FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: Dan, if I hire you, will I get you, and not some freelancer I've never met?

D: Yes! That’s a great question. When you book me, you get me! There’s a real advantage to working with an individual wedding photographer rather than a huge photo studio that views you as a dollar sign.

Q: Dan, do you shoot photojournalistic, and traditional posed shots?

D: Yes, most of my wedding photos are candid, photojournalistic shots. Still, everyone recognizes the value of some posed couple’s, bridal party, and family photos. Posing the group shots is very helpful in terms of making sure you can see everyone’s face. One thing I like to do when it comes to group shots, is take some photos while people are talking to each other. This way you can get many unposed shots, too.

Q: Dan, when will I be able to see my wedding photos?

D: Within a week of your wedding, you will receive a downloadable link to your photos. Each photo jpeg file will be named with the couple’s initials, wedding date, and come in two separate folders labeled high- and low-resolution (for social media). Every photo is color-corrected, and adjusted for optimal exposure, saturation, and other criteria.

Q: Dan, how does the album process work?

D: First you chose the photos and album cover specifics. Then I retouch photos as needed, design the album, send you a link for changes, order album, and ship to you within two months of approval.

Q: Can your photography packages be customized? I might not want an album, is that okay?

D: Yes. I can custom tailor a package just for you.

Q: Dan, can you provide my reception hall with an insurance liability certificate?

D: Yes. In fact, many halls already have my proof of insurance on file.

Q: Where do you photograph most of your weddings?

D: Most of my wedding photograph is within a 30-minute drive of my home in Huntington, Long Island, NY.

Q: Dan can you provide video, too?

D: No. But if you like, I’m happy to recommend a videographer. I do ask that you not hire more than one video shooter. The reason for this is that multiple shooters wind up ruining too many shots by getting in the way. The same for DJs that bring Zap shooters—I won’t shoot a wedding with Zap shooters for the same reason.

Q: Dan, what happens if you get sick or something on my wedding day?

D: Thankfully, this has never happened to me. If it ever did, I would reach out to fellow photographers to find a replacement who was acceptable to you. Naturally, your money would be refunded on demand.

Q: Wouldn’t a huge photo studio have a backup photographer on call for my wedding day?

D: Sadly, the answer to this is no. The huge photo studios depend on freelance photographers who come and go like the flu. They must book these freelancers far in advance and pray they’ll show. And although these huge studios take a large advance deposit from you, they don’t share the it with their freelance photographers—so there’s no incentive or contract. It’s a dirty secret that huge photo studios don’t want you to know about!

Worse yet, huge photo studios pay their freelance less than twenty-five-cents on the dollar of what you pay them—and they don’t provide the freelancers with gear or transportation. Which is why the chance of a freelance photographer not showing up is a thousand times greater than an individual wedding photographer not showing up.

I’ve had huge, well-known photo studios call me begging to cover a wedding that a freelance photographer cancelled at the last minute. When I offer to work on the condition that I receive the money they collected from the couple, and not a paltry freelance rate, they say they’ll get back to me. If it were me, with the couple’s permission, I’d offer a replacement photographer whatever I was to receive—that’s how you get the best outcome for the couple. Plus, it’s the right thing to do. Sorry for the longwinded answer, but this is an important moral and ethical issue.

Q: Dan, my question isn’t listed here. Are you available for a consultation?

D: Yes, I would be happy to discuss your wedding photography needs by phone, Zoom, or in person.

My Instagram

“My friend recommended Dan to my husband and I, and we could not have been happier. Dan is calm, cool, and professional. I have a large Italian family, and my husband has a large Irish family. Dan was able to gather all of us for pictures, followed lists we had previously prepared, and did not miss one minute of our special day.”

—Christine and William