over time, i have found that 8 hours seems to be a nice sweet spot for many couples - and allows enough time to tell the story of your wedding day from getting ready to the open dance floor. however, i also know that weddings are not cookie-cutter - and all days are not going to look the same. for most people, this is their first run at wedding planning + it can be downright confusing when it comes to coordinating the day’s happenings - especially in the early days of the planning process. photographers are probably the closest thing to a wedding planner you will find, and my type-A-monica-geller personality [ ok, not that intense ] loves to be as involved in the planning process as you will allow. if you would like to chat through your vision to figure out an idea for hours, even ahead of booking, i would love to do so! this way we can ensure we have an ample amount of time for all of the “events” throughout the day and make sure you won’t be feeling rushed through any of it. i plan all of my client’s timelines with user-friendly google sheets, and walk you through each part of the day from start to finish. add-on hours are available, if you feel like that would be a better option for your day after chatting!

on the day of your wedding, i float between giving direction when needed [ during bridal + family portrait time, specifically ] + a silent observer just taking everything in, unnoticed. i love to capture the in-between, candid moments that at the time go unnoticed - as well as the romantic, composed portraits. i like to have fun, keep things light + roll with the day’s happenings while keeping tabs on your timeline so you don’t have to think twice about it. i’ll call your parents ‘mom + dad’ + tuck your grandma between the two of you for a photo i call the ‘grammy sammy.’ i am a natural light photographer by day - constantly chasing that perfect glow, but by night - i use a vibrant flash to light up your dance floor photos. editing-wise i favor vibrant colors + heavy contrast - which might put me in the ‘dark + moody’ category but overall i strive to edit in a style that best portrays the actual look + feel of the scene around you, on your day.

absolutely! i think it’s really important that people dive deeper into their photographer’s portfolio beyond what is showcased on social media + websites. seeing more galleries [ and ones from the start to the end of the day ] can show + tell a lot about the way the photographer handles all different lighting, setting + venue situations - and just overall how their work looks stylistically across the board. if you’d like to see galleries, i will gladly send a handful along that are recently shot as well as some that i think might resonate with you based on the look of your own ceremony // reception.

the quick answer - as far as you’d like! i am based out of grand rapids, michigan + locations 30 miles outside of GR do not require a travel fee. though i am stationed in GR i am more than willing to travel outside of west michigan + often find myself all over the state much of the year for weddings. to get a solid travel quote for your big day, please inquire directly!

my biggest hope is that people hire me because they trust me, they value the work that i do and they believe i can deliver - not because they want me to duplicate or recreate something that another photographer already has done. for this reason, i do not work off of a shot list or a pinterest board. however, i DO encourage clients to discuss unique + special moments or details they would like to be captured - and share those with me. i do work off of a checklist during family portraits which is sent by me + completed by the couple prior to the wedding day.

second shooters have become a popular wedding inclusion - and i can’t say enough good things about having an extra set of eyes / hands on the big day ! that being said, i am totally comfortable shooting weddings solo + believe with some smart planning in advance we can make it work for you, too ! however, second shooters are an option that i offer + the cost for this add-on is based on the amount of total hours of your wedding coverage + begins at $350 for eight hours.

two places where people often want to have two photographers in two different places are during the ‘getting ready’ portion of the day [ perhaps you are at separate locations ] or after the ceremony + you want one photographer taking bridal party photos + another photographer taking reception detail // cocktail hour photos. these instances don’t apply to everyone of course + if you aren’t sure that you are going to want one in the beginning - you can absolutely wait + make that decision later on in the planning process. however, i usually suggest making that addition no later than three months prior to your wedding day to make sure i can secure someone i feel will be a good fit.

in reality - there is no ‘should’ or ‘should-not’ do when it comes to your wedding day - because it is just that ...YOUR wedding day. i love first looks because they are intimate, one-on-one moments with just the two of you with no one else around. i love that they can ease common jitters + stress. i also love that we are able to get more photos done before the ceremony, so you can relax later on in the day + attend your cocktail hour, eat snacks + hang with your friends + family. but all that aside, i also understand that they aren‘t for everyone. and that’s ok. all i ask if you are opting out of a first look - that we discuss as soon as possible the time we’ll need between the ceremony + reception to get all the photos you are wanting [ before the invites are out + times are set in stone ].

to book a wedding date, i require a retainer of 25% of your total wedding package + a signed contract. the retainer + contract ensure your date cannot be booked by anyone else, but is also non-refundable in the event you cancel my services before the contracted date. there is a $450 installment due at the engagement shoot + the remainder of the package total is due two weeks prior to your wedding date. further details can be found in the contract; feel free to ask for a generic copy to review!

i provide a minimum of 500 edited, high-resolution photos of your wedding day - but on average my galleries land closer to 700-900. your final gallery count is largely dependent on your wedding day timeline, number of venues, photo locations, total hours, etc. weddings are delivered via an online gallery through a platform called pixieset, where you can download, share + favorite your images using a 4-digit-PIN.

for weddings in peak season [ may - october ], your photos will be available 8-10 weeks after the event. in the ‘off-season,’ the turn-around time may be quicker. i generally post sneak-peeks via facebook + instagram along the way - as well as send you a little preview gallery within a week or two of your big day.

yes! once you have received your preview and/or your final images, you may upload to your heart’s desire. i do require proper credit to be given to any photos posted. if on facebook, using ‘photo credit Taylor J. Photography // www.taylorjphotography.co’ in the image description or if on instagram, using ‘photo credit @taylorjphotog’ in the image description. in addition, you may not crop, edit or alter the photos in any way - which includes using filters. i also ask that you pass this sentiment along to your friends + family who are using your wedding photos online.

i am a huge advocate for having an engagement session with your wedding photographer ! it is a great time to get to know each other better, to get comfortable in front of the camera - and just another special moment to celebrate the two of you and the love you share.

first, we will select a shoot date + time. if you are looking at a summer or fall session - it’s never too early to get that on the calendar as those are peak photo times. first morning or end of the day light is usually best for sessions - but this of course varies day to day + season to season. ultimately, whatever works best for your schedule will work for me !

the actual shoot will last up to one hour [ which includes travel between locations + outfit changes, if applicable ]. you can also add a half hour for $50 if you need more time!

i am a firm believer in making your engagement session about YOU. i have ideas, sure! but my ideas may not fit your lifestyle or interests + therefore, not exemplify you guys as a couple or bring out your natural selves. love to hike? let’s hit the woods. into architecture? let’s stroll downtown. are you a pair of beach bums? let’s hit the lakeshore. whatever it is you do, i want to capture that.