Frequently Asked Questions

These FAQs should answer some of the questions you may have after browsing through the website and when you are considering booking your wedding photographer. However, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly at danielle@weddingangel.co.za if I can clarify anything more for you.

Why should you use a professional wedding photographer?

Ask any wedding photographer and they will tell you that being a wedding photographer is an art and that it is very different to photographing anything else! It takes a lot of experience, professional equipment and design knowledge to turn your precious memories into a work of art, so please think very carefully before asking your uncle to be the main photographer on the biggest day of your life! Choose a photographer that makes you feel at ease. Look through some albums and remember to book as far in advance as possible. It is amazing how many couples leave booking their wedding photographer until a month or two before their wedding and then they struggle to find a great wedding photographer available. My advice to you would be that when you get engaged and have set your date, book your venue and wedding photographer first. Why do wedding photographers charge a lot (relatively)?

Looking for a cheap wedding photographer?

If you find a wedding photographer's price is too good to be true, it usually is. Have you heard the saying "buy cheap, buy twice", well that isn't possible with your wedding photographs. If the photographer is priced way below market average, be cautious. Thoroughly investigate their work, ask to see a complete wedding album and ask for some references. You may have heard this before, but your photographs are the one thing (apart from your spouse) that you are left with after your wedding day is over. You will be looking at these for years to come (the photos and your spouse) so choose carefully! This important aspect of your day needs to be invested in, and it is not a job for a friend or a well-meaning relative. Why do surgeons charge a lot? Well, their job is very skilled and they have the right equipment...would you let your uncle operate on you to save you money? Professional camera equipment is also very expensive to buy and maintain. It's not a case of showing up a few hours on a weekend; the major work begins after the day of capturing. In the age of film photography (which is awesome and still used), the lab that developed the photographs did the editing. Now, in an age of digital photography, we have to do this ourselves. I wish there was an 'all in one button' that magically takes away your blemishes, fallen eyelashes and glitter off your face, or one that opens each photo to check if anyone's blinking and deletes them accordingly. Editing takes time, skill and patience. Designing albums takes time, skill and patience. Rather cut back in another area of your wedding to put extra money towards a professional, experienced photographer and love what you see afterwards and for the rest of your life.

What's the price of a professional wedding photographer in Gauteng?.

On average the price of a good photographer in Johannesburg can range from R7000 (a good photographer's basic package) to R30000 and each wedding photographer offers something different, so be sure to check what is included in the price, their level of expertise and their work. For pricing also depends on what you need. For example, do you need prints? Do you only want 100 photos or would you prefer to have everything your photographer has captured on your wedding day? Think about these things before rushing in. How far in advance should I book my wedding photographer? As soon as you have a date and venue confirmed, book your photographer! Book as far in advance as possible, approximately a year to 8 months in advance. It is amazing how many couples leave booking their wedding photographer until a month or two before their wedding and struggle to find a great wedding photographer available. How many hours will you be at the wedding? The amount of time I spend with you on the day of your wedding will depend of the photography package you decide on. The different packages are explained in detail on the Packages page. In summary, for the Mini shoot, it's usually a 1 hour ceremony and another 1.5 hours to photograph the family and bridal party and couple, i.e. 2-3 hours. For the Half shoot, I provide for an extra 2 hours to photograph the reception i.e. 4-5 hours. With the Complete shoot it is 2 hours before the ceremony, 1 hour at ceremony, 1.5 for after photos, and I'm at the reception for approx 4 hours i.e. 8 hours.

What time will you be there on the day?

If you have booked the Complete Shoot, I will be with you, the bride, 2 hours before the start of your ceremony. If you are not getting ready at the same venue as the ceremony, then extra time will be taken into consideration for travelling time. I will plan a route to take around the venue for the photo shoot and discuss with you any special shots you want.

Do you charge for overtime?

If you book the Complete Shoot, for example, which is calculated on my availability for maximum 8 hours (and up to 10pm in the evening latest), an additional two (2) hours can be agreed to upfront and will be invoiced at R650 per hour.

What deposit do you require?

The required 50% deposit secures your wedding date and I will then turn away other couples who may want to book me as their photographer for that same day. This ensures that no one else can book your date, and that I don’t turn away potential business unnecessarily. A further 25% can be paid up until one week before the date of your wedding and the balance is payable 1 week after your wedding.

I am getting married next year, what will the price be?

If you book and pay your 50% deposit this year (2011), there will be no price increase for your wedding next year (2012). The pricing of the different photography packages are reviewed every January and adjusted accordingly. Prices may be adjusted during the course of a year, but all confirmed and bookings for which the 50% deposit has been paid prior to any price adjustments will not be affected.

When will my photos be ready?

Your photos will be edited and put onto disc for you to collect no later than 2 weeks after your wedding day, but I agree a delivery date with each wedding couple when their booking is confirmed.

Will you bring an assistant?

I will have an assistant to help carry my equipment around, but he/she is not an extra photographer. If you require an extra photographer, it will be an additional R1000 added to the package price.

Do we need to feed you at the reception?

Ooo yes please! It's a very tiring job, so unless you want us to faint, my assistant and I would love a meal. You don't have to sit us (me and my assistant) on a guest's table, we are happy to eat in a corner somewhere.

What happens if it rains on the day?

In five years, I have only had 5 weddings where it has rained, but it has worked out well regardless. I'm the one that will get wet, and I will put you in dry places - lapas, doorways, inside, windows (and I may even send you out with an umberella). If you are adventurous, when there is heavy rain, we could use that opportunity to get some creative shots. If it doesn't work out, we can reshoot another day free of charge.

Do you photograph only in Gauteng?

No, I have been asked to photograph in the UK and Durban. All you have to do is get me there (not by donkey or bus) and book me and my assistant accommodation (separate rooms please) for the evening before the wedding and the evening of the wedding.

What equipment do you use?

Disposable cameras, they’re quite good (no, not really). I shoot with Canon equipment only. I have 2 bodies, speedlite flashes and 4 pro lenses (100mm macro, 24-105mm, 70-200mm and a wide-angle 10-20mm) Who is the best wedding photographer in Johannesburg? Well that is down to each individual's taste of course! I have my favourite photographers that inspire me! Firstly look at the clarity of photos, because no one wants blurry pictures. Secondly, look at the compositions. Do they look like anyone could have taken the photos? Do they 'move' you? What emotions do the photos conjure up? Do they make you feel anything at all?! When that photographer presents you with photographs that play with your emotions, then I think you have found 'the one', just like when you found the person you are about to marry.

Article by Danielle Pretorius