DEIRDRE & STAN

// WHAT NOW??!?!

Now that you can finally check ‘hire a photographer off of your planning list, take a deep breath! Make sure to check your inbox periodically for emails from me with important forms and scheduling information. If you’ve opted for an engagement session, please get that on the calendar as soon as possible! Those should be scheduled 6+ months out so you can send your save the dates on time! Plus, during peak seasons, sessions fill up FAST. Don’t wait. After your session, we will create a timeline and a family formal list together, then it’s wedding day! woo!

// COMMUNICATION

Each day, I receive A LOT of email. I spend a lot of time in my inbox (you know what this feels like if you work in an office). This gateway is designed to make your life (and mine lol) easier. Creating a custom gateway for your wedding day hopefully makes it easy for you to stay organized and a place where most all of your questions can be answered. Feel free to email me ([email protected]) if you have a question that cannot be answered here or set up a call (link below) to discuss LITERALLY anything. I’m here for you, but these are definitely THE BEST ways to get in touch with me and help us both stay organized. Texting or DMing me important timeline information or a list of questions is not a good way to communicate. I get a lot of message from the multiple platforms and it’s so easy for your message to get lost. Scheduled phone calls always happen and I always check my emails every single day and usually respond within 48 hours during the week.

// INVOICES, CONTRACTS, PAYMENTS

Everything I do uses my client management system, Dubsado. You should have already received an email with your client portal login information (hint, it’s your email address). You can access our contract at any time, as well as your current invoice. Feel free to pay it at any time, in any increment you’d like. I use Stripe as an online payment processor so you can pay by card or e-check at any time. Make sure the balance is paid one week before your wedding. If you’d like to send a check, that’s fine, your invoice has my address. I will deposit and adjust your invoice accordingly. Most people like using online payments since it’s easier but whatever works for you!

// YOUR GALLERIES

All of your high-resolution galleries are available to you in a link that we will provide after your session/wedding day at the bottom of this gateway. From your gallery link, you can “download all” using the down arrow button in the upper-right corner of your gallery.

You can also share that gallery link with your family and friends to view and purchase prints/albums. For your security, only those that I invite will have download privileges. This is to give YOU control over who has digital copies of your images. If you would like someone to be able to download, please send me their email and name so I can take care of that for you.

The shop in your gallery is where you can order professional prints. I encourage you to print through my lab so that I can provide the best possible looking prints of your digital images. Consumer labs can really mess with colors and heads up, I’m not responsible for that! But if you print through me, I promise your images will look A-MAZING.

// ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS

If you have an engagement session in your package, you can schedule that at the link below or refer to your email about scheduling. Please keep in mind that I cannot schedule engagement sessions on wedding days and that weekend availability during May through October is EXTREMELY limited. Please note that I only schedule sessions in the two hours after sunrise and two hours before sunset unless we have agreed upon another time due to location constraints. 

You can refer to the engagement planning guide below for help, but DO NOT stress about locations or clothes. You’ll be the most comfortable in what you already own. For locations, think about places that are special to BOTH of you and your relationship. Some of my favorite sessions have included couples taking me to the bar they like to hang at, to their first date location, or their favorite part of the city. 

If you have an engagement session in your package, you can schedule that at the link below or refer to your email about scheduling. Please keep in mind that I cannot schedule engagement sessions on wedding days and that weekend availability during May through October is EXTREMELY limited. Please note that I only schedule sessions in the two hours after sunrise and two hours before sunset unless we have agreed upon another time due to location constraints. 

If you have additional questions or you just need help because you’re stressing about outfits, please use this link to schedule a call with me. This is much less time consuming than trying to dish it out over emails. 

// THE QUESTIONNAIRES

I send you three questionnaires. I do them separately because having one massive questionnaire is TOO MUCH and you won’t complete it. So I break it down to make it easier on you.

First, the timeline questionnaire. I know you are itching to get that timeline in place, and frankly I am too! You know how much I like to whip out a sample timeline during my consultations. I am 100% on board with creating a timeline as early as you’d like. You’ll receive a questionnaire that helps me gather information to help build that timeline. I like to be involved in building the timeline for you because I’ve been to A LOT of weddings, I know what works and what doesn’t, and usually it’s a stressful part of the planning process for clients. Keep in mind that I will only build a timeline for my photography contracted hours, but you’ll want to figure out what time other vendors should arrive/depart on your own!

Second, the family formal questionnaire. This is the most important questionnaire because it’s the only shot list I require. If you do not give me a family formal list, I am 100% not responsible for specific combinations and will use my wedding photographer powers to do the most popular combinations. Please first consult amongst yourselves to figure out what photos are actually important to you. Remember, these can be time-consuming and most likely you will end up printing the photos of larger groups like your entire immediate family instead of just you and your siblings/nieces/nephews. Then, talk to your parents.  Pleaseeeeee. Make sure that they don’t have any requests or let them know how you would like to structure this time. I am happy to accommodate additional requests day of, but I always do them AFTER the main list is taken care of and if there’s time. Otherwise, it could be hours, you know? I will send back a list for you to approve (I put them in the order that I’ve found to be fastest!).

Third, the final details questionnaire. This form just gives me contact info, names of VIPs, vendor info, and additional details that help me prepare for your day. It is last but certainly not least! 

I only recommend vendor friends that I really have loved working with or have heard AMAZING things about. I truly believe these are the best in the biz!

Florists

MI Honeybee Flowers
Studio Terrain
Lee Floral Design

Videographers

97 Films
Phil Carter Films
Diffuse Media

Desserts

Cakes by Stephanie
Sweet Heather Anne

Any other questions or something you’d like to see added for future couples?