The world without photography will be meaningless to us if there is no light and color, which opens up our minds and expresses passion.
We’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions you may have (and even those you don’t yet know you will have) about how we work for your satisfaction. If you have any additional questions, feel free to email us at info@javierolivero.com
Q: How soon in advance do we need to book our date?
A: As soon as possible. This year we’ve had quite a number of brides book us almost a year in advance. Remember: “First come, first serve.
Q: Do you offer off-season and weekday discounts?
A: Unfortunately, no. As one of the best destination weddings photographers, we work almost 7 days a week, depending on our schedules and availability. But if you have a special request, please contact us.
Q: What do you require to book our wedding date?
A: We will require a $500 down payment and a signed contract to book the date. The remaining sum is due the day of the wedding.
Q: May I pay you 50% before and 50% after the wedding to book my date?
A: No. We require a $500 down payment and a signed contract to book the date. The remaining sum is due one day prior to the wedding date.
Q: What happens after booking?
A: We’ll start pre-wedding consultations leading up to the day. In addition, if it is included in your package, we will arrange a date for the pre-wedding/engagement session. This is also an opportunity for us to get to know a bit more about you.
Q: If we book your services, you will be our photographer, right?
A: Yes, unless we have the day booked and you are agree to accept one of our replacement photographers to cover your event. Even then, we will personally take care of all the post-production process of all your photographs.
Q: What is your photography style?
A: To take the photos at your wedding we’re required to excel at several styles of wedding photography. A wedding album isn’t complete without stunning portraiture, and your parents will kill me if we don’t get some traditionally posed photos taken. Javier Olivero Photography team is acclaimed for developing a unique style of wedding photography that is deeply rooted in editorial photography, while also influenced by advertising and fashion photography. We love using creative lighting, perspectives, angles, compositions and artistic post-production refining to bring out our clients personalities and beauty while telling their wedding story. We pride ourselves on not being only photographers, but rather artists able to create unique and expressive imagery. To see examples of our quality and style, please visit our website and our blog.
Q: What advice would you give a bride who is looking for a wedding photographer?
A: Make sure you like what you see in his webpage first, and most importantly, make sure you connect with the photographer. Look for versatility in their photography; you must be certain they are able to make a simple location look extraordinary through their use of light, composition, and the way they can help bring out your emotions. Ask for references and read reviews about the photographer: anyone can have a good set of photos, but it is important that they are consistent throughout their whole body of work.
Q: My venue is very dark. How does your studio handle these situations? Can I see any samples?
A: We have shot in the darkest of dark chapels and reception halls so there’s no need to worry! If the situation allows, we will set up additional lighting to ensure we get pictures with good focus. If some chapels do not allow flash photography, we shoot with special cameras with superb low-light performance and lenses with low apertures.
Q: Are there any style or quality differences among the photographers and you in your studio?
A: No. We take every measure to ensure consistent style and quality among all our photographers. We have developed the unique style you see in our work over the years. Each shoot is reviewed to ensure our quality and style is consistent. The team scrutinizes every mistake, no matter how minor. The quality and style of photography you receive will be consistent and top-quality.
Q: Can I see a full event from start to finish?
A: Of course you may! We pride ourselves on the consistency of our work. We understand all photographers post their best shots from each wedding on their websites so it’s hard to determine how well they will perform on the wedding day. That is why we encourage all of our potential clients to view full events from all the photographers they meet with to attest how well the photographer performs throughout the day.
Q: Do you photograph anything else in addition to weddings?
A: Yes! We are available for engagement, trash the dress, proposal and honeymoon photography sessions in addition to weddings. We are also available for advertising, commercial, and corporate photography sessions.
Q: We just got back from our honeymoon, can we see our photos?
A: Not yet! We are probably still recovering! We will have all your photos edited and uploaded to our online gallery/print cart within 4-10 weeks after your event, depending on our workload at the time. We will send you an email with a link to your private gallery the minute they are ready.
Q: How long will it take you to have our images ready?
A: Your images will be ready within 4-10 weeks of your wedding. We will initially upload the images to a private online gallery for you to view and share with friends and family. At the same time your friends and family will be able to order prints from anywhere in the world.
Q: Will our images be available for viewing online?
A: Yes. You will have access to an online private gallery.
Q: Can I have or see all of the unedited photos you took at our wedding?
A: Of course not! We never release any unedited photos, ever. But don’t worry, we give you the best ones and delete the ones that didn’t make the cut.
Q: Do you edit or enhance all the images in the online gallery?
A: Yes we do. Every image we deliver is edited with our signature post-production style, which involves color correction, exposure adjustment, selective black and white processing, clarity adjustments, tone mapping, and other corrections. Many photographers will not edit any images, or will only edit “select” images from your wedding. This means that you may have pictures that are too dark, have strange skin tones or other common photography flaws.
Q: What do you mean by “edit or enhance” the photos?
A: “Touching up” in our studio is the same as our signature (basic) post-production. See the question below for clarification.
Q: What is the difference between advanced and custom edits, and why are there additional costs for custom retouching?
A: Advanced post-production includes touch-ups such as removal of blemishes, removal of bags under eyes, removal of flyaway hairs, etc. On the other hand, custom post-production is anything that requires extensive, custom work in Photoshop, such as removing entire objects from the scene, changing the size and shape of body parts or other objects in the scene, adding objects to a scene and other custom work. Custom post-production is charged by the hour as the time required changes depending on the complexity of the project. Please contact Javier Olivero for a quote on custom post-production. Usually some parts of this special/advanced/custom service are free of charge in album orders.
Q: Do you shoot in JPEG?
A: We shoot our images in RAW format for a better post-production process, and then they are exported in JPEG format.
Q: Do I get all of the RAW files?
A: No.
Q: Do I get all of the high-res edited photos?
A: The high resolution photos are only included in the USB package. Album packages will receive as a gift a USB drive with low resolution photos for social media and sharing.
Q: Do you deliver every image you shoot?
A: No, we do not. We eliminate duplicate images, test shots, shots with less than ideal focus, shots with bad expressions and any other images that may dilute the overall product. For example, because we shoot with low apertures, sometimes we take a few extra shots to make sure we have the focus just perfect. We don’t expect you to have the time or the expertise to zoom into each image and select the one with the sharpest focus, so we spend hours doing that on our end. As another example, candid laughs and emotional tears are some of the best images from the day, but unfortunately, they can also yield some unflattering facial expressions. We might snap a few extras of any of these moments to make sure we have a great shot with the ideal facial expression for the moment. With our expertise of processing thousands of images each year, we may eliminate ones that we feel are duplicates and only deliver the best.
Q: Have you shot at my venue before?
A: We have shot at dozens of venues, so there is a good chance that we have. However, if we have not, we will do extensive online research prior to your big day.
Q: Do you have experience shooting in various lighting situations?
A: Yes, we are very comfortable working in all types of lighting conditions. We can use available light, or use plenty of artificial lights and modifiers to create our own lighting (our next favorite).
Q: How many hours do you suggest we set aside for wedding day photos?
A: Normally your wedding coordinator is responsible to answer this, because all depends on your timeline and event schedule.
Q: What happens if we go over the agreed amount of time in the contract?
A: We understand that not everything goes as planned during a wedding. We never pack up before the agreed time, and we never leave on the dot when the time is up. Instead, we will ask you at the end of the agreed time whether or not you would like to extend it. If you would like us to stay, we will charge you the rates previously specified in your contract/package.
Q: What time will you be arriving on the day?
A: We normally get to the bridal prep venue about 2 hours before the ceremony time. We’ll try to capture the general atmosphere, photograph the dress and accessories, the end part of the makeup session, and the bridal portrait session. If for any reason you need us to be there earlier, we’ll need to know this for days in advance.
Q: How long will you stay with us on our wedding day?
A: Up to 8 hours is the average coverage for a wedding day. This includes the getting ready (bridal prep time) pictures. That means: 2hrs getting ready pictures + 6 hours of ceremony, family, newlyweds and reception pictures. This will depend on the wedding package booked, or on a pre-agreed time schedule. Normally we will wait until all the key moments of the reception are done with, and then leave sometime after the garter, when we feel we have enough images to tell your story.
Q: Which photographer will be shooting my wedding?
A: Usually me, but if we have the day booked, we can provide you with another photographer from our studio if you are agree with it. If you are wondering whether there are differences in style and quality between the photographers, please clickhere and/or here.
Q: What is a second shooter?
A: It’s literally an additional photographer for your wedding day. That means you will have 2 photographers instead of one.
Q: Is it important to have a second shooter on the day?
A: While a single photographer can capture your day, we strongly advise having a second shooter to ensure no astonishing moments are missed. While one focuses on the father of the bride’s speech for example, the other can focus on reactions from the bride or guests, thus creating a more compelling story of your big day. This means you’ll end up with an amazing collection of different images to choose from.
Q: How many wedding photos will I get?
A: We do not have a set number because every wedding is different. We typically deliver anywhere from 500 to 1,500 images per wedding day. Keep in mind these numbers may increase or decrease depending on the flow of the day and the number of hours, events and/or activities that need to be captured.
Q: Do you sometimes book yourself for more than one wedding in a day or in a weekend?
A: Yes. I can do an elopement in the morning and a wedding in the evening. Also, our studio can handle up to 3 weddings in just one day. Is not normal, but is possible.
Q: Do you have a replacement wedding photographer in case you become unavailable on the day of the event?
A: Yes. If we can do up to 3 wedding in just one day, certainly we can offer a replacement.
Q: What is your policy on taking breaks? If you require a meal break, do you require that we provide your meal?
A: Certainly we need to eat at some point. Either because you provide us the food (This is the most common situation) or because we need take a break for lunch on our own (not recommended). The best time for this is of course during your dinner! If you are not going to provide us with a meal, you are in the obligation to inform us. Photographers, Videographers, and wedding planners are the vendors who spend the most hours working on your event. We need to be well nourished in order to be efficient and alert in our work and duties. Check your contract for more information regarding this matter.
Q: Do you provide partial day coverage?
A: We typically do not provide partial day coverage on weekends. On weekends, we only accept clients that require at least 8 hours of coverage or have a budget of $1,995.00 and above. If we receive a last minute request and the date is available, we can probably help you with the partial day coverage.
Q: What should we wear or bring to our session?
A: Whatever you do (please don’t wear white or black clothes). Wear something that you like and feel comfortable in. Just be awesome!
Q: Where and when will the session take place?
A: It’ll normally take place somewhere in Puerto Rico (if you are in PR), Miami (if you are in Miami) or the Caribbean (if you are in Caribbean), preferably at some place that holds some special meaning to you. Most of our sessions have to take place during the week due to being booked for bigger events during the weekend, but sometimes we do manage to arrange a weekend shoot. If you have no idea where do you want your photos taken, don’t worry, we can advise on the best place for you.
Q: When should we do our session?
A: We encourage you to do your session as soon as possible. The latest we suggest is at least four weeks before the wedding date due to the time necessary to post-produce each image and complete your order.
Q: Can we schedule our session for the weekend?
A: We typically do not shoot sessions on weekends because that’s when most weddings take place. If you can only do your session on a weekend, we can tentatively schedule your session on your preferred date; however, if a wedding is scheduled for that weekend later on, we will have to reschedule your session. We also like to shoot on weekdays because the locations are usually less crowded.
Q: When can we expect to see the photos from our session?
A: Post-production for engagement sessions will be ready within four weeks or sooner after the date of the shoot. If you require the images to be completed before this time, please let us know to discuss the details.
Q: How many images do you typically deliver?
A: We typically deliver anywhere from 50-200 images for a 2-hour session. Keep in mind these numbers may increase or decrease depending on the flow of the day and the number of events/activities that need to be captured.
Q: I’d like you to Photoshop our name and date into the save-the-dates, is that included in the package pricing?
A: No. Sounds a very simple request/task but it’s not. Because of this, we have decided not to provide this service.
Q: Do you offer albums?
A: Of course! We have 8 different albums to choose As soon as you approve our album design, it will take approximately 7-8 weeks to complete. These albums are custom-designed by us and hand crafted by some the best album companies in the world.
Q: What kind of wedding albums do you offer?
A: I’m so glad you asked about wedding albums! We love to see your photos come to life and we have several wedding album options for you to choose from. We have accounts with most of the major companies worldwide. After testing the durability, print quality/consistency, and cover style options, we have narrowed our printing partners to just 3, but we strongly recommend the Italian brand GraphiStudio for better quality, service and results. Wedding albums are included in almost all of our wedding photography packages so you get the best rates on everything you want. You have to see them and touch them to truly understand how amazing they are. Go to our album page to have a look!
Q: How long does it take to get my album?
A: As with our other products, production times may vary. However, you can typically expect to receive your album 6-8 weeks after placing the order. The process before placing the order varies in duration depending on how quickly you respond to the instructions for the album design as well as the amount of changes you request after the initial designs. Some couples complete this within a week or two; others may take over a year.
Q: How many pages and images do we get in our wedding day album?
A: Our wedding album contains between 20-40 pages (10-20 sides) and about 50-80 images.
Q: Can I add more pages to my album?
A: Each additional page can be added for $100, which includes design time and revisions.
Q: Can I add more images to my album?
A: Each additional image can be added for $10, which includes design time and revisions.
Q: Is there an extra charge for this service?
A: No. Any reasonable editing is carried out on a complimentary basis. Note however that digital manipulation, or special retouching -which is very different from editing- will come at an additional charge.
Q: How many photographs make a great storybook album?
A: We normally recommend between 70 and 100 pictures for the standard 30-page album package. However, if you need more than 100 images, it may be advisable to increase the album page count, or to make a second album.
Q: How will we get our album?
A: You can pick it up free of charge, or we can deliver it to you using USPS anywhere in the US for a flat rate of $85.
Q: Will the images be edited before the presentation?
A: All images are individually assessed for color and tone, and then edited appropriately. Blemishes and distractions are taken care of before the presentation. If fine art prints or albums are ordered, a little more editing will go into the selected images.
Q: Will our final images be watermarked?
A: No. You can see the watermark just within the online gallery.
Q: What size can we print our photos up to with our full resolution image within the USB package or online gallery?
A: Based on our contract, you can print your photos (for personal purposes) up to 11″x14″ without any quality loss. If you’d like bigger prints, you need to do through our online gallery up yo 20″x30″.
Q: What rights do I have to the digital prints?
A: You have the right to reprint images whenever you want for personal purposes (social media, Internet, etc.). However, you may not sell your images for profit nor use them for commercial purposes.
Q: Do you provide the RAW files from my engagement session and/or wedding day?
A: We do not provide RAW (unprocessed) files from our shoots because we believe in delivering a finished product. In fact, we’re often shooting with the end (post-produced) product in mind.
Q: Can I upload my wedding photos to Facebook once I get the USB drive?
A: Yes! We love Facebook. As stated in our contract, you may use your photos for personal use only. If you want to share them on Facebook, we’re cool with that as long as you give us some serious photo credit.
Q: Do you retain the copyright for the photos?
A: Yes, as your professional wedding photographer, I will retain copyright of all your wedding images (as any author), however I always provide a written and signed copyright release (your contract) for you allowing unlimited personal use and printing of your wedding photos.
Q: Do you reserve the right to publish the photos?
A: I prefer to; however, this is negotiable. I respect your privacy and I will never insist on retaining any right to publish photos of you. But I hope you’ll agree that your photos are amazing enough to share!
Q: What type of camera/equipment do you use?
A: We use top-notch professional Canon cameras and L series lenses, along with a host of lighting gear, modifiers, wireless communication equipment, and much more but remember: A GREAT EQUIPMENT DOES NOT MAKE A GREAT PHOTOGRAPHER.
Q: Do you use one camera?
A: No, we use 2 cameras: One for wider shots and another for closer shots. We don’t want to be intrusive in your big day.
Q: Do you bring back-up gear?
A: Certainly. I have two from every gear I carry in my bags.
Q: Is there any fact that I need to know about your equipment?
A: Yes! Each of our cameras have 2 memories inside. That guarantees you’ll have always a backup images during your wedding day in case of any situation that may undermine the integrity of your images.
Q: Do you backup our images? How can we ensure that our images won’t be lost?
A: Things happen, because electronics are unpredictable. But as a matter of fact, we have never lost an image from a wedding due to the following backup workflow for each of our events: Each of our cameras have 2 memories inside. That guarantees you’ll have always a backup images during your wedding day in case of any situation that may undermine the integrity of your images.
Q: Do you have liability insurance?
A: Yes. Many venues require the photographer to have a 7-figures liability insurance. So before hiring some “good enough” photographer, make sure he’s covered.
Q: What are your meeting hours for clients?
A: Usually Monday to Saturdays from 9am to 9pm. Please call us or email us to schedule an appointment.
Q: We live out of town. Is it possible for our family or friends to meet with you instead?
A: We’d love to meet your relatives, answer their questions and review our work with them, but if possible, we’d like to at least Skype with you to get to know you better.
Q: We’re very busy and won’t be able to schedule a meeting with you. Are there any other options?
A: We would love to have a meeting with you prior to your engagement shoot or wedding; however, if you’re too busy or too far away, we can handle everything remotely. Just let us know what information you need and we will do our best to accommodate your request. If you would like to talk about packages and get a sense of the photographer’s personality, telephone calls and Skype appointments can be arranged.
Q: Do you travel to meet clients?
A: Due to the limitations of our schedule, we currently do not travel to meet clients. If you would like to schedule a meeting, please contact our studio at (787) 784-3359 or email us.
Q: How can I set up an appointment to meet you in person and see some of your work?
A: Contact our studio (787) 784-3359 or email us.
Q: How do I book you for my date?
A: All dates are booked once we receive your signed contract and down payment.
Q: What if we exceed our contracted time for our engagement shoot and/or wedding day coverage?
A: Standard rates apply for overtime. Overtime is billed at the rate of $250.00/hour for weddings and $100/hour for engagement, trash the dress, honeymoon or proposal sessions.
Q: Is there an additional fee if we pay via credit card?
A: You can pay via credit card using the PayPal option. Otherwise, we do not accept credit card payments.
Q: May I pay the remaining balance in cash?
A: Yes (or postal money order), preferably.
Q: In case we cancel the wedding, will we receive our initial payment back?
A: Unfortunately, no. The initial payment is used to book your date.
Q: If we change our wedding to a different date, will we be able to use our down payment towards a future date?
A: If after the contract is signed, you change, reschedule or postpone the wedding date, no additional charges will be made to move to a new date, provided that there is no scheduling conflict (but if our rates change from your original date to your new date, the new rates will apply). If, however, another client has already secured that same day, or the photographer is not available for any reason, then the contract will be cancelled and the down payment will not be refunded. In the event that you cancel the event without prior notice to us, you agree to be liable for the full payment of the invoice.
Q: Do you offer any discounts on weekday weddings, Sunday weddings, or weddings during the off-season?
A: We do not offer discounts on Sunday weddings and off-season weddings. As you may know, wedding season is all year round here in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. For this reason we are shooting throughout the whole year. We also cannot offer any discounts on weekday weddings as all of the costs (second shooter rates, etc.) associated with the wedding remain the same.
Q: Do you offer any discounts if we booked more than one services like videography or photo booth?
A: Yes. $50 discount for photo booth and $200 discount for videography services. Call to our office for more information
Q: Are there any travel fees associated with the engagement session and/or wedding day shoot(s)?
A: When applicable, THE CLIENT is responsible for all travel, accommodations, meal(s), parking fees and transportation costs, if any, unless provided by THE CLIENT.
Q: Do you have a passport?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you do destination weddings? What additional fees are associated with destination weddings?
A: While Javier Olivero Photography is based in Puerto Rico (USA), we serve clients all around the world. Our destination wedding photography packages has the same costs of local weddings, except the cost of for travel, reasonable accommodation and car hire when needed. Please contact us for details.
Q: Do you charge extra for travel and hotel accommodation?
A: Yes. If the location is over an hour drive from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and photography is expected to start quite early, or if the event finishes at late hours and the location is further than an hours drive from San Juan, then reasonable overnight accommodation, parking ticket or gasoline will be charged at cost when needed.
Q: Does your studio provide videography services?
A: Yes. To see examples of our videography services, click here.
Q: Does your studio provide a second shooter services?
A: Yes. To see examples of our second shooter services, click here and/or here
Q: Does your studio provide photo booth services?
A: Yes. We have one of the best and funniest photo booths in Puerto Rico! To see examples of our photo booth services, clickhere.
Q: Does your studio provide professional make up & hair services?
A: Yes. To see examples of our professional make up & hair services, click here.
Q: Are you a wedding coordinator or event planner?
A: Absolutely NOT. But if you need advice from us on which wedding planner in Puerto Rico fits your needs or is good for you, we can talk about it and make a good recommendation to you later. WE DO NOT SUPPORT COMISSIONS FOR REFERRALS, SO FEEL FREE TO ASK.
Q: Do you shoot Quinceaneras, Debutants, Bah Mitzvahs, or Corporate Events?
A: Yes. This is all considered ‘event photography.’ We have chosen to focus and excel at wedding and event photography and we would love to cover your celebration.
Q: Finally… why is wedding photography so expensive?
A: Wedding photographer Pavel Kounine answered this question very well in this article
Hope to have the privilege to be your photographer and do the best pictures of your life!
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