She leaned in, touched his head, and whispered, "he is so beautiful." And then we all melted.
The 5 Questions You Should Be Asking Your Potential Wedding Photographer
Important Questions to Ask Before You Book
You just got engaged (yay!), you have booked a venue (yay again!), and now you are looking for someone to capture the special moments of your big day! But.... there are SO MANY photographers out there! How do you know which one is right for you??? Regardless of if you are hiring K. Olis Photography or another studio, I have compiled a list of questions to help you find YOUR perfect wedding/engagement photographer!
What is your photography style?
This is SUCH an important question because you want your photographs to reflect your personal style and the style of your wedding. K. Olis Photography specializes in Lifestyle wedding photography. Lifestyle photography is candid but styled. A good lifestyle wedding photographer will look for the moments while setting the scene.
What EXACTLY is included in your packages?
As a bride, you have probably been all over Facebook and Instagram (and lets be honest, Pinterest) looking for the perfect photographer. You have found a few that you like in your area and when you get to their website, it says "Packages Start at....." under pricing. But, what does that actually mean? Well, it could mean different things for different photographers. That is why it is important to ask upfront what is included in a basic package and what is additional. That way, you can compare apples to apples to get the best value.
Will you be my actual photographer or will it be one of your associates?
A lot of studios have multiple photographers under their umbrella. That means that even if you book with John Smith Studios, you might not actually be booking John Smith for your wedding day. That does NOT mean that his associates are sub par. But it does mean that you should be asking who will be with you that day!
How many weddings have you shot and how many do you shoot in a year?
This is a great question to gauge the experience of your photographer. Is this their first wedding or their 100th wedding? Do they shoot 5 weddings a year or 25 weddings a year?
What are the restrictions on my photographs after I receive them?
These are the photographs of one of the most important days of your life. OF COURSE you want to share them online with friends and family! So, it is important to know if your photographer is okay with that. Also, it is important to know if you get a print release of your photos or if you have to order prints exclusively through your photographer.
**BONUS (What you should be asking yourself): Do I feel comfortable with this photographer?
I CANNOT stress how important this is! You will be spending your entire wedding day with this person and being comfortable is crucial! The more at ease you feel with your photographer, the better the pictures will be! (I promise!)
Elizabeth - Birmingham, Alabama Teen & Child Photography
You know a session is going to be amazing when your subject knows what you are going to say before you say it. I got about half a sentence out every time before she would say, "Okay! Got it!"
The Green Family - Birmingham, Alabama Family & Child Photography
What better way to honor all of the golfers in his family than to shoot his 1st birthday session on a golf course. Unfortunately, he did not share our enthusiasm when we popped on his custom birthday hat. However... we will be forever grateful to the greens keeper who just happened to drive by at that exact moment and stopped to make him laugh.
4th of July Session - Birmingham, Alabama Family & Child Photography
I know it is the 7th of July but I am still reliving the magic of the 4th. There is something about bbqs, fireworks, and the heat of Summer that takes me back to being a child. It is one of my favorite holidays and now I get to share it with my own child. I had a particular shot that I wanted to get of Shep with these American flag glasses. After two packs of puffs, his favorite toys, and bribing my husband to help, we (sort of) got the shot. The outtakes were hilarious so I thought I would share them here.
The Green's - Birmingham, Alabama Wedding Photography
Caitlin and Andrew's love for each other was so easy to capture. As she walked down the aisle, as they took their portraits, as they cut the cake and listened to toasts.. I kept repeating to myself..."look at how he looks at her." Their wedding was a dream and I wish them both all the happiness in the world. #goodtobegreen
James - Birmingham, Alabama Family & Child Photography
I have been taking pictures of James since his parent's adorable maternity shoot. So, it was a huge pleasure to take his 1st birthday pictures at one of my favorite places: the Birmingham Zoo!
Masters Golf Birthday Party - Birmingham, Alabama Family & Child Photography
I have been planning and pinteresting (not a word, I know) his 1st birthday party since I found out he was a boy. It was always going to be a golf theme but by making it all about the Masters, I could incorporate our love for all things southern. Green ribbons were tied, yellow balloons were blown up, and a green in the shape of #18 at Augusta National (ish) was piped onto a homemade cake. He hated his cake, like his cookies, and LOVED his new wagon.
Why a Professional Newborn Photographer is Worth the Investment - Birmingham, Alabama Newborn Photography
Why should you invest in a professional newborn photographer?
When you make the decision to hire a newborn photographer, you are investing in an experience that cannot be replicated. You cannot turn back time and recapture those adorable moments from the first few weeks of life. It is important and worth the investment to hire a professional that can allow you to relive these moments over and over again:
1. Experience. Newborn photographers have years of experience honing their craft. They participate in workshops. They are members of elite photography associations. They have the experience to capture every little angle and details that might have been missed.
2. Timeless Photographs. Professional newborn photographers have the skill set to not only take an amazing photograph but process it properly to make it timeless. Many first-time parents buy professional-grade cameras before their child is born. That is great! But professional photographers know how to use their professional-grade camera to give you the very best photograph possible.
3. Enjoying the moment. Picture this: You have just had a baby. You have just come home from the hospital. If you are like I was, you have 500 baby items in your house and you do not even know what most of them do. Now, you are supposed to get the whole family picture-ready and take those pictures yourself. That sounds stressful! Why not let a professional capture those moments while you enjoy them with your new baby? I love seeing the look on Mom's face when her oldest child is holding his/her new sibling. I love capturing the quiet magical moments of Mom holding her sleeping baby. These are memories that you will treasure forever. Let a professional newborn photographer capture them while you enjoy living them.
Father's Day - Birmingham, Alabama Family & Child Photography
I have had the distinct pleasure of photographing some of the best Fathers. They walk their daughter down the aisle. They carry both children at once. They always request a picture of just them and their son. They help style their daughter's hair. They carried me. They carry my son. This week, we celebrate them.
Joy in the Outtakes - Birmingham, Alabama Family and Child Photography
Some of my favorite pictures of Shep are the unplanned ones. The moments when he is climbing on his chair and I grab my camera. There is obviously something to be said about formal or posed pictures. But my favorites will always be the outtakes.
Joy in the Outtakes - Travel Photography, Italy
Wine, cheese, and gelato... Oh, my!
Blakely Family - Birmingham, Alabama Family & Child Photography
One house. Two boys. I am so proud of this sweet friend and was honored to document the beginning of the next chapter in their lives.
Evans Family - Birmingham, Alabama Family & Newborn Photography
This family was just too sweet! I enjoyed every minute with them capturing how much they already love and adore their cute little girl!
Hollett Family - Birmingham, Alabama Family Photography
I have SO enjoyed getting to watch him grow up. Every time I see him, he is a little taller and his adorable curls are a little longer. But, he is the same sweet boy that grins at my camera and talks about Paw Patrol. :)
Joy in the Outtakes - Birmingham, Alabama Child Photography
As a photographer, there is something miraculous and inspiring about seeing my own child on the other side of the lens. It is even better when I bring in his Teddy and he giggles the entire time.
Pegues Family - Birmingham, Alabama Family Photography
When we were getting to the end of his session, I asked if he was ready to be done. Surprisingly, he said that he was not done and we needed to take a few more pictures. So, of course, we took a few more pictures. ;)
Alley Family - Birmingham, Alabama Family Photography
When I got to her email about a session, I was excited to see that they had two new pets coming to their house and wanted some pictures with them! As an avid dog lover, I was sure that we were going to be shooting adorable children and their adorable puppies. It actually turned out even better and gave me a K. Olis Photography first when they arrived with two adorable children and two adorable rabbits!
Coder Family - Birmingham, Alabama Family Photography
One of my favorite things about photographing children and families is that I get to see and document the milestones. I get to see a family when they just had their first child. I get to see that child grow up. I get to see a family have their second child. I get to see the tiny bond that these brothers are already developing. It is amazing and a total blessing. I cannot wait until I am chasing both of these cute little guys around!
Russell Family - Birmingham, Alabama Family Photography
Catching up on blogging all of my Spring sessions has been so much fun! I love taking the time to look back on the world wind of sessions and really focus on the details of the shoots. This is the second time that I have met up with this super sweet family and the first time since they had their second little boy. I knew these few hours were going to be a blast when their oldest stepped out in suspenders and a seersucker suit!
