Wedding Galleries, Albums/Books, Prints and Photo Files on Disc (CD/DVD)
I get a lot of questions from new brides as to what they will receive after the wedding. I've found over the years that it is this process that matters just as much as the picture taking process. So this is why I thought explaining that process to people up front will help them understand what goes into delivering photos and products to them.
After each wedding I do the following:
Download & Backup
Download and backup all image files off the compact flash cards to main hard drive and back-up to DVD disc(s).
Share Favorites With Bride & Groom
Within the first few days I'll review the entire photo gallery and send my favorite 5-10 images to the bride and groom so they can share with family and friends via email or social network site (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
Organize, Process and Retouch
Edit all files by cropping (if needed), process for color, contrast, saturation and sharpness. Retouch skin for the bride and bridesmaid photos.
Create Web Galleries and Slideshows
After all the files have been processed and retouched, I will then create a private online HTML gallery for the bride and groom to review. Since the galleries are HTML, people can view them on their smart phones (iPhone, Android) or tablets (iPad). I like to keep the photos in galleries between 150-300 images. At this point the bride and groom can decide which image they want removed (if any) or edited before their gallery is made available to all the wedding guests. After the bride and groom approve all the images in the gallery, I will then upload those photos to a site where they can view and order prints and other photo products from. I currently use Collages for that service. Before the wedding couples can request to have cards created that will give a URL where people can go after the wedding to view the photos once their processed and uploaded to the final gallery for sharing.
4x6 Print Proofs
Now a days we view a lot of pictures on a computer screen or monitor but, there's nothing better than looking at a photograph that you're holding in your hands. All wedding packages come with 4x6 proofs that are printed from the high resolution processed files and are delivered with the disc. For a small extra cost couples can upgrade their 4x6 prints to 5x7's. All prints are printed on high quality photographic matte paper and delivered in a box for safe keeping. These prints can be used to help the bride and groom select the final images they will want to see in their wedding album or have other enlargements such as 8x10, 11x14, or 16x20 printed.
Delivering Image Files on Disc (CD/DVD)
Some wedding packages include the photo files on disc so that the bride and groom can use the photos as they please.
Designing the Wedding Book
Creating the wedding book is something I like to do in tandem with the bride and groom. Letting them pick the photos they want featured in their wedding book. Then after they make these selections, I talk with them about the style of wedding book they want. We discuss page count, interior layout design, typography, cover design, album paper type and binding. Once these items have been discussed and decided, the book will take 3-4 weeks to produce and design. A private online proof will then be available for review. The bride and groom can make changes which will then be implemented into the final book design. After I receive the completed book from the vendor, I like to sit down with every couple to make sure their wedding book was created to their liking.
