FAQ

How much do you charge for wedding photography?

Please contact me at info@ashleightaylorphotography.com for info on my latest rates and packages

Do you travel for weddings & shoots? What is your travel fee?

Of course! We are based in Los Angeles but shoot weddings all over Southern California– from Santa Barbara to San Diego, Orange County to Palm Springs!

We also LOVE to travel to destinations far & wide. In fact, destination weddings are some of our favorites! The cost of traveling outside of Southern California is simple. My second shooter and I will need our round trip transportation costs covered, as well as two nights stay in an agreed upon hotel and car rental for two days.We always arrive at least the day before your wedding to ensure we are in town safely & on time! Please contact me for any further questions about your destination needs and to get a quote!

What is a “First Look” and why is it important to our wedding day?

A “First Look” is when the bride & groom arrange to see each other before the ceremony. It is a special, emotional, and intimate moment and we stage it in a quiet, romantic setting. We are there to document all the emotions as you see your future spouse for the first time. As a former bride myself, I can say from experience that it is a completely wonderful & unique moment and does not make the walk down the aisle any less special– just the opposite, it adds an additional special moment to your wedding day.

We also encourage all our couples to do a First Look because it allows for more photography time before the ceremony, and ultimately a much more fun and less stressful day for the bride & groom. Imagine being able to actually enjoy your own cocktail hour and reception and mingle with your family & friends, instead of missing that time to take formal photos! Trust me when I say the First Look is a wonderful addition to your day and will allow for all the lovely photos you want to have captured.To learn more, check out this POST or ask me about it! It’s a conversation I love to have!

What about family formal photos? Do you do these at the wedding?

Yes, indeed. Family Formals are important to us because we know how meaningful they are to you! We know how special it is to have nice pictures with your most loved ones– especially when everyone is all dolled up for a wedding. At every wedding we spend about 25 minutes taking a series of standard family portraits.We ask that you keep the list to 12 groupings or less so that we will plenty of time to spend photographing you (the bride and groom), as well as capture all the other important details of your day.

How many photos will we get?

Every wedding is a little different so it’s hard to give an exact number, but an 8 hour wedding typically yields 800-1000 images!

Are the image files included?

All of our collections include a disc of high resolution image files from your wedding.With this disc you are free to make prints on your own, whenever/wherever!

How soon after our wedding will we see our pics?

About 7-10 days after the wedding date we will blog select photos from the day and also post a 2-3 minute online slide show of your images. About a month after your wedding date you will be able to view ALL your images in your own, password protected, online proofing gallery.

Do you have an assistant photographer? Who is it?

Yes, I will not shoot a wedding without one! I believe a second shooter is a must for a wedding! There is just so much going on, and during a ceremony there are so many angles to cover. I want to be sure ALL of your cherished memories are documented which is why there are always two of us (Ashleigh + an assistant) at your wedding.

Often times my hubby AJ assists me at weddings. He is a super talented photographer in his own right and we make an awesome pair! However, when his own work schedule doesn’t allow him to shoot with me, I arrange for one of my awesomely talented, photographer colleagues to come with and assist. Rest assured, the second shooter at the wedding will always be a skilled professional!

Do we really have to do an engagement session?

Yes, you really do!! Here’s the thing, I offer engagement sessions to all my wedding couples for free. It is not a cost I am building into your package.The reason I do this is because I believe wholeheartedly in the importance of engagement sessions.

Why do I believe engagement sessions are so important? Well, it gives us a chance to bond with each other. It’s so important that we get to know each other & feel comfy together because we will spending practically your whole wedding day together! Also, most couples aren’t used to having their picture taken and feel a bit awkward with a camera following them around. An engagement session helps you get comfy with being photographed and looking natural on camera. It also helps you realize what to expect on your wedding day! For me, seeing how you photograph and what your best angles are is also super important. It helps me achieve even more gorgeous pictures on your wedding day, which is what you want! So this is why an engagement session is important and why I offer them for FREE to my wedding clients. Because it is a free offer, I cannot discount you for not having one.

Okay, well, what do we wear for our engagement session?

You get to wear 2 outfits during your session so bring a change of clothes! Most couples like to do a casual outfit and then something a bit dressier, but it’s really up to you! I recommend wearing jewel-tone colored tops. Rich blues, purples, pinks, reds are very flattering on most people! I do not recommend wearing whites, light grays, browns or tans as they tend to wash out the skin. Also, try not to both be in the exact same shade of color or both wear black as you will blend in together. You don’t want to clash but you don’t want to all blend together either! Try not to wear shirts with words or large graphics as they are distracting.That said, the MOST important thing is to wear something that makes you feel fabulous and that feels true to who you are.The best outfits are always the ones that reflect your own unique style.

How long is our engagement session? Where will it be?

The sessions are about 1.5 hours long! You get to choose the location!! I think the photos will be so much more meaningful if they are taken at a location that is special to you!!

How soon after we book you can we schedule our engagement session?

As soon as the contract is signed and I have received your deposit, we can start planning our engagement session! Some couples like to do them early so they can use their photos on the Save-The- Dates but others like to wait until its closer to the wedding! Its up to you! Just contact me for availability!

Do you offer wedding albums? If so what are they like?

Of course! I LOVE for all my brides to purchase wedding albums as I believe it is the best way to preserve, share and cherish your memories. I want you to actually look at your pictures and see them in print. I want you to be able to pass these pictures down through the generations of their family. Albums are really the perfect way to do this!

My album company of choice is KISS Weddingbooks. They put out a quality product, have great customer service, and are really the only company I trust with something as precious as a wedding album.

All albums are bound with Italian Leather, feature flushmount lay-flat pages, and are archival quality. The album covers come in 7 different colors: black, brown, white, navy blue, red, pink, and lime green. I offer them in sizes 10×10″, and 12×12″. I also offer mini brag book versions of your main album, which is 4×4″.

Do you offer engagement albums or sign-in books?

Yes! I do offer a sign-in book that features your engagement photos! The book is just stunning– featuring a photo wraparound cover, lay flat pages, flushmount printing. The pages are matte and smudge proof so your guests can write right on it! I design them with plenty of white space so your guests have lots of room to sign! They come in sizes 8×8″ and 6×6″.

Does 8 hours normally include getting ready shots? I love getting ready shots!

Well first, I LOVE getting ready shots too! They are some of me fav photos of the day. And typically, yes most times 8 hours includes getting ready shots. However, ultimately each wedding day is different and it is up to you (and your DOC if you have one) to plan a time-line that will make the most of the 8 hour photography time. If you need help figuring out your time-line and how to maximize your photography time to cover the parts of the day you want covered, I am more than happy to help!!

I want to book you, what is the next step?

Awesome! Shoot me an email (info@ashleightaylorphotography.com) or use the contact form on this site to get in touch with me and we will chat details!

Have a question that’s not on here? Please email me at info@ashleightaylorphotography.com and I will be more than happy to answer it!