How early in the wedding planning process should I book my photographer?

If your wedding will be during the summer months (June-August), on a holiday, or on another popular date, you may want to consider booking your photographer as early as 12 to 18 months in advance.  If photography is very important to you, you will also want to book as early as possible even if your date does not fall within one of those busy periods.  In any event, it's recommended to book your photographer at least 8-10 months in advance.
 

How much photography time do I need?

Each wedding is different so there is no single "package" that will work for every situation. However, in most cases, if everything is at the same venue, 5-6 hours would cover your ceremony and reception and 7-9 hours would cover a full day from getting ready to dancing.  We would be happy to put together a general timeline for you, just fill out the contact form with the things you would like photographed along with your ceremony and reception information.  

Do you travel outside of Oahu?

We are available to travel for weddings and photo sessions.  We have had the pleasure of working in Maui, Kauai, Hawaii, Lanai, Molokai, Seattle and Las Vegas and would love the opportunity to travel for your wedding too!  Travel fees typically start from $500 with 1 photographer of $750 with 2 photographers.  Please contact us for a personalized quote. 

Do I really need two wedding photographers?

All of our full-day packages include two professional wedding photographers.  Two photographers can shoot from two different angles or locations—they can literally be in two places at once to capture all of the action.  A wedding photography team can also be good insurance in case a photographer becomes injured or ill, or a guest steps in front of one photographer - there will still be another professional to capture the moment. 
 

Is there a style or quality difference among your photographers?

In short, the answer is No.  You can expect the same quality of work from any of the photographers on our team.  We have a very small team of photographers that were hand-selected to ensure consistent style and quality. Each photographer on our team has photographed more than 300 weddings.  


Are all the photos edited?

Yes, everything that leaves our studio will be edited to look its best. A typical wedding may have over 2,000 images from 4 different cameras between 2 photographers.  This is a three-stage process that involves organizing and sorting the images, then calibrating each image for the best color, contrast, clarity.  Image processing is a time consuming but crucial part of our workflow and allows us to provide polished print-ready images for your wedding collection.  The average turnaround time is 6-8 weeks.  
 

You can Photoshop that, right?

We try to get everything as perfect as possible in-camera. Posing, location scouting, and camera settings can "fix" most things before we even click the shutter and it's much better to get the photo right than to fix it with Photoshop. Image manipulation such as blemish removal or skin-softening can be quoted separately. 

How many wedding pictures will I get?

We don't limit the number of images that you will receive.  It’s our job as artists and photographers to go through all of the proofs from your wedding and choose the strongest, most compelling images to present to you.  The number of proofs will depend on several things, like the length of photography coverage, the size of your wedding, the length of your reception and the details of your day.  But on average you can expect between 60-75 final images per hour of coverage.

 

What if my wedding date is changed or canceled?

Once we receive your signed contract and retainer, the date is reserved for you and we decline other inquiries for the same day. Therefore, the retainer fee is not refundable since we have held the date for you as promised.  Your photographers won't take any other events for that day, even ones that are at a different time from your wedding.

Do I need to give you a shot list?

We ask that you put together a list of groups (family & wedding party) that you would like to be photographed with and submit that to us at least 1 week before your wedding day.  If you have any special poses or pictures that you would like taken, please include that as well.  We do not need a step-by-step list like Mom helping you to get ready or Dad walking you down the aisle.  This type of shot list is actually counterproductive to the types of images that you see in our portfolio. 
 

Are our guests allowed to take pictures at our wedding?

We understand that your friends and family are excited to attend your wedding and many will want to take their own pictures. We are happy for them to do so as long as it does not interfere with our duty to capture your day. Some of your guests will see your wedding as their chance to snap photos for their Facebook or Instagram feed. Having a ton of cameras sticking out of the aisle really ruins the ambiance of your wedding, not to mention that a guest may cause us to miss a crucial moment by trying to get their own photo.   We strongly recommend having an 'unplugged ceremony'. Invite your guests to put aside their cameras for the duration of the ceremony and just be with you without the distraction of technology. You'll appreciate their presence and your guests will be smiling at you instead of their devices. http://offbeatbride.com/2011/06/unplugged-wedding-templates

Can I have the unedited RAW files?

For 99% of our clients, the edited JPEG files that are included with our packages will be the best option.  For the photo enthusiasts who would like the unedited RAW files, the equivalent RAW files from your wedding collection (without the test shots, blinks, etc.) can be available to purchase for an additional fee.  We must be notified at least 7 days after the wedding if you would like to purchase the RAW files. 

Frequently Asked Question – Post Wedding
 

When should I select the photos for my Album?

We can start designing your album as soon as you select the photos for it.  If you need help with the selection process, we are happy to help you choose the images.  We ask that you order and select your album images within 1 year from your wedding date. One reason is that it helps us manage timelines within our studio and allows us to provide greater customer service to each client. We keep all of our wedding images in our studio for 1 year before archiving them to separate storage media.  Also, the costs of supplies and materials for the albums change over time and we cannot guarantee the same cost for an album that is ordered several years later. 

Why do I need a Wedding Album?

Your wedding photos are intended to be printed and displayed as beautiful works of art.  Individual images may have the ability to capture a moment, but a wedding album will tell your story by focusing on the highlights of the day. Our exclusive Panoramic Crystal Albums are the most beautiful and elegant albums that we have offered. Each album is custom designed and beautifully crafted with the finest materials. They feature a high-gloss full-page cover photo, flush mounting, archival quality acid-free paper, and thick sturdy pages with rounded corners. Each page has a smooth finish and is dust and fingerprint resistant. These stunning albums are simply the best way to organize and preserve your favorite memories for generations to come. http://www.kai-photo.com/products

Is there a difference in getting Professional Prints / Albums?

All of our professionally printed products are archival quality, designed to last 100+ years. Photos that you print on your own at the drug store are not archival quality and they will not stand the test of time for your children or grandchildren.  

If you purchase an album through your photographer, you can see a sample in person. You can touch and feel it and make sure it is worth every penny.  I know that albums are expensive, and there's a good reason. They are custom-designed books, usually hand-stitched and hand-assembled and made just for you. Printing a single custom book is not cheap, but it will be worth it.  

Of all the things you spend money on for your wedding, your wedding photos are the ONLY thing that will increase in value over time. As the years pass, you'll be more and more glad that you have them. Especially, if you can experience them by flipping through one of our beautiful custom-designed albums.

Can I make copies of the DVD / flash drive with my wedding photos?

Absolutely. We encourage you to make a backup copy of your wedding photos to an alternate media such as iCloud, Dropbox, or a USB flash drive.  If a family member would like a copy of your photos, they can order a copy from the online gallery.  This way, a print release form will be made for them to allow printing for their personal use. 

Can I share my wedding photographs on Facebook, Instagram, etc?

Of course! We are thrilled that you can't wait to show off your images! You can share your favorite images directly from your online gallery.  We ask that you do not modify the image (cropping) and if the logo/watermark is not visible please provide photo credit to our team @kaiphotohawaii.