This FAQ page is under constant revision. When questions are asked multiple times I try to add them here. Don't see the answer to your questions? Please contact me (Mary) at: 305-433-1237 or [email protected] and I will be happy to address them personally.
Q What is Mary Veal Photography?
A. MVP is a luxury boutique studio specializing in Destination Wedding Photography throughout the Florida Keys, Key West and the Northeast, coastal Maine specifically. Mary Veal is your main photographer, specializing in weddings along with her team of creative Associate Photographers who are available for family and proposal sessions as well as smaller weddings by themselves with an assistant. We cater to stylish, adventurous, head-over-heels couples, who desire quality photography and value the artistry involved in elegantly telling the love story of their wedding day.
Q. What style of photography do you do?
A. My approach to wedding photography combines created portraiture and photojournalism to tell the story of your special day in a striking, creative, elegant, and timeless manner. I aim to capture the details and emotions of your big day in the most natural and artistic way possible, using both natural and artificial lighting to create dramatic effects as needed. With a focus on unobtrusive yet thorough coverage, I provide gentle direction and suggestions to help you look your best and excel at both visual storytelling and artistic couples portraits. The end result is a collection of elegant, artful images that you'll be proud to display prominently in your home.
Q. Do you work with a Second Shooter?
A. Absolutely, I regularly work with a second shooter to ensure comprehensive coverage of your wedding day. Additionally, my second shooter is available for hire independently at a reduced rate. In the rare instance that my associate is already booked for another event, I work with an assistant who is capable of serving as a backup photographer during important moments, such as the ceremony. I highly recommend a second dedicated photographer for larger weddings, usually with 70 or more guests or very large bridal parties, and I am able to provide this service upon request.
Q. Do you have insurance?
A. Yes, I have professional liability insurance coverage of 2 million dollars and will work closely with your selected wedding venue to ensure it adheres to their standards with the correct verbiage.
Q. Do you charge Sales Tax or is it included in your packages?
A. Florida State sales tax is added to all packages at a rate of 7.5% for residents of Florida. I don't "charge" tax, I only collect it. It doesn't benefit me any at all to collect it and no, we cannot "get around it" as I'd really like to stay out of jail and in business, so please do not ask. It cannot be included in a package because it is not a service or product I supply, only a tax I collect and send directly to the government.
Q. What kind of equipment do you use?
A. I'm a Nikon girl through and through and use professional-grade cameras, lenses, lighting, stands and backgrounds along with professional-grade back up equipment.
Q. Do you work with or recommend a videographer?
A. Yes, I work well with vidoegraphers, understanding that your wedding day is all about you and your story and although we aren't the same company, I'm definitely a team player. There are many talented videographers here in the keys and I recommend you do hire local as you won't want to run the risk of one driving form Miami and missing your wedding. (Yes, I've seen it happen!)
Q. How many weddings do you shoot per year?
A. I limit my weddings to 36 full day commissions and 20 "Other" sessions per year so I can ensure personal attention to detail and offer an unparalleled level of customer service. Smaller time commitments are considered on an individual basis.
Q. Do you offer sessions other than weddings?
A. Yes, "Other" types of sessions I offer are; Bridal, Engagement, Day After/Trash The Dress/Around Town, Proposal, Anniversary Sessions in the Florida Keys and in Maine, in our dedicated luxury studio, Downeast Boudoir, I also offer an exclusive luxury boudoir photography experience.
Q. Do we get the digital files?
A. Yes, with most packages, your globally edited digital files are included along with a print release allowing you to print them on your own at the lab of your choice. up to 8x10. RAW files will not be included in any package, please do not ask.
Q. Do you edit images before we get them?
A. Yes, every image you receive will have been hand edited individually, not batch processed. As a service to you, you will not receive every single image taken during your session. I go through every image and delete duplicates (from time to time I'll get snap happy) and images with eyes closed or when you were talking etc. This means you will get almost every image, just not ones where I was getting my settings (I shoot in manual mode and have a starting point that is not always the perfect exposure for every situation), formals with eyes closed, or duplicates where I got a little snap happy and have the exact same image in 3s. Normal editing includes adjustments for tone and contrast, highlights, white balance, luminescence, vibrancy, etc with light retouching for facial blemishes and eye/teeth whitening and vignetting. Images chosen for your albums or purchased in large prints are taken a bit further, ensuring perfection down to the last pixel and include more extensive editing such as added texture and more advanced techniques like removing objects from busy backgrounds and "weight loss".
Q. How long does it take to receive our images?
A. You will receive your full online gallery to view and share as well as your custom USB thumb drive within 12 - 14 weeks. Prints and other products are delivered within 4 weeks of placing your order.
Q. How many pictures will we receive?
A. I am a firm believer of quality over quantity. It really depends on how long our session was together. Typical full coverage weddings do not receive less than 500 images. I don't limit the number of exposures and will give you every single good one we got. I do this because you may like an image that wasn't my favorite and I may like some that you do not so it is only fair in my opinion that you get to see them all to decide. Plan for about 60-80 keepers per hour photographing.
Q. How will we receive our images?
A. Most wedding packages include a custom USB thumb drive with a one year warranty. It is your responsibility to back up your images once delivered to you.
Q. Do you archive my images? What happens if I lose the USB somehow?
A. Yes, I do keep an archive on the cloud and on back up hard drives stored in separate physical locations so if you somehow lose your images over the years (moving, fire, flood etc) you will still have the option to purchase a duplicate/replacement album or USB.
Q. Can we have the unedited, RAW files?
A. No. For a couple reasons. 1. Without complicated software, you probably wouldn't be able to open a 36 megapixel raw file anyway. 2. Even if you could, it is an unfinished product at that point and as a professional I would ultimately be doing you a disservice by handing these over to you, which is opposite of what I hope to achieve as your Wedding Photographer. The editing that is included with your session is very similar to a chef taking simple food ingredients and creating a masterpiece of an entree with them. You wouldn't then ask that chef for the uncooked food, so you could try your hand at it, right? (Thank you Susan Stripling for that analogy!)
Q. Do you release copyright?
A. No, not normally a FULL COPYRIGHT. With most packages you will receive a print release allowing you to print your images for personal use at the lab of your choice. I retain copyright, which allows me to use your images to promote myself in a multitude of ways including but not limited to magazines, blogs, Facebook, Twitter etc. I do actively pursue publishing my clients sessions in both print and online forums. Being a Destination Wedding Photographer means that future clients must be able to see my current work so they can decide whether to contact me or not. Full Copyrights are available however they carry additional fees and are normally only necessary for Commercial clients and those requiring complete and utter discretion.
Q. We want to see our wedding in a magazine! Can you make that happen?
A. I would love to try! It is my goal to get your wedding published so it can be inspiration for future brides. Some of my weddings have been featured in Florida Keys Weddings Magazine, Brides Without Boarders, The Celebration Society, Love Inc., Equally Wed, Virginia Bride Magazine, Borrowed and Blue, Wedding Wire and Destination Wedding Details to name a few. Got a favorite magazine or blog? Yes, I'll try submitting to them first!
Q. We are very private people and do not want any of our images shown anywhere. Will you change your contract so you can't use our images?
A. Again, yes and no. I understand privacy issues for a number of reasons and will work to accommodate your requests. There is a charge for full copyrights and usually can be avoided if you grant permission for the studio to use images from your wedding without recognizable people in them.
