones I like to include in these posts! As always, if you have any questions for me please don’t hesitate to ask. I like to know what people are thinking when they look at this blog, and I appreciate being able to write things that people want to read about!

1. First Looks (What are they, and why do I like them!)
A First Look is when the bride and groom see each other for the first time on their wedding day, when they have opted to do photos before the ceremony. I love first looks because…
…I can help orchestrate the moment that the bride and groom see each other so that it is an incredibly special moment when they see each other…and they can express that! They are free to have a little time to just be together, it might be the only time this happens during the whole wedding day.
…it allows the couple to relax and let the nerves wear off a bit before the ceremony.
…they always result in some of my favorite photos!
…we can shoot all of the wedding party photos at the beginning of the day (when hair and make up are fresh and energy is high) and you don’t have to keep your guests waiting at all. It helps the day flow nice and seamlessly.

The last thing I’ll say: A First Look does not take away from the moment when the bride walks down the aisle. Lots of couples have told me that they are still overcome with emotion when the bride stands at the back of the aisle and sees her groom waiting. He’s not thinking…”Yeah, she looks pretty amazing…but I’ve seen that already!” he’s thinking “Wow…this is it!” (Or something…who knows what exactly, but you get my point)
Here are some pictures from a few of the First Looks I’ve shot…

I don’t force any of my couples in to choosing a first look. More and more couples are opting to go this way, but I always leave it up to you. Its your day…things should be done the way you want! I just wanted share a little bit based on my experience because sometimes people just don’t know what options are out there.

2. Three Cities? Whaaaaa?
Ok. A lot of people have noticed that my website talks a lot about me ‘working locally’ out of three cities: Chicago (of course), Vancouver, and Anchorage. I’ve gotten a lot of questions about this so I just wanted to clarify things a bit.
I live in Chicago so most of my weddings are here. But, I work out of Vancouver and Anchorage as well at no extra travel cost. I visit both of these cities more than once each year, so I thought…why not? I love shooting in a variety of backdrops, and its fun to be able to tie weddings into trips to visit family so it works well for me. I’ve had some photographers email to ask why I’d do that since it obviously cuts into my earnings. The only thing I can say is that it works for me, I enjoy shooting in more than one city and I wouldn’t change it!
Actually…I’d go so far as to say that I would work out of anywhere in the US or Canada for little to no travel cost if I was really excited about working with any given couple and shooting their wedding.  Why not?

3. Mentoring Sessions/Workshops/etc.
A lot of photographers are doing workshops these days. If not workshops than some form of mentoring session, or similar. I’ve gotten some inquiries about this and I’ve been giving it a lot of thought lately. To be honest something in me wants to teach techniques & experiences/share what I’ve learned about growing a business. Although, the idea does freak me out a lot as well. So, I’m not really there yet. I don’t know if I’m the workshop type…so it would probably take the form of Mentoring Sessions, someday. Not today! If you are interested in something like this, or would be in the future please do email and let me know what you’re thinking. You’d be the first to hear if I begin to offer something.