FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

​We’re not comfortable in front of the camera…

You’re not alone – this is a comment that we hear a lot and we completely understand! We work hard to be as unobtrusive as possible so that you are not even aware of us and our cameras. This style of shooting creates a relaxed and natural day (for you) and a more authentic, beautifully photographic result. During the portrait time your job is simply to concentrate on how much you love one another, and we will document the rest! We may give you some simple instructions just to get you started, but then we will step back and let the magic unfold before our lens. This is also the reason we include a pre wedding test series.

 

What is a pre wedding test series?

This is a casual photo shoot with a Couture Photographer, well before the wedding date, free of charge.

It includes about 40 minutes of portrait photography at a location within Canberra ACT or Southern Highlands NSW. The aim of this session is for couples to experience working with Couture Photography and help overcome any possible uneasiness felt in front of the camera.

 

What is your approach on the day?

We are very relaxed photographers, and we strive to ensure that you have a memorable day celebrating with your loved ones. Ultimately, we’d like you to forget that we are even there. For the vast majority of your day we will capture images in a completely candid and natural manner. During your portrait time we will direct you towards the best light (but without asking you to pose!) allowing your day to unfold naturally.

 

Planning a wedding can be overwhelming…

We understand that sometimes organising a wedding can feel like an overwhelming, slightly complicated, multifaceted to-do list. And unless you have a career in production, logistics or events, it will probably be the most significant organisational feat you personally accomplish. Weddings are our passion and through documenting many over the years, we have learned a thing or two about organising them! We want you to feel informed and supported by us through every step of your wedding journey and we are available to you anytime via email or phone.

 

How do you describe your style?

Inspired by the Haute Couture fashion houses of Paris, our style is timeless photography lead by your vision. We capture your day through authentic and honest moments with an expressive, editorial eye, distilling your unique story into timeless photographs. We aim to capture not only the key moments, but also the emotion and energy that was present – so that our imagery may transport you back to the event, long after the day.

 

How far in advance should we consider booking you?

As soon as you have your date locked in! We receive enquiries many months and often years in advance, so the sooner you contact us the greater your chances that we will be available for your date! However if we’re already booked, don’t be disheartened – as the demand for us to document your day increases, so too does our team – so it is always worth sending through an enquiry. Also, if you have several dates that you’re considering, please send them through and we can let you know who is available for those dates!

 

Do you travel interstate or internationally?

We love travelling and regularly travel interstate and internationally to capture weddings.

 

What is a lighting & timing consultation?

This is where we build your timeline for the day, to give suggestions of when best to schedule key moments, taking into account the time of year, the season and the location. Ideally, we love to harness the best available natural light for your portraits, working in with your wedding day sequence and (where relevant) that beautiful window before sunset.

 

You were unavailable to photograph our wedding on the day, but can we book you for a portrait session after our wedding (on another day)?

Of course, and we often do portrait sessions. If you are interested in booking one simply contact us and we will send you through some information.

 

How do I secure my date?

When you confirm that you would like to book us as your wedding photographer, we will send you some paperwork which includes a contract as well as the non-refundable booking fee. Your date will be secure with us once we have received both the signed contract and the non-refundable booking fee.

 

Will you tentatively hold a date for us?

Due to the very high number of enquiries we receive it is just not possible (or fair) to place tentative dates on hold.

 

Is the retainer refundable or transferable?

If you have to cancel your wedding or move that date, your retainer is not refundable or transferable.

 

How long until we receive our wedding photographs?

Image selection and editing is an integral part of our process, just as involved and meticulous as documenting the day itself. As such, we allow 6 to 8 weeks after your wedding to complete this step. A few photos will be emailed to you shortly after your wedding, prior to the full set of images, for your social media requirements.

 

How do you deliver our images?

We will send you a link to a private online gallery which contains your high resolution images. 

 

What is a private online gallery?

This gallery will contain all of the edited images from the day and is a beautiful and convenient way to share your images with your loved ones and print your treasured memories. Each gallery is private as it is password protected so it can only be viewed by people whom you choose to share the password with, so your images are very safe and secure.

 

Do you retouch our photographs?

We apply our signature colour correction style to each photo in your gallery. This is not retouching. Retouching can be provided for an extra fee.

 

Can we view your albums in person?

Of course. You can make an appointment to view them with Louise.

 

When is the final payment due?

Final payment is due 30 days prior to your wedding.

 

Do you take formal family photos?

We certainly do! This typically happens after the ceremony (following all of the congratulations) and we do ask that you provide us with a list of family photos that you would like.

 

Will my wedding photographs be watermarked?

Your gorgeous images will not have a watermark on them.

 

Are your photographs digital or film?

We are digital photographers.

 

How does the design process work?

We are a bespoke print studio. After your wedding, Louise will personally curate your photos into a photo essay – a collection of images that best showcases your day from beginning to end. You will also have access to a wider collection of images via your online gallery. We suggest sitting with Louise to go through this initial photo essay edit of your photos when we then provide the opportunity for you to make changes (if required) on the first and second draft that we send through. After these two rounds of edits, there will be an additional design fee applicable per round of edits requested.

 

How are these shipped?

We use carefully designed packaging to protect your Album which we then ship with DHL to the address you entered at purchase.

 

Do you offer refunds or returns on the Albums?

As these are custom made items, we do not offer returns or refunds. Please review the drafts we send to you carefully as they will be final.

 

Do you only offer albums for weddings?

No, we can create an album for everything. Whether it’s a family album, baby album, portfolio, if you have the high res print files, we can create it.

 

Can I purchase photographs from the pre wedding test series?

It is not the aim of the session to “sell” you photographs. Our aim is to gently introduce you on how to be directed in front of a camera well before your big day. Most of the time during your wedding, our photographers are very discreet, and you will hardly notice them there. During formal portraits and family group photographs, we like to suggest ideas, and hear yours. This early test gives us an idea of the style you like to be photographed, and you on how it feels to capture them.

However, you can purchase prints post session. If you purchase a print from your pre-wedding test shoot, you will also receive a high-resolution digital file of that photograph.

If you wish to have a full Collection of pre-wedding photographs for invitations, social media etc requirements in lead up to your wedding, we suggest you book a Couture Portrait Experience.

 

What is a Couture Portrait Experience?

It is a two-hour location photo shoot with principal photographer Louise Grayson. We have suggested locations, within one hour of Canberra or Southern Highlands. You, your partner and/or your family will experience capturing spontaneous moments and posed portraits. The resulting images are provided in a package of retouched prints and high-resolution digital files.

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What is a curated digital photo essay book?

Provided as a PDF low resolution document, this book tells your story as curated by Louise Grayson. It holds a mixture of colour and black & white images. The photographs are edited into a visual story – photo essay. Many clients choose to use this as the basis for having a fine art album printed.

 

Can we edit the curated digital photo essay book?

Louise’s photo essay is a gift to you. It is how she has chosen to curate her photographs of you, in her artistic way. Therefore, no editing is available on this digital bespoke book. However, if you would like to use the photo essay as a starting point for printing a Fine Art Album, you can change the choice of images and design, prior to going to print.  After paying a deposit on the Fine Art Album, we provide the opportunity for you to make changes (if required) on the first and second draft that we send through. After these two rounds of edits, there will be an additional design fee applicable per round of edits requested.

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Why do you encourage all portrait sessions to be at dusk, or dawn?

This is the magic time, about 30mins before the sun sets, or as it rises. Photographic shoots at dawn and dusk are Louise’s favourite when the light skims across the ground giving texture and depth to all in its way. It provides beautiful light that will ensure your photographs have stunning colour and emotion.

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Can I order extra books for my family and friends?

Yes! 

Replica books and albums are ideal for clients or extended family. Once your Fine Art Album has been designed, replicated copies of the same series of shots and design can be printed the same size, or smaller, providing a gift for clients, guests or family members.

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Are digital files provided high resolution?
Couture Photography is a high-quality print specialist studio. We encourage clients to see their photographs beautifully printed on the quality papers we use for all Fine Art Prints and Books. If you do want to have digital files, we provide high resolution JPEGs as part of our packages.
Please note: RAW files will never be provided.

 

Are your prices negotiable?

Prices to have your wedding photographed by Couture Photography reflect our experience in this field and so are not open to negotiation.

 

Why should I get a Fine Art Album or print?

Beautiful photographs of your wedding and family deserve to be seen in a stunning album rather than hidden away on a stick in a dark cupboard somewhere.​ In the future, you will wander through the pages of your book and be astounded how your home and family have changed.  It will be far more pleasant turning pages to return to your history than trying to make today’s technology work in the future.  Think how annoying a CD is today.

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