So, you newly engaged and over the moon about it, but feeling a bit overwhelmed. Don’t worry, this guide is aimed to help ease some of that anxiety and give clarity to the steps to plan your perfect wedding day.
WEDDING PLANNING TIMELINE The first five big planning decisions any couple has to make after getting engaged:
1. Set a budget 2. Hire a wedding planner, if wanted. 3. Reserve your venue and date 4. Find an officiant 5. Book your photographer, florist, and DJ or band
NUMBER FIVE This is where I come in. As a wedding photographer I want to do everything I can to be the best for my clients. With that said, I do not believe being a good photographer simply make a perfect match for every couple. Picking a wedding photographer is something that deserves a great deal of consideration. Your photographer is going to be there along side you for a large portion of your wedding day, so it is important to not only love their work, but also connect with them on a personal level. I want that with my clients. I want to be there to calm their nerves and document the moments they don’t even realize are happening.
QUESTIONS TO ASK How would you describe your photography style?
photojournalistic, artistic, real I love, love. I love documenting love, and enjoy the challenges it brings along with it. To capture love in its truest form you cannot direct it, force it, or expect anything. No couple is the same and in turn no wedding day is the same, and that is what make them so special. Everything from the unique details, formal photos with family, candids of the couple and their guests celebrating, and of course portraits of the newlywed bride and groom make up a wedding day. All of these elements deserve to be captured and preserved for the couple to look back and relive over and over again.
What is included with your photography packages? I have three packages, but am able to customize a package to fit my client’s wants and needs. All of my packages include at least six hours of coverage, 100 4x6 inch first edition prints, online gallery, and personal consultation. For more details about my wedding packages please refer to the ‘Packages’ page of this e-magazine.
Where are you located and do you travel? I am based in Bend, Oregon, but love to travel! Whether you are getting married in your hometown in Montana or planning a destination wedding in Hawaii, I would love to hear about your wedding plans.
QUESTIONS TO ASK What is your typical editing style? I want my clients to see their natural beauty through the images I create. I do my best to capture my subjects in the best light to draw the viewer’s eye to what matters in the frame and evoke real emotion. To ensure this I do minimal editing to my images, while making sure the image looks it’s best.
What is your average turnaround time on images? I know that I wouldn’t want to wait months and months to see my wedding photos, so I don’t want to make my clients wait either. My average turn around time for a wedding is six to eight weeks, depending on the time of year. For an engagement session it is closer to a two week turnaround time.
What equipment do use? I carry a Canon 5D Mark iii and a 5D Mark ii as a backup camera body. I occassionally also bring a film camera for a different perspective. I use a variety of lenses to capture my subjects, but tend to use prime lenses. Prime lenses have a fixed focal lenth and usually allow for quicker and sharper images, which I find very helpful during weddings where things can happen in the blink of an eye.
When and how do clients normally book you? Weddings require a lot of planning. On average clients book my serves 6-12 months in advance. To make things official my clients sign an online contract and pay a 50% retainer fee.
I ABSOLUTELY recommend Josselyn Peterson if you are needing a wedding and/or engagement photographer. She is incredibly talented and easy to work with. I cannot imagine a more perfect person to photograph my - or your - perfect day. Josselyn is extremely creative and hard working. I had every confidence that Josselyn would provide exceptional service and a superb final product and she exceeded my expectations. Josselyn was prepared, professional and cheerful on our big day and she was very quick to send us the edited photographs. She documented every detail of our wedding to perfection! My husband and I will forever and ever cherish Josselyn’s photographs. I sincerely believe anyone who chooses to invest in Josselyn’s services will be more than satisfied - she is absolutely wonderful! It’s probably a waste of time to even look for a photographer better than Josselyn. - Meilani
My husband and I hired Josselyn for our engagement and wedding photos, after finding out about her through Wedding Gawker. She was absolutely wonderful, and we would recommend her to anyone without hesitation. From the first time we connected with her over the phone, she was a complete professional. She was always punctual (if not early) for shoots/events, communicated regularly, and great with answering questions. Josselyn also just has a solid personality--sweet, fun, adventurous, and flexible. We felt totally comfortable around her (super important, because you don’t want just anyone taking pictures of you, especially on your wedding day!), and the quality of her work was evident even before we saw our proofs, through the attention and care she displayed while behind the camera. Her style is a balanced blend of natural, creative/artistic, and journalistic--a blend that I think can be quite difficult to find, which sets her apart from other photographers. She can compose gorgeous posed shots, yet she can also capture those precious candid moments. A friend who was not at our wedding had this to say about our wedding photos: “I LOVE this album. I actually cried at some of these photos! Your photographer has done a stunning job of capturing every moment so beautifully, so much so that I felt I was there with you!” We could not have asked for a better photographer in Josselyn. - Cat
In allocating our wedding budget, photography was the number one priority. I spent an enormous amount of time hunting for a photographer that shared my aesthetic and ended up flying Josselyn in from California to Texas because I fell completely in love with her style. Best decision ever! On the day of the wedding, Josselyn somehow managed to be everywhere at once; to look at all of the beautiful candid photographs she took, you’d think she must have been in the middle of things, but she was so unobtrusive that I don’t remember most of them being taken! I’m not terribly comfortable in front of a camera, and I worried that my awkwardness would show up in the pictures. Instead, Josselyn was so sweet and relaxed that she put everyone at ease for the portraits and clearly knew what she was doing in scouting out good lighting and interesting compositions. Josselyn was a pleasure to have sharing the day with us and her photographs are truly, each and every one, pieces of art that capture the essence of our wedding day! - Jillian
PACKAGES $3900 8 hours of photography coverage Online proofing gallery USB drive of all edited digital files 100 first edition 4x6 inch prints 16x24 inch custom canvas print Complimentary engagement session Personal consultation $3400 6 hours of photography coverage Online proofing gallery USB drive of all edited digital files 100 first edition 4x6 inch prints 16x24 inch custom canvas print Personal consultation $2900 6 hours of photography coverage Online proofing gallery 100 first edition 4x6 inch prints Personal consultation A la carte $300 per additional hour of coverage $500 for an additional photographer $500 USB drive of all edited digital files $500 for an engagement session *Please note that travel expenses are not included in package price
Initial Contact You found me!
Meeting
You have now read through the Wedding Guide and want to meet me in person, yay! This is a time for us to get to know each other, for me to answer any questions the guide didn’t review and talk more about the plan for your wedding day.
Schedule Your Engagement Session
Schedule a time to meet for your engagement session!
Wedding Day Timeline
About one month before your wedding, put together a tentative wedding day timeline and send it my way for some advice on photography time management and oraganization.
Final Payment
The final payment is due two weeks before your wedding date. This is just one less thing you need to be thinking about on your wedding day.
The Photos!
Six to eight weeks after your wedding day you get to relive it over and over again through the images I have created!
Wedding Guide
Use this helpful guide to answer questions you have about your wedding and the planning
Contract
It’s time to lock it down! Let’s make this official by signing an online wedding photography contract and paying a retainer fee of 50% of the complete package price.
Engagement Session
Meet for your engagement session, have some fun, and get comfortable being in front of my camera.
Family Photo List
Create a family photo list to help keep family photos organized and less chaotic!
YOUR WEDDING DAY!
Your wedding day... the day when all this planning comes together into one emotional, crazy, and exciting day! Enjoy it!
Prints, Albums, Canvases and MORE
This is the time to go a little crazy and order all the decorative keepsake items for you and your loved ones.
Engagement sessions are all about getting comfortable and just having fun. The more relaxed you are the more fun you will have and in turn the more natural the photos will be. I love engagement session because they give me a chance to get to know my couples better, and for them to get used to my shooting style. It makes the wedding day much easier because they know what to expect and are ready to have some fun. I cannot tell you how many times I have shown up to an engagement session and immediately the groom or sometimes both say something like, “Oh, we are so awkward” or “I am not very photogenic.” I am not kidding... those guys are usually the ones that by the end of the session are throwing out suggestions for photos. Having that relationship and connection with a couple before the wedding day makes everyone feel better and the day run smoother. Plus, being engaged is such an exciting time in your life that only lasts for a short amount of time. It is fun to be able to capture such a unique, fun time in your life together.
WHAT TO KNOW When do you usually plan an engagement session? Engagement sessions can be planned for any season you like. The only thing to keep in mind is when you need the finished images. Some couples use the photos for save the date cards or invitations, so it is important to plan the engagement session at least a month before you need to order the cards. This will ensure you have the images and will be able to select your favorites to use in your design.
What is your average turnaround time on images? For an engagement session the average turnaround is approximately two weeks.
How many images should we expect from our engagement session? I give my clients all the photos I feel represt them in a flattering/beautiful way. This usually ends up being between 100-200 images.
Will we have the rights to print the photos ourselves? Yes! All of my sessions include high resolution image files and the rights to print for all personal purposes. However, I am more than happy to send your images out to be professionally printed for you.
HOW TO PLAN How long does an engagement session last? Plan on your engagement session taking 1-2 hours. Each couple is different, some love being in front of the camera, soaking in each minute. Others feel that one hour is tons of time to get the photos they want. Every experience is unique and tailored to the couple and their needs.
When is the best time of day for the session? It is best to begin a portrait two hours before sunset, or if you are an early bird, the first two hours of sunlight are equally beautiful. These times are known as the golden hours and make everything appear more dreamy and beautiful.
How do we decide the location of our engagement session? There is no right or wrong answer to this question. Anything can be beautiful, from a grassy, sunkissed field, to the old, brick exterior of an abandoned building. Think about what type of setting seems to match your personalities. Or, maybe you have a special place that has sentimental value to you. Any of these would be fantastic locations to document your love. Keep in mind, the focus should be on you two as a couple, rather than the location.
What should we wear? The biggest piece of advice I can give you is to wear something you feel great in, that also feels like YOU. Feel free to bring multiple outfit options, I find that two outfits usually works best.
Need More Tips? - Check out my Pinterest board to get inspired and see what other people have done for their engagement sessions! (http://www.pinterest.com/josselyn/portrait-session-wardrobe-inspiration/) - Bring props, such as a blanket to wrap yourselves in as the sun sets, or a chalkboard to write or draw on. Or maybe even an old car! - Get your hair and makeup done professionally... maybe even your nails! This will help make you feel beautiful and more picture perfect. Plus, everyone enjoys getting pampered and this is the perfect excuse!
The best thing you can do for yourself on your wedding day is relax. Know that you have done the prep work, you have put in the time and effort to make this day incredible. Now is the time to enjoy every second this wonderful day.
WHAT TO KNOW How should we plan for photography? Here is a very general wedding day timeline for reference. 1:00 pm - Start Photography/Finish Getting Ready 2:00 pm - First Look/Wedding Party Photos 3:30 pm - Time To Relax Before Ceremony/Photograph Details 4:00 pm - Ceremony 4:30 pm - Cocktail Hour/Formal Portraits 5:30 pm - Grand Entrance Finish Photography - Dependent on Reception Type/Grand Exit I am more than happy to talk about your wedding day and figure out the perfect timeline to accomodate your photography needs.
What is your average turnaround time on images? For a wedding day the turnaround time is approximately six to eight weeks depending on the time of year.
How many images should we expect from our wedding? I give my clients all the photos I feel represt their wedding day in a flattering/beautiful way. This usually ends up being around 100 images for every hour I documented.
WHAT TO KNOW Getting Ready Taking photos of you and your girls getting ready doesn’t need to mean from the moment you wake up. Everyone wants to look their best, so plan on having photography start when you are getting the finishing touches done to your hair/makeup. Allow about 30 minutes before you plan to step into your dress. This will leave time to capture those candid getting ready moments as well as the detail shots of your dress, shoes, etc. Also, keep in mind that clutter can be a distraction in photos, so try to keep the room clean when getting ready.
First Look The great debate of the first look: should you or shouldn’t you? There is no correct answer to this question. A first look allows you to see your fiance in an intimate, private setting before the wedding ceremony. It also makes it possible to take a large portion of your portraits before the ceremony. I can tell you from personal experience, a first look does not ruin any sort of emotional walk down the aisle. I did not cry at all when my husband and I did our first look, took our wedding party photos, and some couple portraits before our ceremony. But as soon as I saw him watching me walk towards him and saw his eyes tearing up, it was all over.
Portraits Portraits take time. It is best to set aside at least an hour through out your wedding day for portraits (wedding party and couple photos). The best time for couple portraits is in the last hour of daylight.
THINGS I WISH ALL CLIENTS KNEW W e d d i n g D a y T i m e l i n e - Talking to your photographer
about your wedding day schedule can relieve much of the stress about the flow of your day. Planning out the timeline with photography in mind will ensure things stay on schedule while capturing everything you are wanting.
C o m m u n i c a t e - Do not expect your photographer to know
your guests, who is most important to you, or details that are significant. Tell your photogapher about little DIY projects, sentimental items, and special people so nothing and no one is left out of the photographs.
S h o t L i s t s - Shot lists may be in magazines to help you get an idea of what not to miss, but hiring a photographer you trust and love their work can make all the difference. Instead of trying to dictate photos that you have seen before, give your photographer the creative license to capture your day as it deserves to be documented.
F o r m a l F a m i l y P o r t r a i t s - These can be stressful, so to
make the process as easy as possible it is best to make a detailed list of the people in each photo. This will keep things moving, as well as making sure that no one is forgotten in the moment. Also, it is good to estimate five minutes per grouping to allow for gathering, posing, and the actual photo being taken.
L i g h t M a t t e r s - The most important component of
photography is light. It can make the difference between a fresh, gorgeous image and dull, dark image. When planning your wedding, consider the light. In my book, the more natural light the better!
THINGS I WISH ALL CLIENTS KNEW D e t a i l s M a t t e r - The details of your wedding (invitations,
dress, shoes, jewlery, florals, etc.) are what make your wedding unique and different. They are also the things you spend hours and hours working on, deciding on, and paying for! So make sure they are easily accessible and ready to be photographed on your wedding day.
H a v e Y o u r P h o t o g r a p h e r E a t W h e n Y o u D o - No
one enjoys having their photo taken when they are eating, so by having your photographer(s) eat at the same time you do nothing will be missed or rushed.
P i n t e r e s t I s G r e a t , B u t - Everyone loves Pinterest,
myself included, but keep in mind that Pinterest is a collection of the best images out there. It is not a whole wedding day collection. Go ahead, get inspiration, find ideas, but I urge people to break away from copying ideas and instead make your own come to life. Styles are ever evolving, so don’t get sucked into trying to follow the trends.
W h a t T a k e s S o L o n g - I completely understand that
everyone wants to see their wedding images as soon as possible, but please understand that a lot of work goes into your images after your wedding day. Ever photo that is taken at your wedding is looked through, removing all duplicates, out of focus, or unflattering shots. The remaining images are then individually edited to make sure the exposure and coloring of the images is correct. Once that is finished some light retouching may be done. The images are then uploaded to an online proofing gallery for viewing, sharing, and printing purposes. This process can take up to six-eight weeks to complete. I do my best to complete the editing process as quickly as possible while not losing any quality in the process.
BLANCHE BOOKS T h e B u t t e r B o o k - A flush-mount album that comes with a
presentation box, wrapped in delicate European cloth, and features 24 double matted pages (24 sides). Available with up to 40 pages.
T h e S w a n B o o k - The perfect handbound album that comes
with a presentation box, wrapped in European cloth, and features 24 soft pages (24 sides), with Japanese silk vellum between every page. Available with up to 100 pages.
The Butter Book Cover Styles 8x10 10x12 Clean $875 $1,125 Photo Window $1,165 $1,400 Embossed $1,725 $1,975 Additional Pages $20 each $25 each
The Swan Book Cover Styles 8x10 10x12 Clean $575 $775 Photo Window $825 $1,000 Embossed $1,250 $1,475 Additional Pages $12 each $18 each
* Images courtesy of BlanchPrints.com
ARCHIVAL AND CANVAS PRINTS A r c h i v a l P r i n t s - All prints are individually retouched, sent
out to a professional lab to be printed on archival photographic paper, and sealed with a durable semi-matte spray to increase longevity.
C a n v a s P r i n t s - All canvas prints are individually retouched,
sent to a professional lab to be printed on canvas, and stretched over a wooden frame.
Archival Prints Size Price 4x6 inch $10 5x7 inch $15 8x10 inch $40 11x14 inch $80 16x24 inch $100 20x30 inch $150 Canvas Prints Size Price 8x8 inch $100 15x15 inch $150 16x24 inch $300 20x30 inch $400 24x36 inch $500 36x48 inch $700 Larger and custom sizes are available upon request