Frequently Asked
Questions
Hola! Here I'm putting together all the answers to frequent questions, so you can have a better idea of what's it like working with me.
Also, feel free to drop by my blog post about the Questions you Should Ask your Wedding Photographer, where you can see important topics you should consider when booking your wedding photographer, and my answers to them, of course.
Anything I didn't cover here? Feel free to contact me for information on pricing and services for wedding and engagement photography.
Preguntas frecuentes en español, aquí.
Background & Business
EXPERIENCE
Last December I celebrated my 15th year in the wedding industry. From these 15, I’ve been exclusively working on weddings for the last 13 years, as I love working them so much and the complexity of such events and their planning deserve my full attention.
By the time I'm writing this, I've documented little over 500 happy unions.
I'm currently based in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. 15-minute drive to San Juan. However, I'm available for travel anywhere in the world for your special day!
It doesn't matter if your wedding is a 2-hour elopement or a full-day celebration, I only work on one wedding per day to ensure that all my attention and energies are focused on you. Also, I don’t send others to shoot for me, hence why I book just one wedding.
Yes, I love to travel both nationally and internationally. If you're tying the knot anywhere cool, I'd love to tag along!
That would require including a travel fee into my rates, but contact me with the details of your destination and date(s), and I'll sort that out for you.
I do not charge travel fees for weddings or sessions in the main Island of Puerto Rico, Isla Grande.
Totally! My team and I welcome, appreciate, celebrate and service all kinds of families in love!
Of course, I've been witness to many happy unions, I'll be happy to provide a signature for your legal marriage certificate.
Shooting &
STYLE
My wedding photography has a contemporary style and feel to it: I mix editorial, photojournalism and portrait work in a way that covers all the moments and details on your wedding day.
We always schedule about 15-20 minutes for directed couple portraits, but that’s not my sole focus. I love to let you guys enjoy your wedding while I capture those awesome memories for you.
My current answer to all photo-related anxieties is: making you look good and feel comfortable is my job, not yours!
Usually, I don’t pose-pose couples. I just let you be yourselves in front of the camera, with just a tad of posture and gesture assistance to ensure you look your best.
I don't have a specific form of posing, but instead feed on each couple's body language and energies, enforcing a vibe where we're not thinking about our bodies that much, and focusing in our souls and making each other feel loved.
All I need from you is a cheery mood, to speak up if something isn't working, and to be in love with each other!
If I could describe the "wedding day experience" with me in three words, I'd say: organized, fun, and lighthearted.
A month before the wedding, we do a consult, usually through an online questionnaire, where you share all the details and things you're expecting from your wedding photography. I then use these details to craft a wedding photography timeline that will help us achieve all those goals without feeling the time crunch.
Here's the full description of a wedding day with me.
I use a combination of full-frame professional Nikon bodies, lenses and speedlites. They vary depending on the requirements for each wedding, always looking for the best image quality and perspective to capture the particulars of each event.
If you're wondering what's in my camera bag right now:
- Nikon D4s
- (2x) Nikon Df
- Nikon D600
- Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8
- Nikkor 24-20 f/2.8
- Nikkor 16-35 f/4
- Nikkor 85mm f/1.8
- Nikkor 135mm f/2.0
- Sigma Art 35mm f/1.4
- Sigma Art 50mm f/1.4
- Sigma Art 85mm f/1.4
- (3x) Nikon SB-700
You can read more about my gear on this Sharing Wednesday article.
As every industry professional would, I’m ready for whatever lightning/space condition I might find in your wedding day. I bring my own flash lighting, which will aid me in capturing your event with the best image quality possible.
Just one remark: my lighting does not substitute ambient lighting, so please don't rely on my gear for lighting your event!
I bring assistants to all my wedding events, and sometimes, if the complexity is more than usual, I'll bring a bigger team.
However, all images and artistic content are completely under my control, all the photographic work you see in my webpage is shot & edited by me.
After the
PROJECT
A few days after the wedding, you will see a sneak peek of one of my favorite images of your event on social media.
Three to four weeks after the wedding, you and your guests will have unlimited access to all wedding photos through an online gallery.
During that time, I’ll be quickly working on your preliminary album design so I can show it to you ASAP. Product deliveries are usually done 1-3 months after the wedding, depending on whether its low or high wedding season and the client’s response & approval time.
I do not like making my clients look like something they're not. So I don't do or recommend extreme "photoshopping" such as body image changes or skin softening. This being said, I take care of the posing and shooting techniques I use so my clients look their best straight out from the camera.
Taking flattering and well-thought images reduce tremendously the amount of retouching needed on the images. Most editing comprises of lighting and color correction, cropping/straightening, and blemish removal, so your images are perfect and ready to print/share.
You will get all of them! Depending on the length and complexity of the event, there are minimum amounts of images guaranteed for each coverage range. I don't hold back on the amount of pictures, all images that have artistic or emotional value will be included on your gallery.
Booking &
PRICING
Portrait sessions start at $810, and wedding photography collections start at around $3600.
I have recommended packages that fit most of my clients' needs, but I'll be happy to customize for you!
I have half-day, full-day, and multiple-day wedding collections. Depending on your needs and priorities for your wedding day, most events will fit into some of these options, but there's always the possibility of crafting a custom package for you.
A month before the wedding, we'll workshop a wedding photography timeline together which will optimize my coverage hours into your event.
Yes, can do! On the pre-booking consultation, we'll explore a proposed timeline that fits your event and photography wishlist, and I'll be happy to recommend the best coverage options for you!
Weekends are for weddings! There is a 4-hour minimum for events/sessions Friday through Sunday.
No matter how big or small, I only book one project per day, I save the date for wedding clients only through a contract signing a retainer fee of $500 for weddings or 50% for photo sessions.
To guarantee completion and continuity of my services, the remaining balance shall be paid in full 30 days before the wedding, or on the session date if it's a portrait shoot.
I have a convenient online booking and payment system, and most payment forms are accepted.
My green, digital business model likes PayPal, Google, Venmo, or ATH Movil payments, but you can also make payments through check, cash, or bank deposits.
General Planning Questions
About Puerto Rico
Congratulations in this big step you're about to give! I help all my clients with personalized photography scouting services, but you can see an article on Best Places to Propose in Puerto Rico here.
The great thing about elopements is the flexibility and control you have over the budget. Added to your travel and attire expenses, a legal marriage ceremony in Puerto Rico will cost around $400 with a professional wedding officiant.
Most couples also hire an elopement photographer, transportation and floral services, which can total a around $2000.
- Where to get married in Puerto Rico if you're planning an elopement: Elopement Location ideas.
- Where to get married if you're planning a microwedding: Small Wedding Venues in Puerto Rico.
- Where to get married if you're planning a full wedding day: Best Wedding Venues in Puerto Rico.
It's easy! Here's an updated article on the Marriage Requirements in Puerto Rico.
You do not need to be a resident of Puerto Rico to get married there. Read more about the updated Puerto Rico marriage requirements here.
Yes! Puerto Rico is an ideal elopement destination for US residents and foreigners alike. Read more about the updated Puerto Rico marriage requirements here.
You can obtain your marriage license virtually. Otherwise, you must arrive in Puerto Rico 2 to 3 business days before your wedding to personally visit the Registro Demográfico office.
Read more on updated Marriage Requirements of Puerto Rico here.