Is Judy the only photographer?
As owner of Vivid Visions Photo-Graphics, Judy is the sole primary photographer. When you book a wedding or other event with Vivid Visions, you are booking Judy McCleery, not a photographer you haven’t met.
Are there assistants or other photographers, too?
Yes. As needed, Judy will call in an assistant as a second shooter and to help with lighting and scene set-up.
How many pictures will we get?
The number of photos delivered as previews will depend on the type of event, and length of coverage you have requested. A full day of coverage will usually produce between 400 and 700 preview images for you.
How long will it take to get our images and ordered products?
The online galleries are live two to four weeks after the event, with the preview prints and digital files arriving about two weeks after the gallery going live. Enlargements and reprints are typically delivered within four weeks of final approval. Albums and photobooks are delivered within six weeks of final approval of the design.
Do we get to keep the negatives?
We provide the high-resolution digital files (the digital equivalent of negatives). We do retain the copyright to the images and the right to use them for promotional purposes, competition, professional review, and so on. Your service agreement, when executed, provides a written release that will allow you to make unlimited personal reproductions and copies for your friends and families.
Do you attend the rehearsal?
Rehearsal coverage is available if you’d like to add it to your selection; otherwise we do not attend the rehearsals.
How does the album design process work?
We allow you four months to select the images for your album, if your signature selection includes one. If you haven’t selected your images within that time frame, we will make a first draft design for you. You will then be given the opportunity to preview your album design and make three rounds of changes to it before a change-fee is assessed. After you approve the layout we will help you select your album cover style, color, imprinting, and other small details. Then, you’ll sign off on the book and it will go to print. This process is usually completed online simply and easily. Once you choose your images it takes about four weeks to produce your first draft and each round of changes generally takes two business weeks to complete. Seasonal demands, such as the peak wedding season months of June through September may result in longer productions times for the album design.
What will my album look like?
You have two options. One choice is to mount your photos in a traditional style book where your images are printed on photographic paper and flush mounted in panorama spreads. The other choice is to print and bind your images in a modern bound book similar to a coffee table book you’d buy at the bookstore.
What is the online gallery?
The online gallery is a private, password protected section on our website where all of your wedding photographs will be placed online for you and your family and friends to view. It is also a secure shopping cart – which allows you (and your family and friends) to order prints and cards online. All you have to do is provide the password to anyone who you want to be able to view the images.
Do you have insurance?
Yes. If your venue wishes an insurance certificate, please advise us as soon as possible.
What kind of equipment do you use?
We use professional grade Sony and Minolta equipment with zoom and wide angle lenses and other accessories. We also have back-up equipment in case of mal-function on the shooting location.
How long have you been in business?
Vivid Visions has been in business since 2005.
Can you hold the date for me?
In order to be fair to everyone, we accept our bookings on a first come/first served basis determined by the payment of a reservation fee and signed service agreement.
What is your payment schedule like?
A non-refundable reservation fee of $350 is due to reserve your date. 50% of your balance is due 90 days before your event with the final amount due 14 days prior to the wedding. If booking less than sixty days before the wedding 50% of the entire contract amount is due at the time of signing, and the balance is due 14 days prior to the wedding.
May we pay you part of the amount after the wedding?
We do require full payment 14 days before the event. However, we have payment plans available to fit the balance due into your budget.
I have to cancel my wedding. May I have my reservation fee refunded?
No, the reservation fee is non-refundable. This guarantees that we will hold the date exclusively for you and once you’ve signed the service agreement we decline all other bookings for that date. However, if you cancel in writing more than 30 days before the event, any payments made in addition to the reservation fee will be returned to you.
What if you are sick or injured and can’t make it to my wedding?
The unexpected does happen, and if for some reason of incapacitation, such as illness or injury, Judy cannot be at your wedding, we will still supply you with coverage from our contracted assistant. Judy is also a member of national and local professional organizations and networking groups upon which we could call to find you a replacement photographer.
If we decide to engage Vivid Visions for our wedding, when should we book?
As soon as possible. We do not “hold” dates or “pencil you in”, so dates are booked when we receive a reservation fee. Most couples contract within a year of the wedding date to get their preferred date. In the off-peak months for weddings, it is possible to book within a shorter time frame, but the popular spring-summer-fall dates are often booked well in advance
If we run overtime, will you stay?
Of course, if you wish us to do so. Vivid Visions has an overtime rate that goes into effect if you request us to continue coverage beyond the contracted time. We will bill you for this after you return from your honeymoon.
Do we need to feed you at the reception?
Yes, please. We don’t need the multi-course sit-down meal that you are serving your guests, but allowing us a chance to take a break to refuel will assure that we have the energy we need to capture the special moments through out your celebration. We prefer to have our meal at the same time, you, the bride and groom, are served so that when you are done, we will be done and ready to continue your coverage.
May our family and friends take pictures with their own cameras? Will that bother you?
Of course they can and it doesn’t bother us at all! We do ask that they remain in the background behind the main photographer-Judy-for the family photographs so the subjects look at our camera instead of being distracted by the “paparazzi.” Distractions during the family and wedding party formals can gobble up the time allotted for these images and our coverage may suffer as a result. For privacy reasons, and to keep distractions to a minimum, family and friends are not permitted for the bridal images, but cameras are welcome and encouraged during dancing, cake cutting and other events during the celebration. We do ask that your shutterbug friends (and who isn’t carrying a camera at a wedding?) please respect our presence as your hired professional photographer and allow us the room we need to work.
