You’ve spent a fortune on your wedding making it look incredible, so why not share it with the world? We highly encourage our brides and grooms to submit their weddings to the following magazines and blogs. Each submission process is slightly different, so pick a few that you love (and that fit your wedding theme) and submit away! Please let us know if you have any questions at all throughout the process.

General Wedding Blogs

• Style Me Pretty – The Ultimate Wedding Blog
• Green Wedding Shoes – Wedding Trends for Stylish and Creative Brides
• The Bridal Wishlist – A Modern Wedding Blog
• Ruffled Blog – Wedding Blog for Handmade and Vintage Weddings
• Polka Dot Bride – Inspirational Weddings, Australian Wedding Blog
• Just Wenderful – We strive to make your day perfect!
• Love My Dress – A UK Wedding Blog
• Boho Weddings – A UK wedding blog celebrating all that is unique, unusual and alternative
• Inspired by This – Wedding Inspiration and Ideas, Wedding Trends and Photos
• The Cinderella Project – Labor of Love to Discuss All Things Wedding Related
• The Knotty Bride – WOW Factor Wedding Inspiration + Wedding Vendor Guide Wonderland.
• The Sassy Bride – Style-inspired wedding blog for anyone and everyone
• The Rock and Roll Bride – Wedding blog promoting inspiration for unique brides.
• Once Wed – Wedding Ideas, Used Wedding Dresses, and Wedding Blog
• Every Last Detail Blog – Wedding Inspiration and Planning Blog
• Brenda’s Wedding Blog – Daily Wedding Blog on Stylish Weddings and Inspiring Visuals.

Indian Wedding Blogs

• Maharani Weddings – Resources to Help Plan a Dream indian Wedding with Style
• South Asian Bridal – The leading bridal resource for South Asian brides in the United States and Canada.

1. Wedding Photojournalism

Wedding Photojournalism is a story telling the style of wedding photography that involves minimal involvement on the part of the photographer. A photojournalistic wedding photographer allows all of the moments to unfold around them while they just naturally use their creative eye to capture and interpret those moments through their photography. To read more about this style, please read our article on “What are Wedding Photojournalists?”

2. Fine-Art Wedding Photography

Fine-art wedding photography involves using artistic angles, creative lighting, unique compositions and advanced post-production techniques to create imagery with a much stronger artistic flare. Our wedding photographers are very meticulous about researching scenes and anticipating moments so that we can use fine-art techniques, without interfering with our surroundings.
Fine-art wedding photography starts with an image shot with an artistic finish in mind, most likely not a “say cheese” moment. In post-production, these images are transformed into fine-art using textures, filters, masks, and other advanced Photoshop techniques to create a visually stunning, emotional image. Fine Art photography is also known as Light and Airy wedding photography.

3. Fashion Wedding Photography

Fashion photography is a genre of photography, and that focuses around displaying clothing and other fashion items for commercial purposes. This style of photography is popular in large metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles. However, there are several unique photography techniques that are employed in fashion photography, which we borrow in our wedding photography style. These techniques include the usage of unique off camera lighting, fashion-esque poses and expressions, along with dramatic backgrounds. Typically, our fashion influenced the style of wedding photography will only be used at the request of the bride and groom during the engagement shoot/bridal shoot, as it does require some photographer involvement.

4. Traditional Wedding Photography

Traditional wedding photography typically has quite a bit of wedding photographer involvement. The wedding photographer is seen almost as a type of coordinator, and thus, assists in guiding and directing the wedding. While Lin and Jirsa Wedding Photographers are not traditional wedding photographers, we do have extensive experience in directing and posing people for group formals when necessary. However, in general, our philosophy is to capture real moments and to remain as unnoticed as possible.

About Lin & Jirsa

Creative. Clean. Different. We are a group of creatives in Orange County with a passion for storytelling. Founded in 2007, our studio has been recognized as the best wedding photographers in Los Angeles and Orange County by various publications, websites, and groups. We’d love to show you our studio in Orange County, California and walk you through our albums, canvases and other print photography products. We can also provide more information on our Wedding Videography and introduce you to our team!

With the diversity of the cultural aspects of our weddings, it’s difficult to pinpoint an exact wedding photography timeline template. However, there are ideal time frames you should consider when planning your day. Some of these times may seem long on paper but keep in mind that 1) the day will fly by, 2) most weddings run slightly behind schedule, and 3) we’ll make these photo sessions fun, so it won’t seem like a long time.

Rings, Dress, Shoes, and Other Details

Ideal Time Allotment – 30 minutes
Ideal Time of the Day – Morning
Ideal Location – Bridal Suite or Hotel Suite

Advice – Having at least 30 minutes for details ensures that we have plenty of time to get that perfect photo of the dress, rings, shoes, bouquets, and the other details of the day.

There are times when a hotel room is too crowded or simply unappealing; we have to take the dress all the way down to the lobby or even outside. This can take some time, but as you can see from the results, it’s well worth the additional work.

Preparation

Ideal Time Allotment – 60 minutes
Ideal Time of the Day – Morning or Early Afternoon
Ideal Location – Bridal Suite or Hotel Suite

Advice – Having an hour of preparation is ideal for our style. During this time, we are getting close ups of the makeup and hair being applied as well as the candid moments and the bridesmaids and groomsmen get ready for the day. Keep in mind that these are some of the most emotional and fun times of the day, so you don’t want to cut it short.

The lead shooter will be with the bride while the second shooter will be with the groom. While it doesn’t take guys an hour to get dressed, there are still tons of great moments during this time between the groom and his family and friends.

Individual Portraits

Ideal Time Allotment – 30 minutes
Ideal Time of the Day – Morning or Early Afternoon
Ideal Location – Bridal Suite, Hotel Suite, Venue Lobby, or Venue Garden

Advice – Right after prep is the best time for individual portraits of the bride and groom (separately). Besides makeup and hair being completely fresh, the day hasn’t gotten hectic yet so we can take our time and get those perfect portraits.

Also, keep in mind that the window lighting in most hotel rooms creates a unique look that can’t be duplicated in any environment throughout the rest of the day.

First Look and Daytime Couples Session

Ideal Time Allotment – 45-60 minutes
Ideal Time of the Day – Morning or Early Afternoon
Ideal Location – Venue Garden, Empty Venue Hallway (shaded areas with natural light)

Advice – The first look should be around 45-60 minutes. During this time, the bride and groom enjoy seeing each other for the first time on the wedding day. While the actual first look might only be 5-10 minutes, the rest of the time is spent on a few basic portraits of the bride and groom.

Ideally we are saving the bulk of the couples session for later (see the “couples session” section below). However, if there is no other time in the day, it is best to allocate another 45 minutes to an hour here so that we make sure we have enough photos of just you two.

Wedding Party Photos

Ideal Time Allotment – 45-60 minutes
Ideal Time of the Day – Morning or Afternoon
Ideal Location -Venue Lobby, Venue Garden, Beach, Park, Off-site Location

Advice – Wedding Party Photos should be around 45 minutes to 1 hour. During this time, we get a variety of shots in a variety of poses. We start off with the basic, classic photos focused on great expressions and lighting.

Then we move into a set of fun and creative shots. Finally, we know how much your wedding party means to you, so we are sure to get pictures with you and each one of your bridesmaids or groomsmen individually.

Immediate Family

Ideal Time Allotment – 30-45 minutes
Ideal Time of the Day – Morning or Afternoon
Ideal Location -Venue Lobby, Venue Garden, Beach, Park, Off-site Location

Advice – Immediate Family Photos should take another 45 minutes. It’s important to have additional images with your parents, grandparents, and siblings beyond the basic formal (mentioned in the section below).

Plan on 3 minutes per group on average.  For example, if you have 10 groups, schedule in a 30 minute time slot.

We all know how much weddings mean to the immediate family, and we want to make sure we’re capturing enough pictures with them.

Ceremony Detail and Venue

Ideal Time Allotment – 30 minutes

Ideal Location – Ceremony Site
Ideal Time of the Day – Morning or Afternoon
Advice – Please allow 30 minutes for the second shooter to take pictures of the ceremony site, completely set up with no guests or vendors in the area.

Before you have the guests seated,  it’s important that we are there to capture the complete set up of your ceremony site so we can capture the scene at its best.

Formals (Extended Family, Immediate Family, and Friends)

Ideal Time Allotment – 45-60 minutes
Ideal Time of the Day – Morning or Afternoon (Post Ceremony)
Ideal Location – Ceremony Site

Advice – Formals should take around 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on the size of your family and the number of guests.

Plan on 3 minutes per group on average.  For example, if you have 10 groups, schedule in a 30 minute time slot.

Some couples have decided that they want a picture with all guests while others have decided that they only want pictures with select VIPs to save time. We recommend something in between.

We also recommend being very organized, with a list of groups and helpers from each side of the family to help round people up.

Couples Session

Ideal Time Allotment – 1 hour
Ideal Time of the Day – Late Afternoon (Sunset)
Ideal Location – Venue Garden, Beach, Hotel Lobby, Park

Advice – Couple session should be around 1 hour and should take place ideally 30 to 45 minutes before sunset. The is the best time in terms of lighting.

It also allows us to capture the awesome scenic shots with colorful skies. If your wedding is in downtown or in an area with tall buildings, it’s not as important for us to have this specific time frame (although it still helps).

However, if you booked your venue because of the spectacular view of the ocean or the gorgeous vines in the winery, it’s essential to follow this advice in your timeline.

Reception Detail and Venue

Ideal Time Allotment – 30 minutes
Ideal Time of the Day – Early Evening
Ideal Location – Reception Site

Advice – Please allow 30 minutes for the second shooter to take pictures of the reception room, completely set up with no guests or vendors in the area.

Similar to the ceremony details, this is the only opportunity we have to capture the beauty of the reception room prior to guest arrival.

Reception First Look

Ideal Time Allotment – 10-15 minutes
Ideal Time of the Day – At the end of Cocktail Hour before doors open for guests
Ideal Location – Reception Site

Advice – This is when the reception space is revealed to the couple for the first time. It’s a great opportunity to capture a genuine reaction, as well as a moment alone with the dance floor to practice your first dance, which also makes a great photo!

Couples Session – Reception Sneak Out

Ideal Time Allotment – 20-30 minutes
Ideal Time of the Day – Dusk to Night Time
Ideal Location – Areas with interesting lights, fountains, city scapes and mirrors

Advice – During the reception, please plan on sneaking out for a couple of night shots. We only need 20-30 minutes, as we understand the importance of being a good host. However, this time is important if you appreciate the night photography that we deliver. The ideal time for this is right after you grab a bite to eat or during the open floor dancing after you’ve danced a few songs and would like a break.  Another suggestion would be to get these shots at the very end of the night once all the guests have departed. Check out our Wedding Reception Timeline post for more tips on how to layout a great wedding reception.

Additional Wedding Day Details

Table Shots – Table shots are when you go around visiting tables. There are two options for photography during this time. (1) You can take formal pictures with each of these tables or (2) we can simply focus on photojournalism, capturing the smiles and hugs as you mingle with each table. If you’re planning on doing formal table shots, please keep in mind that these will take about 3-5 minutes per table.  For example 20 tables would require 60-100 minutes of time.

Cultural Weddings – For cultural weddings like Indian weddings, there are elements like the Baraat that require time to photograph. More more information on this and Indian weddings visit our Indian Wedding Timeline page.

These days, it seems that many wedding photographers are wedding photojournalists. In fact, photojournalism, in relation to wedding photography, has become more of a buzz word in recent years than an actual description of a photographer’s style. But where does the term photojournalist even come from in the first place?

Photojournalism is a term that is actually used to describe a style of journalism accomplished through photography that is used in news, magazines and other publications. As a type of journalist, photojournalists were expected to observe and record events as they unfolded, without any interference or adulteration. In the late 1980s early 1990s, a group of photojournalists moved into the wedding photography industry and created a new unique style of photography called wedding photojournalism.

Photojournalism and Wedding Photography

When introduced to the wedding photography industry, this new style of wedding photography was a breath of fresh air. Prior to that point, wedding photography seemed to be firmly entrenched in a standardized set of perfect, cliché-looking shots and effects. Every wedding portrait had the same glamour-esque look with a soft wash over the image. Wedding photography consisted of capturing, and even fabricating, the exact same image with each and every client. “Let’s do the looking out the window shot, ok, now look into your watch, ok, now tie your shoes, ok, now button your cuffs, etc.”

Wedding photojournalism took the standard approach to weddings and turned it onto its head. Instead of wedding photographers helping guide and direct the wedding day, they now stood back and let things happen naturally. Instead of creating picture perfect scenes for every moment, the wedding photographer strove to capture the truth and realism in the actual moment. The result was photography that was no longer standardized as a canned product sold from the shelf of your grocery store. Rather, each client got customized pictures that may not have been flawless, but were perfect in capturing the actual emotion and atmosphere of the scene.

Wedding Photojournalism Today

Fast forward 20 years and it seems as though every single wedding photographer today appears to be a wedding photojournalist. Why? Well, because photographers are afraid of losing clients if they do not use the marketing term somewhere in their material. However, despite the usage of photojournalist, there are many photographers out there who have no experience in wedding photojournalism, or photojournalism in general. In fact, often times their portfolio doesn’t even exhibit photojournalistic style shots.

While it is not required for a wedding photographer to have worked at a newspaper agency in order to qualify him to be a wedding photojournalist, it should be expected that their training and educational background is in the field of photojournalism.

Our Experience and Training in Wedding Photojournalism

While the Lin and Jirsa master wedding photographers (Pye, Justin and Chris) have not worked in a newspaper agency setting, we have all been professionally trained in wedding photojournalism. In fact, our mentors, who are some of the best photographers in the world, are some of the best photojournalists in Los Angeles and abroad.

Our professional photography training and mentorships gave us a firm foundation in wedding photojournalism. However we spend hundreds of additional hours each year studying our art. Each year our master photographers are required to attend WPPI (the largest photography trade show and seminar in the world) in Las Vegas, Nevada, photography seminars, and photography workshops, each of which are taught and instructed by some of the world’s top wedding photojournalists such as: Denis Reggie, Joe Buissink, Mike Colon and many more.

Probably the easiest and most effective way of getting an idea of whether or not a wedding photographer is actually a wedding photojournalist is simply to take a look at their portfolio, as well as a sample wedding. Throughout our portfolio you will notice our roots in photojournalism. We would also love to show you a full wedding event in person. Simply call us to setup an appointment with one of the master wedding photographers.

About Lin & Jirsa

Creative. Clean. Different. We are a group of creatives in Orange County with a passion for storytelling. Founded in 2007, our studio has been recognized as the best wedding photographers in Los Angeles and Orange County by various publications, websites, and groups. We’d love to show you our studio in Orange County, California and walk you through our albums, canvases and other print photography products. We can also provide more information on our Wedding Videography and introduce you to our team!

Creating personalized photography and cinematography requires that we understand your personalities, your preferences, your hobbies, and your relationship. To help us get to know you, we need you to create a “moodboard.”

So what is a Moodboard?

A moodboard is simply an idea or inspiration board on which couples display their favorite images. Couples add images and videos to their moodboard to visually communicate aspects of their style preferences.

For example, you might love the angle or composition, a specific pose, the type lighting, the style of post production or any other component of the photograph or video highlight. Your board allows our entire team, from the photographers and cinematographers all the way to the post producers, album designers, and video editors to get on the same page and clearly understand your preferences.

Moodboard vs Shot List

A Moodboard is NOT a “shot list.”  A “shot list” is a detailed list of must-have shots for the photographer to follow and check off throughout the wedding day.  This type of checklist is discouraged, as it inhibits a photographer’s creativity and focuses his or her attention on duplicating and recreating, rather than innovating and originating.

How to Create a Moodboard for Photography

1. Create a Pinterest account (or sign into your existing account)
2. Create a Board called “Wedding Moodboard” (Be sure to leave it as public)
3. Visit the Lin and Jirsa Pinterest, LJP Associates blog, and LJP Masters Blog and “Pin” images that you like, making sure you add a detailed description of why you like the image.  The majority of your images should come from Lin and Jirsa work.
4. Add in a few more images that you like from around the web (along with descriptive captions).
5. Once complete, send the Moodboard URL to our studio management
6. After reviewing the moodboard, we will set up a conference call with you and your photographer to review the moodboard together and to review the details of the event.

Characteristics of an Ideal Moodboard

Here are a few characteristics of an ideal Moodboard:

• It does not have too many images (20-30 is just fine)
• It is NOT a shot List
• It has detailed descriptions
• It includes shots from your wedding venue or similar wedding venues

 Moodboard Visual Example

Please see this visual GIF that shows you how to add photos to your cinema Moodboard.

How to Create a Cinema Moodboard

Like a photography Moodboard, a cinema Moodboard is also critical to helping us understand your style preferences. To create one, please follow these instructions:

1. Go to our Wedding Videography Cinema Pin Board
2. Find The Videos You Like
3. Click the red “Save” button
4. In the description, add in a few notes on what you like about the video
5. Title the Board “Wedding Cinema Moodboard” or something similar
6. Email us the URL of the board you created

Please see this visual GIF that shows you how to add videos to your Cinema Moodboard.

Lin and Jirsa has become specialists in Indian Wedding Photography over the years. We started with one Indian Wedding several years back and from there we were referred to another. From there, the effect snowballed and now the majority of our weddings are for Indian couples. The journey has been amazing and we feel so blessed to be a part of the Indian Community, capturing some of the most elaborate, grand, and beautiful weddings in the world.

Types of Indian Wedding Photography

We do all types of Indian weddings, from Hindu Weddings to Sikh Weddings and others. We’ve learned the nuances of the different Indian Wedding ceremonies and the different things to watch out for. We know the camera angles to take and we’ve identified the important wedding events for each of the ceremonies. Being specialists in Indian Wedding Photography, we will capture every important moment, making both the couple and their families happy with the Wedding Photos, the Wedding Albums, and the overall experience with Lin and Jirsa Photography.

Special Pricing for Indian Wedding Photography

We realize that Indian Wedding Photography requires special pricing, as most are multi-day events. We have special packages catered to Indian weddings that include coverage for Mehndi Parties, Sangeets, and, of course, the Wedding Day. If you require additional coverage for other wedding or pre-wedding events, we have hourly rates for the other Indian Wedding Ceremonies and Events as well. Contact us here for more info.

Creativity in Indian Wedding Photography

Beyond photographing the most important wedding moments, we put an emphasis on capturing them with creativity. We’re always in search of reflections, interesting foregrounds and backgrounds, and the perfect light in our photography. Our unique combination of lighting techniques along with our creative post production allows us to create amazing, creative imagery for your Indian Wedding.

Vibrant Colors in Indian Wedding Photography

A large part of our success with Indian Wedding Photography has been our ability to capture all of the vibrant colors with our various techniques. We don’t do too many “Vintage Fades” or other desaturated processing techniques unless the scene and image calls for it. Instead, for the majority of our photography, we apply techniques to bring out the colors to capture all of the dynamic range in the scene. From HDR photographic techniques to advanced flash photography, we use all of the resources, tools, and knowledge we have built up over the years to capture all of the amazing action, colors, and emotions at your Indian Wedding. We’ve even developed our own style of post production and created best-selling Lightroom Presets that provide consistently incredible images for our clients.

Photography for the Baraat

The Baraat is one of our favorite parts of the Indian Wedding. The excitement and anticipation mixed with the dancing and music make for a lively and dynamic scene to photograph.

We’ve seen the groom ride in on all sorts of creative and beautiful animals and things, from majestic elephants to beautiful horses. We’ve even seen rickshaws flown in all the way from India. Whatever happens, we’ll be there to capture it all during the Baraat.

Indian Bride and Groom Portrait Photos

Daytime Indian Wedding Portraits – During the daytime is when we love to capture our bride and groom in their stunning wedding outfits. We always begin with the individual portraits of the bride in her traditional Indian bridal attire and the groom in his Indian groom’s attire. Right after, we move onto our couple’s portraits, where we know that it’s very important to get a combination of traditional photographs, creative photographs, scenic photographs, intimate photographs, and candid/natural photographs. With our photography expertise, we are able to get all of these with a short amount of time. Here are a few examples of our portraiture for Indian Weddings:

Nighttime Indian Wedding Portraits – We’re also able to do them at any time in the day, whether it be the morning, afternoon, or even in the evening. Below are just a few images of our nighttime couple’s portraiture for our Indian Wedding clients. In these images, we are focusing on capturing the romantic mood of the scene while utilizing the lights and the environment to add interest to the overall images.

Photography for Indian Wedding Ceremonies

Though Indian Wedding Ceremonies are spiritual and religious, they are also full of emotion and candid moments. Our style is to get a unique combination of wide angle photos and close up photos from a variety of angles, anticipating smiles and emotional moments during the Indian Wedding Ceremony. For example, we know that if a bride is being blessed by the married women in her life, there are going to be great emotional moments; and we know to get in position to capture them. In another example, we also know that after the couples walk around the fire, there is a good opportunity for some amazing laughs as they race to sit first!

Check out our pages on all of the intimate portions we capture during these beautiful Indian Wedding Ceremonies:

Mangalsutra
Hastmelap
Vivaah Homa
Kanya Aagaman
Kanyadaan
Ganesha Puja
Varmala
Milni

We’ve also compiled a more detailed description of Hindu and Sikh Wedding Traditions on our sister site, Wedding Maps, for more information on these significant ceremonies and traditions.

The Detail Photos for Indian weddings

Jewelry, Shoes, Rings for Indian Weddings – The best time to get the bride’s details (the wedding shoes, the outfits, the bouquet, etc) is right in the morning. We search for perfection in the lighting and backgrounds for these, as we know how important they are to you.  See our full article on Indian Wedding Jewelry.

Ceremony Detail Pictures for Indian Weddings – By the time you see your wedding ceremony site in person, it will be full of your guests. It’s our job to capture these details in their unaltered state so that you can look back and see all of the wonderful detail in your wedding ceremony site.

For more information on ideal Indian Wedding Timelines visit our Indian Wedding Timeline page.

Reception Detail Pictures for Indian Weddings – The same applies to the reception details. By the time you see it, your hundreds of guests will already be in place. We use our lighting techniques to bring out crisp photos of the reception room but we still maintain the ambiance and mood for the scene. Below are a few examples:

Photography for the Sangeet

The Sangeet for an Indian Wedding is often more elaborate than an average wedding reception. In our Indian Wedding Photography Package, we include coverage of the Sangeet so you will have all of those great toasts, performances, and candid moments preserved forever.

We typically arrive 10-20 minutes before guests are scheduled to arrive so that we can get some photos of the room completely empty. After that, we capture the candid moments as the guests arrive and get seated. As soon as the couple arrives, we go into a couples session with the bride and groom that usually lasts 20 minutes while the guests are being seated. From there, we diligently capture all of the evening’s moments.

The Mehndi (henna) Party Photography

Our Indian Wedding Package also includes coverage of the Mehndi Party. We love these events because it allows us to get to know the bride’s family. They are also full of great candid moments, as friends and family gather to eat, catch up, and get their Mehndi ready for the big wedding day! Check out some of our favorite henna artists here!

Indian Wedding Reception Photography

During the wedding reception, it’s our time to make sure we anticipate all of the exciting moments. For example, if a funny joke is being told, we have one photographer on the person speaking and one on the bride and groom to capture their reactions. If an emotional speech is happening, our cameras are up and ready to capture those tears. And of course, if someone is breaking it down on the dance floor, we’re there as well. Check out these Indian Wedding Reception DJs who know how to get the party started. Our goal is to tell the story of the reception through the camera lens. Below are some great wedding reception moments:

Contact us for your Indian Wedding

Please contact us if you’re interested in hiring us for your Indian Wedding! We would love to be a part of your special day. Contact us here. Be sure to check out our Indian Videography as well!

About Lin & Jirsa

Creative. Clean. Different. We are a group of creatives in Orange County with a passion for storytelling. Founded in 2007, our studio has been recognized as the best wedding photographers in Los Angeles and Orange County by various publications, websites, and groups. We’d love to show you our studio in Orange County, California and walk you through our albums, canvases and other print photography products. We can also provide more information on our Wedding Videography and introduce you to our team.

Are You A Photographer?

If you’re a photographer interested in learning more about how to shoot cultural weddings, including Hindu, Jewish, Persian, Vietnamese, Korean, and Chinese weddings, we recommend our wedding photography education, available at SLR Lounge.

We’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions for your convenience. If you have other questions, feel free to email our studio manager at [email protected] You may click on any one of the questions in the “Index of Questions” for a shortcut to the answer, or you may browse all of the questions and answers in the “Full Q&A.”

Index of Questions

General Questions

1. Do you deliver every image you shoot?
2. Does your studio provide videography services?
3. Do you do destination weddings?
4. Have you shot at my venue before?
5. Which photographer will be shooting my wedding?
6. Do you provide partial day coverage?
7. Do you shoot in JPEG, Small Raw, or Large Raw?
8. Do you shoot Quinceaneras, Debutants, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, or Corporate Events?
9. Does your studio do Headshots, Individual Portraits, Family Portraits, Newborn Shoots, or Product Photography?
10. What if our ceremony is in a different language?

Style and Quality Questions

1. What is your philosophy regarding photography?
2. What is your photography style?
3. My venue is very dark. How does your studio handle these situations and can I see samples?
4. Is there a style or quality differences among the master photographers?

Blog Entry Questions

1. How do I get my wedding published on other wedding blogs or magazines?

Post Production Questions

1. Do you touch up all the images on our image download?
2. What do you mean by “touching up” the photos?

Wedding Day Questions

1. How many hours do you suggest we set aside for wedding day photos?
2. I have downtime between events on my wedding day. Will I be charged for that downtime?
3. What happens if we go over the contracted amount of time?
4. Why do we need to charge for additional coverage?

Engagement Session Questions

1. When can we expect to see our photos from our engagement session?
2. When should we do our engagement session?
3. Can we schedule our engagement session for the weekend?
4. How many images do you typically deliver from and engagement session? From a wedding?
5. I’d like you to Photoshop our name and date into the save-the-dates, is that included in the package pricing?
6. When and where can we view our engagement pictures?

Image Download Questions and Legal Questions

1. What rights do I have to the digital prints?
2. Do you provide the RAW files from my engagement session and wedding day?
3. How many images do you deliver on the image download?
4. Do you provide the digital negatives after the shoot?
5. What if I lose my images?

Albums, Prints, Framing, Sign-In Books, and Slideshow Questions

1. How long does it take to get my prints?
2. How long does it take to get my album?
3. How long does it take to get my sign-in book?
4. Can I add more pages and images to my album?
5. How do I get started on my wedding album?
6. How do I get started on my engagement album?
7. Do you guys provide framing services as well?

Equipment Questions

1. What type of camera/equipment do you use?

Business Insurance and Image Backup Questions

1. Do you backup our images? How can we ensure that our images won’t be lost?
2. Do you have Liability Insurance?

Meeting Policies

1. We live out-of-town. Is it possible for our family/friends to meet with you instead?
2. We’re very busy and won’t be able to meet. What are our other options?
3. Do you travel to meet clients?
4. How do I set up an appointment to meet you in person and see some of your work?

Payment and Tax Questions

1. How do I reserve you for my date?
2. What if we exceed our contracted time for our engagement shoot and/or wedding day coverage?
3. Is there an additional fee if we pay via credit card?
4. If we cancel the wedding will we receive our deposit back?
5. If we change our wedding to a different date will we be able to use our deposit towards a future date?
6. Are there travel fees associated with the Engagement Session and/or Wedding Day shoot(s)?
7. Why do you charge travel fees?
8. Do you offer any discounts on weekday weddings, Sunday weddings, or weddings during the offseason?
9. If I pay for my package in cash will we be able to avoid paying sales tax or receive a discount?

Full Q&A

You may choose to navigate the list of questions using the index above or you may read the full Q&A below. The Q&A is divided into sections based on the topic. If you have further questions, email our studio manager by clicking here

General Questions

Q: Do you deliver every image you shoot?

A: No, we do not. We eliminate duplicate images, test shots, missed focused shots, shots with bad expressions and other images that may dilute the overall product delivery. For example, because we shoot with low apertures, sometimes we take a few extra shots to make sure we have the perfect focus. We don’t expect you to have the expertise or the time to zoom into each image to select the one with the sharpest focus, so we spend hours doing that on our end. In another example, candid laughs and emotional tears are some of the best images from the day. Unfortunately, they can also yield some unflattering facial expressions. We might snap a few extras of any of these moments to make sure we have a great shot with the ideal expression for the moment. With our expertise of processing millions of images each year, we may eliminate ones that we feel are duplicates and only deliver the best one.

Q: Does your studio provide videography services?

A: Yes. To see examples of our videography services, click here

Q: Have you shot at my venue before?

A: We have shot at hundreds of venues, so there is a good chance that we have. However, if we have not, we will get to the venue early on the day of and be sure to perform a thorough walk-through to scout out the best photography locations. We also do extensive online research prior to your big day!

Q: Do you do destination weddings? What additional fees are associated with destination weddings?

A: While Lin and Jirsa Wedding Photography is based out of Los Angeles and Orange County, we serve clients all around the world. Our destination wedding photography packages include the cost of travel and reasonable accommodations (check out our destination wedding  FAQs here). Because of our frequent trips to the San Francisco Bay Area, special, lower rates may apply depending on the specific circumstances. Contact us by clicking here.

Q: Which photographer will be shooting my wedding?

A: Typically, the photographer you meet with will be the photographer for your engagement session and wedding. You may request to meet with a specific photographer; otherwise, we’ll make the decision based on personality, availability, language abilities, and your referral. For example, if Chris shot the wedding of your friend who referred you to us, he would likely be the one meeting with you; or if you needed a Cantonese speaker, Pye or Justin would likely meet with you. If you are wondering whether there are differences in style and quality between the photographers, click here.

Q: Do you provide partial day coverage?

A: We typically do not provide partial day coverage on weekends. On weekends, we only accept clients that require at least 8 hours of coverage or have a budget of $3,900.00 and above.

Q: Does your studio do headshots, individual portraits, family portraits, newborn shoots, commercial photography, or other types of photography?

A: Yes, we have experience in many fields of photography. Feel free to contact us.

Q: Do you shoot Quinceaneras, Debutants, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, or Corporate Events?

A: Yes. These are all considered ‘event photography.’ We have chosen to focus and excel at wedding and event photography, and we would love to cover your celebration.

Q: What if our ceremony is in a different language?

A: Our photographers and cinematographers speak many different languages, including Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, and others. However, we have also covered many weddings in which we do not speak the primary language of the ceremony. We approach these weddings with research, understanding the traditions and culture of the wedding. We also have talk-through meetings with our couples before the wedding to ensure we are aware of the major moments. Lastly, we always ensure that we stay alert, leaning on the instincts that we have developed for capturing the emotion and the stories at any given moment.

In our cinematography, if our editors do not understand the language spoken, we take a similar approach. First, we ensure that we have strong communication with you to understand the important moments from the day. We also find aspects in English to drive the story. This might be a heartfelt toast at the reception or personal messages that you give to each other, recorded during your wedding preparation.

So while different languages can present challenges, in the end, artistry, creativity, and storytelling are all universal concepts that our team will portray in your photography and cinematography.

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Style and Quality Questions

Q: What is your philosophy regarding photography?

A: Please click here for details on our wedding photography philosophy.

Q: What is your photography style?

A: The Lin and Jirsa Wedding Photography team is acclaimed for developing a unique style of wedding photography that is deeply rooted in wedding photojournalism while influenced by fine-art and fashion photography. We love using creative lighting, unique perspectives, angles, compositions and artistic post-production refining to bring out our clients personalities and beauty while telling their wedding story. We pride ourselves on not just being photographers, but rather artists creating unique and expressive imagery. To see examples of our quality and style, please visit our Portfolio as well as our Blog.

Q: Can I see a full event from start to finish?

A: Of course you may! We pride ourselves on the consistency of our work. We understand all photographers post their best shots from each wedding on their websites so it’s hard to determine how well he or she will perform on the wedding day. That is why we encourage all of our potential clients to view full events from all photographers they meet with to see how well the photographer performs throughout the day.

Q: My venue is very dark. How does your studio handle these situations and can I see samples?

A: We have shot in the darkest of dark chapels and reception halls so no need to worry! If the situation allows, we will set up additional lighting to ensure we get focused pictures. Some chapels do not allow for flash photography; and for that reason, we shoot on camera’s with superb low-light performance and lenses with low apertures (check out our Toolkit here).

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Q: Is there a style or quality difference among the photographers?

A: No. We take every measure to ensure consistent style and quality among our photographers. We have developed the unique style you see in our work over the years. Each shoot is reviewed to ensure our quality and style are consistent. All mistakes, no matter how minor, are scrutinized by the team. We trust that the quality and style of photography you receive will be consistent. However, we do tailor our shooting style and techniques to our client requests. For example, some clients may prefer a light and airy look while others may prefer dramatic lighting and shadows.

Blog Entry Questions

Q: How do I get my wedding published on other wedding blogs or magazines?

A: Click Here for a list of our favorite wedding blogs and their instructions for submission.

Post Production Questions

Q: Do you touch up all the images in our image download?

A: Yes we do. Every image we deliver is post produced with our unique signature style of post-production. This involves color correction, exposure adjustment, selective black and white processing, clarity adjustments, tone-mapping, and other corrections. Many photographers will not post produce any images, or will only post produce “select” images from your wedding. This means that you may have pictures that are too dark, have strange skin tones or other common photography flaws.

Q: What do you mean by “touching up” the photos?

A: “Touching up” in our studio is the same as our signature (standard) post-production. See the question below for clarification.

Q: What is the difference between advanced and custom; and why are there additional costs for a custom retouch?

A: Advanced post-production includes touch-ups such as removal of blemishes, removal of bags under eyes, removal of fly-away hairs, etc. On the other hand, custom post production is anything that requires extensive, custom work in Photoshop such as removing entire objects from the scene, changing the size and shape of body parts or other objects in the scene, adding objects to a scene and other custom work. We charge hourly for the custom post-production as the time required ranges depending on the complexity of the project. Please contact our studio manager for a quote for custom post-production.

Q: Do you shoot in JPEG, Small Raw, or Large Raw?

A: We shoot most of our images in Small Raw with certain situations where we move to Large Raw. For our reasoning, please see this section on the Photography Misconceptions page of our website: Small Raw Vs. Large Raw

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Wedding Day Questions

Q: How many hours do you suggest we set aside for wedding day photos?

A: Take a look at our Ideal Wedding Photography Timeline to see a detailed breakdown of how much time you would need to have set aside for your wedding photos.

Q: I have downtime between events on my wedding day. Will I be charged for that downtime?

A: For a variety of reasons, we have to charge for the time in between events. The fact is, we’re never truly resting during the day, whether we’re backing up images, setting up for the second venue, traveling to the second location, taking venue shots, or making up for lost photo time because of unforeseen wedding day delays. In many cases, we use that “downtime” to take you and your significant other out for a photo session or more family portraits.

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Q: What happens if we go over the contracted amount of time?

A: We understand that not everything goes as planned during a wedding. We never pack up before the contracted time, and moreover, we’re not leaving on the dot when the contracted time is up. Instead, we will ask you at the end of your contracted time whether or not you would like to extend. If you would like us to stay, we will charge the rates specified in your contract rounded to the closest 30-minute increment.

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Q: Why do we need to charge for additional coverage?

A: We’ve dedicated the entire day to your wedding, so we won’t be racing off to catch other plans that evening. However, we need to charge for additional coverage primarily because there are costs of having the team stay for additional hours. The shooters and lighting assistants all require additional compensation. Furthermore, the additional photos taken will need to be post-produced which adds to our overall costs.

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Engagement Session questions

Q: When can we expect to see our photos from our engagement session?

A: Post-production for engagement sessions are completed 6-8 weeks after the date of the shoot. If you require the images to be completed prior to 6-8 weeks after the date of the shoot, a rush process fee will be charged.

Q: When should we do our engagement session?

A: We encourage you to do your engagement session as soon as possible. The latest we suggest is at least 10-12 weeks prior to the wedding date due to the time necessary to post produce each image and complete your product order(s). See the engagement session post-production delivery time and engagement session product delivery time FAQ’s for more details.

Q: Can we schedule our engagement session for the weekend?

Because most weddings occur on weekends, we typically do not shoot engagement sessions on weekends. If you can only do your engagement session on a weekend, we can tentatively schedule your engagement session on a weekend, however, if a wedding is scheduled for that weekend, later on, we will have to reschedule your engagement session. There will also be an additional charge for weekend engagement sessions because the few weekends we have free, we spend with our families. We also like to shoot on weekdays because locations are typically less crowded.

Q: How many images do you typically deliver from an engagement session? From a wedding?

We typically deliver anywhere from 50-70 images per 3-hour engagement shoot and for a wedding, we typically deliver 60-80 images per hour. Keep in mind these numbers may increase or decrease depending on the flow of the day and the number of events/activities needing to be captured.

Q: I’d like you to Photoshop our name and date into the save-the-dates, is that included in the package pricing?

Custom save-the-date images are priced at $250 per image and can be added on to any package through our website.

Q: When and where can we view our engagement pictures?

Your engagement session images will be completed no more than 6 weeks after the date of the shoot. If you require the images to be completed prior to 6 weeks after the date of your shoot, a rush edit fee of $250.00 will be charged.

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Albums, Prints, Books questions

Q: How long does it take to get my prints?

Product creation times vary, however, print orders will generally be completed within 6 weeks after the product order is submitted.

Similar to the post-production process, if you require rush processing, a fee of $250.00 will be charged. Additional fees for rush shipping may also apply.

Q: How long does it take to get my album?

As with our other products, production times vary. However, you can typically expect to receive your album 6 weeks after placing the order. The process prior to placing the order varies in duration depending on how quickly you respond to the instructions for the album design as well as the number of changes you request after the initial designs. Some brides complete this within a month or two; others take over a year.

Similar to the post-production process, if you require rush processing, a fee of $250.00 will be charged. Additional fees for rush shipping may also apply.

Q: How long does it take to get my sign-in book?

The sign-in book takes around 6 weeks to print after the order is submitted. As with the album, the time it takes to get the order ready for print depends on how quickly you respond to our instructions and how many changes you request.

Similar to the post-production process, if you require rush processing, a fee of $250.00 will be charged. Additional fees for rush shipping may also apply.

Q: How many images do we get in our wedding day album?

A: Our signature Lin and Jirsa album contains up to 50 images. If you’d like to add more images, you are welcome to do so for a small fee per additional image.

Q: Can I add more images to my album?

A: Extra images beyond what is included in your package can be added for an additional cost. Refer to our album designer for more information!

Q: Do you guys provide framing services as well?

A: We do provide wall art and framing services for pieces larger than 11×17 inches. Inquire with your service consultant for more information!

Q: How do I get started on my wedding album?

The Wedding Album Design Process is outlined here: https://www.linandjirsa.com/album-design-instructions

Q: How do I get started on my engagement album?

The Engagement Album Design Process is outlined here: https://www.linandjirsa.com/engagement-book-options/

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Image Download Questions and Legal Questions

Q: What rights do I have to the digital prints?

A: You have the right to reprint images whenever you want. However, you may not sell your images for profit or publish your images without the written consent of Lin and Jirsa Photography.

Q: Do you provide the RAW files from my engagement session and/or wedding day?

A: Each of our packages comes with a full resolution image download. However, we typically do not provide RAW (unprocessed) files from our shoots because we believe in delivering a finished product. In fact, we’re often shooting with the end (post-produced) product in mind. However, on occasion, we may provide RAW images along with our post-produced JPG’s for an additional fee and restrictions.

Q: How many images do you deliver on the image download?
A: For a 3-hour engagement session we typically deliver 50-70 images and for a wedding , we typically deliver 60-80 images per hour of coverage. Keep in mind these numbers may increase or decrease depending on the flow of the day and the number of events/activities needing to be captured.

Q: Do you provide the digital negatives after the shoot?

A: Yes we do. All of our packages come with Full Resolution image download.

Q: What if I lose my images?

A: There is a $100 replacement charge for additional downloads after the event has been archived. We strongly suggest you make at least one copy of the download when you receive it from us.

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Equipment questions

Q: What type of camera/equipment do you use?

A: Click here to view our Photography Equipment

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business Insurance and image backup questions

Q: Do you have liability insurance?

A: Yes. Many venues require the photographer to have Liability Insurance. So before hiring Uncle Joe, make sure he’s covered.

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Meeting Policy questions

Q: We live out-of-town. Is it possible for our family/friends to meet with you instead?

We’d love to meet your relatives, answer their questions and review our work with them. If possible, we’d like to at least webcam with you to get to know you better.

Q: We’re very busy and won’t be able to meet. Are there any other options?

A: We would love to meet with you prior to our engagement shoot or wedding; however, if you’re too busy or too far away, we can handle everything remotely. Just let us know what information you need and we will do our best to accommodate your request. For example, if you would like to see more of our work, we can gladly show you complete events online. If you would like to talk about packages and get a sense of the photographer’s personality, telephone calls, and webcam appointments can be arranged.

Q: Do you travel to meet clients?

A: Due to the limitations of our schedule, we currently do not travel to meet clients. If you would like to schedule a meeting, please contact our studio manager at 949.287.2153 or email clicking here

Q: How do I set up an appointment to meet you in person and see some of your work?
A: Contact our studio manager at 949.287.2153 or email her by clicking here

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Payment and tax questions

Q: How do I reserve you for my date?
A: All dates are reserved once we receive your signed contract and deposit.

Q: What if we exceed our contracted time for our engagement shoot and/or wedding day coverage?
A: Standard rates apply for overtime. Overtime is billed at the rate of $500/hour per Master Photographer and $400/hour per Associate Photographer.

Q: Is there an additional fee if we pay via credit card?
A: Yes. The retail adjustment fee for all credit card transactions is 3% of the charged amount.

Q: If we cancel the wedding, will we receive our retainer fee back?
A: Unfortunately no. Retainer fees are used to reserve your date. Once we’ve reserved your date, we do not accept new clients for your date.

Q: If we change our wedding to a different date, will we be able to use our retainer fee towards a future date?
A: Generally no, but this is taken on a case by case basis. The reason for canceling and our availability is taken into account. Also, if rates change from your original date to your new date, the new rates will apply.

Q: Are there travel fees associated with the engagement session and/or wedding day shoot(s)?
A: All travel expenses are based on the distance between your event location(s). The following destinations are subject to the following travel fees:
– San Francisco, CA – $500.00 flat fee
– Santa Barbara, CA – $250.00 flat fee
– San Diego, CA – $200.00 flat fee
– Los Angeles, CA – $100.00 flat fee for shoots under 6 hours
– All other destinations beyond 100 miles round-trip will be negotiated and handled on a case-by-case basis.

Why do you charge travel fees?
The primary purpose is to provide adequate compensation for our photographers and our lighting assistants for the additional time spent in travel. Trips to Los Angeles, for example, can take over an hour each way. This is time for which we have to compensate our team. For this reason, coupled with the costs of reimbursing the team for the actual costs of travel, these fees are unfortunately necessary.

Q: Do you offer any discounts on weekday weddings, Sunday weddings, or weddings during the off-season?

A: We do not offer discounts on Sunday weddings and off-season weddings. As you may know, wedding season is almost year round here in sunny California. Because of that, we are shooting throughout the year. We also cannot offer discounts on weekday weddings as all of the costs (second shooter rates, etc.) associated with the wedding remain the same.

Q: If I pay for my package in cash will we be able to avoid paying sales tax or receive a discount?

A: Unfortunately, collecting in cash does not exempt a photography studio from paying California sales tax on the amount of the package price when a physical product is delivered, whether that product be an album or any other physical product. However, we do offer tax-free services and packages that fall within California State Law if you would like a service only packages.

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1. A Brief Overview

There are many misconceptions regarding photography and photography equipment. We often hear questions like, “How many megapixels do I need?”, “Which is better, Canon or Nikon”, “Should I (or my photographer) use a crop frame or full frame camera?”, “Is digital or film better?”

We wrote this article to help explain and correct some of these common photography misconceptions.

2. Megapixels Megashmixels – Don’t Get Caught up in Megapixel Marketing

For years, camera companies have marketed their products to consumers by primarily touting the number of megapixels. However, megapixels are not a measurement of the quality of the images; the number simply determines the printable size.

For example, a 3 megapixel camera can print a 5×7, while an 8 megapixel camera can go up to an 8×11 without any post production sharpening. However, any sharp image above 8 megapixels can be enlarged to any size with a little bit of post production preparation.

However, the quality of your print is determined by the quality of the image sensor, not the megapixels. Thus you can have a lovely 8×10 print come out of an 8 megapixel camera, while you might have a terrible looking 8×10 print come out of a 15 megapixel camera. So, be sure to look at the quality and type of camera rather than just the megapixels.

3. Large Raw Vs. Small Raw

Contrary to common belief, shooting LRAW (Large RAW) vs SRAW (Small RAW) does not provide you higher quality images. The megapixel count simply determines the largest print size when coming straight from the camera. SRAW can be printed directly from the camera at approximately 9 x 13 while LRAW can be printed up to 12 x 18. However, a SRAW image can always be enlarged to print at any size. In addition, virtually every image printed larger than a 8 x 10 will require enlargement touch ups as there can be many flaws in images that aren’t noticable as a 4 x 6, but are as a 12 x 18 print.

However, there are several downsides to shooting in LRAW. The first and most important being the decreased low light performance. Shooting in SRAW significantly improves noise handling when shooting in low light situations. Typically, 75% of weddings are shot in what is considered low light situations. Preparation, indoor ceremonies, receptions are all low light environments. Thus, shooting in SRAW will actually provide higher quality images in all of these situations.

The other obvious disadvantage to shooting in LRAW is the increased usage of space. This causes the photographer to have to swap out cards twice as much during a shoot, possibly causing him/her to miss moments. In addition, it also slows down post production workflow as well as causes problems when clients try to print from such large file size. Many common labs such as Costco, will not accept files larger than 10 megabytes.

Thus there are no downsides to shooting in SRAW and because of the improved noise handling and higher quality low light images we shoot in the SRAW format.

4. Canon vs. Nikon – Two Great Camera Systems

While our studio uses Canon cameras and equipment, both Nikon and Canon make great professional camera bodies and lenses. When people ask, which camera is better, there is really no clear cut answer to the question. The fact is, both manufacturers make great cameras overall, with subtle differences. For example, Nikon cameras typically have more autofocus points than Canon. However, the difference is more of a preference than one in quality.

While each camera maker takes turns of being on top, in the long run, they are both equal. Prior to the release of Nikon’s D3, Canon was on top with the 1D series cameras. Since the release of the D3, Canon was behind until the release of the 5D Mark II. It has always been, and will be this type of environment in the professional photography market. When you ask, “which camera is better,” it really simply depends on the month and year you ask. But in general, both camera systems are amazing and professional quality.

5. Full Frame vs. Crop Frame Sensors

Sensor format is often a big question in consumers’ minds. Should professional photographers be using camera bodies with full frame sensors such as in the Canon 5D or Nikon D700, or a crop frame sensor such as in a the Canon 40D or Nikon D300.

While generally, you will get overall higher image quality and better low light performance out of a camera body with a full frame sensor, nice crop frame sensor camera bodies can also produce amazing professional quality results. The truth of the matter is,  it depends more on the photographer and their technique than the camera itself.

There are many amazing professional photographers that shoot on Canon 40D’s and Nikon D300’s. In fact, a large portion of our shots are taken on Canon 40D’s, as they are our secondary camera. Bottom line, it depends on the photographer and their technical skill.

However, it should be noted that professional photographers should be using AT LEAST a Canon 40D or Nikon D300 (or equivalent) as their primary camera body, as those cameras could be considered the first level of professional camera bodies. Currently, Nikon’s top of the line camera models are the D3 and D3x, while Canon’s is the 5D Mark II and the 1D series.

5. Digital vs. Film

A few years ago, we might have been able to make the argument that it makes more sense sticking with film, rather than digital. However, today the professional photography scene is much different. While there are still certain situations where film performs more favorably than digital, the overall quality and advantages of digital over film make the choice relatively straight forward.

Shooting digital allows professional photographers to have virtually unlimited storage capabilities and thus take more shots (though this is not always a good thing – see our article on quality over quantity). Today, professional photographers can shoot 2,000-3,000 images in a single day using digital where as with film, it was unheard of to exceed 1,000.

What does this mean? Well, with more images, you generally will have more choices to select from. Thus the photographer can choose the best of three shots, rather than having to accept whatever shot he had in that moment.

Digital also allows the professional photographer to “chimp,” or preview, the shot straight in the camera. This allows them to quickly remove any poor shots, as well as to be creative and test their exposures right on the spot.

The digital workflow is similar in theory to the film days. Previously, we were developing film in the dark room; today the dark room has simply moved to our computers. However, the techniques of dodging, burning, brightening, levels, etc are largely the same.

So, because of the overall quality of digital, the ability to create and test on the spot, improved workflow, and much more, our studio now shoots only digital.

If you would like to see a list of our most up-to-date gear, please visit our curated listing of equipment on B&H or Amazon

1. Engagement Photography Unique to Each Individual

Lin and Jirsa Wedding Photography uses three different formats to approach the engagement photography shoot. The three formats are used to help couples figure out which format they are most comfortable with. Each format, pure wedding photojournalism, assisted, and combination are discussed below in further detail.

To every format of photography regardless of it being assisted or not, Lin and Jirsa Photography adds our own “in-between philosophy” to make sure that we capture gorgeous candid moments during the shoot. We believe that the best shots are not necessary the actual posed shots, but are the shots right before and after. Moments where the couple laughs at each other for being so silly; or that special moment where the groom-to-be whispers sweet words to his fiancé. These are the in-between moments that our engagement photographers are looking for. So, regardless of the format you choose, rest assured that you will also get beautiful candid imagery.

2. Pure Photojournalistic Engagement Photography

Pure photojournalism engagement shoots are completely unassisted by the engagement photographer. This format works well for the couple that has a sentimental activity or location in mind and can act natural while ignoring the photographer.

This format works by the engagement photographer going out to the location along with the couple. Once the engagement photographer helps the couple find and setup their scene, he/she will simply pop on a telephoto (long range) lens, stand 25-50 feet away, and let the couple have their moment all alone. This format of photography produces beautiful candid imagery. For example, for one of our couples, the perfect location was Manhattan Beach in the Los Angeles Area. This was the location of their first date, and we basically just stood back and captured them playing on the Manhattan Beach Pier and down on the beach.

3. Assisted Engagement Photography

Assisted engagement photography is more of a traditional engagement photography style and involves the engagement photographer assisting the couple in their scene selections, posing and interactions. This format of photography works well for the couple that may not know exactly what they want, where they want to shoot; and doesn’t feel comfortable acting natural in front of a camera.

For this format, the engagement photographer will get an understanding of the couples style and personality. A few different locations will be recommended and once agreed upon; the engagement photographer will head out to the location with the couple. Once the engagement photographer and couple finds the scene, the engagement photographer will talk the couple through several different photojournalistic and traditional poses in order to help the couple find a pose that they feel is fitting and comfortable. This format primarily produces lovely photojournalistic and traditional posed imagery.

4. Combined Photojournalistic and Assisted Engagement Photography

Combination engagement photography is probably our favorite format. This format of engagement photography is just as it sounds, a combination of assisted and pure photojournalism. This format of engagement photography works well for the couple who wants both photojournalism and assisted imagery, and chooses to have a longer engagement photography outing. An example is a shoot we did in Laguna Beach in the Orange County Area. We spent the first part of the day posing our couple for some traditional and fine-art images. For the second half, we asked them to be themselves and enjoy their time at the beach while we stayed at a distance and shot away.

We love this format of engagement photography because it allows us to spend a half or full day with our clients prior to the wedding. This time not only allows us to develop a close relationship with our couple, but also allows us to get to know each other’s personality. This allows us to produce more personalized imagery, not only during the engagement shoot, but also on the wedding day.

About Lin & Jirsa

Creative. Clean. Different. We are a group of creatives in Orange County with a passion for storytelling. Founded in 2007, our studio has been recognized as the best wedding photographers in Los Angeles and Orange County by various publications, websites, and groups. We’d love to show you our studio in Orange County, California and walk you through our albums, canvases and other print photography products. We can also provide more information on our Wedding Videography and introduce you to our team!

A Fictional Story Based on Real Events

While the names and locations in this story are fictional, it is based on real and unfortunate wedding photography horror stories that we have heard first hand from friends, contacts, wedding guests, clients, etc.

It Always Starts with the Same Line

“My Uncle Joe has an amazing camera, I think I am going to just pay him $500 to shoot my wedding.” While Uncle Joe may be very good, here are a few reasons to go with the professional.

As we have previously said in the “How to Choose a Wedding Photographer” section, wedding photography is so much more than just having a nice camera. Uncle Joe may have a nice camera, in fact, let’s say Uncle Joe is a lawyer and photography is his passion. So, not only does he have a nice camera, but he has the best camera money can buy at the moment, the Canon 5D Mark II ($2,700). Even more so, Uncle Joe loves shooting in his spare time so much that he even bought a full set of Canon L Series lenses and accessories ($15,000).

Already, we are assuming that this Uncle Joe is much more prepared than 99% of the Uncle Joe’s out there. Now let’s assume that Uncle Joe frequently goes out, once or twice a month and shoots nature and urban scenes with all of his great equipment. Uncle Joe even had some of his work published.

Wedding time comes, and Uncle Joe is feeling great and confident that he is going to do an awesome job. Uncle Joe starts with some outside shots of the preparation location and everything is looking good. Then Uncle Joe steps inside where the preparation is taking place. Uncle Joe doesn’t like manually exposing his pictures, so he shoots with the cameras help. Unfortunately, the camera is only so smart.

Uncle Joe starts snapping preparation shots and notices that his lens isn’t wide enough. So, he quickly goes out to the car to swap out his lenses since he wasn’t anticipating this problem. When he gets back, the bride’s makeup is done, and now they are working on the hair. Uncle Joe didn’t take any time to check out the lighting prior to the shoot, so he has no off camera lighting, or any additional lighting equipment. So, Uncle Joe figures that he can just raise his ISO settings super high so that he can capture enough light to properly expose the scene. This works, however, little does he know, that every picture shot will be too grainy to blow up beyond a 4×6 print.

Uncle Joe now heads over to shoot the groom. Uncle Joe looks at the scene and adjusts his camera settings based on what the camera reads. Unfortunately, because there was so much black in the scene from the suits, the camera was over exposing all of the shots to compensate. Uncle Joe didn’t realize though, and just kept chugging away.

Let’s say this is a simple wedding and now it’s time for the ceremony. Uncle Joe scopes out a great spot, pops on his zoom lens, and waits. The groom makes his way in, and Joe shoots him like a pro snapping 50 shots as the groom is coming down the aisle. The only problem is that all 50 shots are out of focus because the subject was walking towards Uncle Joe, and his focus settings were not set for moving subjects.

The father and bride begin coming down the aisle, and just the same, Uncle Joe fires away taking 50 more shots. Again, none of which are crisp and in focus.

The wedding ceremony is going great, and Joe grabs several great shots. But Uncle Joe realizes again, that his camera lens isn’t wide enough, so Uncle Joe runs to his bag to grab a different lens. On his way back, he sees the couple just as they kiss for the first time. Uncle Joe missed it. He also didn’t think to shoot any of the bride or grooms family during the ceremony, as he was trying not to miss anything in the ceremony.

After the ceremony, it’s time for formals. Uncle Joe guides everyone to his favorite spot outdoors where he has a beautiful shot of the view. The subjects are facing away from the sun, so that he can capture the grandeur of the scene. Because the formals are being shot in the bright noon-day sun, Uncle Joe doesn’t realize that the camera is under exposing the entire scene since the background is so bright.

Uncle Joe takes only a few family formal shots, and only one shot of each set. Little to Joe’s knowledge, every shot is coming out too dark and completely underexposed.

Reception time has arrived, and Uncle Joe has already worked 10 hours! He figures that he should relax and enjoy the wedding too since he is family. So, he gives his camera to his young son who loves photography and tells him to shoot.

Uncle Joe is so exhausted that he doesn’t shoot for the rest of the night. I mean, he is helping out the bride and groom so much by saving them money, and doing it for so cheap that he figures it shouldn’t matter anyway.

Since Uncle Joe doesn’t have the software, or even know how to post produce images. He simply gives the bride and groom a DVD with all of the images burned to it. The bride and groom sit down, dying with anticipation and pop the DVD into the computer to start looking through their uncles beautiful work!

100 pictures into the 2,000 pictures Uncle Joe shot, the bride is already in tears, as every photo is too dark, too bright, blurry, or just not that good. Furthermore, the bride and groom notice that there is no shot of their first kiss, and the only reception shots were of Uncle Joe’s son shooting all of the kids at the reception.

While this story in particular is fictional, each one of the events and outcomes are from real situations that we wedding photographers hear about all of the time. In fact, so many of our client’s guests have approached us during a shoot to tell us about their “Uncle Joe” experience, and how they wish they had hired us to shoot the wedding. So, why does this happen to Uncle Joe? Because the bottom line is, while Joe had all the professional gear (which is unlikely in the first place), and experience shooting nature and outdoors scenes he doesn’t have the following:

1. The ability to quickly adjust his camera settings based on different lighting scenes. Most of the time wedding photographers have 2-3 seconds to adjust settings on the fly, any more than that, and the wedding photographer is almost guaranteed to miss something.
2. The knowledge of how his camera reads and interprets light in order to compensate for under or over exposure. In these situations the wedding photographer must rely on his experience rather than the camera’s readings.
3. The foresight to be prepared for each situation with a secondary camera prepped with a different type of lens. Professional wedding photographers will always scope out the wedding venue and scenes prior to the wedding and plan ahead.
4. The carrying cases needed to always have his necessary equipment and accessories on him at all times. Professional wedding photographers will always have their equipment readily available on their person, or nearby.
5. Experience shooting fleeting moments that you only have one chance to capture. A first kiss typically only lasts 1-2 seconds, and you don’t necessarily know exactly when it is going to happen. The wedding photographer must be staring through his lens, ready and prepared for this moment to happen.
6. Experience and knowledge required to anticipate angles and approaches to each scene. Knowing where to stand, and what angles to shoot is something that only comes from experience.
7. The energy to work non-stop for 12-18 hours without breaks. This is a wedding photographer’s job, they don’t rest or take breaks. Our team staggers their breaks during non-crucial moments of the day, and even then there is always one or two additional wedding photographers shooting while one is on break.
8. The ability to create unique lighting scenes, and supplement natural light with his own lighting. Understanding light and lighting is something that comes from study, training and experience. Being a master of lighting is impossible unless you have tried shooting in every possible lighting situation.
9. Experience in guiding and directing large group formals. This is where the wedding photographer’s personality and tact are so important. How do they interact with the bride, groom and their family.
10. The knowledge of advanced focus techniques.
11. Experience in taking extra shots of crucial pictures such as during formals in case of blinking, awkward expressions, etc.

In addition to all of this, there is so much more that Uncle Joe would need in order to take professional quality wedding photographs from start to finish.

While there are a lot of areas in your wedding budget that you can save money on, wedding photography should not be one of them. If you want to have professional- quality, creative imagery of your wedding day that will be timeless heirlooms to be shown and handed down to your generations to come, you will need a professional wedding photographer.

Often times, wedding photography studios such as our own, will work with clients in customizing their packages in order to fit within their budget. If that is the case, choose quality over products. Choose to have 2 photographers rather than just one, and forgo the album, prints and slideshows for now. We understand that newlyweds are often on a budget, as they are starting their new lives together. So, wait on the products until later in your life. Three, four, even five years from now when you and your family is well established, go ahead and order that album, or those large prints. It might be better to wait to buy gorgeous and real imagery, than to have low quality photography slapped into an album and ready for you when you get back from your honeymoon.

To sum it up, while you can always order products later, you can never order better quality and more creative imagery after your event.