Here's a few common questions that we get asked. If you want to ask anything else please use the "Contact us" page on the left or use the details at he bottom of the page.:
Are you insured for Professional Indemnity and Public Liability?
Yes we have both Indemnity and Liability insurance so you are fully protected.
Are you a member of a professional organisation?
We are a member of the SWPP - Society of Wedding & Portrait Photographers.
How many pictures do you take on average?
This varies massively between weddings. If we are there all day then it can be several hundred, if we are there for an hour or two it might be 100. We take several photos of each pose just in case somebody blinks, but it's best not to get hung up on the amount of pictures, as its the quality that counts.
I've looked around and found someone cheaper - can you lower your prices?
Unfortunately not - at Pictures of Perfection we pride ourselves in not being the cheapest wedding photographers in the region. We have set our prices lower than the national average already so feel that we represent excellent value for money. You should look to spend at least 10-15% of the wedding budget on your photography as a general rule, and our packages are priced to reflect this. You will always find cheaper photographers but you have to consider the reason for that price difference - what is the quality like, is work being doled out to students or employees, is everything fully insured, are they not paying tax, are they using much lesser equipment etc. We recommend all our customers shop around and compare like for like, rather than looking at what is necessarily cheapest as we have spoken to many couples in the past who have hired someone who was much cheaper, and they have been very upset with the end result.
How long do you stay at the wedding?
This this depends on which package you book – see our Prices page for more details.
We're usually flexible on the day if you decide last minute you want us to stay longer, however can't always guarantee this.
Are your prices fully inclusive of everything we agree?
Yes – we don’t have any hidden extras or taxes to apply. The price you see is the price you pay - we do have several additional options for you to choose from though, but these are exactly that - optional.
Will it be you on the day or one of your employees?
The main photographer will be Ashley. There will usually be a second photographer there at no additional charge to yourself however this is not guaranteed unless you have arranged this in advance.
How long afterwards is it before I see my pictures?
You will usually have your pictures no later than 3 weeks after your wedding date, although usually much sooner. Albums will depend on the manufacturer timescale's for production, which varies between manufacturers.
How do relatives and guests order prints and how much are your reprints?
We have an advanced web-based ordering system and can also send out a CD with watermarked images with filenames on it to choose from. You can access our web-prints system here.
How long do you keep the digital files?
Permanently – we are very careful in this respect and back up all weddings to an external hard drive, they are also backed up to DVD and kept in a secure location in case of fire or damage. This gives you peace of mind and means you can re-order prints years later if you wish.
Can we have colour shots in black and white?
We shoot in colour but any shot can be toned to B&W, sepia and a variety of other effects with no difficulty. We will normally select some shots to do this with but you can request this too for no additional charge. More advanced treatments are available for a small charge - airbrushing, selective colour etc.
We love your reportage pictures, do you do traditional group shots too?
We go through a list of 8 group formals capturing the parents, bridesmaids, best man and immediate family. We will also take some fun photos of the bride and bridesmaid, and best man and groom, as well as some pictures of just the bride and groom. This gets the photos sorted as quickly as possible with minimum fuss!
If there are any additional photos you want adding we can go through this during the consultation, or we'll just run through it on the day.
Do we have to have group pictures?
Absolutely not, but we would recommend it even if its just for your parents! But if you are dead set against it then no problem!
What happens if it rains on our wedding day?
We bring 4 large golf umbrellas (3 white, 1 black) which, if you don't mind getting a little wet, we can use to make some creative photos. ! Otherwise we will take photos indoors using off-camera flash.
What about winter weddings?
No Problem – we are happy to book winter weddings. We ask you to bear in mind that your wedding will need to be early on if you want to have group photos outdoors due to earlier sunsets.
Do we have to meet you to book you?
No, we are happy to book via post if you live far away however we would recommend a meeting – it gives you a chance to meet us before your big day and discuss exactly what will be happening & when. This initial meeting is vital to building up some rapport prior to your wedding day, and we will normally schedule a follow up meeting a few weeks before your wedding date to finalise the details.
When do we pay you?
We take a 25% deposit or minimum of £100 to book the date. The remaining 75% is due 14 days before the wedding, or you can pay the full balance up front if you wish.
Can I view some of your previous wedding photography work?
Certainly – check the gallery on the left or alternatively arrange a time to come round and view things in more detail using the Contact Us link
What other wedding photography products do you offer?
You name it, we can do it – albums, canvas wraps, key rings, glacier blocks – take a look on our products page - if something isn't listed, just ask and we can get it for you.
Do you travel?
Yes – we cover the Teesside region mostly however we will cover anywhere within a 20 mile radius. Anywhere beyond that and there will be a surcharge of £45 to cover travel and refreshments, which we feel is reasonable..
What do you wear to weddings?
We dress smart-casual with trousers and shirt and tie during regular weather. In hot weather (assuming there is any!!) there may be no tie, but we will still dress smart.
What kind of cameras do you use?
We use Canon professional equipment - A Canon 5DMkII, a Canon 5D and a Canon 20D. We use a range of Canon Professional grade lenses - 15mm Fisheye, 2 24-70L F2.8's, 50mm F1.8, 70-200L IS F2.8, & an 85L F1.2. That's a lotta numbers! If you're not a camera geek, don't worry about it - rest assured that we invest a considerable amount of money in our equipment to help us do our job.
Ashley Penny & Jacqui Barrett - Wedding Photographers in Middlesbrough
H: 01642 886016
M: 07984 441322
E: info@picturesofperfection.co.uk
11 Eleanor Place, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 3JF