Fazackarley/FAQs

If you have a question thats not here, or you can't find - please get in touch!

I'm not sure of the details of my wedding yet, but I really want to secure a wedding photographer!

A lot of couples have this issue, sometimes when a wedding is 18-24 months in advance it can be difficult to get it all mapped out clearly. I'm more than happy to book you for my lowest package & get the paperwork out of the way for that, then upgrade packages, and plan the details nearer the time. Unfortunately I can't hold wedding dates until I have a signed contract & retainer.

You give 2 DVD's with all your wedding packages - what’s do we get on them?

DVD #1 is a DVD-ROM, this means you use it on a computer, it contains all the finished images from your wedding in High-Resolution JPEG format.

DVD #2 is a DVD-VIDEO, this means you play it on a standard DVD player, It contains a slideshow (to music of your choosing) of all the finished Images - It makes it much easier to show your photos to your friends!

Can we print the photos ourselves?

Yes, whilst I do offer a complete print service, you are more than welcome to produce your own prints from the files. I include a print credit with all of my (non-album) packages - so you always get some professional prints of your wedding photos at no extra cost.

Do we sign a contract?

Yes, I believe it is important to have contracts between the Bride/Groom & all vendors, & your Wedding Photographer is no exception. A contract protects from any eventualities & ensures that business relations go smoothly (it also ensures everyone knows what’s involved before/after/during the wedding day)

Can we read the contract before we sign?

Of course, you should never sign anything without reading it first - I even make a point to go through my contract verbally with my clients, just to ensure you know what’s what.

Do we have to pay a deposit/retainer? And if so how much?

Yes, I collect a 33% retainer on all packages at the time of the contract signing.

When do we settle the outstanding balance? Can I pay in instalments?

You can pay anytime between contract signing & 4 weeks prior to the wedding. You can also pay in smaller payments (no less than £100) anytime at your convenience. Regardless of your payment method, Total amount must be paid 4 weeks prior to the wedding.

How do we pay you?

You can pay by Cash or Cheque payable to 'Mr Simon Fazackarley'.

Credit/Debit Cards are also accepted, however they are subject to a 5% handling fee (as such I don't recommend payment by this method.)

Do you work alone at weddings? Or do you use assistants?

I prefer as the sole photographer. It allows me to blend in with guests & cause as little disruption to proceedings as possible. A Photographer with 2-3 cameras, tripods & Bags on each shoulder can be a little intimidating - But 2 or 3 Photographers with that much kit in my opinion is easily over-the-top. I aim to minimize my impact on the wedding day, so if I can work with a minimum of kit & just myself shooting, I will.

I do have access to assistants & second-shooters, so if the wedding if particularly large, or multiple shooters/assistants would benefit the wedding photos, then I use them. But we would discuss this at the meeting.

But For 90% of weddings, I am the sole Photographer.

If we book, will you be our photographer?

yes, I am the primary photographer, & if booked I will definately be in attendance at your wedding. I would never book a wedding, then send another photographer in my place.

What if you are sick, injured etc. - who will be our photographer?

I look after myself to the best of my abilities, so the chances of me missing a wedding due to illness etc. are slim, but should it be a factor I will do my best to secure another photographer of equal skill - at no additional cost to you.

I have access to a network of available photographers should this issue arise.

How many photos do you take? How many do we get?

That all depends on the length of your wedding, number of venues & the general flow of the day. I shoot anywhere between 500 and 2500 frames, Then edit down the images (where people blink, or where someone stepped into frame etc.) to a more reasonable amount. I retouch these as required. I usually provide between 200 & 600 images, but this can vary greatly & I will usually give a clearer idea once I know the layout of the wedding day.

You can be sure that I will shoot enough to cover your day completely.

Is this your full-time career?

Yes it is, I know there are lots of 'Wedding Photographer (s)' out there who are plumbers during the week, but I take this very seriously & as such this is my sole source of Income - I work hard at it constantly - Shooting weddings at weekends & processing images, assembling albums & engagement sessions during the week.

This means you get a full, high quality service -I am 100% a photographer, so my only commitment is to my clients & their Wedding Photos (& Albums!)

What education do you have?

I'm educated to university level in Multimedia Design & Photography. I also have all the usual GCSE's & A-levels.

How long have you been a Wedding Photographer?

I've been around photographer(s), photography & cameras for over 15 years, Taking Photograph's professionally (In a variety of styles) for 8 Years. I've been a fulltime Wedding Photographer for 4 years.

Are you fully insured?

Of course, I hold full Liability & Indemnity Insurance specifically for Professional Photographer (s); I don't leave anything to chance.

What kind of gear do you use?

Whilst I strongly believe it is the photographer’s technique & skill that makes a difference, I only use Canon professional Cameras & Lenses.

What do you wear to weddings?

I always wear smart attire to weddings, usually a suit, but sometimes (in hot conditions) it may be necessary to wear a shirt/waistcoat combination - for maximum coolness & manoeuvrability.

If you have a specific attire requirement, or colour combination that you want me to wear, Let me know at our initial meeting.

What makes you different from all the other Wedding Photographers out there?

Yes there are alot of photographer's these days, and yes - many of us are working in similiar stlyes & promising similiar things.

Most photographers claim to be 'friendly' or 'fresh' or 'stylish' or 'relaxed', you get the idea. How am I different? I respect my clients & am honoured they would pick me to share the most important days of their lives - I'm young & energetic - I believe this comes through in my wedding photos. I aim to be 100% professional at all times, I've heard horror stories of wedding photographers taking over weddings - treating guests badly - swearing!

I wouldn't dream of doing any of those things, Its your day, I respect that & I want to ensure you have the best wedding day possible - I also want to make sure you have fantastic photos to keep the memory alive for a lifetime.

If I need to put in extra time or effort to ensure that, I will - My clients come first, no matter what. So yes, I'm Friendly, Fresh, Stylish & Relaxed - but those are just buzzwords unless you actually put them into practice.

Whats your approach to weddings, as a wedding Photographer?

I try to blend in with your guests, minimize intrusion, into what should be one of the most beautiful days of your lives. Couples dont want their wedding photographer to be a big part of their day - just a little bit here & there.

I prefer to be inconspicuous and 'stealthy' as possible, as I find this gets me the best shots. If required I can be a bigger part of your day & set up photos, group shots, portraits etc. But even if I do this, I still try to be as relaxed as possible, to keep the day light & fun.

Engagement Shoots?

An Engagement shoot is a session spent with your photographer a few weeks before you wedding. It gives you a chance to get to know your photographer & gives your photographer a chance to get to know you.

It helps us get 'at ease' with one another, and helps enourmously in the photographic techniques for the big day. I stronly believe the relationship between a photographer & client is what makes good photos amazing.

Your ‘about page’ mentions that you are/were a Graphic Designer, how will this affect our wedding photos?

Honestly, it can affect them as little, or as much as you like! All it really means is that I've been working with visuals for many, many years, across a multitude of platforms - It means I look at things a little bit differently & can see (as I shoot) possible uses for images in albums etc. I like to think it means I’m more aesthetically aware of patterns, textures, shapes etc. and how they can be introduced into your wedding photos.

When it comes to the wedding album, is where my Graphical Heritage comes in, I experiment with layouts - often meaning my wedding albums are truly unique, truly you! I'm not afraid of using empty space to accentuate a minimalistic image - it also means my album designs shouldn’t become dated, or tired as quick as some 'gimmicky' presentation styles.

But of course, at the end of the day, I'm a Wedding Photographer, with a background in Graphic Design - Wedding Photos have always been my main passion.

Wedding Albums, what are your layouts like?

I always try to produce clean, quirky layouts that show your wedding photos in the best possible way - You will never get drop shadows or 'soft focus' blur's between pages, it’s not my style. If a solid coloured page would compliment an image, I'm not afraid to use it - I don’t fill pages just to use space. Every layout will be meticulously thought-out.

I also like to use different paper-weights, finishes, covers & fonts to really make your images 'pop'.

Many people hire me as much for my album designs as for my skill as a photographer - But of course I can provide samples if required.

Even if you don't hire me to be your photographer, look at the other photographers albums and think - will I still love this in 15 years? 25 years? If the answers NO...walk away.

Are you the kind of photographer that does posed shots, or just the photojournalistic shots?

I do a mixture of booth, as dictated by the flow of the day & the brides’ likes/dislikes. I aim to blend in as best as possible to capture those tiny moments in reportage style, But I am fully able to pose people or set up large group shots if required. When posing I aim to keep it all light, relaxed & fun, so no one feels pressured or agitated by any of the photos.

Do you do details/getting ready/dancing?

I cover weddings completely, from the Brides preparations to the end of the day. Of course if you don't want a photographer the whole day, we can customize the level of coverage.

Does a female photographer do the Brides Preparations?

No, I tend to work alone. I am 100% professional and if there is a problem with photography at a specific time, or someone is shy about having a male photographer in the room, I can happily wait outside until you & your bridesmaids are ready. I don't want anyone to feel even the slightest bit uncomfortable.

Having photographed many boudoir shoots & worked with many models in a variety of photoshoots (High Fashion, Glamour, Art-Nude) I pride myself on my ability to be totally objective & professional at all times.

Can I get a photo of (insert name here)?

Of course, we discuss all this at the meeting, but if you let me know a list of specific shots you would like, specific people to be photographed I will do my best to ensure all is covered. Many couples provide me with a guide to show me 'who's who' at your wedding - this makes it much easier to fulfil lists of required portraits. You can even let your guests know, they can grab the photographer at quiet periods during the day to get specific photos!

Do we need to feed our photographer?

Not at all, I am most grateful when clients include me in meals, However I'm totally fine either way & it won’t affect your photos whether I join in the meal or not.

How quick can we get our photos?

I aim for a 4 week turnaround on Images, Prints & DVD’s; Wedding Albums rely on external companies & can take up to 8 weeks. Although often it is much quicker. Of course, I'll keep you fully informed as to expected delivery times & any possible delays.

You mention base prices on your 'Prices' page, what do we get for that?

The base package (without album) contain enough (photographer) hours to cover a smaller sized wedding well, the package also contains a generous print credit.

The base package (with album) contains enough (photographer) hours to cover a medium sized wedding well, and also includes a beautiful wedding album.

I know another photographer who will do me x,y & z for £xxx.xx - will you match their price?

I tend not to adjust my prices depending on competition, as my prices are based upon many different factor (photographer skill, photographer experience, material costs, post-production, equipment, insurance)

But I am happy to tailor packages to individuals, ensuring you get exactly what you require at a competitive price - It always helps to let me know what deals your getting from another photographer (with a written estimate/quote)- just incase I can offer a similiar deal or increase your hours etc.

Have you worked at (insert venue here)?

With the amount of Venues in Sussex, Kent, Hampshire & Surrey - There is a good chance I haven't been (the photographer) at a wedding there. But I have experience In many of the popular venues & if I haven't worked at your venue I will always scout it out (from a photographer (s) point of view)

Your Photo Blog's Great, But why so little updates?

I love my blog, I love the reactions and praise I get from my clients & their friends/family when they see themselves on it - Unfortunately It turned into a full time job, Which I simply don't have time to do. Being a Photographer takes up most of my time, blogging rarely fits into my schedule!

I aim to post once or twice a week, But sometimes even that is too much! I post more frequently when people tell me they visted or they like x,y & z, but if you want me to post more - you can always get in touch & encourage me to post! I love to hear from blog readers!