You’ve got questions? I’ve got answers!

1.) Will you be the main photographer, or will it be one of your associates? Oh, definitely me! I am the lead photographer during every amazing wedding day MBP has the honor of documenting.

2.) What about a backup plan if you are unable to shoot my wedding for some reason? Great question. I take the responsibility of preserving your once-in-a-lifetime moments very seriously and, like a boy scout, make it my business to be prepared for anything and everything! I have a large network of amazing, talented, responsible professional wedding photographers who are always there in case a dire emergency situation or serious health complication pop up and would prevent me from capturing your wedding day. Luckily, 200+ weddings on it has never come to this but it is imperative to have a strong emergency back-up plan for a day as important as your wedding day!

3.) How many hours of coverage do you think we need?  Each wedding I’m lucky enough photograph is gloriously unique and each couple has their own set of needs! While it's much easier to finalize the timeline once your plans are fully set, here is a helpful guideline for photography to help you determine how many hours of coverage you will need: I recommend you plan for at least an hour of "getting ready" coverage and even up to two hours if you want those gorgeous detail shots and and I typically stay 30-60 minutes into the "party" portion of the reception (i.e. the speeches, dinner, first dances and cake cutting have all concluded and people are ready to get freaky on the dance floor ;-)! The important thing to remember here is that, when booking with MBP, you can always add on more time should the need arise! I block off the entire day for your wedding just in case you determine you need more coverage at any point during your wedding planning, including on the day itself.

4.) What is your artistic/photographic “style”? In a few words: vibrant, true-to-life with a touch a whimsy, joyful. I try to stay as true as possible to the originality of any scene I document (the original color, light and atmosphere) while creatively utilizing light, composition and editing to enhance the absolute beauty of it all. While some photographers specialize in different styles when it comes to editing (dark and moody vs super bright and airy vs warm/yellow toned), I believe that classic, timeless images withstand passing trends and will be every bit as gorgeous in fifty years as they are the very first time you open your wedding gallery.

5.) What does being in front of your camera feel like? A wedding day is all about capturing the big and the small moments. My number one aim is to make you and every single one of your loved ones feel super comfortable (and - dare I say - have an absolute blast) in front of my camera! The better you feel and more fun you are having, the more AMAZING your images will be and the more you will absolutely love them forever.

We’ve all seen those super staged, stiff portraits. That’s not my “thing”! While creating stunning portraits on your wedding day is a top priority of mine, keeping you two connected and in the moment not only makes your experience that much better but it’s how you get those magical shots full of emotion and joy and laughter.

A photograph of your first married kiss, your grandmother’s proud smile as she first sees you in your bridal glory, your best friend keeping the train of your dress off of the wet grass….these all hold equal importance in my eyes! I am definitely photojournalistically driven in my passion to capture the fleeting moments that your wedding day is comprised of, though the gorgeous portraits are also so important! During the portrait session part of your day, I offer guidance in posing (to make sure you look amazing) while keeping the atmosphere natural, fun and festive in order to capture the true excitement of the day. Stiff, weird portraits are the worst - I aim to capture you: what makes you and your fiance's relationship so wonderfully unique! So all of this rambling (sorry about that!) is to say that my style is definitely a balance between photojournalism and gorgeously composed art pieces that you two will love forever. 

6.) Will the photos be retouched and color balanced? Is that done before I see the proofs? ABSOLUTELY! I personally go through each and every photo captured on your wedding day and pick out the very best (approximately 100 per hour of shooting). I process, color correct and edit each individual image to ensure that you receive a beautifully cultivated gallery that not only captures the beauty of your day but also tells your story in a way that allows you to relive and feel your day all over again forever!

7.) Do you shoot both digital and film? If you shoot film, do you usually shoot in both color and black and white?  I'm a digital girl! While film is great, I find that the freedom of clicking away without worrying about wasting/running out of film ensures that I capture the action as it unfolds. I provide a healthy mix of color and black and white images in a final gallery - usually about one in five images I deliver has a black and white edit. I only edit in black and white if I find it enhances the emotion of an image or improves it's artistic integrity. Some brides, have strong preferences either way. I definitely encourage communication about your loves, likes and preferences so I can best bring your vision to life.

8.) How long after the wedding do we get to see the photos? I always send out a sneak peek ASAP (because waiting for your wedding photos is the WORST (been there!) and you can expect to receive your full gallery within 6 weeks! You'll receive an online, digital gallery that is accessible for one year.

9.) How many final images should I expect to receive? You can expect to receive between approximately 100 fully edited images per hour of coverage.

10.) Do you have portrait location recommendations? Can I let you know what locations I’d like to have in our portraits? That’s a resounding yes from me on both counts! I'm here to bring your vision to life while exercising my expertise in what will get the most amazing images possible. We will work together to cultivate an awesome photography plan that will not only result in a gallery you’ll love but will also be conducive to the timeline to make your day as smooth as possible! I know all of the awesome spots so don’t hesitate to ask for recommendations :-).

11.) Do you create custom albums? How does that work? Omg. You guys. The Heirloom albums are so. gorgeous. They’re comprised of archival, high quality, thick, lay flat pages that help bring your wedding day to life so it can be relived every single day. After you receive your digital gallery you will select your favorite photos and I’ll do the rest! Once the design is set, you guys get to select the color and material for the album's cover along with embossing choices, etc. The album comes in a keepsake linen box and as long as it's cared for is guaranteed to last for generations. So it truly is an heirloom album :-)!

12.) What are the restrictions for sharing photos online or for publication? Do you own the copyright to the photos? You guys can download your images limitless times and share on any social media/personal platform you so choose! I may share select images in my portfolio, in a blog post or on my business Instagram page (@maurablackphotography) for marketing purposes (and to show you guys off ;-) and/or submit them to various wedding publications!

13.) Can you shoot in low light? What’s your lighting setup like? Oh, absolutely! Who doesn’t love the romantic golden glow of candlelight?! I’ve captured dozens of beautiful nighttime weddings and have a quick and unobtrusive lighting set up that will help capture the best images without disrupting your guests' experience!

14.) Is it okay if other people take photos while you're taking photos? Of course! While some photographers demand that that is prohibited, the guest experience is so important and must be protected. If your Uncle wants to capture a photo of you two as you exchange your vows he should have every right to do so! If there's an over zealous uncle who keeps obscuring you two I may kindly whisper the classic midwestern “Ope! Sorry, lemme just sneak past there, thanks so much" to make sure I don’t miss anything.

15.) Is there a written contract? Absolutely! The contract is straightforward and is there to protect both of us and to make sure you both know exactly what I provide :-).

16.) What is the payment schedule like? I require a 25% retainer upon booking to hold your date in my calendar but other than that, I’m flexible! While the final payment is due by the month prior to your wedding day, some couples opt to break this payment into a couple of installments which is totally cool. I’m here to make this entire journey as low-stress for you as possible!

17.) Are you fully insured? You know it! Maura Black Photography is insured for up to $2 million and I’m always happy to provide proof to your venue should they request it.