This is about so much more than a couple clicks and a few poses on one day.
This is the rarest of days where you’re surrounded by everyone you hold significant in a wild celebration of the start of something – something big.
It’s romantic and chaotic and tender and loud and you want every emotional word, bubbling cheers, favorite tune and truest crack of laughter to stay completely alive in your photos so you can come back to this one day and feel all of it all over again.
That’s what we’re here to capture for you.
So, take a deep breath. Feel at ease.
This is going to be so great.
We're the right fit
if you’re looking for:
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Someone that gets right in there and snaps every candid, outrageous, tear-soaked shot while putting everyone at ease to simply live those moments and be themselves.
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An enjoyable, elevated experience we’re in together from our first email to the final photo delivery. With thoughtful, custom guidance, we take care of you way past producing oh-my-gosh images.
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A relaxed, positive, flexible collaborator you actually want to hang out with all day that knows how to navigate family dynamics and make EVERYONE look like complete rock stars in every photo.
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An experienced professional who delivers not just modern photos of classic elements, but photos that freeze the fresh pop of personalities ripping up the dance floor unleashing that perfect party vibe.
The Offerings
- Wedding
DaySouthern California starts at 3500
Engagement Session + 600
Destinations start at 5000Full day coverage, including a flat-rate for destinations which covers our travel without any extra fees or random receipts. You can rest easy as we're completely in charge of our own way to, through and from the day. - Wedding
WeekendSouthern California starts at 7000
Destinations start at 11000All inclusive weekend coverage, capturing the pop of the first bottle at your welcome party through the chill, day after festivities. Complimentary pre-wedding portrait session so you can warm up to my lens and get out those jitters - Custom
CoverageInquire for a custom package
based on your needs.Untraditional weddings. Elopements. Boudoir. Bachelorette Parties. We've got you covered with photography for anything unique!
The Process
Step 1
Show me your vision.
When you inquire, we’ll go over everything that’s absolutely important to you. This is a chance for you to get super excited and bring us into the beautiful vision you have of your big day. With more details, Sarah will walk you through how we navigate the photography of your wedding. Depending on our availability, Sarah may introduce you to her associate photographer, Haley, who is a talented, experienced wizard of the lens that’s booking her own dates for the 2019/2020 season. Read more about her here.
Step 2
Making it official.
After inquiring, we’ll send over some custom packages tailored right to your photography needs. To book, you'll sign our contract and get the non-refundable 30% retainer out of the way. Then, you’re in our calendar and, yes, it’s official!
Step 3
Annnnnd it’s finally here!
We'll arrive early with fresh eyes and ready equipment to scope the best photo spots. You’ll be at ease as the day begins to unfold knowing we’ve covered every last detail. Your one and only job is to have the time of your life!
Step 4
Sneak peeks.
Within 7 days, you’ll have a small, select gallery of winners to gush over and (let’s be real) share on social media so everyone can gush too.
Step 5
Final delivery
Within 4-6 weeks, you’ll have your full collection sent through a personal online gallery with the option to download high res images. Upon delivery, we'll offer options to print photos for your walls and stunning albums for your coffee table!
The Questions
Do you offer a second shooter?
Yes, of course! We have a small rolodex of incredibly talented photographers we can call to second shoot should it serve your wedding day. A second shooter can be a huge benefit if you two are getting ready at different locations, desire coverage of cocktail hour while we’re taking family photos after the ceremony, and/or have a guest count over 50.
Any tips for making sure we have a great engagement session?
Yes! Here are the top five.
- Showing up in a pretty place and posing can be fun, but somewhere meaningful and familiar you already love just naturally puts you at ease.
- Nothing kills the vibe like unwanted attention. If you don’t want to be taking photos in front of staring bystanders or pedestrians, let’s not shoot at the city mural on a Saturday afternoon. Let’s go somewhere a little more remote and private, unless attention is your thing, then, mural it is!
- Do something. Honestly, it totally helps, especially for guys. Having something to do with your hands, something to laugh at, a game to engage in, anything helps so you can kinda forget you’re getting your photo taken. Kinda.
- Calm your nerves with little sip of spirits! Use this suggestion at your own discretion, but sometimes it helps to bring a flask in the car for a quick swig to shake the nerves.
- Wear clothes you can kick it in. Nobody has fun in heels they’re just breaking in or a tie they haven’t worn since graduation, so maybe ease up on the fancy. You’ll have more fun if you can
breathe and bend and bounce around.
Do I own the copyright to the images in my collection?
Sarah Ellefson Photography retains the copyright, but you have printing rights and can post your images wherever you’d like. The copyright ensures that you may not alter the photos in any way to protect the integrity of our editing.
How can we avoid awkward photos if we’re (I mean, he’s) uncomfortable in front of the camera?
Everyone feels this way, but you’d be surprised how quickly you can both take a big exhale, put your guard down and actually have the best time.
And the easiest way to do that?
Your engagement session.Once we’ve already worked together and you’ve seen how amazing the engagement photos turn out, you won’t think twice about feeling awkward in front of the camera on your wedding day.
How many hours do I have you for?
A wedding day is a minimum of 6 hours for one photographer. After working through a rough timeline over the phone, we give you a custom package ranging from 6-10+ hours based on your photo needs!
Is there any way to save a few dollars on wedding photography?
If you’re getting married on a weekday, during the winter months of December – February or are in a bit of a shotgun situation with a wedding less than three months away, we have some wiggle room. Send me over your details in my contact form and we can get on the phone to see where you’re at money-wise!
What gear do you use? Do you have liability insurance?
We shoot with top of the line, professional grade Canon gear. Currently in rotation, two 5D Markiii bodies, a 50mm, a 35 mm, and an 85 mm lens collection, alongside a few flashes and video lights. We’re with the Boy Scouts when it comes to always being prepared! For this reason, we bring back up gear of everything we need to capture your wedding. We also carry a liability policy that fully covers my business should something go awry on your big day. If your venue needs a copy, no problem at all! Just let us know at least 30 days before your wedding and We’ll have the policy sent right over.
After I book, what’s the best way to reach you with questions about my wedding?
Email! We’ll respond lightning quick and it’s the best way to ensure we prioritize your communication and it doesn’t get lost in a jumble of text messages.
Do we receive all the images you take?
We deliver all images taken with the exception of duplicate + test photos, we don’t cap the number of images we deliver. All images are color corrected + edited in a manner consistent with what you see on our website and blog and we deliver images in JPEG format for easy printing.
