Frequently Asked Questions For Weddings

Absolutely not. I photograph destination weddings all the time, where our first meeting is the wedding day. But here is my opinion on engagement sessions. Engagement sessions are great if for no other reason than it’s a chance for you and I and your fiancé to get to know each other and create an important connection that we will need on the wedding day to make sure that everything goes just how you envision it. A wedding day is a really busy time, and you are nervous and filled with so many emotions, that sometimes it can be crazy. It’s far easier for you to relax and let the real emotions flow in front of the camera if we know each other and I can help you. I also ask couples do you want the first time that you are in front of your wedding photographers camera to be the wedding day? Or would you rather have a chance to spend some time getting to know each other so the wedding day can be much easier for you? A lot of people receive free engagements from other photographers and that is fine if you choose to hire different photographers, but I always encourage couples to choose one photographer for your entire wedding experience because that connection is felt in every moment you are in front of my camera and every moment you get to view your photos in the years to come.

     2. DO YOU LIKE TO DO AN IN-PERSON CONSULTATION BEFORE WE MEET? 

While I am totally up to having an in-person consultation, I don’t think that it is absolutely necessary. Most of my brides have very busy schedules or we don’t live close to one another, so many times meeting in person isn’t always an option. So I have learned many ways, like this guide, of getting to know my couples to figure out if we are a good fit. We can email, chat on the phone, FaceTime or even skype if you want to.

    3. DO YOU SHOOT (LARGE/SMALL/INDIAN/PERSIAN/JEWISH/LDS/CHRISTIAN/GAY/NON-RELIGIOUS WEDDINGS?) 

Yes, of course!  It would be my pleasure to document your celebration of any faith, non-faith, or orientation

   4. I’M WORKIN GON A BUDGET, WILL YOU GIVE ME A DISCOUNT?

Because every couple has a different budget, different wedding day and a different vision for their wedding day, I have curated my pricing so that every package is customized for exactly what that couple needs. Looking at the value I provide with my skill, my quality, the experience I provide, turn around times, etc etc. my pricing reflects this overall value. So the short answer is, “No”. However, I have a few other options. I often run specials for $100-200 off wedding photo coverage for special times during the year. Be sure to follow my FB page and Instagram to see those. I also always attend the bridal show at SouthTowne in Sandy in January and I run show specials for meeting me there. I also have associate photographers that can be hired at a slightly reduced price but that way you still get the experience, quality and value that McKenna Rose Photography provides. I had $2000 dollars as my budget for my wedding and I spent $1500 on my photographer. I am always willing and happy to help in any way I can so please still contact me with your unique situation.

   5. I DON’T PHOTOGRAPH WELL AND AM SUPER AWKWARD – CAN YOU HELP ME? 

Yes, of course! I understand that you might not have experience being photographed and I’m here to help.  Through my easy shooting style and natural posing, I make sure that you look natural and lovely in your photos.  Some people take a little longer to warm up, and in those cases, I make sure that you feel comfortable and relaxed while we are shooting. I promise, I make it painless and fun, and it won’t be nearly as bad as you think!

   6. DO I NEED TO MAKE A DEPOSIT OR DOWN PAYMENT TO BOOK MY WEDDING DATE? 

Yes, I require a 50% deposit to book my services for your wedding day. Your remaining 50% balance is due 1 week before your wedding!

   7. DO YOU CHARGE TRAVEL FEES? 

I do not charge travel fees for any locations in Davis or Salt Lake County. Anywhere outside there will have a very reasonable travel fee. Destination weddings are quoted per individual couple and have very reasonable travel fees as well.

   8. HOW FAR IN ADVANCE SHOULD I BOOK MY PHOTOGRAPHER? 

As soon as you’ve picked your date and venue! Summer and Fall dates are the quickest to book up, specifically Saturdays. So be sure to plan ahead and put a deposit down as soon as you’re committed to a date!

   9. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON A “FIRST LOOK” SESSION? 

I think that they are great. They are a chance for you to have some time alone either a couple weeks before the wedding or some alone time before the ceremony or even a couple days or a few weeks AFTER the wedding day. The advantages of a first look session a few weeks before the wedding are that we can go to a location other that where you are having your wedding which can sometimes be great because not all venues have a lot of photography worthy spots. We also get to shoot at the best time of day which is always a bonus when it comes to that golden light I love so much. It’s also an opportunity for you to be able to have not just bridals on display at your wedding, but also shots of you together as a couple. I am a sucker for private, intimate moments, so a first look on the wedding day can also be a great choice because it allows the two of you to have that special, private moment before you are surrounded by all your family and friends. It’s a chance for you two to just be alone together and enjoy the moment. But if you decide that a first look isn’t for you, that is totally fine, we will still capture oodles of gorgeous pictures of you walking down the aisle the first time and your couple photos later on in the day. Some couples opt for a Day After Couples shoot that we do either a day or two later or even after you guys get back from the honeymoon because they want all that comes from the first look session but they also want the first moment of seeing each other to be when they walk down the aisle.

   10. IF WE DECIDE TO DO A “FIRST LOOK”, HOW DOES IT WORK? 

Depending on if you are doing it a few weeks before as part of your bridal session, or before your ceremony, or after the wedding day, we will work out a great way to show you off to your fiance and make it an unforgettable moment for both of you.

   11. DO YOU KNOW OF LOCATIONS WHERE I CAN HAVE MY BRIDALS OR ENGAGEMENTS PHOTOGRAPHED? 

Absolutely! I have an endless list of location options. Whatever setting your little heart desires, we can make it work.

   12. HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU NEED FOR PHOTOS ON THE WEDDING DAY? 

If you aren’t sure how much time you need, please contact me! I would love to go over the activities and events of the day so we can for sure figure out how much time you need to cover everything.

   13. WHAT IF WE ONLY WANT YOU TO BE THERE FOR PART OF THE DAY?

This is one of my biggest hesitations when booking a bride. By not having your photographer there for the full day, you are essentially only telling a part of your story. Each wedding has a beginning and an end, and I prefer to be there for all of it. From start to finish, I want to be able to showcase your entire day.

   14. WHEN CAN WE CHAT ABOUT CREATING THE WEDDING DAY PHOTO TIMELINE? 

If you aren’t sure how many hours you need, let’s chat now. But once we have you booked we will start chatting in depth as to what needs to happen to make sure your day runs smoothly and that there is enough time for all the photos you are going to need and want.

   15. HOW MANY PHOTOGRAPHERS DO YOU BRING TO A WEDDING? 

I always bring at least one other photograph to photograph the entire day with me so that nothing gets missed!  This is included in all of my wedding coverage customized packages. I always ensure that I am well-staffed to make sure that your wedding is captured impeccably and that nothing is missed.

16. WHY DO I HAVE TO PROVIDE MEALS FOR VENDORS AT MY WEDDING? 

Basically, I and my staff are able to work on a higher level for longer if we’ve been fed!  If you are providing any food throughout the day I require that you include me and my assistant to have some food as well. We often take turns eating so that there is no break in photo coverage but fueling us helps us operate better to the very end of your wedding day.

17. DO WE GET ALL THE DIGITAL NEGATIVES FROM THE SESSIONS AND WEDDING? 

After your session, I will go through your images and narrow it down to a manageable number for you. We get rid of any duplicates, blinking eyes, or any other images that don’t make the cut. But from there you get absolutely all of them! So you will have every look, every smile, every crazy dance move, to remember forever.

18. DO I GET THE COPYRIGHT TO MY PHOTOS? 

You get the Printing Rights, not the Copyright. With that, you’re able to print the photos wherever you’d like, although I do give you recommendations!

19. WE DON”T REALLY WANT AN ALBUM. WHY DO YOU THINK THEY ARE IMPORTANT? 

We are in a digital age that values less and less tangible remembrances. But think about your grandparents and your future grandchildren. How do you want them to view your wedding? Do you want to have them to sit next to you and scroll through whatever social media platform is popular, or do you want to sit down with them and flip through the pages of your beautiful custom album? Don’t you want the world to stop as these very important people view your most precious memories? Or do you want to be distracted by notifications and pop-ups as you are trying to tell your story to them? I also think that more and more people these days don’t even print their images, and this is a great way to have all of them at your fingertips.

20. WHEN WILL OUT PHOTOGRPHAS BE READY TO VIEW? 

For portrait sessions, we normally deliver them within 5-7 business days and with your wedding, my goal is to have them ready within 10 business days. We know the waiting is so hard, so we want to have them to you just as soon as possible.

21. DO YOU PHOTOGRAPH DESTINATION WEDDINGS? 

Absolutely. I would love to be a part of your destination wedding. Let’s talk details and see
if I would be a good fit. You can also check out the pricing page that talks about destination weddings to see if I am within your budget.

22. HOW IMPORTANT DO YOU THINK A VIDEOGRAPHER IS? 

Bride is to Groom as Photographer is to Videographer. You can’t have one without the other. There are many photographers out there who might disagree and tell you that a videographer isn’t necessary, but I feel the opposite. I am going to create tangible images that you can hold in your hands forever. My work will be displayed throughout your home and survive for generations to come. But a videographer can provide another aspect of your wedding day that I simply can’t. They capture the sound of your day, the actual movements. Where I freeze a moment in time forever, they allow you to go back and play it. I think you would be hard pressed to find any bride who regrets hiring her videographer. And also hard pressed to find any bride who didn’t hire one that didn’t on some level wished they had. And if you need a videographer recommendation I can totally help you. I actually work with a couple of videographers that provide a referral discount when you book us both.

23. WHY DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD BOOK YOU OVER SOMEONE ELSE? 

So, most of my M.ROSE Brides come to me because they are friends of one of my past M.ROSE Brides or from meeting me in person at a Bridal Show. They already know the experience they are going to get because my brides have told them or they know we are a great fit because we just clicked at a show. They are just wondering where they need to sign. I am not so great at ·selling” myself. I do feel that if we are a good fit you will have 0 regrets from hiring me. Hopefully, this guide has given you a good idea of who I am and how I can play into your wedding. Be sure to read the page titled Feel Good About Your Wedding Photographer. I truly believe there is a photographer for every couple and the priorities of what they are looking for, but for me if you are price shopping photographers just to find the cheapest deal (as I’m sure you already noticed) I probably am not that person. If you are looking for a “show up and shoot” type of person, I am for sure not a good fit for that either. But if you are looking for a photographer who wants to do everything within her power to make your day amazing. Someone who will help you navigate this crazy wedding world and help you create the photography experience you dreamed of for your wedding. Someone who will be there to help you plan your sessions, coordinate the schedule, make sure everyone is where they are supposed to be when they are supposed to be there, that every detail is just right on your big day, and that you and your fiance in front of the camera so that your true love and emotions can shine through … then I might just be your girl. I truly believe that you should have a gut instinct at this point on whether or not we are a good fit. So I say .. .follow your heart!

   24. DO YOU DO FAMILY SESSIONS? OR MATERNITY? OR SENIOR/GRADUATION SESSIONS? 

Yes, I do! There is a busier season of weddings and I don’t often do anything but weddings between May and September but occasionally I will have time to put toward portrait sessions so just contact me to find out. The only thing I don’t shoot is Newborn, but I have great referrals if you are looking for someone awesome!

    25. HOW DO WE BOOK WITH YOU? 

The best and easiest way to book me is to go to my contact McKenna page and fill out the contact form with as much detail as you can or shoot me a quick email and let me know what questions you have and which package you are interested in. Then we can get the ball rolling from there!