Q. How would you describe your photographic style?
A. Azzura Photography specializes in what we call the "Illustrative-style" of photography, which blends together photojournalistic, candid, style and the best of the traditional group shots to ensure you get the photographs you really want.
Q. Who will be actually photographing our Wedding Day?
A. Ken Shepard and Tania Shepard are the two primary photographers for Azzura Photography. Each of them can be accompanied by an optional assistant photographer, who works with them to capture all the excitement, emotion and elegance of your wedding celebration.
Q. What type of equipment do you use?
A. We work exclusively with the latest Canon EOS professional digital camera equipment, including the Canon 5D Mark IV and the Canon 1DX. We carry with us between 3 and 4 cameras to every wedding, since different cameras and lenses work best for different photographs. Our favorite lenses are the "long lenses" (70-200mm) that allow us to photograph moments from a distance, often without you even being aware of the camera. (Many of our couples are stunned at the number of photographs that they never even realized were being taken!) Another of our favorite lenses is the fisheye, which allows us to create wide-angle photographs that can showcase your church or reception beautifully.
Q. How many photographs do you take?
A. Because we work exclusively in digital, we don't limit the number of images taken on your Wedding Day. This gives us the freedom to take as many shots as needed to get just the right expression. We then carefully color and exposure adjust the finished images, so you have a collection of images that truly tell the story of your Wedding Day. Of course, every event is different, but most full weddings receive 700-800 or more images from the day.
Q. Do you photograph in color or black & white?
A. Every photograph Azzura creates is available in color, black and white, or sepia. This gives you the ultimate in flexibility when designing your album (and delights parents who prefer color photographs!). Since every photograph is different, our Azzura Designers will work with you to determine how each photograph will look its best.
Q. How far in advance are you booked?
A. We book certain times of the year 12 months or more in advance. Also, particular dates are more popular than others. Summer and fall weekends tend to fill up quickly, so you will want to book your photographer as soon as possible. We photograph only a select number of weddings a year in order to maintain a high level of service and to give your wedding the attention it deserves. Please contact us to check availability.
Q. Where are you located?
A. We are located in Bellevue, Washington, and photograph weddings regularly throughout the greater Seattle area, including Tacoma and Bellingham. We are also available for both national and international destinations. Please contact us for quotes on international and national Wedding Collections.
Q. What is the payment schedule?
A. A third of your Collection total is due when the Wedding Agreement is signed and is required to secure your date. The second payment is required 6 months prior to the Wedding Day, and the final balance is due 30 days before the Wedding Day. We accept cash, check and credit cards.
Q. How can I ensure that I get all the photographs that are important to me?
A. We will meet with you in the weeks preceding your Wedding Day to finalize the schedule, make sure we have enough time to create any formal photographs you would like, and talk about some of the special parts of the Wedding Day that are particularly important to you. To help you organize your thoughts, we even provide a 'Wedding Candid Checklist' that helps you to decide which group photographs are important to you.
Q. How soon after the Wedding Day can we see our photographs?
A. We will schedule an appointment about one to two weeks after your honeymoon for your Premiere Show. The Premiere Show is an exciting time when you and your family view your photographs at the Studio in a custom slideshow, set to music. As part of the Premiere Show, we will also help you select the images that will be included in your finished Wedding Album.
Q. Do you offer special Collections for winter weddings?
A. Yes, we are able to offer some smaller Collections for winter weddings between November and March. Since these Collections are generally customized to fit your exact needs, please contact the studio for more information.
Q. How can I reserve my wedding date?
A. Please please contact us and we can arrange a time to meet and learn more about your Wedding Day. To officially reserve the date, all we need is the Collection deposit and signed Wedding Agreement. We welcome the opportunity to give you one less thing to worry about!
