Frequently Asked Questions

The big question
Engagement session
Add-on sessions: Bridal, boudoir, trash the dress
Wedding - getting ready
Wedding - ceremony
Wedding - scheduling
Proofs, prints, albums, and other products
About Lori

The big question...

Will you actually take our photographs, or will you send another photographer to our wedding?
I'll take your photos! But that's a question you should always ask, because some studios put photographs by one photographer on their website but then send another photographer to your wedding! Before booking with any studio, ask for the name of the photographer who will be covering your wedding and set up a meeting with him or her to review their work and be sure your personalities "click."

Don't accept a studio salesperson's answer of, "Oh, we'll choose a photographer whose style and personality match yours."
You should have the opportunity to make that determination. Ask for a name, and ask for a meeting before you put down your deposit.

Engagement session

What should we wear to our engagement session?

Add-on sessions: Bridal, boudoir, trash the dress

What's a bridal session?

Bridal sessions are portraits of the bride alone, outdoors or in the studio, wearing her wedding dress. These sessions are popular in the South, where it's traditional to hang a large framed portrait of the bride at the reception. This portrait later hangs in her parents' home.

A bridal session typically occurs about a month before the wedding and it's a good chance for you to be sure your dress and accessories look just the way you want them to. It's also a chance to relax and enjoy your dress before the big day! 

Do you offer boudoir sessions?

Yes, I offer boudoir sessions at your home (or another location of your choice) or in studio. We can make a small album of your favorite images.

What does "trash the dress" mean -- will my dress really be ruined?

I think "trash the dress" is a misnomer -- think of it as "enjoy the dress" or "don't worry about the dress." This session takes place after the wedding, so you can go wading in the water, walking through the woods, whatever, without too much concern for the dress. You can take it easy on the dress or really give it a workout -- that's up to you. Obviously if you want to save your dress in its original state for future generations this would not be a good option for you.

How much do the add-on sessions cost?

$200 for each two-hour session. Boudoir sessions in studio cost more unless you come to my home studio in Fort Atkinson.

Let me know if you want special albums made from these sessions. These are really fun!

Wedding - getting ready

Do you have any suggestions for the "getting ready" time?

Think about who you'll want to be there with you and then try to to think of an attractive, private space that can accommodate everyone comfortably. If you can get ready in a big, light-filled bedroom that's great! I mean, I can stand on the toilet and try to photograph you and your ten closest friends and relatives in a cramped bathroom -- but I'd rather not ;-) Beautiful rooms make for beautiful pictures.

Also be sure to allow enough time for me to photograph the details of your dress, shoes, the wedding rings, and anything else you might want to have photos of for your album.

Wedding - ceremony

Our church doesn't allow flash photography. Is that a problem?

My camera works well in low light -- even candlelight. If your church prohibits flash photography you might want to schedule your ceremony during daylight hours, when the venue will be filled with natural light from the windows. Don't plan to rely on overhead lights because they often create unflattering shadows on faces.

Is there anything we can do during the ceremony to help you get the best pictures?

Yes: Don't rush it! 

When you're walking down the aisle (before and after the ceremony), savor the moment! Take time to look around and smile at your family and friends.

When you're exchanging rings, consider putting the ring on halfway and then taking a moment to pause before putting the ring on all the way.

Most of all, just try to relax, enjoy this special time, and don't even think about the camera. The hard work is done; everyone is here and happy for you; everything will go according to plan. And if not, at least you'll have some funny stories to tell later ;-) Enjoy your day!

Wedding - scheduling

Should we do our formal photos before or after the ceremony?

That's up to you, but I like to do as many photos as possible before the ceremony. There are many reasons for this:
1 - You'll get more photographs of the two of you together.
2 - You'll be able to go directly to the reception with your guests.
3 - You'll have fun taking the photos without everyone waiting for you to join the party.
4 - It's easier for all of us if we can focus on each other -- I've found that after a wedding I'm always joined by a crowd of guests who want to take their own photos! That's ok, but it's distracting for me and for the couple.
5 - You'll be happier and more relaxed as soon as you see each other... See the next question below for more details. 

What is "First Sight"?

No matter what, there will always be that moment when the groom first sees the bride in her dress. That moment can be in private, with plenty of time to relax and talk, or it can be as part of a formal ceremony in front of 200 people. If you decide to have this moment in private, before the ceremony starts, it's what some photographers call the "First Look" or "First Sight." 

Here's how it works: The groom is brought to the altar or any private location of the couple's choice. There he waits for the bride with his back to her entrance. When the bride is ready, she asks him to turn around to see her in her beautiful dress. Then he can watch her walk down the aisle just as they had imagined -- the difference, though, is that the couple can touch and talk and enjoy the dress without having a crowd of people watching them! I'll take a few photos and then step out if you'd like so you can have some private time together. When you're ready, we'll take lots of fun photos of the two of you, and then we'll call in the wedding party and the families for group formals. 

This way all the formals are out of the way before the ceremony begins, and you can go straight from the ceremony to the reception.

If we want to do formals after the ceremony, how much time should we allow?

Please allow at least an hour after the ceremony for photos -- this is a bare minimum and assumes no travel between locations.

Exactly how much time you'll need depends on several variables:
1 - Travel between venues. If your wedding, photos, and reception will all be at one location, obviously you would need less time than if you want to do the ceremony at one place, the photos at another, and the reception at yet another.
2 - How much coverage you want. If you want lots of fun shots of the two of you at a park or the Capitol, be sure to allow plenty of time to travel to your chosen location.
3 - The number of people you want in your group formals. The more people, the more time the photos will take. In general, photographing you both with your family groups and wedding party takes about thirty minutes, assuming you just want photographs at the altar after the ceremony. Allow ten to fifteen minutes for the two of you alone (again, this is assuming you just want to be photographed at the altar).

To save time and stress, please appoint someone to help round people up for the photos. This should be someone who isn't in the wedding party but who knows everyone in the family. He or she needs to have lots of energy, a loud voice, and no patience with stragglers ;-) Be sure to give him or her a list of the shots you want that's identical to the list you give me.

Proofs, prints, albums, and other products

Do you offer digital negatives?

Yes, I do. I also give you a set of printed proofs right along with the digital files. This is because print quality varies a lot from lab to lab, and I want you to see how your prints are supposed to look. You can use the printed proofs to show your chosen photo lab what your prints should look like. If your lab can't match the printed proofs, switch to another lab until you find one that can deliver the high quality you deserve. Or better yet, save yourself the hassle and buy the prints from me! I offer convenient online ordering, and my print prices are very reasonable. E-mail me for a price sheet, or call 920-568-9821 to request one by mail.

How will our proofs be presented?

Your printed proofs can be presented one of two ways: in a box, if you want them loose, or bound in booklets, if you want to keep them organized. Of course you can also see your proofs online, and you can purchase a DVD of the proofs for $25.

Can you have a slideshow ready in time for our reception?

Yes, we can prepare a preliminary slideshow fairly quickly. This service requires an additional fee to pay my assistant, who will create the slideshow while I'm photographing the start of your reception.

Should I order an album or make my own?

That's up to you, but let me just say that I wish I had a professionally-designed album of my own wedding photos! The prints are gathering dust in the attic at this very moment because Eric and I never got around to making an album. That's because after our honeymoon we moved to a new house, I started a new job, and within a year we were expecting our first baby, and... well, let's just say life has a way of kicking into high gear after the bouquet toss. If you or someone in your family is a super scrapbooker, by all means go for it and make your own. Otherwise please do learn from my experience -- I want my work to be enjoyed!

Should I order an album before the wedding?

You can add an album later, but buying a package that includes an album is beneficial for several reasons.

Will I have input in the album design process?

Yes! You choose the album size, number of pages, cover styling, and of course the photos! You can choose one set of images as "must-haves" and specify others that are optional. I can provide insight as to which photos will work best with your chosen album size, but the ultimate decision is up to you. I generally suggest a mix of close-up detail shots, candids, portraits, and wide overviews. 

What is the album design process like?

You choose the photos you want (how many you choose depends on how many pages you'd like). Usually this is around 25 images for the standard 10-insert, 20-side album.

I send your selections, as well as your preferences regarding color, layout style, etc. to the designer.

The designer creates a preliminary design.

I send you the preliminary album design for comment.

If you want to make changes, the designer will make your suggested changes and send us the revised design. At that point you can approve the design or send it back to the designer for one more round of revisions.

The designer sends the final design.

You approve the design and I send it to the printer.

Your album is printed, bound, and delivered to your door. 

I e-mailed my mom the preliminary album design and she loves it! She wants one for herself. Can I get one for her?

Sure, no problem! I can even get you a discount if you let me know before I send the final design to the printer.

About Lori

Who are you, and why are you here?

You might want to read my bio page first, if you haven't already seen it.

We moved here to Fort Atkinson after a two-year stint in Australia, where my husband, Eric, worked as a lecturer at Flinders University in Adelaide. Before that we lived in Madison, Wisconsin, while he earned his PhD at the UW-Madison. Before that we lived in Missouri. Before that we lived in Montana and, for a while, in Yellowstone National Park. We're both originally from Missouri and we met when we were 16! We've been married for twelve years. I know that sounds like a crazy long time to someone who's just getting married, but trust me -- time really flies once you get married.

When Eric got a job as a geography professor at the UW-Whitewater, we jumped at the chance to move back to the Madison area. We chose Fort Atkinson because Eric can ride his bike to work, it's closer to Madison than Whitewater, and the schools are great. We miss our relatives but it isn't too far to St. Louis from here!

Are you willing to travel?

Sure -- so far I've booked weddings in Madison, Milwaukee, and small towns nearby (Spring Green, Whitewater, and Fort Atkinson), but I'm happy to travel to Chicago, St. Louis, and beyond -- let me know your plans and we'll work something out.

What are your qualifications?

My work as a professional photojournalist has been great preparation for wedding photography. My first job out of college was as a newspaper photographer in Montana, where I learned to anticipate the perfect moment, compose my shots carefully, and make good use of available light. While I loved the daily challenges of that work, my erratic schedule was not conducive to family life -- so I quit the paper to get married, stay home with our children, and pursue a part-time freelance career.

Recently I've returned to formal study, taking a studio lighting course at the Centre for Creative Photography in Adelaide, Australia. This course allowed me to develop my studio lighting skills and make a much-longed-for return to the darkroom. I've also assisted commercial photographers in Adelaide and in Madison.

Do you need an intern or assistant? Are you looking for a second shooter?

Right now I have the 2008 season fully staffed so I'm not looking for assistants or second shooters. But if you're an aspiring photographer in the Fort Atkinson - Lake Mills - Janesville area, please do get in touch. I'm hoping to build up an informal group of pro (and wanna-be pro) photographers here, with the aim of getting together once every few months to swap stories and ideas, show photos, try out new techniques, and offer support and camaraderie. Eventually I'd like to hire some associate photographers to apprentice with me for a while and then take on lead shooter responsibilities as they transition into opening their own businesses or partnering with me.

Why did you choose this career?

Once both our kids were in elementary school, I had more time to spend working outside the home. I did a bit of soul-searching and decided I wanted the following from my professional life:

I think I've made the right choice, and I hope you'll agree. Thanks for letting me be part of your special day!