Sowell Photo Weddings

Important Considerations For Choosing Your Wedding Photographer

Will I receive a copy of my photos on CD/DVD?

I feel that this is one of the most important questions to ask when choosing a wedding photographer. If you do not have the digital negatives you will always have to order prints from the photographer, who often charges a great deal more for prints than a photo lab. If your photographer goes out of business you will not be able to order more prints at any price. You will not be able to upload your photos to your MySpace account or email them to distant friends and family.

With digital negatives, you can print your own photos at home or your local photo lab. There are no restrictions on the size or number of you photographs you can print or use for online applications. All of our packages include the high-resolution digital negatives on DVD or CD and a signed release form at no extra charge.

If digital negatives are provided, what size will they be?

Most modern digital cameras shoot 4x6 image files, which is great if all you want are 4x6 prints. However, if you try to make a 5x7 print from a 4x6 image file, you will often end up with the top of somebody's head missing!

We resize selected images for optimal printing quality. When you receive your photo DVD, you will find 3 folders of images, one 4x6 folder for 4x6 prints (all photos), one 5x7 folder (most formals and portraits) and one 8x10 folder (selected portraits). If there is a photo that has not been resized for the print that you want, please just drop us an email with the image number and we'll email you the resized version ASAP. We do try to shoot our photos with a little extra space for cropping, but please keep in mind that it may not always be possible to make a perfect 8x10 from a 4x6 image file.

When looking at a studio with multiple wedding photographers make sure the work you see is by the photographer you'll get.

Many studios have more than one wedding photographer working for them, most with different levels of experience and talent. However, this is not always mentioned, so when you meet with studios don't forget to talk about this.

All weddings are personally undertaken and we only do one wedding per day to give our full attention to you. Being your wedding photographers means we are a team with you, your groom and your family/friends. Together we are documenting this spectacular day in your life, creating something that will last for many years!

How long will it take to get our wedding photographs after the wedding?

Each wedding photography studio is different when it comes to this, and you will have to ask your wedding photographer about his policy. Four to six weeks seems to be the norm for this area, but I have heard of some studios in this area taking up to four months! We only do a maximum of 2-3 weddings per month, so our delivery time is usually only two to three weeks, sometimes even less!

Why should I consider you for my wedding photographer?

Check out our pricing page and compare our rates with other studios in this area. We don't do this to get rich, we do it because we are true professional artists who love what we do! We spend a great deal of time with each bride, getting to know you and your expectations for your wedding day photography.

I believe that if you hire us to do your wedding photography, then your photos are YOURS. They are not mine to try and sell back to you at some future date via "print orders". I always include at least 3 copies of of your wedding photo DVD. I suggest keeping one copy, putting another in a safe-deposit box, and leaving the other with a trusted friend or relative. Of course, you are always free to make as many copies of the DVD as you like for sharing and pass-arounds!

You are more than just a name and a date to us. Most of my brides stay in touch after the ceremony, because by the time your wedding is over, you are also our friend. Call me anytime to talk about whatever you think is important. As my daughter will tell you (I hope), I am just a fountain of good advice and it's all free!