FAQ's
How long has Amin been a photographer?
Amin has been making photographic magic since 1999 when he entered the field as a scenic photographer. His work has been seen in galleries and in businesses in the New Orleans Metro area. It wasn't until some time later in 2001 that Amin took a divine interest in portraiture and wedding photography.
How many weddings per day do you photograph?
We photograph only one wedding per day! This is extremely important to giving our clients the time and attention they deserve. You will never be hurried or rushed on your wedding day because this is your day and you deserve the best!
How long will it take to receive the images, after my wedding?
Wedding image galleries will be online within a few days after the wedding day! You will receive an email informing you that the Images are ready to be viewed. Once we have conducted the sales session, then the Post wedding orders will go into production and delivered to you along with the final album!. The final album usually takes 6-8 weeks after the order is placed.
Do you sign all your portraits?
As the artist, Amin personally hand signs all 8x10 and larger "loose" prints. His signature is complimented by the present year. All of our wallets proudly have our "ARP Logo" logo in a lower corner, just like a Polo shirt or a Mercedes automobile have their logos on their products. We're equally proud of our work and so are our clients. Showing that you went to ARP for your portraits says something about who you are and shows that you appreciate quality. For these reasons all of our 8x10 and larger prints will be signed and our wallet sized pictures are only available with our logo in the corner.
How far in advance are you booked?
Certain times of the year book out a year or more in advance. Also, particular dates are more popular than others. Please visit our CONTACT PAGE to Check Your Date and see if your day is currently available. Dates are not held until the retainer and Agreement are received.
What type of lighting do you use?
We believe that in order to get studio type results, you need to have studio type equipment out in the field. The type of lighting we incorporate into our coverage cannot compare to on-camera flash because the three-dimensional look you will see is a rare find with many photographers. By using our "secret recipe" lighting techniques, you will have images that are unlike any other because most photographers do not want to take the time to go that extra mile to achieve the same type of results.
Do you have any backup equipment?
Along with our "working set," we bring along extra cameras, lenses, batteries, cords, camera accessories, and flashes. This ensures that the memories will continue even when a battery won't!
Do you sell the image files(Digitals)?
Yes! Files are actually a part of our collections now! We realize that for some, image files are very important to have in their possession, but many are unaware of proper storage of such files which is why we will hold them indefinitely.
What type of clothing should we wear for our Engagement/Portrait Session?
Clothing options vary depending on the style of the session being done. The goal is to direct the viewer's eye to the faces and relational elements of the photograph. Therefore, we recommend simple, long-sleeved black or white clothing for our fine-art portrait subjects in the studio. For other portraiture, such as on location or environmental, we recommend simple, solid colors that blend well together. Avoid mixtures of light and dark tones together as this creates "visual confusion". Also, patterns in clothing for the most part should be avoided. With careful planning and communication with us, we can be sure to create for you an art piece that is reflective of who you are.
What is your booking/deposit/payment policy?
There is an initial retainer of $1000 of the package price for a Friday, Saturday and Sunday event and 1/2 of package price for any other day. The balance should be paid 21 days prior to ceremony.
What is your attire for my wedding?
To ensure we blend into the background we wear all black slacks and a long sleeved black/white dress shirt. (never jeans)
How do the hours in your packages work?
The hours in our packages start when the photography starts. Initial travel time and setup time is included in the package but isn't deducted from the photography package hours.
My friend's photographer took nearly 2,000 photos (aprox. 300/hr.) at her wedding, isn't that better?
Don't let the quantity impress you, more isn't always better. Often the best photograph isn't produced by a loose trigger finger but is captured with precision accuracy, timing and discipline. An over abundance of photos can be both overwhelming and a disappointment when you discover that you didn't get a good variety of interesting pictures but really just got 3 times the number of duplicates. How many real copies of the photographs do you get? I'll bet more photos taken don't translate into more originals for you.
Do you offer video services?
Yes! Video is very different than still photos and takes a whole different set of skills, talent training and equipment. In addition, we offer an awesome Slideshow reel, set to music of your choice and it also contains video clips, animation, and text.
What is your product guarantee?
It's really simple, if you don't like it, we will re-do any individual portrait at no extra cost! No problem, no worries! All products are 100% guaranteed! (Wall Portraits must have our custom framing to qualify for our Lifetime Warranty.)
Video faq's
Q. Is it possible to videotape everyone at the wedding ceremony and reception? How long do you work with me on the day of our wedding?
A. No. It is impossible to be able to guarantee that everyone will be filmed. As a general rule with video, the focus is solely on the bride and groom. If you want to make sure that a specific family member is filmed, you must contact me before the wedding. I will stay until I get the footage I need to finish your video. Usually, I leave the reception 15 min. after the last formal activities. This is to ensure that I film an open dance floor. If there is an event that will take place later in the evening, please let me know ahead of time so that I can make arrangements in my schedule.
Q. How do you edit our video?
A. The way I shoot and edit the video is by using candid camera and editing techniques. This means that your entire day will be condensed into a condensed video production. If you have questions as to how this will look, please ask to view more of my sample videos. Also please note, that I only include the most important moments from the wedding ceremony. I do not record the service in its entirety.
Q. Can we buy the raw footage? How long do you keep a master copy of our video on file?
A. Yes, we do sell the raw footage. The cost is $300 for 2 digital drives. I keep raw footage on file for only two months after you have received your wedding video. I keep a master copy of your video on hand for two years after your wedding date. After that time period, I cannot guarantee that I will have your video. I highly recommend to every couple, that you purchase some brand of media fire safe: Sentry and Brinks make these. This will ensure that you will have a copy of the video in a protected location.
Q. How long does it take to finish our video? Can we make changes to the final video?
A. I spend between 60-70 hours editing over a period of at least 40 days to finish your video. As you saw in my sample videos, they are highly edited. I will notify you when the finished video is completed. I allow changes to the final video only if mistakes were made on Amin Russell Photography’s part. Such mistakes include misspellings and other changes, which were discussed with us ahead of time. Other changes to the final video can be made, but there will be a charge per hour to do so. Changes to the final video, which were not caused by Amin Russell Photography, are billed at a rate of $100.00 per hour with a minimum of 3 hours charged. These charges are not meant to be a deterrent, but changes to the final video that were not discussed with us ahead of time still take a great deal of additional editing time and excess materials.
Q. How much is your retainer? When do I pay you the remaining balance?
A. The retainer is a non-refundable $500 dollars. The remaining balance must be paid three weeks prior to the wedding date.
Q. How do we get our wedding videos when you are finished?
A. When I call you and inform you that your video is finished, we will ship to your home address or you can pick up from the office.