Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Do you travel?

Yes, we travel all over the Valley, as well as Texas and the US.  We even travel into Mexico.

Do you charge mileage for your travel?

We do not charge mileage or any other fees for events located anywhere in Cameron, Hidalgo or Willacy Counties.  We do charge a fee of $50 to handle events in Rio Grande City and Roma.  Expenses for travel to other parts of the state or country are quoted on a per job basis, but basically consist of only our direct expenses.

What type of equipment do you use?

We use professional Canon equipment.  We have both digital and film equipment, but we shoot almost 100% digital.  Digital allows us to capture approximately 100 images before we have to change a card.  We shoot the photos in color and then we can convert any image to black and white, sepia or do spot coloring.  We no longer have to make sure that we have the right film in the camera for the effect that we want to produce in the print, and we don’t have to worry about not shooting so that we make sure we have film for that special moment coming up.

How much memory do you bring for a typical wedding?

This varies as the technology changes.  Right now, we are taking approximately 20 gigabytes (that's right 20) of memory cards with us to a wedding.  That will allow us to shoot until everyone is gone without worrying about if we have enough memory with us.  As we upgrade our equipment, I imagine that this amount will increase by 50 to 100 percent.  Don't worry!  We will always have enough memory to cover your event. 

How many photos will you take?

You will be surprised.  Shooting digitally, we capture on an average about 50 to 100 photos per hour with bursts to 100 to 200 per hour during peak times.  The amount of photos that you will see will depend on which package you choose, but even with our smallest package you typically have around 200 to 300 images to choose from.  For our largest packages there will typically be somewhere between 1,500 and 3,000 images for you to choose from which include your engagement and bridal sessions, rehearsal, and wedding day.  We do not limit the amount of photos that we take, so we are able to capture moments that film shooters may not.

How much is your deposit?

First, we don’t call it a deposit, we call it a retainer.  We require a $500 retainer and a signed contract to hold your wedding date.  This is a non-refundable retainer.  We only do 1 wedding per day, so once we receive a retainer and signed contract, we turn all other business away.  The retainer amount is applied to your total balance.

Can we set up a payment plan?

Yes, most definitely.  We can stretch the payments out as long as you want as long as the total amount is paid 2 weeks prior to your wedding.  We can set you up to automatically bill your credit card each month if that will be easier for you.

Does it matter how much retainer I give you?

Nope, as long as it meets the minimum required to hold the date.  You can give us as much retainer as you like, you can even pay for all the services up front.  Anything that you pay is credited toward your total bill.

How much notice do you require?

The sooner, the better.  We book weddings over a year in advance.  So, if you want to book us for your wedding, then get us the retainer and signed contract as soon as possible to reserve your date.  One of the toughest parts of this business is to tell someone that has their heart set on getting images like ours that we are already booked for their date.  Whoever gets the retainer and contract to us first is who we are committed to for that date.

What is an engagement session?

An engagement session is where we get you and your fiancé together and let you just be natural while we take photos of you.  We like to do these somewhere other than the studio, somewhere that is special to you two.  We do a lot at South Padre Island, but we do them just about anywhere.  We will do some set up shots, but most of it will just be you two being yourselves.  Some couples get a shot enlarged to show at the reception.  Others may use a photo for their wedding announcement.  Of course you always want a copy of one of the photos for the newspaper announcement.

What is a bridal session?

A bridal session typically happens about a month or 2 before the wedding date.  We get the bride in her dress and take photos of just her.  This is a lot of fun for the bride and usually some or most of the bridesmaids as well as Mom and the future Mother-In-Law come with the bride.  It turns out to be kind of a “girls day out” by the time you get your hair and nails done and finish the photo session.  We do these just about anywhere, but most of the time it is at the place of the wedding, reception, the beach or very seldom in the studio.  Some brides get a photo enlarged to display at the reception.

Will you be our photographer?

Yes.  Ralph and Norma will be your photography team.  We have been working together for over 22 years.

Were the photos on your website and exhibits shot by you?

Yes!  All photos that you see on this website, slideshows, and at our exhibits were shot by the same photography team that will be capturing images of your day.

What happens if you are sick on our wedding day?

This is a great question.  We have never had this happen.  We  have always covered every event that we were scheduled for.  Unless I am in the hospital, there is no way that I will miss your wedding!  If Ralph is incapacitated for some reason, Norma will be there to capture those precious images.  If aliens abduct both of us, then we have several other local photographers that we can contact to cover your event on our behalf.  Again, I would like to stress that this has never happened and we do not anticipate it happening.  With that being said though, we do have plans in place in the unlikely event that the situation would occur.  Rest assured that your event will be covered.

Do you take posed photos?

We don’t like to refer to them as “posed” photos.  Posing just seems to make people stiffen up and not be natural.  We try to get our clients to be as natural as possible.  We do that by being friendly, creating a light atmosphere, joking and just generally being nice people.  This shows in our work.  Although we may position people in a favorable manner, we may not trip the shutter until we have you laughing, rather than looking stiff and like you are at the dentist office.  We want to capture the emotions of the day, not try to fake emotions in a “posed” position.

I want photos of me and my family, can you do that?

Of course!  And, this is a necessity!  You want photos of you and your family on your special day.  It helps if you put together a list before your big day of the family photos that you want to capture.  It also helps if you have someone that knows who all these people are to help round everyone up and make sure that they are there when they need to be.  You can budget about 2 to 3 minutes per photo.  Be sure to check with the church to see if they have a time limit for you after the ceremony.  We can take some of the photos prior to the ceremony.

Do you use flash during the ceremony?

The answer to this question depends on your church.  Most churches don’t mind the flash, while others have a strict policy of no flash.  Some churches even want us confined to a particular area and no flash.  We ALWAYS respect the church’s requirements.  If we are informed that there is a no flash policy we will still be able to get photos of the ceremony.  We use fast professional lenses that are able to focus in low light situations.  We also increase the “film speed” to compensate for the low light.  If there are no restrictions, then we almost always use flash inside the church unless there is some type of effect that we are trying to create.  Please check with your church for their policy.

When will you leave our wedding?

We leave your wedding when the time included in the package you purchase is completed.  Don’t worry though, we won’t just up and leave without talking to you.  We ALWAYS check with both the Bride and Groom to see if there is anything else that you want before we even start packing our gear.  In addition, we check with both sets of parents to see if there is anything that they want before we leave.  We will never leave your event before talking to you.

Can you take some weight off of me, make me skinnier?

Ha!  This is probably our most asked question.  We like to flatter all of our clients.  We do this by suggesting ways to stand and positioning you in ways that flatter you.  It doesn’t matter what size you are, we always strive to bring out the personality of our clients.

If I have a blemish on the day of my wedding, can you remove it?

Yes.  We generally don’t remove the blemish from every photo, but we do remove it from any photo that you will have enlarged.  We can remove the blemish from other photos for a fee. 

Can you do the black and white photos with some color?

Most definitely.  This is one of our most asked for special effects.  The effect is called “spot color.”  This is an effect that we add afterwards by manipulating the images in the computer.  Just let us know which photo you would like spot colored.  We normally do 1 per event.  We can do others for a fee.

Do you do special effects?

Most definitely.  We use Photoshop to add special effects and bring out qualities in the photos that we feel are special.  We usually create a folder within your on line event called “Special Effects” that include images that we have enhanced.

Does it cost me anything to view my photos on line?

No.  On-line viewing is included in all of our packages.  With on-line viewing you don’t have to worry about who has the proof book and Aunt Jane saying that she never received it from Uncle Joe.  Now Aunt Jane in Michigan can view and order photos of your special day at the same time Tio Juan is viewing them in Mexico City.  If they order photos, they will be shipped directly to them.  You are never involved in the process, so it is less stressful for you.  Our clients love this part of our service.