|
Kim
Long Photography: Information: Weddings
An international award-winning member of the distinguished Wedding
Photojournalist Association and its Artistic Guild, I specialize in documentary coverage.
My style is a melange of classic and contemporary reportage,
fashion and fine art, with emphasis on the minutiae,
moments and relationships that are such integral elements of the
occasion. I
regard each wedding as a special chapter in a personal love story,
and my endeavor is always to create visual memoirs that
not only reflect the spirit of the day, but also pay tribute to
the essence of the couple. My
work is informed and enriched by a diverse educational and professional
background in communications and the arts. I take
pride in the vision, artistry, and technique behind the
camera and in the digital darkroom that distinguishes my work.
New coverage plans and pricing for 2011 have been finalized and are effective for weddings contracted on or after September 1, 2010. These new plans are outlined toward the bottom of this page, following a basic Q & A section explaining my processes, policies and inclusions.
How
did you get started in photography and how long have you been
covering weddings?
I
began as an enthusiastic hobbyist and gradually developed as a
professional through intensive study of the craft on my own, lots
of practice, and invaluable mentoring by consummate pros.
I shot my first wedding in 2005, and was fairly instantly hooked.
How many weddings do you shoot each year and how far in advance do you recommend booking our date? Do certain months tend to fill up more quickly than others?
The time and care I insist on devoting to each wedding are such that I accept a limited number of commissions each year, booking up to fourteen months in advance of the wedding date. Generally speaking, my "high season" for weddings is from the beginning of April through the end of October.
I
know you specialize in documentary photography, but will you also
do some formals, group portraits, and other posed shots?
I
normally set aside a limited amount of time for portraits
and will certainly accommodate group shots of pertinent individuals
within reason. These details are worked out during the pre-wedding
consultation.
That
said, my
primary goal is to cover the day as it unfolds. I have no qualms
artistically directing shots as they fit in with the vibe of the
couple and the event, but I'm wary of compromising documentary integrity with manufactured moments that contribute nothing
to the storytelling.
If you favor traditional portrait-oriented, largely posed, camera-aware wedding photography, there are other photographers who would probably be a better fit for you.
Do you shoot film, digital, or a particular combination of
both?
I
am strictly digital, and use top quality, professional grade primary
and backup cameras, lenses, and equipment.
Do
you work alone?
I am a very energetic solo shooter and in the interest of a cohesive vision in the final set of images, do not contract assistant photographers at this time.
Do
you ever offer specials or seasonal discounts?
If for any reason I happen to run a special, it will be announced in my blog as well as at the Kim Long Photography Facebook page. I do not otherwise negotiate my pricing.
How
many images will we get? Can we see every shot?
Editing is a critical part of any creative process. The final results of any artists' efforts reflect their ability not only to create, but also to refine. When I edit the final set of images, I always strive to provide my clients with a generous,
varied array of beautiful, evocative images that include as many people, moments and details as possible to tell the story of the day. Any cuts made during this editing process are permanently discarded.
There
is no standardized quantity of final images delivered, but as a general rule of thumb, for proof-inclusive plans (That's Amore and Truly Madly Deeply), multiplying the total number of coverage hours by 50 will give an estimation of the minimum number of final, finished images clients may expect.
For the proofless direct-to-album plan (S'Wonderful), the final number of images will depend on the style of album chosen. All three album styles are 10x10 inches and 40 pages; coffee table and flush mount layouts accommodate an average of 120 images, whereas the museum mat album features a single photo on each page.
Do
you do retouching? What about various options such as color, black and white, toned images, special processing (vintage, textures, etc.)?
Each image you receive is fully processed and print-ready, including color correction, contrast adjustments, toning, etc. Certain images are also selected for more extensive retouching (blemishes, skin smoothing, etc.) and artistic enhancements at my discretion. All processing is done with consideration to my clients' preferences (relative dispersion of color, black and white, toned, texturing and other effects), which they are given the opportunity to indicate during our final consultation prior to the event. Images are final as delivered- what you see is what you get. Raw images are never released.
How
soon will I see my images? What is the turnaround on print orders?
I try to blog highlights within two weeks of the event (unless a client specifically requests otherwise, all weddings are featured in the blog), though I may take longer to update the blog during particularly busy peaks in my high season. Due to the time and care I dedicate to processing each wedding, full online galleries and disk sets may take up to six weeks. Turnaround
time for prints and albums varies depending on the order
and the season. Most standard
print orders are fulfilled within six weeks. Specialty
prints, albums and certain press-printed items may take longer. Clients booking the direct-to-album (S'Wonderful) plan may expect their delivery within 6-8 weeks.
Is
there a time limit to order prints from my event? How long do
you keep the images on file?
Online
wedding and event proof galleries expire ninety days from their
initial upload. A
$75 fee is charged to renew the gallery for an additional ninety
days. Image files for weddings and events are kept on file for
three years following the event date, and reprints may be ordered
during that period at whatever pricing is current.
If our plan includes an engagement, bridal, boudoir, or fashion session, can we opt out of that?
This portrait session is a highly-recommended bonus inclusion that clients may choose to forfeit but not substitute. If distance is an issue, please consider a destination session (my travel fees are very reasonable, especially if we can arrange a location in which we are able to meet halfway) or a day-before or day-after portrait session in which the wedding travel fees would already have me covered and no extra fees would be assessed.
Can you match a quote or offer from another photographer?
No; I can't presume to account for anyone else's pricing schedule or the many various considerations that went into its establishment. You'll find talented, capable professionals at many different price points, each with a process unique to them. There are many factors to weigh when choosing a wedding photographer and no shortage of choices available, so I want my clients to be totally confident when they enter into the contract that I am the right fit for them.
Can you customize a plan for us?
At this time, I don't customize plans beyond the included options. My three distinctive plans were very thoughtfully established (on the basis of popular demand and my own standards of high quality and efficient service) to offer something for everyone.
INVESTMENT
(sales tax is now included in the price listed for each plan)
 S'Wonderful ($1800)
A simple, proofless plan that is low on fuss but still high on style! Images are delivered finished in a 10 x10 40-page album.*
- Up to 6 hours of wedding coverage at unlimited local locations (see travel policy for destination wedding fees; up to two additional hours may be contracted at a rate of $300 per hour)
- 2-disk set containing each image from the finished album in high-resolution (8 x 12 @ 300 dpi) JPG format with personal usage rights as well as a musical DVD video slideshow feature
* Client chooses from the three album styles I offer (scroll down to see these options). This choice is indicated in the contract and albums are final as delivered with no previews or revisions.
That's Amore ($2500)
You spoke; I listened. Here it is: the digital wedding plan! Power to the people!
- Local engagement, bridal, boudoir or fashion session (see travel policy for destination session fees), online gallery and ordering (minimum of 30 final images) available within 3 weeks of the portrait session, and a 2-disk set containing a musical DVD video slideshow of session highlights, and a disk of digital files in high-resolution (8 x 12 @ 300 dpi) JPG format with personal usage rights delivered in conjunction with the posting of the online gallery
- Up to 8 hours of wedding coverage at unlimited local locations (see travel policy for destination wedding fees; additional hours of coverage may be contracted at a rate of $300 per hour)
- Online gallery and ordering available 4-6 weeks following the wedding
- 2-disk set containing a musical DVD video slideshow of wedding highlights, and a disk of digital files in high-resolution (8 x 12 @ 300 dpi) JPG format with personal usage rights delivered in conjunction with the posting of the online gallery
Truly Madly Deeply ($3600)
The whole shebang, the big cheese, the plan with the frim-fram sauce with the ausen fay, with chafafa on the side!
- Local engagement, bridal, boudoir or fashion session (see travel policy for destination session fees), online gallery and ordering (minimum of 35 final images) available within 3 weeks of the portrait session, and a 2-disk set containing a musical DVD video slideshow of session highlights, and a disk of digital files in high-resolution (8 x 12 @ 300 dpi) JPG format with personal usage rights delivered in conjunction with the posting of the online gallery
- Up to 8 hours of wedding coverage at unlimited local locations (see travel policy for destination wedding fees; additional hours of coverage may be contracted at a rate of $300 per hour)
- Online gallery and ordering available 4-6 weeks following the wedding
- 2-disk set containing a musical DVD video slideshow of wedding highlights, and a disk of digital files in high-resolution (8 x 12 @ 300 dpi) JPG format with personal usage rights delivered in conjunction with the posting of the online gallery
- 10x10 40-page album featuring the client's choice of images in the client's choice of style (scroll down further on this page for album descriptions and examples), including layout preview and approval
- Client's choice of a complimentary 16x20 gallery wrap canvas of the image of their choice OR 10 additional pages in their wedding album (for a total of 50 pages)
Album Choices
These fine wedding albums are offered in 'S'Wonderful' and 'Truly Madly Deeply' plans only and are not available å la carte. I offer three distinct 10x10, 40-page album styles from which to choose:
Print & Product Pricing
All of the following items are available for order with the two proof-inclusive plans via the online gallery. Prices listed here do not include tax (6.5%) or shipping (varies by order):
- Keepsake Prints
Mounted for extra stability
5x7 or smaller $25
8x10 or 8x12 $35
11x14 $45
- Wall Enlargements
16 x 20 $65
20 x 24 $85
24 x 30 $105
- Fine Art Canvas
Frameless; gallery wrapped, ready to hang
16 x 20 $295
18 x 24 $350
20 x 30 $450
24 x 36 $500
30 x 40 $600
- Press Printed Folded 4.5 x 5 Note Cards
Blank inside, featuring client's choice of image on the front, envelopes included in the price
50 cards $110
100 cards $180
150 cards $240
200 cards $310
Travel Policy
International travel rates vary depending on location and season. For travel outside the continental United States, please inquire about a custom quote.
- Beyond 120 miles, within 400 miles: $600
- Beyond 400 miles, within 600 miles: $800
- Beyond 600 miles within the continental United States: $1200
Booking Policy
A $1000 retainer is required along with the signed and dated contract in order to book your date. This non refundable deposit is applied to the coverage total, the balance of which is due, along with applicable sales tax, one calendar month prior to the wedding.
|
