Frequently Asked Questions

Below you will find the answers to the questions I am most frequently asked. Don’t see your question? Drop me a line!

Who are you?

I’m Ali, a 30-something photographer based out of Walla Walla, a wonderful little town in Eastern Washington. I adore anything French, outstanding food, yummy wine, and being outdoors. I sometimes knit, when I have the time, and jump at the chance to travel anywhere. I graduated from WSU with a degree in English/Business and was a technical writer for 10 years before I started my photography business. I specialize in weddings, but I do take select portrait/lifestyle commissions and my appreciation of  beautiful, local food is making me think that food photography might be in my future.

My wedding photography has been featured on Style Me Pretty, Wedding Chicks, Green Wedding Shoes, Rock N’ Roll Bride, Apple Bride, and in print in The Knot magazine.

(Photo courtesy the mucho talented Jenny Jiminez!)

What’s your style?

I describe my approach as classic and documentary. I want your collection of images to tell the story of your wedding day. I appreciate beautiful, honest, clean images that will still look relevant years from now.

On your wedding day, the pictures are broken down into two parts a) the photojournalism (getting ready, ceremony, reception) and b) the portraits. For the portraits, I do pose my clients, but in a very natural way to give the photos an editorial look. Hopefully, I will make you feel at ease so that you will forget I’m even there. I find that meeting before hand and having an engagement session really helps create this collaborative relationship.

Will there be another photographer with you at our wedding?

I prefer shooting alone and most of my weddings are shot solo. A second photographer may be added for an additional fee.

How many images will we receive on our wedding DVD?

I have a quality over quantity approach to my photography. The process of selecting the best of the best to deliver to you is a part of my creative fee and I feel strongly about only delivering a beautiful collection. That said, I typically deliver between 500 – 600 images for an 8-hour wedding.

Do you retouch all of the images on our wedding DVD?

I edit all of the images I deliver to my clients. After I shoot a wedding I carefully cull the images to delete any images with blinks, bad exposure, and so forth. Once I have narrowed down the images, I carefully edit them, a process which includes cropping, color-correcting, and adding a film filter for a more organic look. These images are your digital proofs and what you will receive on your wedding DVD.

As far as more intensive retouching is concerned, it is done only on ordered prints and for the images that are in your album. Here are two great articles that explain the editing process in detail.

How much are your wedding rates?

My pricing can be found here.

When is the balance due?

Your balance is due 30 days before your wedding; some clients make partial payments leading up to their wedding date.

Are your rates negotiable?

I’m afraid that my rates are not negotiable. I am a full-time professional photographer with backup gear, insurance, artistry, dedication to each and every client, and a family to support. My prices are set accordingly.

What kind of gear do you use?

I shoot with professional Nikon gear.

How long have you been shooting weddings?

2012 will be my fifth year shooting weddings. I average 25-30 weddings annually.

I love your work! How do we hire you?

First, we need to make sure I am available to shoot your wedding. If I am, then in order to book I need a signed contract and a non-refundable retainer in the amount of $1,400 to secure the date. I accept all major credit cards, personal checks, and cash.