Most importantly is the personality of the individual who you will hire and invite as a guest to your wedding.  
  Personality.  Now that you are meeting with the photographer face to face, the question you have to ask yourself is: Do I like this person? Do I feel comfortable with this person?  Will my friends and family like him or her? Would I invite him or her to my wedding?

Personality and character may not be the first thing you judge when 
interviewing a potential photographer but it is always a common thread that 
influences the final decision. You have to really like AND trust the person who will be capturing your wedding images. You could find the best of the best wedding photographers, but if he or she bugged you in anyway and you are not totally honest with yourself, the only person who is going to suffer is you. The bottom line is, if you don’t like your photographer for any reason your wedding images and your memories or going to be reflected upon as if looking into a tarnished mirror.

 

The second and almost as equally important as personality is the photographers eye; the way he or she sees and captures the wedding day. This unique trait separates one photographer from the next. It is “the photographer’s fingerprint” no two are the same.

A photographer can copy another photographer’s style, but the fact is no two 
photographers see the same way. When looking at different photographer’s work, 
take notice of how and what they see. Do the images move you? Are they unique or different or do they look like every other photographers work you have looked at. Are they emotional? Do they tell a complete story? Are they artistic and 
creative? Are they real? Do the people look comfortable?  Finally, out of all 
the photographers you met with, whose images did you gravitate towards the most and why? Usually, the answer to these questions will tell you who the right 
photographer is for you.

Finally, the last deciding factor is usually Cost.
You spend hours if not days of your time interviewing photographer after photographer and now you have found the perfect one for you. Their images are amazing and he/she is the greatest person ever! However, your inner voice picked someone who is more than you budgeted for. What do you do?

Ask yourself a few important questions. After the wedding is over, what am I 
going to have left?  Answer: Your pictures. Everything else is going to be forgotten and only remembered through your photographs.

 According to many different surveys I have researched, the 
number one regret married couples had is that they wished they would have 
invested more money on their wedding photography.
 
When the music is over, the food is gone, and flowers are dead, your wedding pictures are the only thing left to bring back those memories and the irony is that most people spend more on flowers or food than their wedding photography. It is your photos that will help you remember all those details years later.

Your wedding album will last long past your wedding day and then passed down to your children and grandchildren. If your wedding pictures are important to you, don’t you think wedding photography should be a place in your budget where you give priority too?

Shopping for a wedding photographer is like buying a house; you get 
what you pay for.
In both cases the purchase and decision to buy is based on emotion. Buying a little more than you can afford is always a wise investment that you won’t regret as long as you have put in the time to find the perfect one for you. With that said, it doesn’t mean there are not ways to get the most for your dollar.  One way is to buy all albums and products you might want up front as part of a package instead of buying a-la-cart afterwards.  Another way is make sure you understand what it will cost before AND after the wedding. 

Sometimes a photographer’s packages appear to be less expensive at first glance, 
then after the wedding you get hit with add-ons you did not expect such as over 
time fees, more expensive re-prints or additional album design charges.  Then 
you end up spending more money than you would have with a photographer who first appeared to have been more expensive but everything was included in his 
package.

Don’t make the mistake of weeding out photographers because you called or 
emailed and asked for prices and then crossed them off your list because they 
exceed a certain dollar amount that you determined photography should cost. 
 Calling on the telephone and price shopping won’t give you the same 
education as actually meeting the photographer in person or having a face to 
face conversation via Skype if your not in the same town.

Wouldn’t you feel better knowing you spent a little more on your wedding 
images because you loved your photographer and your wedding photographs were so amazing that you wanted them all in your album  VS. getting less than you 
imagined and end up spending more than you dreamed. 

               FAQ                 

Q: Who gets boudoir images done?

Anyone who wants beautiful images made for themselves or someone special. Gifts for Valentine’s Day, the wedding day, anniversaries.  Other reasons include milestone birthdays and weight loss or other body improvement celebrations.

Q: Who will photograph my session?

All boudoir sessions are photographed by myself (Rayven) no one else will be present in the shooting area. Most people are worried about posing, but I will completely direct you. Please let me know any specific ideas you have for your photo shoot.  You do not need to pose like a model (unless you want to!)

Q: I’m nervous......?

It is normal for most people to feel nervous before and when they first arrive. Spending time getting your makeover should help calm your nerves. By the end of the session everyone says how much fun they had and how much more comfortable it was than they thought it would be. We also provide a glass of champagne to “unwind” before the shoot, but you don’t have to have it if you don’t want to.

Q: Will others see me during the session?

No one other than the photographer will see you. The shooting area is concealed from view of the makeup area and washroom. You will use the washroom to change, but in between, you can wear the robe that is provided or bring your own.

Q: Will you post my images on the Internet?

I respect the privacy of my clients and I will only display images on the web that have been approved by the client. 

Q: Should I bring props?

Props can make your images special and more fun and personalized. Some ideas include flowers, cowboy hat, motorcycle helmet, birdcage veil, and props relating to your partner’s profession or your personal interests.

Q: What is your cancellation policy?

All deposits are non-refundable, no exceptions.  In case of an emergency or illness if you are not able to make your session we can transfer your payment to any future marathon date. Due to the scheduled nature of the marathons we are unable to offer refunds for no-shows.

Q: What if I am not as skinny as I want to be?

You are beautiful the way you are. My job as a photographer is to emphasize the positives and minimize any areas that you are self-conscious about. When you receive your images I hope that you will see yourself as beautiful and perfect just the way you are!


                                            pristinedesignphoto@yahoo.ca

I don't even have words to describe what a fabulous year 2011 was for me! Both business and personal. The ups and even the downs..(and there were some downs!! haha) I cannot say I have any regrets though, because I wouldn't be where I am today (more happy than I have ever been) without all the experiences of the last few years!

For the last couple years I was exploring the world of photography more as a hobby and a fun interest.  I learned soooo very much and met some amazing people! Now as 2012 begins I have decided to jump in with both feet and continue this amazing adventure into the world of photography full time! I am scared to death, but also very excited!!!
So thank you! To all my clients of 2011 and before... thank you for allowing me to be apart of your lives and capture your special memories and for helping me in learning and building up my portfolio. I hope to meet with you all again!

A special thank you to my amazing and wonderful support system... you know who you are, for every big and little favor you have ever done to help me out! ( I'm so lucky to have TOO MANY names to type out ;) )
And of course to my beautiful daughter, whom can't read yet, lol, but she has inspired me to be better, she is my muse and whom, without, I wouldn't be who I am today!
I have so very many favorite images of 2011.. but I cannot post them all... soo in no particular order, here are a few faves.. believe me though.. they ALL were a favorite in one way or another!!!

I wish everyone HAPPINESS in 2012!! xoxo

Oh so many to choose from.. I think I could post another 100... but of course I have to just add a few of my own.. my beautiful princess! :)

The beautiful Miss M, has some wonderful friends! Her best friend contacted me a few months earlier and wanted to set up a photoshoot as a gift to Miss M and as a part of her Bachlorette weekend.  I thought this was such a fun and fantastic idea.  Such a lucky lady to have such caring and thoughtful friends, to make such elaborate plans months in advance for her special day. Good on you!! J

Miss M rocked the photoshoot as a photo natural!  Beautiful and confident and new just what she wanted for photos, as she plans to give them as a gift to her fiancé, on their wedding day.  She was so hyped up for our shoot and had many great ideas of her own, from simple beauty to much more racy, (we’ll just let her keep those ones).  I loved working with her and just hanging out with the girls. I was actually the one to end the shoot, stating we had MANY great shots…. That never usually happens! I loved it! Hahaha

I hope the whole weekend went as well as our evening shoot and good luck to the beautiful Miss M and her fiancé on their August wedding day!