Question 1

How would you describe your style of wedding photography?

Accepted Answer

With a background in journalism and other photography practices, I shoot in a documentary style. My goal is to be as unobtrusive as possible, capturing candid moments, fleeting expressions, stolen glances and the little details that sometimes go unnoticed. The best images are made when life is really happening. That being said, posed shots with each other and with those closest to you are a critical component of wedding photography. Family portraits are organized and curated to make sure I capture all the various combinations of loved ones that you desire.

Question 2

What’s it like to work with you?

Accepted Answer

To sum it up: I’m an easy-going hard worker. I have a steadfast attention to detail, work ethic and love for my craft, while simultaneously being very go-with-the-flow and relaxed. Weddings can be stressful sometimes, and my clients have told me that my jovial yet calm presence puts them at ease. You can rely on me to get the job done to the very best of my ability, while leaning on me for any support, laughter or reassurance you may need throughout the day.

Question 3

Do we need a shot list?

Accepted Answer

I request a pretty basic shot list for each wedding. I need a simple structure of the day’s timeline, as well as any preferences you may have on backdrops for posed photographs at your venue. A typical timeline is: arrival time, first look (if applicable), ceremony, family portraits, couples portraits, dinner and dancing. What is also necessary is a detailed list of the various combinations of family members / close friends you want photos with. Going through this shot list is something your wedding planner or a close friend will help with (in terms of wrangling people!)

Question 4

Second photographers?

Accepted Answer

For weddings over 150 people, I strongly recommend having a second photographer. This would be someone I bring onto my team who I have worked with before or have vetted extensively. Second photographers are vital for larger weddings and/or weddings with several locations and dynamic elements to make sure nothing gets missed. I will of course lead the photography direction and provide editing and delivery of the final gallery.

Question 5

What if you have to cancel due to illness or emergency?

Accepted Answer

In the unlikely event of sickness or a major emergency, I will provide you with a backup, trusted photographer that I have either worked with directly or vetted. I will still be a part of the team and will deliver your fully edited gallery. If all else fails, I will issue a full refund.

Question 6

What is the process like for booking you as our wedding photographer?

Accepted Answer

We’ll start by scheduling a video call to get to know each other. It’s so important for me to learn about you as a couple and the vision for your day, as well as for you to learn more about me as a photographer and person that will be present for one of the most important moments of your life. If you decide to move forward with me, I will send through a contract and require a non-refundable 25% deposit to secure your day. After this, we’ll keep in touch to iron out any details before your wedding.

Question 7

Do you have insurance?

Accepted Answer

Yes, I carry standard coverage for both liability and venue COI options.

Question 8

What's the payment process?

Accepted Answer

I accept various forms of payment including Venmo, Zelle, CashApp, PayPal, cash or check.

Question 9

Do you offer engagement photo trial sessions before booking?

Accepted Answer

Yes. I price my 1-2 hour engagement shoots at $500. Please see my pricing and packages for more details.

Question 10

What is included in the hours we book with you?

Accepted Answer

My packages are inclusive of all expenses involved in New York City and tri-state area weddings, including photography, travel and vendor meals. Please inquire directly about pricing for destination weddings. I make sure to confirm start/end times and timelines before the event so we know we’re both on the same page.

Question 11

How do you deliver our photos?

Accepted Answer

All images are sent in high resolution JPEG format. This is suitable for printing as large as 11X14 or higher. The gallery is sent via email through Pic-Time, a reputable hosting platform for wedding photographers, that you can download directly from, order prints/photobooks/cards/etc., and easily share with friends and family.

Question 12

Can we have the raw files?

Accepted Answer

In short, no. By choosing to work with me you are also trusting my professionalism as a photographer and editor. All images I release are given the utmost care and detail, and reflect my standard of quality and style.

Question 13

What does editing mean?

Accepted Answer

Editing is color correction, adding slight contrast, fixing highlights and shadows, cropping and straightening images, as well as culling and curating galleries by removing closed eyes, duplicates or unflattering angles. I do not provide extensive retouching. Should you desire services like air brushing and reshaping figures, I can help connect you with talented photo-retouchers who can do whatever you need.

Question 14

How long will the wedding gallery be online?

Accepted Answer

I will keep your gallery online for at least one year. Within this time frame, please take care to download the entirety of your gallery and back it up on both an external hard drive and cloud storage service. Unfortunately due to subscription and hosting fees, I cannot keep galleries online indefinitely, nor can I guarantee file recovery should you fail to download and store your images.

Question 15

What camera gear do you use?

Accepted Answer

For Digital I use a Canon R5 and Canon 5D Mark IV. I bring a variety of lenses including a 70-200mm f/2.8, 70-24 f/2.8, 17-40mm f/1.4, and a fixed 50mm f/1.8. For film, I usually bring 2-3 bodies with me: a standard 35mm, a point-and-shoot 35mm with flash, and a 120mm (medium format) camera. Aside from external flashes, I don’t typically work with any other lighting gear.

Question 16

Why film?

Accepted Answer

Both 35mm and 120mm film bring a unique timelessness to your images. The grain, texture, and feel is truly irreplicable.

Question 17

What if there's inclement weather?

Accepted Answer

One thing I pride myself on is the ability to pivot quickly. We planned your couples shoot outside by the lake and now it’s pouring rain? Let’s find a better spot. That being said, it’s important for us to discuss a back-up plan for this kind of thing ahead of time. Some of the most romantic wedding photos I’ve seen are in the rain under clear umbrellas.

Question 18

Do you do destination weddings?

Accepted Answer

I primarily serve NYC and the tri-state area, but yes! Please inquire about pricing and details for destination weddings, as extensive travel is not reflected in my current packages.

Question 19

Do you do maternity & family sessions?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. I price these in the same bracket as engagement sessions. Please inquire for further details!

Kirsten Nicolaisen Photography

Full wedding (ceremony and reception) pricing

Elopement pricing

About Kirsten Nicolaisen Photography