Wedding Information
Why I Photograph Weddings
At the risk of sounding corny, yes, I make my living from photography. But I don't do photography to *make* a living. I find that photography offers me a way of experiencing life more fully, and weddings provide the perfect opportunity to do just that. I have met many wonderful people over the past few years and and shared with them one of the most memorable days of their lives. My only regret is that I rarely get to see them again.
I don't think of myself as a "wedding photographer;" rather, a "photographer who enjoys doing weddings." Around fifteen to twenty a year is enough for me. That way, I stay fresh and enjoy every moment.
Area of Coverage
I live in Brooklne, next to Boston, but as you can see from the wedding descriptions, I travel all over New England. Truth to tell, I'm happy to travel anywhere!
My Shooting Style
Each couple's wedding is unique and it is my responsibility to capture the myriad fleeting moments that make your wedding special. By and large, today's couples prefer a photojournalistic style, catching the moments and emotions as they unfold. Most people agree that it captures the feeling of the day more effectively than traditional wedding photography. Of course, we don't completely dispense with the traditional approach, because you will no doubt want pictures of your wedding party and family in various groupings.
To paraphrase what a famous scientist once said, "By the very act of observing an event, you change it." In the world of photography, truer words were never spoken! The presence of a photographer often causes people to feel uncomfortable and to act unnaturally. That is why I normally try to melt into the background and take pictures from a distance, waiting and watching for special moments as they occur; what some people might call "fly-on-the-wall" photography.
Why I Shoot Digital
Until recently, there was no comparison between digital and traditional film images; film won, hands down. Many people still believe that digital is inferior, perhaps because they think all digital images look like those from inexpensive point-and-shoot models. Nothing could be farther from the truth!
Most photographers now believe that professional digital cameras produce images that surpass the best that film can do. Not only that, the digital process offers tremendous flexibility. For instance, in digital everything is shot in color. Afterwards you can decide which images, if any, you prefer in black and white. Imperfections and distracting elements can be eliminated and there are multitudes of special effects that can be created. Rapidly changing light conditions that would have required changing films can be dealt with by the flick of a switch.
Extensive laboratory testing has also shown that digital prints can last far longer than traditional photographic prints.
Your Wedding Album
First of all, you do not need to purchase an album. In fact, the majority of my clients prefer to make their own albums. In any case, you automatically receive a set of CDs or a DVD with all the days images, whether or not you purchase an album. The files are large enough to produce excellent 16 X 20 prints (hardly anyone wants pictures that size!).
Approximately two weeks after your wedding I upload the photos to my site. Your guests can then buy pictures if they wish. It is also the simplest way for you to choose your album photos, if you have decided to purchase an album.
My colleague, Kimberley Clark, normally produces the newer digital type albums. In case you don't know the difference, in traditional albums the photo prints are mounted on the pages, whereas in a digital album, the photos are printed on the pages. This allows for almost limitless design possibilities (pictures superimposed on top of others, two-page spreads, different shapes, black and white and color on the same page, etc.). And you can typically fit many more images into a digital album without it looking cluttered.
Wedding albums can easily run close to a thousand dollars. Kim has tried to find a reasonable compromise, offering something tasteful that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. While she can do the fancy, tooled leather albums, she normally makes a cloth covered album that has the look and feel of a hard-bound book.
12 x 16 Bride's Album
Available in black, ivory, celery (a very pale green) and maize (a gold/yellow).
Layout A,
Panoramic: 1-5 images per page, double page panoramic spreads with inset cameos
Pages: 1 Cover Page plus 54 pages
Photos: 1 Cover Image plus 101 Photos
$555.00 (Additional images and pages: $7.75 per page up to maximum limit of 50 pages total)
Layout B
Cameo: 2-9 images per page. Mixed large and small cameo images
1 Cover Page plus 32 pages
1 Cover Image plus132 Photos
$490 (Additional images and pages: $7.75 per page up to maximum limit of 50 pages total)
Layout C
Portrait: 12 images per page. These are large single or full page images
1 Cover Page plus 34 pages
1 Cover Image plus 49 Photos
$495 (Additional images and pages: $7.75 per page up to maximum limit of 50 pages total )
9 x 12 Parents Album
Available in black, ivory, celery, maize, kiwi (dark green), navy, raspberry and taupe.
Layout A,
Panoramic: 1-5 images per page, double page panoramic spreads with inset cameo images
1 Cover Page plus 54 pages
1 Cover Image plus101 Photos
$465 (Additional images and pages: $6.25 per page up to maximum limit of 50 pages total)
Layout B
Cameo: 2-9 images per page. Mixed large and small cameo images
1 Cover Page plus 32 pages
1 Cover Image plus132 Photos
$403 (Additional images and pages: $6.25 per page up to maximum limit of 50 pages total)
Layout C
Portrait: 12 images per page. These are large single or full page images
1 Cover Page plus 34 pages
1 Cover Image plus 49 Photos
$405 (Additional images and pages: $6.25 per page up to maximum limit of 50 pages total )
6 x 8 Paperback Pocket Book
Layout A
Panoramic: 1-3 images per page, double page panoramic spreads with inset cameo images
1 Cover Page plus 20 pages
1 Cover Image plus 31 Photos
$215 (Additional images and pages: $4.50 per page up to maximum limit of 50 pages total)
Layout B
Cameo: 1-4 images per page. Mixed large and small cameo images
1 Cover Page plus 20 pages
1 Cover Image plus 41 Photos
$215 (Additional images and pages: $4.50 per page up to maximum limit of 50 pages total)
Layout C
Portrait: 12 images per page. These are large single or full page images
1 Cover Page plus 20 pages
1 Cover Image plus 22 Photos
$215 (Additional images and pages: $4.50 per page up to maximum limit of 50 pages total)
Extra copies of albums cost only the per page price.
My Fees
I feel that my fees are *quite* reasonable. I'm certainly not out to gouge people, particularly young couples who are usually on tight budgets, even with parental help. I will be happy to quote you a fee, once I get a sense of what your wedding ideas are and what you are looking for. And do keep in mind that I, like most photographers working in the digital medium, will spend at least twice the amount of time at my computer, optimizing your images, that I spend actually photographing your wedding.
I hope I have answered at least some of your questions. I would be more than happy to talk with you about your wedding plans, whenever you wish. Please feel free to give me a call at 617-277-7351 or e-mail me at msshea@aol.com. And don't worry, I don't pressure people to meet with me or to sign on the dotted line!
My best wishes,
Merrill Shea
Read MoreAt the risk of sounding corny, yes, I make my living from photography. But I don't do photography to *make* a living. I find that photography offers me a way of experiencing life more fully, and weddings provide the perfect opportunity to do just that. I have met many wonderful people over the past few years and and shared with them one of the most memorable days of their lives. My only regret is that I rarely get to see them again.
I don't think of myself as a "wedding photographer;" rather, a "photographer who enjoys doing weddings." Around fifteen to twenty a year is enough for me. That way, I stay fresh and enjoy every moment.
Area of Coverage
I live in Brooklne, next to Boston, but as you can see from the wedding descriptions, I travel all over New England. Truth to tell, I'm happy to travel anywhere!
My Shooting Style
Each couple's wedding is unique and it is my responsibility to capture the myriad fleeting moments that make your wedding special. By and large, today's couples prefer a photojournalistic style, catching the moments and emotions as they unfold. Most people agree that it captures the feeling of the day more effectively than traditional wedding photography. Of course, we don't completely dispense with the traditional approach, because you will no doubt want pictures of your wedding party and family in various groupings.
To paraphrase what a famous scientist once said, "By the very act of observing an event, you change it." In the world of photography, truer words were never spoken! The presence of a photographer often causes people to feel uncomfortable and to act unnaturally. That is why I normally try to melt into the background and take pictures from a distance, waiting and watching for special moments as they occur; what some people might call "fly-on-the-wall" photography.
Why I Shoot Digital
Until recently, there was no comparison between digital and traditional film images; film won, hands down. Many people still believe that digital is inferior, perhaps because they think all digital images look like those from inexpensive point-and-shoot models. Nothing could be farther from the truth!
Most photographers now believe that professional digital cameras produce images that surpass the best that film can do. Not only that, the digital process offers tremendous flexibility. For instance, in digital everything is shot in color. Afterwards you can decide which images, if any, you prefer in black and white. Imperfections and distracting elements can be eliminated and there are multitudes of special effects that can be created. Rapidly changing light conditions that would have required changing films can be dealt with by the flick of a switch.
Extensive laboratory testing has also shown that digital prints can last far longer than traditional photographic prints.
Your Wedding Album
First of all, you do not need to purchase an album. In fact, the majority of my clients prefer to make their own albums. In any case, you automatically receive a set of CDs or a DVD with all the days images, whether or not you purchase an album. The files are large enough to produce excellent 16 X 20 prints (hardly anyone wants pictures that size!).
Approximately two weeks after your wedding I upload the photos to my site. Your guests can then buy pictures if they wish. It is also the simplest way for you to choose your album photos, if you have decided to purchase an album.
My colleague, Kimberley Clark, normally produces the newer digital type albums. In case you don't know the difference, in traditional albums the photo prints are mounted on the pages, whereas in a digital album, the photos are printed on the pages. This allows for almost limitless design possibilities (pictures superimposed on top of others, two-page spreads, different shapes, black and white and color on the same page, etc.). And you can typically fit many more images into a digital album without it looking cluttered.
Wedding albums can easily run close to a thousand dollars. Kim has tried to find a reasonable compromise, offering something tasteful that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. While she can do the fancy, tooled leather albums, she normally makes a cloth covered album that has the look and feel of a hard-bound book.
12 x 16 Bride's Album
Available in black, ivory, celery (a very pale green) and maize (a gold/yellow).
Layout A,
Panoramic: 1-5 images per page, double page panoramic spreads with inset cameos
Pages: 1 Cover Page plus 54 pages
Photos: 1 Cover Image plus 101 Photos
$555.00 (Additional images and pages: $7.75 per page up to maximum limit of 50 pages total)
Layout B
Cameo: 2-9 images per page. Mixed large and small cameo images
1 Cover Page plus 32 pages
1 Cover Image plus132 Photos
$490 (Additional images and pages: $7.75 per page up to maximum limit of 50 pages total)
Layout C
Portrait: 12 images per page. These are large single or full page images
1 Cover Page plus 34 pages
1 Cover Image plus 49 Photos
$495 (Additional images and pages: $7.75 per page up to maximum limit of 50 pages total )
9 x 12 Parents Album
Available in black, ivory, celery, maize, kiwi (dark green), navy, raspberry and taupe.
Layout A,
Panoramic: 1-5 images per page, double page panoramic spreads with inset cameo images
1 Cover Page plus 54 pages
1 Cover Image plus101 Photos
$465 (Additional images and pages: $6.25 per page up to maximum limit of 50 pages total)
Layout B
Cameo: 2-9 images per page. Mixed large and small cameo images
1 Cover Page plus 32 pages
1 Cover Image plus132 Photos
$403 (Additional images and pages: $6.25 per page up to maximum limit of 50 pages total)
Layout C
Portrait: 12 images per page. These are large single or full page images
1 Cover Page plus 34 pages
1 Cover Image plus 49 Photos
$405 (Additional images and pages: $6.25 per page up to maximum limit of 50 pages total )
6 x 8 Paperback Pocket Book
Layout A
Panoramic: 1-3 images per page, double page panoramic spreads with inset cameo images
1 Cover Page plus 20 pages
1 Cover Image plus 31 Photos
$215 (Additional images and pages: $4.50 per page up to maximum limit of 50 pages total)
Layout B
Cameo: 1-4 images per page. Mixed large and small cameo images
1 Cover Page plus 20 pages
1 Cover Image plus 41 Photos
$215 (Additional images and pages: $4.50 per page up to maximum limit of 50 pages total)
Layout C
Portrait: 12 images per page. These are large single or full page images
1 Cover Page plus 20 pages
1 Cover Image plus 22 Photos
$215 (Additional images and pages: $4.50 per page up to maximum limit of 50 pages total)
Extra copies of albums cost only the per page price.
My Fees
I feel that my fees are *quite* reasonable. I'm certainly not out to gouge people, particularly young couples who are usually on tight budgets, even with parental help. I will be happy to quote you a fee, once I get a sense of what your wedding ideas are and what you are looking for. And do keep in mind that I, like most photographers working in the digital medium, will spend at least twice the amount of time at my computer, optimizing your images, that I spend actually photographing your wedding.
I hope I have answered at least some of your questions. I would be more than happy to talk with you about your wedding plans, whenever you wish. Please feel free to give me a call at 617-277-7351 or e-mail me at msshea@aol.com. And don't worry, I don't pressure people to meet with me or to sign on the dotted line!
My best wishes,
Merrill Shea
