Booking & Logistics

 

How do we book with you?

Simple. Pick your date, sign the agreement, and send over the non-refundable retainer of 30%. Once both are in, your date is locked and we're officially doing this.

 

Are you available on our date?

The best way to find out is to reach out directly. I take on a limited number of weddings each year so I can give every couple my full attention, so dates go fast during peak season.

 

Do you travel?

Absolutely. I photograph weddings across Connecticut, New England, and beyond. Travel within Connecticut is always included. Destination weddings get a custom travel quote.

 

Do you work with a second photographer?

Yes, and it makes a real difference. A second shooter means both of you are covered simultaneously, even when I'm across the venue. It's included in all wedding collections.

The Photography Experience

 

What's your style?

Traditional at the core, with a documentary eye and an editorial instinct. The classic portraits and formal shots are non-negotiable because those are the ones that get framed and passed down. But some of the most powerful images from your day will be the ones you never saw coming, a glance across the room, your grandmother wiping a tear, the chaos of the dance floor at 10 PM! Together they tell the full story of your day, not just the highlight reel, and every single image is made with your wedding album in mind from the moment I press the shutter.

 

What are you like to work with?

Calm, confident, and probably cracking a dad joke at the worst possible moment (kidding, sort of). Wedding days are beautiful and chaotic in equal measure, and one of the most common things couples tell me is that the moment I walk into the room, something shifts. The nerves settle, the energy calms, and everyone just exhales. That is not an accident. I have been doing this long enough to know that a relaxed couple makes for stunning photos, and it is my job to create that environment from the minute I arrive until the last dance. Every person on my team is hand selected for that same reason. No randoms, no last minute fills. Just professionals who share the same standard and bring that same calm, confident energy to every wedding they are part of. You bring the love story. I will handle everything else.

 

How many photos will we receive?

I absolutely don't count! However most final full-day weddings result in somewhere between 600 and 900 delivered images, all carefully edited. No blinks, or unflattering images!

 

When do we get our photos?

Before you even leave the reception, you'll have a curated set of your favorite moments ready to share. It's one of the premium touches included in every collection. Depending on the flow of the day, delivery is same-day or within 24 hours. Your full edited gallery follows within three to four weeks, and then we schedule your Reveal Celebration, which is where the real magic happens.

 

What is an engagement session and do we need one?

Every collection includes a complimentary engagement session, and I highly recommend taking advantage of it. It's a relaxed 60 to 90 minute shoot before your wedding day where you get stunning portraits and, just as importantly, we get to hang out so you're completely comfortable in front of my camera when it counts. Your gallery includes edited images suitable for personal sharing and prints up to 8x10. Every engagement session also comes with a beautiful five spread keepsake book, and full high resolution print ready files are included with that. The session does not carry a cash value if unused. Most couples who skip it wish they hadn't.

 

Does every collection include an album? Yes, every collection includes a custom heirloom album designed specifically for you. This is not a generic template dropped into a book. Your dedicated heirloom design specialist gets to know your story before your wedding day so that by the time your album is designed, it reflects who you actually are as a couple. It is one of the things that sets Photography Stiles apart from most studios, and honestly one of the things our couples love most.

Heirlooms and the Reveal Celebration

 

What is the Reveal Celebration?

Shortly after you book, your personal heirloom design specialist reaches out to schedule a private consultation. This is where they get to know you as a couple, your style, your story, and what matters most to you, so that when your album and artwork are being designed, every detail feels intentional and personal rather than off a template. Your Reveal Celebration is then scheduled well before your wedding day so it is already on the calendar and something to look forward to. A few weeks after the wedding, you walk into that appointment and see your full gallery together for the first time, alongside a custom designed album and artwork concepts built around you. It is one of the most memorable parts of the whole experience, and it is included with every collection.

 

Why do you emphasize albums and physical products?

Because in ten years, nobody is scrolling through a Dropbox folder to remember their wedding day. An album sits on your coffee table, gets pulled out at family dinners, and eventually ends up in the hands of your kids. That's what these photos are for. I built my whole studio around making sure that actually happens.

 

Do we get digital files?

Yes. Every collection includes your edited images delivered through a private online gallery, suitable for personal sharing and reprints. These are low resolution up to 8x10 print size. Full print ready high resolution files come with purchased heirloom products at your Reveal.

Video

 

Do you offer wedding Videography?

Yes, through a hybrid approach that sets the experience apart. As a hybrid photographer, I capture both photos and video simultaneously throughout your day, so nothing is ever missed and you never have to juggle two separate crews. The result is a three to six minute highlight film, custom edited by my team and set to music that fits your story. It is included in the Signature and Masterpiece collections and available as an add-on to any other collection. This is delivered in 6-10 weeks post wedding.

 

Can we add full ceremony coverage, speeches, or other audio to our highlight film?

The hybrid approach is designed specifically to deliver a beautifully edited three to six minute highlight film, and that is where it shines. It is perfect for couples who want a stunning visual keepsake of their day without the footprint of a full video crew. For couples who want to make sure every vow, speech, and first dance is captured in full, we also offer dedicated wedding videography through a separate team built specifically for that experience. Two different services, two different scopes. Just let us know which feels right for you and we will point you in the right direction.

Investment & Payments

 

How much do you cost?

Wedding collections start at $5,900. What you are investing in goes well beyond photography. You get same-day sneak peeks, a three to four week turnaround on your full gallery, a dedicated heirloom design specialist who works with you from booking through your Reveal Celebration, and a level of attention to detail that has earned Photography Stiles a perfect 5.0 rating on Google across nearly ten years in business. I'd love to send over my pricing guide so you can see exactly what is included in each collection.

 

What's your payment structure?

A 30% non-refundable retainer holds your date. After that, the remaining balance is split in two more payments: 40% due five months before your wedding and the final 30% due thirty days out. Monthly payment plans are available for up to twelve months if that makes things easier.

 

What if we need to reschedule?

Life happens. Reach out as soon as you know and we'll figure it out together. Rescheduling policies are outlined in your agreement.

 

Do you charge for travel or multiple locations?

Everything happening on your wedding day is covered, no matter how many locations you move through. Multiple venues, a church ceremony across town, portraits at a park down the road, it is all included. You will never see a surprise travel charge on your invoice. For weddings requiring significant travel outside of Connecticut, any fees are discussed openly before you sign anything so there are never any surprises.

 

Fun Miscellaneous

 

What equipment do you use?

Oh how I love my Nikon gear. I have the latest and greatest for weddings including multiple z6III's, z6II, Nikon 35mm 1.4 F, Nikon z35mm 1.8Z, 50mm 1.8Z, 85mm 1.8F, Tamron 35-150mm 2-2.8Z, Nikon 70-200mm 2.8F, and Nikon 24-120/4 F.

Do you use additional lighting gear?

Without question, and honestly it is one of the most important things you should ask any photographer before booking. Weddings happen in all kinds of conditions, dark reception halls, venues with no windows, outdoor ceremonies that lose light mid-vow. We get one shot at every single moment, so knowing how to work with whatever the environment gives us is non-negotiable. Natural light is always the first choice when it is available, but knowing how to shape, control, and supplement it is what separates a good photo from a jaw dropping one. We come fully equipped with professional lighting gear and the knowledge to use it in a way that feels natural and intentional, never harsh or flashy. The result is portraits that feel stunning and cinematic regardless of what the venue throws at us.

 

Do you have backup equipment?

Always. Every wedding I photograph, I bring fully redundant gear including backup camera bodies, lenses, and memory cards. Your wedding day is not something that can be rescheduled, and I treat my equipment accordingly. You will never have to worry about a gear failure affecting your photos.

 

Are you insured?

Yes, Photography Stiles carries full professional liability insurance. Many venues require proof of insurance before allowing a photographer on site, and I am happy to provide documentation directly to your venue coordinator whenever needed.