How would you describe your style and approach to wedding photography?

First things, first...the photos speak for themselves. They tell the stories of the many dynamic and wonderful couples who have celebrated their love in Jasper. So if you haven't already, please do visit the wedding galleries at:

www.arcphotoweddings.com

... or the ARC PHotography JAsper FACebook page

Over the years, I’ve developed an approach to wedding photography that is 80% photojournalism, with a splash of creative outdoor portraiture & a hint of editorial art, set against Jasper’s many stunning scenic backdrops. I believe stongly in making artfully captured, true-to-life photographs that record the real emotions, inimate moments, and little details of each couple’s day. What this means for most couples is that the majority of their wedding day events will be captured using a photojournalism approach and the “official” wedding photo session will be relaxed & playful. The goal is always to create a timeless collection of candid, off-beat and artistics images rich with emotion that tell your story. Plan to have fun and bring a sense of adventure & spontineity.

WHAT EXActly is photojournalism and how does it apply to my wedding?

Photojournalism is a form of artistic storytelling that aims to capture, as creativly as possible, honest moments and emotions to paint a true picture of the events unfolding in front of a photographer’s lens. That means I’m not your traditional wedding photographer. Though there is a small portion of each wedding day set aside for a more "organized" photo shoot, the majority of my work is photojournalism based and I encourage clients to abandon long, detailed shot lists for the opportunity to capture real moments. That means, we aren’t striving for choreographed perfection, but rather the beauty of reality and the emotion of everyday life. ARC PHOTOGRAPHY wedding collections will tell the story of your wedding as it unfolds without excessive coaching or interference. Photojournalism also means that I believe in the importance of building an open working relationship with each couple in order to build the necessary trust to capture all the tension, tears of overflowing happiness and humour that can spill out on such a momentous day. Each couple is unique, each day has it’s own special circumstances, and every wedding collection I deliver will express the beauty of that individuality.

What kind of investment am I considerins?

ARC PHOTOGRAPHY wedding day photography collections start at $2200 and are custom tailored to suite the unique needs of each couple. Don't hesitate to call 780-852-3509 or e-mail (alisen@arcphotography.ca) to book an appointment to discuss all your details so I can prepare you a custom quote. Collections include individually edited, high-resolution digital files in both colour and black & white provided on DVD and a custom designed, hand crafted album that will tell your wedding day story for the generations ahead.

Will I Recieve any prints?

arc photography wedding collections do not include proofing prints or a pre-set collection of enlargements. Large sized art pieces are available for individual order and each couple will receive a custom designed wedding album (with the exception of the Alpine Elopement) along with a set of high resolution digital provided in both colour and black & white JPEG format. This allows each couple the freedom to use their photos for a wide variety of purposes after the wedding, but still provides a timeless and high calibre way to share those memories with family and friends.

How Much time should i schedule for my photo sessions?

This will be entirely dependent on each couples expectations. You’ll need to decide if you’d like a purely photojournalistic approach so you can just enjoy your day as it happens or if you’d like to stage a casual portrait session with your wedding party in tow. Though we don't want to spend hours putting together overtly "posed" photographs, having an appropriate amount of time to have some fun, be spontaneous and relax a little will ensure each couple can create a wedding collection that’s both storytelling and comprehensive. Most couples want to capture a brief list of family groupings (often immediate family members), some fun portraits with their bridal party members and then a selection of artistic & candid photographs of them as a couple.

For many groups, it’s common to need approximately two hours after the ceremony is complete in order to accomplish this and get you to the cocktail hour on time. Some couple prefer only a brief rest/ commute time between the ceremony end and the reception start time. (ex. Ceremony starts at 4 p.m. and cocktails start at 5 p.m.) Others would prefer to make the photography an event in itself allowing 3 hours to travel to a variety of locations with their wedding party. In the end, it’s all up to you.

How Can I ensure my photos are everything I'm hoping for?

Don't come with too many preconceived ideas on the EXACT look, lighting, angles or poses for your photographs. Every wedding day is different and each couple is unique. You've hired a creative professional for a reason so trust in your photographer's ability and let them use their skills. Allow your photographer to help make decisions on the location for photographs based on the lighting conditions of the day. It's fine to make suggestions and let your desires be known, but remember that trusting your photographer’s instincts is the best way to get beautiful and original photographs. If you have certain poses you’d like to try then definitely suggest them or just do them. A true photojournalist will encourage you to be yourself so, if the mood to pull a face or flop down in the grass strikes, go for it.

During the family photo sessions, consider asking guests to refrain from taking photographs at the same time as the photographer since other cameras can distract those being photographed and make group portraits extremely challenging. Your final package allows you to distribute your photos to family and friends after the wedding so everyone can get copies at no extra cost to you.

Consider telling your wedding party and family about your choice of photographer and the style they use. Preparing the big players in your day to be themselves and do as they would normally do can help the photographer gather those candid moments without wedding party members mugging for the camera or favorite aunts calling, “Look, the photographer’s behind you.” It is also highly recommended that some time is set aside for the photographer to work with the couple without other individuals around. Too many onlookers can make couples feel self-conscious, distracted or inhibited.

DO develope a repore with your photographer. Make sure you have at least one good phone conversation a few weeks before the wedding. If you have the opportunity to meet in person beforehand - even better. Good photographs come from an open working relationship. Communication is key, especially for couples planning their wedding more than 8 months in advance as weddings tend to change and evolve as they are planned. You may meet your photographer once in the summer and not see them again until the following year. E-mail is a great way to keep your photographer up-to-date on the planning process, schedule, transportation, and your photography goals for the day.

Whatever happens in front of my lens will likely end up in your final wedding package, but remember you are hiring one photographer to document your day and that one photographer can only photograph in so many directions at one time. Communication is key so everyone knows the schedule and your photographer can anticipate when they need to be where for certain moments that will take place.

What do we receive in our final photo package?

After the wedding, each couple will receive a pair of identical discs containing all of their high resolution photographs ready for printing in both colour and black & white JPEG formats. From these discs, couples will be able to choose the photos to be incorporated into their custom designed album.
All of the digital photos created on your day are sorted and only the best of the best are individually edited for colour, density, skin tone and cropping so that your final collection is truly a finished product ready for printing. The choice of the final photos to be included in the package is up to your photographer - editing is as much a part of the creative process as the taking of the photos.

How Do i reserve my wedding date?

Wedding dates are only guaranteed once a contract has been signed and returned to arc photography along with the 25% retainer amount by the date specified in each individual contract. That being said, I often “pencil” couples into their desired wedding dates during our preliminary discussions to ensure each couple has time to discuss their photographic needs and make a desicion without feeling pressured to secure an immediate booking. Choosing the right photographer is a highly personal and important decision!

how and when do we pay you?

Couples are required to make retainer payment equal to 25% of their total wedding collection cost in order to reserve arc photography services for their day. The retainer payment due date will depend on the date of the wedding and be specified in your contract. This retainer is considered non-refundable though special considerations will be made on a case-by-case basis. Personal cheques, money orders or cash are all acceptable forms of payment. Sorry, but credit cards are not accepted. The remaining cost (75%) of your chosen wedding collection is to be paid on or before the day of the wedding by personal cheque or money order/ bank draft.

IS There a contract involved?

Yes, I ask couples to sign a basic contract to book their date. This ensures that everyone is clear on the extent of the photographic coverage agreed upon and the final price. The contract also outlines that all images created will remain the intellectual property/ copyright of arc photography/ Alisen R. Charlten, but that each couple retains permanent license to reproduce the images for personal use or distribution to family and friends. The contract also contains a model release section for use of images in advertising or portfolios for arc photography.

when will I receive my photo package?

Wedding photography collections will be delivered via Canada Post approximately 4 to 6 weeks after the wedding date. Special arrangements for early delivery can be made dependent on the time of year and the size of the final collection. Couples planning a slideshow for a second reception at another location after their wedding day can make a special request for a small collection of photographs to be delivered by e-mail at an earlier date. Album delivery times vary because it's a colaborative process and the final printing and binding process can take up to 4 weeks.

photoshop fixes everything right?

Not exactly, and at ARC PHOTOGRAPHY this is not our mindset. With the power of today’s digital editing tools it’s often assumed by brides and their wedding parties that anything and everything can and will be fixed in Photoshop. It’s important for my clients to understand this often isn’t the case and photojournalism style wedding photography doesn’t incorporate extensive airbrushing. Not only is airbrushing extremely labour intensive, but it also contradicts the intent to capture real life and celebrate real beauty. Your final photos will get be edited for accurate and vibrant colour, composition, density (lightness and darkness), and to ensure that they will create high quality prints when you go to make your enlargements. For close-ups, I also do SOME basic skin texture smoothing and masking of obvious blemishes, but that is where the airbrushing ends. "Magazine” style airbrushing techniques such as whitening teeth and eyes are not standard practice for the digital photos provided on DVD. At ARC PHOTOGRAPHY real beauty is embraced through a less is more approach.

Also keep in mind...Genuine moments are fleeting. During a wedding photography group session there are lots of things for a photographer to consider so, if you’re the sort of detail oriented person who hates to see a bra strap showing or a necklace out of place, I would definitely suggest enlisting the help of an observant friend or family member during group photos. While I’m organizing your friends and family and working to create those stunning, one-of-a-kind images, it can be extremely helpful to have someone keeping an eye on your personal details. Also remember that, even for women who don’t normally wear much make-up, hiring a knowledgable make-up artist can be a huge asset to the final look of your photos.

Does our final photo collection contain every photo you take or can we get all the raw files?

The answer to both these questions is 'no' and the best way to explain why is to liken photography to cooking. In the kitchen a chef starts with his tools and raw ingredients. Those photos straight out of the camera are the raw ingredients and the preparation of those ingredients is just as important as the collecting of them. This is why many photographers refuse to provide completely raw, unedited files. Providing every photo taken in one day would not only overwhelm most couples, but would be like making a meal and providing the carrot peelings or apple cores on the side. Your final photo collection is a representation of the best of the best of all the moments that tell your day. You might have heard my shutter click 1000 or 3000 times in a single day, but you'll likely only get about one quarter of those images.

Where should I have my wedding?

There's an endless selection of beautiful locations to hold your wedding or elopement. Some of the most popular public venues in Jasper National Park include Pyramid Island, Patricia Lake, Maligne Canyon, or Old Fort Point. There are a variety of indoor and outdoor locations made available by local hoteliers such as: Sawridge Inn & Conference Centre, Mountain Park Lodges, the Best Western Jasper Inn, Coast Pyramid Lake & Tekarra Lodge or the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. If you're looking for something more secluded or unique don't hesitate to call me and ask for suggestions of some lesser known spots suitable for elopements or small groups. Don't forget to keep in mind the time of day and the position of the sun when planning your ceremony – this can effect your photos and the comfort of your guests drastically. When planning back-up locations for inclement weather, it’s important to know that the only truly photogenic and spacious indoor locations suitable for a family or bridal party photo session will be the lobbies, ballrooms or common areas of a local hotel or inside one of Jasper’s many churches. For couples intent on photographing outside, no matter what the weather, umbrellas can make great rain or sun covers but they still look great in group photos.