FAQ

How to choose your wedding photographer?

Nothing could be simpler: listen to your heart, open your eyes and take your time. Look at the colour rendering, some people like more folk and shady treatments, others will prefer more sunny and saturated renders. I however do not wish to be locked into any fixed colour rendering. I abhor constraints and fashions and it is in my opinion the event itself that conditions the development of the photo and its final rendering. Indeed, an autumnal wedding will not have the same rendering as a wedding captured in the middle of August under a blazing sun. As the lights are different, so too will the images be, obviously. To each wedding its newlyweds, and its tone.

You have to remember who the magicians are: YOU, the light and me. The more you invest yourself in your wedding – a day that feels a little bit disconnected from everything and that passes at a breakneck speed – the closer your photos will come to your true selves. Put some pep in your steps, some colour on your tables, some audacity in your animations and set the pace for the day! There is no mystery: you are the key!

Take a close look at everyone’s portfolios: keep in mind that, just like with your loved one, the feeling must be obvious; therefore, a meeting is often preferable to forge a bond and bare each other's soul more freely.

In my experience, my newlyweds and I often meet on the common ground of spontaneity, joy of life, neat yet fully living images or making sure that the substance marries the form, always. I can push my creative cursor as far as the engaged couple want it, moving from wildly spontaneous shots, stolen with panache, to much more fashionable, editorial and posed photos. I do not deny myself anything and that is what makes my strength. I do not wish to betray the love that binds you, so I try to stick as closely as possible to your desires while anticipating them; because let us not forget that my experience also has its role to play. A photographer with an impeccable technique who would not take part in the celebration– who would not be in tune with this crazy day – would simply not be able to transcribe all of the moment's magic because it is a dense, demanding work that requires flexibility, humanity, intuition, creativity and rigour.

How do you select your engaged couple?

The more the years go by, the more I am called upon. I cannot complain, but slots have become increasingly sought-after. My calendar is often filled a year in advance because the wedding season is short – usually from April to October – and I often have two or even three requests for the same date. So I have to be as selective as you are going to be with me... and choose my couples with care and heart. Indeed, I leave nothing to chance and therefore I need to know who I am dealing with quickly. I have to know if the alchemy is going to work between us, between your expectations and my style, my experience. It is very important to me that the couple share the same vision of wedding photography as I do. Indeed, it is inconceivable for me to sign on a first come first served basis if they chose me by default. Your priority should not be a PRICE but the style of the photos I take, whether they touch you, move you and create emotion. From there on, we contact each other or meet in order to establish a link, a first contact. Concretely, on D-day, I will not be here just to take simple photos but to create pivotal, unique memories; that is what matters most to me. I would not want to disappoint you in any way, hence the idea of "mutual and reciprocal meeting".

Do you travel outside Paris or France?

Of course I do, and I believe that is what makes the charm of my job as a photographer of Happy Moments. Mixing latitudes and longitudes according to the loves I meet and who choose me to immortalize their wedding day. I regularly step outside of my Parisian comfort zone to take the pulse of the beautiful feelings throughout France but also abroad. No matter the scene you have selected, an estimate based on the chosen destination including service, travel expenses, food and accommodation will be stitched together and sent to you.

We like your photographic universe, how can we book your service?

Nothing could be simpler. You just have to contact me through the form, by email; giving me all the important details of your beautiful day: date, place, number of guests, possible theme, what makes your union singular and everything you think relevant to share with me. Once this first contact is made, I will send you my brochure of services and prices. You then choose the formula of your dreams and you let me know so that we can draw up an estimate together. At this stage, some people wish to meet me. We can organize a conference call if the engaged couple do not live in Paris. It is up to you to tell me what you prefer. If you feel the magic happening, I will send you the final estimate and contract. If you are happy with it, you will send it back to me with a 50% deposit. Upon receipt of this holy trinity (signed estimate, validated contract and deposit), the date will be DEFINITIVELY reserved. The balance is to be paid on D-day, the day of the service. One month from D-day, I will come back to you with quite a few various questions in order to best prepare my service (details and unfolding of the group photos, etc...). Then, one week before it, I will call you and we will define a program for the day in more details together, should the need to make changes arise.

We would like to select one of your packages, but what do your rates/services include?

Photographing a wedding is a big responsibility for the emotion sensor. Indeed, without sinking into a lenifying prosaicness, it is important to specify that a wedding report is a hard work that does not stop on D-day. In addition to the 12 to 15 hours of work on the day of the event – for the actual shooting, whether in full sunlight or in the rain, timings often quite tight – I, your photographer, will always be in action. Even during the dinner, I will have to anticipate on my settings to shoot the surprises of your guests, the speeches, the first dance, the wedding cake and so on. Be on the alert all times while respecting the intimacy of the guests and the newlyweds. To this D-DAY service , you have to add the travel time by train, plane or car (or even the three in a row), and post-production: three to four days of work to sort out the thousand images made on D-day and just as much time to process the quality of several hundred shots on various software. To this, add the various exchanges of emails with the newlyweds, the preliminary appointment (if necessary), the estimate, the contract, the possible engagement session, the album layout, its printing, its sending, the follow-up, the equipment's purchase and maintenance, the website, and various expenses... Be aware that the fixed price also takes all these parameters into account. Behind the charming “profession based on passion” saying, there is still a colossal amount of indispensable work. In the end, be aware that you are investing in a human experience, an exchange, a sharing. Our Photographer/Newlyweds relationship will not be limited to a number of photos but will be rich in annex elements. I love the Human, the little story in the great one, Yours. It is important for me to carry out my mission in all benevolence. On D-Day, I will not be a mere service provider, but the privileged witness of your emotions, your complicity, and all the little details that make your personality. You story will be told through my lens, that is also why our relationship as well as my rates must be completely transparent and crafted with the utmost accuracy.

How many pictures do you take at a wedding?

It is difficult to predict the number of photos issued for a wedding. It depends on the day's intensity and the photographic coverage's length. However, I usually deliver between 500 and 1000 high definition processed JPEG photos per wedding.

In post-production, what does a processed image mean?

In short, I start by selecting the photos that are most relevant to my report, my storytelling (I remove those that are repetitive or not sharp, too bright or not bright enough), then I work on each of them to get the best out of them by adjusting the image parameters (contrast, brightness, colorimetry, etc.) in order to provide you with the most accomplished and vivid photos, in color or in black and white. However, extensive retouching is not included. If you are interested in more in-depth retouching (skin, pimples, polluting visual elements), do not hesitate to ask me about it. I will offer you an “advanced retouching” hourly package, depending on the volume of photos to be reworked.

Can you create photo albums?

Of course, I offer high-end wedding books – which I prefer sober, timeless and elegant – in order to showcase your wedding photos in the most graphic and inspired way possible. As a photographer, I am fully aware that digital technology has its limits... I thus love to craft beautiful objects. I want there to remain a tangible trace of this magical event. So, do not hesitate to find out more about my albums here! ici!

I have many guests, is a second photographer necessary?

For the first 3 years of my career, I have been working as a wedding photographer in a duo for George&Alfred – which we created with David – and we keep working with two pairs of eyes as soon as the number of guests exceeds 200 people. Budget allowing it may be a good idea to multiply the angles of view, the artistic biases and to be able to bring that cinematic field-of-view that is difficult to provide when working as a solo photographer, since I was not gifted with ubiquity. Below 200 guests, it is certain that all the guests will appear at least once on the global wedding report. But for example, during the cocktail party, I usually sneak in between the guests, making myself as small as possible to alternate angles and shots: tight shots and wide shots... If there are 200 guests, it is humanly impossible to capture each face individually. So, if your party exceeds 200 guests, do not hesitate to consult me, I will offer David – my George&Alfred partner – to join me.

I love family photos but many photographers do not seem to care about them?

It is true that many of my counterparts are not exactly keen on this type of photography. They often find it too retro or perhaps a little complicated to achieve. And while it is true that it is a challenge in its own right – one that takes time on a day when respecting timing is like walking a tightrope – for my part, if I have the details of each group composition and a conciliatory witness as an assistant, I fancy them a lot because it becomes a moment of relaxation, of complicity where a bond is woven. Indeed, I like to “arrange” the groups – small, medium and large – I like to adjust the poses, raise the chins, tuck in the tummies. It is a stimulating choreography in my eyes, a kind of human Rubik's Cube!

On what media and when will our photos be delivered to us?

I deliver the wedding photos within 30 working days after the day of the event, via a WeTransfer link sent directly to you. I also upload them simultaneously to the Pixieset proofing. This way you can share them with your loved ones, create sharing lists, etc. This tool is magical and incredibly simple. Then, for the album, once you have selected the photos, I prepare a ready-to-print document within a maximum of 45 working days. The latter will have to be validated by signing it. You will have the right to 2 back and forths to make any changes you deem necessary. As soon as you have given your final approval, I will start printing. You will be kept informed of the whole printing and sending process. From experience, clients generally receive their album 3 to 4 months after their wedding.

Do you shoot English-speaking weddings in France and abroad? Do you speak English?

Yes and I like it very much! I have traveled all over the world on my numerous trips and it is therefore with great pleasure that I always practice my English skills with an unmistakable French accent – either in direct contact with the client or via a wedding planner.

I'm not comfortable in front of an objective...what can I do?

Do not worry, it is an almost universal fear for brides and grooms, especially the men. Just be yourself. Love yourself in front of the camera and everything will go smoothly. My job is to make you feel comfortable and relaxed so here is something to help you ease your mind: this problem only exists in your head. Focus on seizing the moment instead and everything will be fine. I have never had any negative feedback from my brides and grooms, on the contrary, I was rather rewarded at the end of the performance with a “we loved the couple's session, we got caught up in the moment, it was funny!” “I never imagined I would be so photogenic”, some of them even find it too short... In my opinion, it is such a special day that it deserves for you to get out of your own head. Reinventing yourself while remaining yourself while stepping out of your comfort zone. As for me, I will not only take the shot with a capital S but especially the “in-betweens”, those little stolen moments made of complicities and intimacy that are so touching to photograph.

On the other hand, if you really want to get rid of your camera shyness, we can make a specific session in a place of your choice that holds significance for you and your loved one (or I can pick a photogenic place for you). Within 2 to 3 hours, you should be at ease with me and my accomplice, the camera, before the big day.

We are a little overwhelmed by the organization of our wedding, do you have some good advice for us?

Indeed, budget allowing, do hire a wedding planner without hesitation. Like a benevolent fairy in backstage, they will definitely know how to put together an event tailored to your needs for a UNIQUE day. I regularly work with two of them that I particularly like: LETITIA FROM OPALINE AND JEAN CHRISTOPHE FROM JUST UNLIMITED

Passionate about Beauty and Taste, I also recommend my friend's services, MARIE CHEMORIN, as an inspiring and inspired caterer. She can do it all, and a touch of magic more. As a passionate creator, she will know how to immerse herself in the atmosphere of the moment.

Madame Artisan Fleuriste, a couple of florists with lots of ideas and whose weddings are the highlight of Pinterest and Instagram.

And last but not least, Onorina Jomir a make-up artist and an exceptional hairdresser.