Get in touch christopherdickinsonphoto@gmail.com
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FAQS
What to Expect
Weddings are all about you and every 'you' is different. Therefore, we will always meet up before your wedding to discuss plans and help me in understanding what matters to you most. This sometimes is combined with your pre-wedding, or engagement shoot if you choose to have one, and is an important part in capturing the images you really love. It's a real ice-breaker and a great chance for us to learn and relax together in front of the camera. Couples generally choose a location that’s special to them, somewhere idyllic like the forest or beach, the hustle and bustle of the urban landscape or a special haven like where you got engaged. We’ll meet up, have a relaxed chat, then go for stroll and capture some memories. I prefer to be flexible with dates so we get the best weather for the day’s shoot.
It's a very common fact that most people don't like being in front of the camera and it's my job to make you relax and enjoy your day so even if a pre-wedding shoot isn't for you I believe in keeping in contact prior to the day. I think it is important to click with people than to just click the shutter button. My style is very much the documentary style and I'm usually told that I've either not been noticed or that I've felt part of the wedding party and not the photographer or cinematographer.
When the big day arrives I simply melt into the fabric of your day. Everything we have already discussed such as the timing plan and any specific shots you want I will have covered and I will appear on cue for these moments then fade back into background documenting your magical moments.
My images will tell a story of your day
that will melt your heart every time you
see them for generations to come
What areas do you cover? Are there any travel fees?
I’m based in the heart of Staffordshire, but I’m always happy to travel wherever your celebration takes me! I cover most of the UK, and for any location within a three-hour drive, travel costs are completely included. For longer journeys, a small travel fee may apply—just ask when you get in touch!
What is your pricing?
You can explore my full pricing packages HERE. I also offer options to add a second photographer for broader coverage or to book a pre-wedding shoot if you’d like a little practice in front of the lens before the big day.
How do we book, and what is the booking fee?
I require a £250 booking fee to secure your date in my diary. When you’re ready to move forward, I’ll take a few quick details from you and send over an online proposal, including your contract and payment details.
When are the remaining payments due?
Once your deposit is paid, your date is locked in! No further payments are required until four months before your wedding, when 50% of the remaining balance is due. The final balance is due one month before your wedding date.
Your full payment schedule will be clearly outlined in your proposal, and I send friendly payment reminders 14 days prior to each due date so you never have to worry about missing a deadline.
Do you offer midweek discounts?
I don’t offer midweek pricing. Capturing, editing, and curating your wedding story requires the same dedication, time, and high standard of care whether your wedding falls on a Tuesday or a Saturday. To ensure I stay fresh, focused, and able to give every single couple an exceptional experience, I carefully limit the total number of weddings I shoot each year.
Can you hold our date?
I am happy to hold your date for up to one week while you iron out the details. If another couple enquires about the same date in the meantime, I’ll drop you a quick email to let you know. Please note that dates are only fully confirmed once the booking fee is paid and the contract is signed.
How many images will we receive?
For a full-day collection, you can expect roughly 500–700 edited images; for a half-day, it’s approximately 400–500. I don’t set a rigid cap on the final number—if a shot is great, you’ll get it! I only deliver images that meet my professional standards, so you receive a gallery full of quality moments.
How long does it take to get our photos/videos back?
Not long at all! You’ll receive a generous sneak peek photo gallery within a few days of your wedding so you have plenty to share and beat those pesky iPhone photos while you wait for the rest. Full galleries are delivered in 6 - 8 weeks during peak season, and 4 - 6 weeks during quieter months. Videos due to the complex nature of colour grading, editing, sound takes approximately 6 - 8 weeks.
What happens if you get sick?
While I’m thankful to be fit and healthy, I know life happens. In the very unlikely event that severe illness prevents me from shooting, I am part of a tight-knit network of incredible professional wedding photographers who can step in. Rest assured, I will always personally edit the final images in my signature style, so your look and feel remain seamless.
What if your equipment fails?
I have top level professional cameras, lenses and equipment all duplicated in case of failure. The camera bodies have duplicate memory card slots as a further backup
What is a pre-wedding shoot?
An engagement or pre-wedding shoot is a relaxed, 1-hour session where we can hang out, catch up, and get you both comfortable in front of the camera before the big day. We can go for a stroll through the woods or pick a location meaningful to you—plus, you get a beautiful set of casual portraits to add to your collection!
Can we have the RAW (unedited) files?
I do not supply unedited RAW files. The editing process is a crucial half of my artistic signature and brand, transforming raw captures into finished artwork. You will receive a beautifully finished, colour-corrected, and fully edited gallery that represents my work at its best.
What is your approach to group shots?
Group portraits are important family keepsakes, but keeping them efficient means more time for you to celebrate—and more time for me to capture candid, authentic moments! I recommend sticking to 10 group variations (15 max). Trust me, after 5 or 6 setups, you’ll be ready to get back to your drink, especially once guests start wandering off to the bar!
How will our photos/videos be delivered?
All images and videos are delivered digitally via a stunning, password-protected online gallery. From your gallery, you can download high-resolution files. I also offer a USB option in a bespoke presentation box for a small fee.
Do you offer wedding albums?
Yes! They are beautifully crafted heirloom pieces. Being a designer by trade I can hand design these. Furthermore are books, smaller versions, and more popular, perfect to hand out to close family members who want a keepsake of your day. I have samples to showcase.
Are you insured?
Yes, fully! I hold both Public Liability and Professional Indemnity insurance. If your venue requires proof of coverage, simply let me know and I’ll send my certificates straight over. (Since I work using battery-powered equipment rather than mains electricity on the day, PAT testing isn't required.)
Can we meet in person?
Absolutely! Your place or mine, maybe the venue, its entirely up to you. I enjoy meeting people, discussing your day and putting you at ease. There is no obligation to hire me either. Contact me and we can book something in.
We are nervous of having our photos taken, can you put us at ease?
This is the beauty of meeting each other first. I get the same response time and time again that I fit into the fabric of your day and you wouldn't know I'm there. Even any staged group shots you might want, I can quickly put everyone at ease and let you all relax, enjoy the day and forget about any intrusion.
Do you have Drone?
Yes! And more importantly license and insurance too!! Drone photography and videography is always available and used appropriately if the location and weather permissions allow. A recce of the venue and discussions with the landowners I do on your behalf as part of any package.
Why is Wedding Photography and Videography so expensive ?
A common question which is always asked. Despite common opinion it is not a one day a week job. Each wedding takes approximately 4 days when considering the pre-wedding shoot, visiting the venue and having a good recce, which trust me pays dividends when you need a backup plan if the weather turns sour. A photographer, and videographer, is also the only other supplier to your big day that is with you throughout the journey, for this the hero in me also carries tissues, confetti and something blue for those rescue missions! Furthermore comes the editing which generally takes me up to two weeks for photography and up to 6 weeks for videography in busy periods. You can read more on editing below.
The expensive cameras, lenses, flash guns, sound equipment, reflectors, insurances etc., etc., all cost money. Businesses all cost money. The important thing though is you are paying for a professional service, a skill, a visual artist if you will. It's the same reason you don't ask your friends cousins sister to cut your hair just because she does it for a couple of pounds. Everyone has an Uncle Peter who is a 'whizz' with a camera, but would you like Uncle Peter to capture your eternal memories just because he has a fancy camera?
Editing your day
So, what is editing all about?
All images and videos go through some post processing operations. Yes, I do have trademark look and feel to my work but all images require love and attention. Try as we may to capture the moment it may just have a distraction in the background that draws the eye away. The term Photoshopped has become a word synonymous with the digital era and a word which people, not familiar with photography, use to describe as something false or fake. Photoshop is the leading software by Adobe used to edit stunning images. All the processes used to make this happen, or more importantly phrases used within Photoshop are the very processes old film photographers used in the traditional darkroom environments. Images always have and always will be edited and they were no different in the film days. Duplicate negatives and prints were scrawled all over by editors asking the photographer to ‘dodge’ or ‘burn’ this area and to ‘mask’ this part. This simply means that areas may need the shadows boosting ‘dodging’ to see the detail or to tone down an area ‘burning’ or to remove something altogether ‘masking’. Therefore, when you see something plainly obvious that sticks out like a sore thumb people often refer to it as being Photoshopped though this couldn’t be further from the truth. The true art of using Photoshop is that you would never know if the image had been edited or not. You'd be amazed where lipstick ends up throughout the day with all the congratulation kissing going on ! The same can be said for the video editing side of things. Adobe Premier Pro is the leading software for creating stunning, cinematic effects that Hollywood filmmakers use..... why should you be any different.