Need more info on our photography services in Brisbane? See some F.A.Q's
Who will be taking my wedding photos?
At Alpha Studio Photography we have Jayne Bates and Brianna Hutchinson. Jayne will be taking the majority of your photos on the day assisted by Brianna on some occasions depending on the size of your shoot.
One photographer will take the official photos and the assistant when required, will run around taking the candid shots, the ones you don’t want to miss. Although Jayne is not known to miss any special moments from the day, including candid shots.
Who will be taking my portraiture photos?
Jayne will be taking your portraiture shots on the day, so feel free to email her at jayne@alphastudio.com.au with any questions.
What should I bring to my portraiture shoot?
Plain coloured clothes photograph better as sometimes bright prints take the focus off the subject. Choose comfortable clothes that you feel good in. Make sure that your whole family compliment each other, i.e. black and white theme, red and blue theme etc. Any special jewellery or props that have special meaning to you. Please feel free to bring anything special you want to our photography services in Brisbane.
We will definitely have lots of fun!
What if some family members really don’t like photos?
Don’t worry too much. It is our job to make them feel comfortable. We have young children and teenagers and grand parents and know what works to get them in the mood. If all else fails we have chocolate!
WILL MY PHOTOS BE USED FOR ADVERTISING?
If you have signed the agreement then YES your photos will be used in Alpha Studio advertising. The forms of advertising relate to our website, facebook page and marketing mail outs. If you do not wish your photos to be in any advertising please advise on the agreement.
CAN OTHER PEOPLE TAKE PHOTOS AT MY SHOOT/WEDDING?
The simple answer to that is YES at weddings and NO at portrait shoots. However, Alpha Studio Photography will not shoot weddings or portraits if a second professional photographer has been hired. If you have a friend or family member who wish to take photos then by all means they are more than welcome. These days everyone seems to have a camera. We would, however, request that when the official photos are being taken that no other photograpers are too close. This is why the wedding party are usually taken away from the guests to have their professional shots. Quite often the subject can become distracted by another photographer and not know where to look and also flash units may interfere with the professional photographers qualtiy of photos. Overall we find people very accomodating when we are doing our job so it's not really a problem.
What if I have my own ideas for photos?
Please feel free to bring along photos and ideas for your special day. We welcome your input and embrace suggestions.
How long will my wedding photos take?
Depending on distance and location we generally look at two hours for the official photos after the ceremony. Please allow this amount of time between the ceremony and reception. Generally official photos are taken once all guests have said their congratulations, (we always like to get a group shot before everyone moves on), and left as it is hard to get the formal photos when a lot of guests are still around and perhaps taking their own photos.
How long will my portraiture photos take?
Generally an hour to two depending on the number of different shots. Bigger family groups can take a little longer but our aim is to make family shoots with small children as quick as possible to ensure no-one gets tired or upset. We understand that little children sometimes want to play in between photos and that’s okay, we have a toy box ready for this.
Once I have booked my wedding, how will I know everything is okay?
Once your wedding is booked and your deposit is paid, we will send you a confirmation kit detailing your wedding date and contact information. We will also give you dates that we will be in contact leading up to your wedding. The kit also includes details that we require about locations and timings on your special day. The wedding agreement should be signed by both parties and emailed back asap. Please note ASP cannot take photos at your wedding until the agreement is signed and received. FOUR weeks prior to your wedding we will contact you again confirming that timings and locations haven’t changed. We will then visit your wedding locations prior to the big day( generally 2 weeks prior) to check lighting and confirm best photography spots. This enables us on the day to get great shots, great lighting and use our limited time wisely.
WHAT DOES THE QUOTED NUMBER OF SHOOTING HOURS MEAN?
Each wedding quote is based on the number of hours required at the time of the enquiry. Quotes are given on 4, 6 and 8 hours of shooting (which includes travel to/from the wedding location), and longer if needed. If this is an out of town wedding then our travel time to and from Brisbane to the destination must be taken into account when looking at the quoted hours. If you think your timings will be longer after you have accepted our quote please inform us of the extension of time and we will requote for the extra hours. If the time goes over there is no charge for the first half hour but anything going over an hour or more will be charged at the hourly rate of $150.00
CAN OTHER PEOPLE TAKE PHOTOS ON MY WEDDING DAY?
Simply put! Yes! as long as the are family and friends and not Professional Photographers. A professional photographer is someone who is operating a business or intending to operate a photography business. There is an unspoken rule in the industry. One which means photographers respect one anothers territory. If you intend on highering (paid or unpaid) another photographer you must advise Alpha Studio at least one month prior to your day so we may contact the other photographer and discuss tactics for the day. If this is not done Alpha Studio reserve the right to void your contract and will pay back any deposits made minus expense incurred to date.
But to get the best photos for your day Alpha Studio work best alone. With a photographer and an assistant we feel this is enough to get the best photos for your special day. Other photographers may not have the same style and can interfere with the course of the day especially with people getting distracted on not know where to look. IE which photographer to look at. When you enter into an agreement with Alpha Studio you are agreeing to NO other Professional Photographer taking photos on the day.
What happens if my wedding date changes?
No problems! we will try and accommodate your change of date if we don’t have another booking on your new day. If we are unavailable on your changed date we will offer you a gift voucher for your deposit to be used within 6 months.
How can I ensure my photos will look amazing?
We will do the hard work for you but please ensure a couple of things that will help you on the day. Get plenty of sleep. Drink lots of water and most of all try and relax. Your photos will be amazing and you will look a picture of beauty.
What if I have blemishes on the day?
We can tweak those little things that you may not like. Blemishes, discoloured teeth, hair strands and much more can all be rectified. Even supermodels get airbrushed. If you aren’t happy with something in a photo let us know. Prices do apply to this editing and is charged at a half hourly rate. Basic editing is done to all photos which covers lighting and exposure, which is included in the price.
When will my photos be ready for viewing?
Portraiture – within three weeks of the photo shoot. Generally earlier
Weddings – within eight weeks of the wedding. Generally earlier
How will I see my proofs?
Once the proofs are ready for viewing we will generally email you low res versions for your perusal. These images are watermarked and are purely so you can make your choices. An order sheet will also be emailed to ensure we print the correct photos. Generally prints are ready within 2/3 weeks of ordering, longer during busy periods but once again, we try our very best to get these photos to you quickly.
What if my family live overseas and want the photos posted?
We can post anywhere in the world for a fee. We will advise your family and friends of the postal charge when we receive their order. Local deliveries in the Brisbane/Gold Coast/Sunshine Coast Region are FREE!
WHAT IF MY WEDDING PACKAGE INCLUDES AN ENGAGEMENT SHOOT?
The engagement shoot part of the package covers a 1 hour photo shoot at one local location (Brisbane region) and 24 high res, edited photos on a discs. These photos are chosen by the clients. A selection of low res photos (apporx 50) are emailed to the client and you can chose 24 photos either in colour or black and white or a selection of both. If more locations are required an extra fee will apply. These photos are generally ready within 3 weeks of the shoot, sometimes longer depending on committments but we try to get them to you as early as possible as some customers wish to use them for their wedding invitations. We we always try our very best to ensure you get them promptly. Timings for engagement shoots are subject to availibilty so you are best to get in early and book.
WHAT DOES EDITING INCLUDE IN THE PACKAGES?
Editing of photos is limited to colour correction - brightening or darkening a photo for exposure only. Any other editing, grass greener, sky bluer, teeth whitening, hair colour change, removing blemishes, changing cloud colours and structural changes etc takes considerable time to do on each photo and will be charged at a half hourly rate. Prices vary depending on time to edit photos.
When will my photos be ready for collection?
Portraiture – usually within three weeks of the portrait date, generally sooner.
Weddings – usually within eight weeks of the wedding date, generally sooner.
The above are the general amount of weeks it takes to process, cull and edit your photos. For us to do the best job possible we don't like to rush the process. As there are also other clients do process as well we wish to always be fair with each and every customer and ensure they are looked after and their photos not rushed. Certain times of the year Feb/Mar and Sept/Oct are the busiest for weddings and may take a little longer to complete but we assure you the end result will be worth the wait. These are the worse case scenarios and generally you will get your photos a lot sooner.
Why does it take so long to get my photos?
Taking the photos is the easy part. Making sure they are absolutely amazing takes a little longer. Photographers invest approximately 50 hours into a wedding and approximately 20 hours into a portraiture shoot. This includes retouching and colour correction and having the item printed on professional quality paper. We want to ensure your whole experience is fantastic and this takes time. Don't be fooled by those promising to send your photos in a week. It takes time and a sharp eye to edit photos to a professional standard.
Time to prepare the photos and time to print the photos from one of the best quality professional printers in the country. There may be a little wait but this is for memories that will not fade over time.
WHAT IF I'M STRUGGLING TO PAY FOR MY PHOTOS?
Alpha Studio always like to help their customers in whatever way possible but please remember you are paying for a service and entering into an agreement. Alpha Studio Photography also have bills and staff to pay so any payment arrangements should be adherred to unless otherwise agreed in writing. We are flexible with payments to a certain limit as we understand that weddings can be very expensive. Arrangements can be made to pay your photos off but the payment arrangement cannot exceed a 6 month period after the photo shoot date. Otherwise the photos will be archived and the current photography rates will apply.
How do I pay for my wedding photos?
Once your wedding package and date has been confirmed, to lock your date in you are required to pay 1/3 deposit which is non refundable. Another 1/3 is required one month prior to your special day and the balance is due 7 days before your wedding. Unfortunately due to a number of non payers in the past we are not able to hand over your photos until final payment has been made. In the event of an album, prints or canvases purchase final payment is required prior to the order being placed with our suppliers. Our bank account details will be on each invoice for easy direct transfer , however if you wish to pay via credit card we have this facility and of course paypal is an option. Please let us know if this option is not available to you and we can make other arrangements. Deposits are non refundable if you cancel your shoot or change your date. However a A.S.P. gift voucher will be offered as an alternative to use within 6 months.
How do I pay for my portraiture photos?
A $100 deposit is due at the time of the sitting and the balance is due when your proofs are ready. An invoice will be given to you at the time of ordering with our bank account details and balance owing. Direct transfer is preferred. Please let us know if this option is not available to you and we can make other arrangements.
WHAT IF I'M NOT HAPPY WITH MY PHOTOS?
Alpha Studio will always try their very best to capture your moments in a professional way that you are happy with. Sometimes outside elements interfere with the process ie: rain, photographer not advised of changes etc. We will do our utmost to make sure you are happy with the photos. We will discuss your concerns and hopefully come to an amicable agreement if you are unhappy. However, liability is limited only to a refund of any payments made minus a deduction for works already completed. Please be rest assured if this is an issue Alpha Studio will do their utmost to fix it. An unhappy customer makes us very unhappy!