Question? How long have you been photographing? I have been taking photos since I was a teenager, but have been shooting professionally since 1996, when I was working toward my undergraduate degree from the Ringling College of Art & Design's Photography and Digital Imaging program. Through many years of trial and error, I have been very fortunate to learn the many different aspects of lighting, directing and framing photo shoots.
Question? What is your photography style? The main style of photography I practice is photojournalism. My goal is to unobtrusively and spontaneously capture the emotion, love and energy of the moment. I want to convey a sense of emotion to my clients as they look through their photos.
Question? Why is pricing so different among photographers? Photography is a competitive industry and has become increasingly more competitive with the popularity of consumer level digital camera technology. While rates among photographers will vary, it is important to keep a few things in mind:
You want to be sure that the photographer you hire has the lighting knowledge required to produce compelling and professional photographs. You want to avoid photographers that "low ball" rates, because many times these people may not posses the skills and experience to charge higher rates. Always carefully look through a photographers portfolio and inquire Biography professional references.
Keep in mind that having access to a powerful camera does not automatically make you a professional photographer. Photography is an art form at the core and requires exceptional compositional and lighting abilities, not to mention direction and conceptual skills.
Question? What photography equipment do you use? I utilize a variety of equipment including 35mm film and digital cameras and professional medium format rigs. I currently have three Nikon 35mm cameras, including a D1-X, F100, F5, Nikon flashes and a variety of lenses. My medium format camera of choice is the Mamiya RZ67 II - complete with film backs, digital backs, flash and a variety of lenses. This setup allows me to have several options for taking that perfect picture when the opportunity arises.
My digital post production facility includes Apple computers with Apple Cinema Displays, an Imacon drum scanners, Microtek flatbed scanners, several Epson photo printers and back-up storage media for our growing library of digital files.
Question? How many digital exposures do you capture in your sessions? I do not place limits to the amount of exposures I shoot. The more exposures I am able to shoot will only increase the number and selection of great photographs for my clients. I will always try to maximize your choices and will not limit my creativity to set amounts of film and/or digital exposures.
Question? Can I request a web based photo album? Web based photo albums are available and included in most of our packages. Our web based albums are great for sharing with family, friends and agents. You can even place print orders directly from your photo album! We even have the ability to design and develop custom websites if needed for an additional fee.
Question? Can clients keep digital proofs and film negatives? Yes, the digital proofs are yours to keep. Approximately 2-3 weeks after your shoot, you will receive a combination of 8x10, 4x6, and 4x5 images (depending on the cameras used.) All images will be placed in archival pages for your review. The color and B&W images are combined together in chronological order and then placed into an album for you to keep and refer to. Each image is hand numbered on the back to make ordering simple.
The digital and film negatives, however, remain the property of Christine Austin Photography. This will ensure that you will receive only the highest quality reprints and enlargements. You may choose to buy out your negatives at an agreed upon price.
Question? Do you have any references you can put us in contact with? Yes, we are happy to provide references upon request. There are also several online testimonials for your review. I am glad to provide email addresses and phone numbers of several brides and clients that would be happy to speak with you.
Question? Are you available for location shoots or for travel? Although I am based in New York City, I am available for travel to wedding destinationsall over the world. My clients typically cover travel and lodging expenses. Clients residing in metro New Yor will incur minimal travel expenses.
Question? Can we request special photos to be taken? Yes, of course you can! If there are "must-have" wedding photographs you desire, please make a note of them including a list of "family" members/photos so that no one is forgotten. I take nothing for granted on your wedding day and will be happy to accommodate your requests for portrait imagery. Please try and keep such requests to a minimum because the truly memorable shots will be the candids that you have hired me to photograph.
Question? How can I book your photography services? Once you have decided that Christine Austin Photography is the right choice for you, we will schedule a consultation or make an appointment for your shoot. The payment balance will be due on the day(s) of the shoot plus any applicable sales tax.
We are passionate Biography photography and hope to share our enthusiasm with you through some samples of our work on this website. We hope that you will enjoy this preview and we look forward to speaking with you in person to discuss your event in more detail. Please Contact directly at 917-776-1304 or email info@christineaustin.com to arrange a consultation.
