faq engagement
I like being an open book
Questions to ask your Engagement, Pre-Wedding, Surprise Marriage Proposal, Honeymoon, Couple Photographer
Welcome to this page where I have collected the Most Frequent Questions I receive from you. In addition, there are other very useful questions that you don’t normally ask me, but important and to be taken into consideration. I am sure you will find this guidelines very helpful. If you may have other questions please feel free to contact me, I will be happy to answer you.
Are you a Professional? Are you insured?
Off Course!
My Italian VAT identification number is IT02290690979.
Only fools are not insured. And those who have no respect for their clients. I am covered by third party liability insurance, according to the laws in force.
My Italian VAT identification number is IT02290690979.
Only fools are not insured. And those who have no respect for their clients. I am covered by third party liability insurance, according to the laws in force.
Where do you live? Where do you work?
Good question, let's immediately clarify. I'm based in Montemurlo, Tuscany, a town close to Florence.
Berlin (have you read that I'm half German?) is my second homeI and I go there every chance I get.
I work mainly in Tuscany and all over Italy for destination weddings. And clearly abroad.
Berlin (have you read that I'm half German?) is my second homeI and I go there every chance I get.
I work mainly in Tuscany and all over Italy for destination weddings. And clearly abroad.
Are you available to work abroad?
Absolutely! Traveling to know new places, people and cultures is one of my great passions. Don't be shy, feel free to inquire about your engagement, I would love to be there with you. I am available to reach you wherever you want to celebrate your love, even in the most remote and wild areas of the planet...and of the universe, when it will be possible to travel in space!
Are there any particular places or conditions in which you would not want to photograph us?
Honestly there is no place that I would not like to see and photograph. Whether it is, if you get involved, I will be with you.
Do you charge travel expenses?
If the couple session takes place in the Florence area, I don't foresee any expenses. For the other areas of Tuscany, Italy and abroad, I ask the bare minimum for transportation (car and/or flights) and accommodation (if needed). I am an easy going guy and if I have to stay out for more days, I am open to stay with you or share accommodation with relatives or friends. What I can do to save money, I will do it. Just let me know your schedule and I will estimate these expenses.
How would you describe your style and approach for a couple photo sessions? What photos should we expect from a couple photo shoot?
Relaxed, intimate and joyful. I will look at the sides of your personality – shy..outgoing..playful..curious..and everything you will show me – and I will photograph it. I will see how you interact with each other and photograph your affectionate gestures, mutual glances, the laughter that come out with naturalness. I like to establish a friendly dialogue with you during the photo session and the photos will be spontaneous. I will never get tired of saying that it must be an opportunity to get involved in front of the camera, to show one's mutual love.
It will be a mixture of reportage photographs, in which you will be photographed immersed in the background you have chosen for the session, and creative portraits, always taking advantage of the beauties around us. If I prefigure an interesting photo, I will give you some suggestions, but you will always decide.
If you are not inclined to public displays of affection, rest assured that I won't have you do anything that doesn't feel natural to you. Nothing must be forced. I'm looking for real moments and not sterile and awkward poses.
It will be a mixture of reportage photographs, in which you will be photographed immersed in the background you have chosen for the session, and creative portraits, always taking advantage of the beauties around us. If I prefigure an interesting photo, I will give you some suggestions, but you will always decide.
If you are not inclined to public displays of affection, rest assured that I won't have you do anything that doesn't feel natural to you. Nothing must be forced. I'm looking for real moments and not sterile and awkward poses.
We feel uncomfortable in front of the camera. What can we do?
No Panic, Keep Calm and Enjoy your photo shoot! My main intention is to get you comfortable and relaxed in front of me.
How does a couple photo session work and how is it organized? Location? Time?
Together, we will:
1) Choose a location. Wherever it is, close to your home, during your vacation, immersed in the beautiful Italian countryside among olive groves and vineyards or in a romantic medieval city, on a solitary beach or on the peaks of the Alps. Possibilities are innumerable, the only limit is imagination! If you have a location in mind that is important to you, I would love to hear about it! If you're not sure where you'd like to shoot, I will be happy to give you some suggestions.
2) Set a time for the shoot. To have the best possible natural lighting – soft and warm – early in the morning at sunrise or the last hours before sunset (the famous golden hour) are the best times for photos. I don't recommend the central hours of the day.
3) Meet on the chosen day/time and get started!
1) Choose a location. Wherever it is, close to your home, during your vacation, immersed in the beautiful Italian countryside among olive groves and vineyards or in a romantic medieval city, on a solitary beach or on the peaks of the Alps. Possibilities are innumerable, the only limit is imagination! If you have a location in mind that is important to you, I would love to hear about it! If you're not sure where you'd like to shoot, I will be happy to give you some suggestions.
2) Set a time for the shoot. To have the best possible natural lighting – soft and warm – early in the morning at sunrise or the last hours before sunset (the famous golden hour) are the best times for photos. I don't recommend the central hours of the day.
3) Meet on the chosen day/time and get started!
What should we wear? What to avoid? Any other advice?
That's a good question, the most asked.
First of all, think about yourself and wear clothes that show your personality. Trust me, if you wear something that clashes with your way of being, you will notice it in expressions, gestures and consequently in the photos.
Second, you must feel comfortable and free to move. With this I don't mean that you have to use the tracksuit you wear after dinner when you're lying on your couch!
The choice of shoes is also very important: pick the most beautiful and suitable for the type of location that we will choose. If we do an elegant couple shoot and you choose shoes with heels, always remember to bring a pair of comfortable spare shoes, eg. sneakers. If we walk in the middle of nature on difficult terrain, we will use trekking shoes and if you desire during the session you will change it with another pair of shoes that we will take with us.
Logos/drawings/words with large fonts are not advisable on clothes as they often distract, unless it is specifically chosen for the session. Try to coordinate the colors but don’t get too matchy. Please consider also the time of year and its temperatures. It can be a good idea to bring a complete replacement, gladly you can change clothes and consequently have a different mood in the photos. For example. a stylish look alternated with an adventurous one. However, please don't plan to carry around a bag with your second outfit in it, or other personal items, you can leave it in your car or, if these are a few lightweight objects, they can find a place in my backpack. Think about the type of background we will have and its colors. Don't dress colors that can be confused with the background but that matches good together. Eg. Countryside, late afternoon before sunset, background scenery colors made of green and yellow/orange: clothes with pastel colors like violet, blues, cyans are the opposite to yellow and orange tones, gives a nice contrast and brings out the color of the skin on your faces. Hats are fine if they don't cover the face. Accessories such as rings or necklaces are also fine.
My advices must be understood as suggestions, so it's up to you to make the decision.
First of all, think about yourself and wear clothes that show your personality. Trust me, if you wear something that clashes with your way of being, you will notice it in expressions, gestures and consequently in the photos.
Second, you must feel comfortable and free to move. With this I don't mean that you have to use the tracksuit you wear after dinner when you're lying on your couch!
The choice of shoes is also very important: pick the most beautiful and suitable for the type of location that we will choose. If we do an elegant couple shoot and you choose shoes with heels, always remember to bring a pair of comfortable spare shoes, eg. sneakers. If we walk in the middle of nature on difficult terrain, we will use trekking shoes and if you desire during the session you will change it with another pair of shoes that we will take with us.
Logos/drawings/words with large fonts are not advisable on clothes as they often distract, unless it is specifically chosen for the session. Try to coordinate the colors but don’t get too matchy. Please consider also the time of year and its temperatures. It can be a good idea to bring a complete replacement, gladly you can change clothes and consequently have a different mood in the photos. For example. a stylish look alternated with an adventurous one. However, please don't plan to carry around a bag with your second outfit in it, or other personal items, you can leave it in your car or, if these are a few lightweight objects, they can find a place in my backpack. Think about the type of background we will have and its colors. Don't dress colors that can be confused with the background but that matches good together. Eg. Countryside, late afternoon before sunset, background scenery colors made of green and yellow/orange: clothes with pastel colors like violet, blues, cyans are the opposite to yellow and orange tones, gives a nice contrast and brings out the color of the skin on your faces. Hats are fine if they don't cover the face. Accessories such as rings or necklaces are also fine.
My advices must be understood as suggestions, so it's up to you to make the decision.
How long does a photo shoot last? What are your packages?
Feel free to inquire and I will give you all the info. I have three packages.
The starter package covers up to 1 hour, ideal for sessions in one location.
My most chosen package includes a coverage up to 2 hours. It is my favourite, that I recommend because it allows to take photos in more than one location and to have a more complete session for most situations.
The third package has up to 4/5 hours coverage and is ideal if you wish to have a shooting in different places that needs displacements. Or for an adventure engagement session in wild areas, challenging to reach, where in addition to the photo shoot we can add an adventure photo session while you will do some type of outdoor activity such as going on a boat, bike riding, up to extreme sports. I love do crazy photograph in these situations!
If you will need a different hourly coverage, I'm happy to further customize service and quote based on your requests.
The starter package covers up to 1 hour, ideal for sessions in one location.
My most chosen package includes a coverage up to 2 hours. It is my favourite, that I recommend because it allows to take photos in more than one location and to have a more complete session for most situations.
The third package has up to 4/5 hours coverage and is ideal if you wish to have a shooting in different places that needs displacements. Or for an adventure engagement session in wild areas, challenging to reach, where in addition to the photo shoot we can add an adventure photo session while you will do some type of outdoor activity such as going on a boat, bike riding, up to extreme sports. I love do crazy photograph in these situations!
If you will need a different hourly coverage, I'm happy to further customize service and quote based on your requests.
How many photos do you take? Will you professionally edit all the photos?
I don't set any limit in the pictures that I will take. Once I get home with your photos, my work has just begun. Selecting and editing photos is one of the most important and challenging part of my photography process, it requires its time. Assuming that I have to get the right picture in the camera, editing means adjusting skin tones, contrast, highlight, shadows, etc. I don't run bulk action, every selected photo will individually and professionally processed to ensure the best results.
From all the photo that I will take, you don’t need duplicate photos, test shots, out of focused images, one eye opened and one half closed, tongue out while moistening the lips and so on. I strongly believe in giving you the best of the best without boring you with these mentioned photos.
From all the photo that I will take, you don’t need duplicate photos, test shots, out of focused images, one eye opened and one half closed, tongue out while moistening the lips and so on. I strongly believe in giving you the best of the best without boring you with these mentioned photos.
How long must we wait? How will they be delivered?
Maximum delivery time varies between 45 to 90 working days.
I'll create a private password-protected gallery in my client area where you can download them all. You will get Jpg files, one full-resolution copy for printing and one low-resolution copy for web sharing. Files are not watermarked and you can print wherever you want.
You will also have the opportunity to independently order prints, wall art and keepsakes directly from your gallery/client area.
I'll create a private password-protected gallery in my client area where you can download them all. You will get Jpg files, one full-resolution copy for printing and one low-resolution copy for web sharing. Files are not watermarked and you can print wherever you want.
You will also have the opportunity to independently order prints, wall art and keepsakes directly from your gallery/client area.
Do you provide color and/or black and white photos?
Sure. Both in color and in black and white. I carefully choose the photos that best suit one or the other. I already prefigure the final image when I shoot the photograph itself, thinking it in color or black and white.
Do we have rights to our photo? Can we print them?
Sure, you have royalty free reprints rights. You can personally print your photos wherever you want. However, as is standard in photography, you don’t have the right to sell the images for profit or to publish your images anywhere without mentioning my name.
Moreover, you will have the opportunity to independently order prints, wall art and keepsakes directly from your gallery/client area. Also a nice idea to send gifts to your loved ones around the world, thanks to the affiliated professional labs.
Moreover, you will have the opportunity to independently order prints, wall art and keepsakes directly from your gallery/client area. Also a nice idea to send gifts to your loved ones around the world, thanks to the affiliated professional labs.
What about the model release? What is that exactly?
Is the permission you give to a photographer to publish your picture on his website, socials, contest. This aspect is very important: without the opportunity to show to future clients my works, there would be no photographs on this site and you could not judge my work. Web presence is my only showcase. Without, it would be like having the shop shutter permanently lowered.
For this reason, all of my services have a release included and prices are reduced. Clearly, if you decide not to give the release is fine too. In this case there is a fee to add to the agreed price for my service.
For this reason, all of my services have a release included and prices are reduced. Clearly, if you decide not to give the release is fine too. In this case there is a fee to add to the agreed price for my service.
Do you deliver also RAW files?
RAW files, the digital negatives, are the format in which photographs are taken. As they are, they can't be used and must be edited to get the common Jpg files for printing.
My answer is...nope. Sorry. It is the simplest and most honest answer. I can't give away an unfinished picture, without having acquired the "character" that I thought at the time of shooting. Making an analogy, the raw file as an unripe fruit and the edited photo is a fruit that, pampered by the sun, is now ripe, fragrant, tasty. Which one would you like? 😛
My answer is...nope. Sorry. It is the simplest and most honest answer. I can't give away an unfinished picture, without having acquired the "character" that I thought at the time of shooting. Making an analogy, the raw file as an unripe fruit and the edited photo is a fruit that, pampered by the sun, is now ripe, fragrant, tasty. Which one would you like? 😛
Can you retouch me?
If you want to look like a different person than you are, look like a VIP or an anorexic model...mmmh maybe I'm not the right person for you. Self love, body positivity, if you believe in that, you are on my same wavelength. If, however, something temporary that is not part of you is present (mosquito bites, bruises, etc.) I will retouch it.
We have some ideas, can you make it happen?
I'm happy to hear your ideas! Sharing one's desires is the best way to make them happen. If there is something in particular, don't wait, contact me and let's start brainstorming!
What happens if it rains?
Approaching the chosen date, I check the weather forecast daily. If it seems that rain is expected, compatible with my commitments, I am flexible to change the day and reschedule.
If it starts raining while we have already started, don't worry and trust me! Even rain can be very interesting, I find that it has a very intimate and romantic side, which can be used for very beautiful and creative photos.
If it starts raining while we have already started, don't worry and trust me! Even rain can be very interesting, I find that it has a very intimate and romantic side, which can be used for very beautiful and creative photos.
What gear do you use? What happens if your gear has a problem?
The main tool that I couldn't do without is...my brain and my senses! I say this because I don't think that gear will be the reason that will make you choose me.
That said, I use professional Canon equipment and always have spare cameras/lenses with me. The same for your files, I've several redundant backups to avoid any files loss.
That said, I use professional Canon equipment and always have spare cameras/lenses with me. The same for your files, I've several redundant backups to avoid any files loss.
Do you photograph other events during the same day as mine?
Absolutely NO! If you have booked me, I will be available only for you.
Can we meet? Even before booking?
Sure, if you come to visit Italy and you will be in areas close to Florence and Rome, I will be happy to meet you in person. Otherwise, we can always use Skype/WhatsApp for a chat.
How long in advance should I book?
The sooner it is, the better it is to organize perfectly the photo shoot and be sure that I'm available for your date.
We would like to take some time to decide. Can you reserve the date and notify us if in the meantime you are asked for availability for another service on the same day?
I'm sorry but it is not possible. I receive many requests and it would be impossible for me to take note of all the dates and then having to recontact the undecided couples. If it's about 1 or 2 days I can do it, but I have to give priority to those couples who confirm with a deposit and a signed agreement.
Are you a member of professional photography organisations? Do you have any reviews?
I am very proud to be part of the ANFM, the most important of Italian wedding photographers association, as selected member. The main requirements to be part of it is fairness, transparency and professionalism towards the customer. I'm also mentioned by Zankyou Wedding magazine among the 10 best wedding photographers in Tuscany.
Internationally, I am a member of Fearless Photographers and MyWed.
You can read my reviews here.
Internationally, I am a member of Fearless Photographers and MyWed.
You can read my reviews here.
Ok, we want you as our photographer! What are the next steps?
Great! To book your date I need a signed agreement and a 30% deposit. The balance due within the shooting date. Once booked, we will begin to organize every detail.
So, what are you waiting for?
Didn't you find an answer that you care about?