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My last name is pronounced just like the fruit.

You certainly may. This is one of the most important things that you can ask a photographer. What you’re looking for here is something beyond the top 20-30 hits of the day. The work of an experienced professional should be at a consistently high level throughout the day. The coverage should be complete and include portraits, moments, photos of the details that you worked hard on, and well-exposed dancing photos that reflect the energy of your party.

If I have, then I’d be happy to share some photos from those events with you. The thing is, though, while I’ve worked at almost all of the larger venues in Pittsburgh I do my best to look at your event with a fresh set of eyes. I do several destination weddings every year and they’re always at venues that I’ve never even seen before the wedding day. Here’s where experience comes in. The ability to quickly get the lay of the land and figure out, for instance, where a good place for portraits would be is a skill I’ve developed after years of being a professional photographer.

Ok, so that’s two questions but they’re closely related. I don’t have a set number of images that I deliver. Every event is different, but rest assured that you’ll receive the photos will tell the story of your day.  Usually, that number works out to be between 400 to 700 photos – it just depends on things like how active your reception is, or if there are one or two photographers. With that many photos, it takes me anywhere from 6-8 weeks to do a good, careful job on your images so that they’re ready for you to enjoy.

I get this one a lot. I love to photograph small weddings and can offer a discounted rate for shorter coverage. I can’t do them on Saturdays during the busy season, but other days are fine as are Saturdays from November through early April. Your wedding is on a Tuesday? Heck yeah! Just contact me for more details.

The climate around Pittsburgh isn’t like Southern California, so if you’re planning an outdoor wedding it’s important to have a Plan B in case of rain. Flexibility is the key here. In fact, the more you’re able to roll with things the happier you’re going to be on your wedding day. Things are bound to happen that will cause you to have to deviate from your plan. One thing I learned while working as a photojournalist is how to adjust very quickly to changing conditions. I’m prepared if, for instance, we need to move portraits inside or to a different time during the day.

Yikes! What an awful thought. I can’t believe you just asked me that! Seriously, this is something that my friends and I talk about because it’s a concern that we all share. We all want to take good care of our clients, but since we’re human there’s always a chance that something will happen. I’m glad to be a part of a large network of friends and colleagues all of who stand ready to fill in if someone in the group gets sick or injured. Someone is going to be available. Further, if the collection you choose has a second photographer then you’ve got that level of protection built in, too.

I usually have the same person with me for each two-photographer wedding. She’s a trained professional in her own right. If you look through the archives on my blog you will see that I give her credit for her images that make the website. One of the advantages of a second photographer includes having coverage of both the bride and groom getting ready, especially if you’re getting ready in different places. The second photographer is able to provide alternate angles of the big moments during the ceremony and reception. She helps to carry my lights and set them up, shoots details, photos of your guests, and all sorts of great stuff. If you’re having anything more than a smaller wedding, then I definitely recommend the collection that includes a second photographer.

I’ve worked with some very good videographers. I’ve also worked with some whose methods are counter to the approach that I take to documenting a wedding. I can remember a few occasions when I was waiting for a quiet moment to happen and the videographer began trying to direct the action, or asked the couple to repeat something because they wanted to get a shot of it at a different angle. I am respectful of other vendors and realize that they’ve got a job to do, too. I ask the same from them. The best videographers that I’ve worked with tend to work in the same unobtrusive way that I do. They don’t bring a large crew with lots of bulky equipment, and they don’t try to take over the direction of the day. I’m happy to recommend someone if you’re interested.