Wedding FAQ's

No, I have made the decision that none of my packages will include unedited or RAW images to the client. When you hire a photographer you hire their style as well!

No, the engagement session is a free gift and does not effect the cost of your wedding. However you are allowed to bank it for a later date such as an anniversary shoot, family shoot, or maternity shoot!

It is stated in your contract when hiring me to take your wedding photos that images may not be digitally edited or altered. I explain this is basically a copyright issue! When you hire me for a job it is a business transaction, even if your wedding is personal. SGP still owns the images taken of your wedding and is free to use them for advertising, social media, and portfolio use unless otherwise stated in your contract or agreement. If you put a filter over an image taken by SGP and post it, and then a friend of relative wants to hire SGP because of that posted image they are not getting the “full idea” of what SGP can do for them and their wedding. So even if your social media is private it is not allowed as stated in your contract.

I live in Haverhill Massachusetts, I have an Office in Newburyport Massachusetts and because of my job with school pictures I travel anywhere between Maine and New York in the Fall.

Yes, Mostly for out of state weddings. The fee is $50 per hour for travel over 1 hour (ex. If travel is under 1 hour - No Fee, if travel is 1 hour or over - $50, if the travel is 2 hours or over - $100, etc.).

Yes! Full liability insurance certificate can be provided to any venue or other wedding vendor upon request.

My smallest package is a 2-hour elopement package, using less than 2 hours does not lower the price.

Typically wedding photos are delivered to you within 6 to 10 weeks! September, October, November & December weddings can expect 8 to 12 weeks as it is the busiest season! I will always keep in touch with you if there is a reason why something would go slower or just to keep you in the loop!

I do not do any body manipulations using photoshop aside from fixing small skin blemishes.

Your photos are guaranteed backed up for a year after your wedding date, but I never throw anything out anyway! Who does that?? You can ALWAYS send me an email if you’ve lost your photos.

The galleries used to deliver the photos have a built-in print shop that provides beautiful prints to you guys (and it still supports my business!)

No. In the unlikely event that you decide months down the line that maybe we weren’t a good fit or something happens to call off your wedding, unfortunately, it usually prevents me from filling your wedding date again and I will lose money if it doesn’t get filled. 

Payment plans are not required besides the remaining balance due 30 days before your wedding date and so if you choose to do a payment plan, any payments made are non-refundable.

My style has a warm and cozy feel to the colors and tones of every photo. Keeping the colors vibrant and lovely without over-saturation and keeping depth in the photo without losing information in the shadows or highlights. My style has even been often described as moody and/or dramatic which I love the sound of.

Absolutely, when you have booked your wedding and we are starting to get close to the date I will send over a questionnaire for you to fill out with information such as this that I need to know for your wedding day so I am fully prepared and ready to go day of! While I am so happy to hear new ideas and posing requests nothing can be guaranteed to come out exactly as pictured in your head but we will always try our best together!

There is no way to give you an exact number but I tell my clients you will get an average of 50-75 photos per hour that I was at your wedding! Sometimes it’s more, sometimes less but it really depends on how many “events” are happening that day, “events” meaning, dances, cake cutting, ceremony, etc.

Wedding photography is often a small, sole proprietor business and sick day coverage does not exist and that is a risk you agree to take when you hire any freelancer. I will do everything in my power to be at your wedding day. Short of being hospitalized, my car literally exploding, or the actual apocalypse starting you can expect I will be there that day. You may in one of those events only end up with my second shooter, which is fine as they are all wonderful people and photographers. The good news is that freelancers are very good at networking, and very good at making friends, and often those friends are OTHER freelancers who are also wedding photographers who may be able to help if I ever found myself in a hospital bed. In the unlikely event that something were to happen that I would not be able to make it I would be immediately on the phone to see what other photographer, that I trust completely with your wedding, could come and save the day. That being said those photographers may all be busy with their own weddings and in the very very unlikely event that no one would be able to make it then you would get every penny back that you have spent with Sarah Gates Photography guaranteed.