RBP Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What’s your primary style—traditional or photojournalistic?
2. Do you shoot in color or black and white?
3. How long will you be at the wedding?
4. Can you go to multiple locations on the wedding day?
5. How many pictures will you take?
6. Can we give you a shot list to work from?
7. Who actually takes the pictures?
8. Will you have an assistant present?
9. What about Engagement and Bridal Portraits?
10. Can you provide special effects and photo retouching?
11. Is digital as good as film?
12. What kind of albums do you offer?
13. Do I choose the photos in my final album?
14. How long before I get to see my pictures?
15. Who keeps the originals?
16. Will my friends and family be able to order photographs from your web site?
17. How much does your photography cost?
18. How much are deposits?
19. When should I reserve my date?
20. Are you available for my wedding date?
21. Do you offer video services?
22. What is a Storybook DVD and Webshow?

1. What’s your primary style—traditional or photojournalistic?

We shoot a mixture of traditional and photojournalistic styles. We have an in-depth discussion of our philosophy and style on the wedding info page, and you can see samples of both kinds of work at the sample gallery.

2. Do you shoot in color or black and white?

We shoot all of our images in color, however, any image may be converted to black and white or sepia. I have a great deal of experience in doing quality black and white conversions to make the pictures like like they were originally taken on black and white film. Examples of color pictures converted to black and white or sepia are available on the digital darkroom page.

3. How long will you be at the wedding?

How long we are at your wedding depends on your package. Our coverage times per package range from 6 hours to unlimited wedding day coverage. Our most popular package has 8 hours of wedding day coverage. You may add additional time to your package for an hourly fee. Package listings are available for download at the wedding prices page.

4. Can you go to multiple locations on the wedding day?

We sure can! We often go to three or four locations for one wedding. There is no extra charge for this*, however travel time is counted from the your package coverage time.

*Small travel fees may apply for unusually long distances.

5. How many pictures will you take?

At a seven hour wedding, we take anywhere between 700 and 1100 exposures, including multiple shots of posed group shots (we always take extra to ensure against blinks). We take A LOT of pictures, so we go through and pick out the best shots and leave out the doubles and uninteresting ones (when in doubt, we leave it in). so your final proof CDs usually contain anywhere between 550 and 900 photographs, depending on your coverage time, and the size of your wedding.

6. Can we give you a shot list to work from?

Please do! Just remember, we're professionals. We know the best (and fastest) way to go about getting all of the 'must have' group shots. On the list you give us, tell us the group combinations and shots that we wouldn't know about (college roommates, close aunts and uncles).

7. Who actually takes the pictures?

Nathan Bell is the head photographer at Richard Bell Photography, and does all of the wedding photography personally. Nathan is the son of Richard Bell, who has retired from photography. Find out more about Nathan and this studio on the artist's page.

8. Will you have an assistant present?

Almost certainly yes. Nathan always tries to have an experienced assistant present to help the day move quickly and smoothly.

9. What about Engagement and Bridal Portraits?

Many of the packages include Bridal and/or Engagement sessions (though you may book a session separately from a package). We do in studio portraits, as well as on-location shoots.

10. Can you provide special effects and photo retouching?

Boy can we! Nathan is an expert digital retoucher, and is currently building a striking portfolio of digital special effects. Check out our digital darkroom page to see interactive examples of some of the work we have done.

11. Is digital as good as film?

Since our start in digital back in 2000 there have been great advances in digital imaging. Since May 2002 we have been film free for all our photography, and we've never have been more excited. Substantial progress is being made everyday making digital the format of choice for some of the most advanced, respected and creative wedding photographers worldwide.
All prints for albums and reorders are printed using the latest imaging technology on professional high resolution photographic paper, which has truly remarkable color fidelity, and is archival, and fade-proof for over 70 years.
Add that to the flexibility, and creative potential afforded to us by digital, and the answer is no, digital is not as good as film--it's better.

12. What kind of albums do you offer?

All of our packages* contain one or more Library-Bound Renaissance albums. Library-Bound means the pages are bound like a book, not a binder. The books come in a variety of styles and colors. Bridal albums are 8x10 albums, meaning they can contain an 8x10, or a selection of smaller sizes on each page. Parents' albums can come as 5x7 or 8x10 albums, depending on your package.

*The special storybook package has TAP album, rather than a library bound Renaissance album.

13. Do I choose the photos in my final album?

You sure do! You will receive your proofs on CD and on the internet (or paper proofs, depending on your package) after the wedding. From that you tell us what pictures you would like included in your album. We are experts at album layout, so we will design the layout of the album, and submit a printed draft of your album to you for approval. From there you may make any changes you like, and submit it back for final production of your album.

14. How long before I get to see my pictures?

We will have your pictures available to view and order online within 72 hours of your wedding--so you don't even have to wait until the end of your honeymoon to see your wedding pictures! Usually after about a week we will send you a CD with your pictures. Some of our packages packages come with paper proof sets, which will be available within several weeks of your wedding, depending on when you return your request for which proofs.

15. Who keeps the originals?

Richard Bell Photography keeps the high resolution files for the images. You may choose to purchase the High Resolution files in addition to your package. The cost for rights to the the orriginals varies with each package.

16. Will my friends and family be able to order photographs from your web site?

Yes! All of our packages include an internet upload of all your wedding pictures, where anyone (with the password) can view and order pictures from your wedding. This will be available within 72 hours of your wedding! You can view a demo of this feature at the online albums page.

17. How much does your photography cost?

We have a wide variety of packages available to suit your specific need. A downloadable price list is located at the wedding prices page.

18. How much are deposits?

Deposits to reserve dates range from $350 to $500 depending on your package.

19. When should I reserve my date?

You should reserve your photographer as soon as your set a final date for your wedding. Many brides book their coverage a year or more in advance. The most popular months are in spring and fall.

20. Are you available for my wedding date?

You may also visit our online availability calendar to find out if we are available for your wedding date. You may also go to the wedding prices page to fill out a brief form requesting information on our availability, or you may call us (843-767-6888) or email us (info@storybookbride.com).

21. Do you offer video services?

We offer a great alternative to a wedding video! We produce a classy Storybook DVD that has a creative photo montage of your pictures set to music. We also host this show online so that you, your friends, and family can see the pictures right on the internet! Click here to see examples of our storybook DVDs and webshows!

22. What is a Storybook DVD and webshow?

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