Q: How much does your wedding commission cost?

This is a great question.  I was a bride once so I know how expensive weddings can be.  It took me a long time to find my wedding photographer - and although Photography was on the top of my list of things that were most important to me I wanted to be sure I got the most out of the money I spent.  It is because of this that I think its important to let brides know ahead of time everything that goes in to my pricing.  My commission for wedding photography is $3500 and includes the following:

All Wedding Commissions include the following: 

LESLIE BROWN AS YOUR PERSONAL PHOTOGRAPHER:

Full day coverage with no limit on the number of images captured

ENGAGEMENT SESSION:

An intimate session before the wedding of the bride and groom

4 LOCATION COVERAGE:

Bridal Prep, Ceremony, Formals, & Reception

ELEGANT SLIDESHOW:

A custom slideshow featuring images throughout your day

PERSONAL WEB GALLERY:

A personal password protected site for sharing and purchasing images

IMAGE CATALOG:

All low resolution images for sharing with friends and family

PERSONAL PHOTO GIFT REGISTRY:

A great way for family and friends to play a part in your wedding images

FINE ART WEDDING ALBUM:

A beautiful telling of your Wedding Day in a 10x10 Fine Art Leather Custom Wedding Album

My prices are based on several things:

- Engagement Session coverage

- Wedding day coverage

- Backing up of files 

- Editing of your images (up to 80 hours post production)

- Posting photographs online

- Backing up the final edited files

- Album design

- Album modifications

- Album printing

- Other items such as DVDs, DVD slideshows, ect

- Preparation of files for printing

- Archival quality prints of your wedding images

- Packaging for print and products

- Anything else that a package might include

Then there are all the other things that go into running a proper business:

-Camera Gear (see here for more information on what is in my camera bag)

- Licensing

- Taxes

- Insurance

- Ongoing education - courses and seminars throughout the year both locally and across the country with some of the best photographers out there

- Marketing, magazine ads, researching and blogging

All of this goes in to determining my base package pricing and my al-la-carte pricing.  I am not the cheapest alternative, and I'm not the most expensive - but I firmly believe that my clients come to me with an expectation of high quality photos and I strive to deliver them.

Q: Will you be there to photograph my wedding?

Of course!  While there are various aspects in my workflow that I may outsource the actual shooting isn't one of them.  Most couples come to me because of my specific style of shooting and I think its important to be able to provide that for them.  

Q: Do I need a second shooter?

Although this isn't a necessity I highly recommend it.  Most of my brides decide to add on the second photographer option.  There is so much going on during your wedding and I cannot be everywhere all the time.  By enlisting a second shooter you can guarantee that all of your little details will be showcased - and you'll have a wide range of images to choose from.

Q: Do you have a consistent second shooter?

For most of my weddings if you chose to have a second photographer I turn to my second shooter for portraits.  Jennifer Mezei is with me for most of my sessions - and she is a great resource.  With a background in art she sees things in a different way than most people.  In the event she is unavailable I have two other established photographers that I have had the pleasure of dealing with that I can commission.  

Q: Why are your prints and albums so expensive?

All of my prints and albums come from Professional labs and vendors with only the highest quality of service.  I know that you can go to Wal-Mart or your local Superstore and get prints done for a fraction of the price but when I print the images from my vendors all the files are colour corrected to my monitor so I can control the final product.  They use only the highest quality papers, canvases, and albums to ensure archival quality.  The cost also includes all of the editing time spent to ensure that you receive only the best images possible.

Q: I'd like to print my own images - do you sell the digital negatives?

Although the digital files are not included in my base wedding commission they are available in my al-la-carte options.  With the purchase of the digital files you receive the images on a disc, plus a written copyright release that gives you permission to use the images for certain purposes, such as making prints or other photo products, posting on a website, or for personal use.  If you need additional print releases for family and friends they are also available at a additional fee. 

Q: How soon should I book a wedding photographer?

Nine to twelve months in advance is highly recommended. Remember that long weekends are popular and are usually booked early. However please don't hesitate to inquire about your date regardless of the time frame.

Q: How do we arrange a booking?

Contact me via my online booking tool and we'll arrange to meet in person (if possible) to discuss the details. The booking is confirmed once the 1/3 deposit is paid and a contract is signed. 

Q: What about charges for travel, hotel or car rental?

There is no charge for travel in the Fort McMurray area - please email me for a specific quote if your location is out of this area.

Q: What happens if I cancel my date? Do I get my Retainer back?

Sorry, you do not. Retainer Fees are non-refundable.

Q: What type of payments do you take?

I accept payment via Credit Card, Cash, and Paypal. After deciding on a date payment instructions will be sent to you via email.

Q: Do you do destination weddings?

Yes of course!  I am a seasoned traveller who would love to opportunity to shoot your destination wedding.  Please contact me for special rates for these unique weddings.