GENERAL
That's very simple! Just click "HERE," give us a little information and we'll take it from there.
Sessions can take place in several locations depending on the client's choice. Either in the studio, outdoors or in my clients’ homes. For outdoor sessions, I’m happy to provide location suggestions within Metro Chicago. Travel is included for locations more than 45 minutes outside of Chicago.
Please understand that the galleries all vary based on many different things. Length of the day, amount of coverage, number of events covered in a day, rehearsal dinner coverage, full weekend coverage, etc. Every wedding is different and all are covered to my best ability - and since each is different each will result in a differing number of final images. If you're concerned about the coverage, you can always add on a second, or even a third photographer to document alongside me!
A booking fee/retainer of approx. 1/3 is due to reserve your date. You'll have two more payments after that. 50% of your balance will be due approx. thirty days from your wedding date, with the final balance due one week prior to your wedding date. I'll send you an email reminder when your payments are due. I like to make things as easy as possible for you - I know you've got a lot on your plate!
I do require full payment before the event. Payment for overtime, album upgrades, or additional products beyond your wedding day contract, however, are all due post-wedding. If you have any concerns about the payment schedule, I'd love to chat with you about them!
ASAP. Since I can't "hold" dates or "pencil you in" dates are booked when...well, when they're booked. Most of my clients book me within a year of the wedding date. Sometimes as close as two months prior. Other times, a full calendar year or more in advance. It's easy to predict what will be popular weekends, but not always easy to predict when those weekends will book up!
The retainer fee and all monies paid are non-refundable. The retainer guarantees that I'll hold the date exclusively for you and once you've signed the contract I do turn down all other commissions for that date.
ASAP. Since I can't "hold" dates or "pencil you in" dates are booked when...well, when they're booked. Most of my commissions contract me within a year of the wedding date, sometimes as close as two months prior, sometimes a full calendar year or more in advance. It's easy to predict what will be popular weekends, but not always easy to predict when those weekends will book up!
The online gallery is a private, password-protected section on my website where all of your photographs will be placed online for you and your family and friends to view. It is also a secure shopping cart - which allows you (and your family and friends) to order prints and cards and select album prints online. All you have to do is provide the password to anyone who you want to be able to view the images. It's also the way we deliver your wedding day digital files. You'll have a download option with a PIN, and can begin downloading the second you receive the gallery!
Yes. These are all considered ‘event photography.’ We have chosen to focus and excel at wedding and event photography, and we would love to cover your celebration.
Yes. Absolutely. 100%. For sure. Yes, yes, yes!
My policy about penciling in dates isn't arbitrary. I've learned that holding dates sounds good, but ultimately penciling in can cause frustration. So I do not offer that choice. By keeping my reservations on a first-to-book basis, I eliminate hurt feelings, missed communication, and/or preventing another client from fulfilling his/her opportunity of booking me.
I’ve learned over the years that no one likes surprises.
We understand that unexpected circumstances come up... especially when you have children. If you need to reschedule, please call us as soon as possible (at least 24-48 hours in advance). If your child is unusually cranky or sick, it is better to go ahead and reschedule your session. If your child has a bump, scratch or bruise, we can easily remove them at no additional charge. If your child has a black eye or anything else that changes their actual appearance, it is best to reschedule until after they have healed. The sitting fee is good as long as you re-book within 6 months from your original appointment time.
We don’t cancel a shoot unless it is actually raining during your session time. A cloudy day is actually a good thing for a lot of the work we do. So unless it is really bad, plan on still having your shoot. We will be watching the weather and will call you as soon as we know if we are going to have to cancel. Do not worry… we will take care of you and find a new session time for you if this happens. Mother Nature sometimes has a mind of her own!
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
I am often asked questions involving my prices, travel policies, timelines for delivery, albums, and other wedding coverage details. I've compiled the most-asked questions here for you. I hope you find these answers helpful! Please don't hesitate to contact the studio if you have any questions not answered here. I hope to hear from you soon!
WEDDINGS
Why should I be your wedding photographer? Because I will take care of you as if you were my family. I will help you craft a timeline that allows your day to be <em>your day</em>, just how you want it. Because I will be here for you, as a resource with a decade of experience (and that's a lot of weddings!) Because weddings can be stressful and overwhelming, and I will be right with you the entire time - I promise.
I'll be your problem-solver. I'll be your family-wrangler. I will be your advocate. I will help ensure that your day is exactly what you want, captured as beautifully as you deserve. I will be your eyes on your day so that you can focus on the amazing gathering of everyone you love best in the world and trust that your photography is in extremely skilled hands.
If it rains, if it snows, if it gets dark early if your venue is unexpectedly covered in scaffolding if hair and makeup run late if we get stuck in traffic - I've got you, and your images will still be amazing. My job is to take great pictures for you, yes, but also to help remove all of the stress from your wedding day so that you can enjoy it completely!
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
Very simple! Just click the "HERE," provide a little information about your shoot and I'll take it from there.
We offer full-day packages– and have our full day coverage starting at 8 hours.
Extra hours can be purchased in either a package or a la carte prior to the wedding day. I cannot stay longer than anticipated on the day of the wedding.
Sometimes yes, and sometimes no. Allow me to explain! I spent almost the last ten years shooting weddings as a solo photographer, and have since added several extraordinarily talented associate photographers to the studio. They are wonderful documentary photographers, and great assets to the wedding day coverage when the day requires a second vantage point! Wedding day coverage always has an assistant who does light photography, but some packages have a second photographer as well. Elopements and engagements are all solo-photographer coverage by myself.
Yes, I do! Every image that you receive has been hand-edited, one at a time, without batching in bulk groups or mass-producing the results.
While KAD Exposure Photography is based out of Chicago and Cook County, I serve clients all around the world. My destination wedding photography packages include the cost of travel and reasonable accommodations (check out our destination wedding FAQs here).
The number of photographs taken depends on many things - the number of guests, hours of coverage, types of events, hours of dancing, and so forth. My average for an eight hour day with a second photographer is 650 images, but those numbers may vary depending on the day itself. If you have questions about image quantity, I'd love to hear more about your plans! This would help me provide you with a more detailed explanation and estimate.
Online galleries are posted within six weeks of the wedding date, and this is when your digital files are released as well. If you have printed proofs in your collection, they are available three weeks after your gallery goes live. Upon final approval of album designs, most albums are ready for delivery within twelve weeks.
Please understand that the galleries all vary based on many different things. Length of the day, amount of coverage, number of events covered in a day, rehearsal dinner coverage, full weekend coverage, etc. Every wedding is different and all are covered to my best ability - and since each is different each will result in a differing number of final images. If you're concerned about the coverage, you can always add on a second, or even a third photographer to document alongside me!
I do require full payment before the event. Payment for overtime, album upgrades, or additional products beyond your wedding day contract, however, are all due post-wedding. If you have any concerns about the payment schedule, I'd love to chat with you about them!
The retainer fee and all monies paid are non-refundable. The retainer guarantees that I'll hold the date exclusively for you and once you've signed the contract I do turn down all other commissions for that date.
ASAP. Since I can't "hold" dates or "pencil you in" dates are booked when...well, when they're booked. Most of my commissions contract me within a year of the wedding date, sometimes as close as two months prior, sometimes a full calendar year or more in advance. It's easy to predict what will be popular weekends, but not always easy to predict when those weekends will book up!
In our agreement, we outline that we are not responsible for making sure that everyone is in every photo you might want or imagine you want. However, the organic nature of an event means that even when our couples and their families are working together with us toward a goal, someone somewhere will be in the restroom, grabbing a drink, talking to a friend, etc.
Often the dynamics of the day or even wedding coordinators can disrupt our ability to get every combination we want.
We can look at your images and recommend to you a good candidate to create a new version that includes a missing person. Merging scenes with similar lighting and background is important to help the new photo look and feel as realistic as possible. Swapping heads and body parts, i.e., changing one individual's smile from one frame to another also works best when the two shots are similar.
We always carefully consider many other factors when making a recommendation. While not 100% viable, it's very likely we can create a new version by adding someone to an existing shot.
MATERNITY
Maternity sessions are typically done between 29 and 36 weeks. The timing is different for everyone and I recommend that you don’t wait too late because you will never know when the baby will actually come.
It’s never too early to schedule your maternity session. Sometimes I can accommodate last minute requests, but I recommend a 4-6 week notice. If you would like a weekend appointment it is important to book early as Saturdays and Sundays are booked fast.
- Try not to wear tight underwear and clothing on the day of the session to prevent marks on your skin.
- Get a manicure and a pedicure a day or two in advance.
After you book your maternity session, I will send you the Beauty Guide so that you can have an idea of what you may bring. I'm are a full-service studio, so you don't need to worry about bringing many clothing options. If the majority of images you are looking to do are artistic nudes, I recommend bringing fewer clothes.
Some of the popular clothing items are:
- Bandeau tops
- Lingerie
- Form-fitting dresses
- Flowy maxi dresses
- Statement necklaces
Not at all. All of my maternity sessions are customized and tailored to the wants and needs of each client. Some clients prefer clean and simple artistic nude photographs and wraps, while others prefer to be fully clothed.
EVENTS
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ALBUMS, PRINTS, AND BOOKS
Product creation times vary, however, print orders will generally be completed within 4 weeks after the product order is submitted.
Similar to the post-production process, if you require rush processing, a fee of $150.00 will be charged. Additional fees for rush shipping may also apply.
As with our other products, production times vary. However, you can typically expect to receive your album 4 weeks after placing the order. The process prior to placing the order varies in duration depending on how quickly you respond to the instructions for the album design as well as the number of changes you request after the initial designs. Some brides complete this within a month or two; others take over a year.
Similar to the post-production process, if you require rush processing, a fee of $150.00 will be charged. Additional fees for rush shipping may also apply.
On average, our album contains up to 150 images. If you’d like to add more images, you are welcome to do so for a small fee per additional image.
Extra images beyond what is included in your package can be added for an additional cost. Refer to our album designer for more information!
UNDERSTANDING FINANCES
That's a great question to answer and to understand well. When you complete our easy booking process, make your selections, sign the agreement and pay the retainer, we agree to provide you the goods and services you have chosen and reserve your date.
Our retainer amount is then 33% of your package.
Note: It's easy to make changes to your package after booking, so there is no pressure to know everything you might want later when choosing your wedding commission now.
Our booking system automatically calculates the amount based on your selections. Payments are collected online with most major credit cards.
When we sign the agreement and receive your retained, we agree to set aside your date in the future and fulfill the terms of our arrangement. You are advancing us a fee to secure our services. The retainer remunerates us for any lost opportunities to accept other employment.
In simple terms, once you book us, we stop letting brides know we have that availability, provide them other referrals to help them in their search, and lock your date into our schedule.
33% is due at the signing of the agreement, which reserves the date. The remaining balance due 7 days before the event.
Any additional coverage added before the wedding day is due on the day of the event. We will bill overtime requests on your wedding day after you return from your honeymoon.
Our billing system can accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express.
No, the pricing we offer is our sharpest pencil. We said it before, but it bears repeating again. What will we “give” you? We give you our hearts.
We have considerable experience with the nuances of different cultures and types of weddings and well know the kind of effort it will take to do the job exceptionally well.
If you are the type of person who loves wheeling and dealing, your wedding probably is one we will choose not to accept. The foundation of any relationship we believe is trust.
We are not trying to be the biggest, cheapest, or most affordable wedding photographers. We'd rather keep our heads down, work hard, push to be our best and your best.
Destinations weddings are unique. Some couples slip away for a Mexico beach wedding while others choose the old world charm of a European villa. Since no two event locations are the same, it’s harder to generalize the final cost of bringing your wedding photographers with you vs. hiring someone local.
You should have a good idea of a ballpark amount already as you've already likely made your personal travel arrangements. Of course, as you can imagine, the travel and lodging necessary for us to perform our duties and serve your family at a destination is an additional expense you will need to include in your budget.
While we reserve the right to make our own arrangements to accommodate our scheduling needs, we are very open to looking into creative ways to minimize your expenses. Perhaps you have airline miles or reward points that can be used to book our flights or have a relationship with a friendly travel agent.
During your wedding preparation, we are always advocates and good stewards of your finances. That said, don't end up regretting your choice to save a few bucks on travel to the one event you will spend the rest of your life reliving in pictures. The funny thing about photography is that it does appreciate in value over time.
Bringing us to your destination wedding does not have to be difficult.
Our passports are updated, and we are also members of Global Entry. Plus, while there, we can look for an opportunity to do a casual couples shoot with just the two of you.
General
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General
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General
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General
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