FAQ

I love capturing candid moments because those are the type of photos that tell the story of your day. Working with me means nothing overly posed, nothing dramatic and awkward, nothing that doesn’t feel like YOU. While I’ll spend some time doing your couple and group portraits, my priority is for you to be present and enjoy your wedding day.

You can email me at carolinacarusostudio@gmail.com or via the contact page. I will respond to all inquiries within 24 hours. If you don’t receive a response your message may have gone into your spam folder.

A 50% (non-refundable) booking fee is required to secure your date with a signed contract. The balance is due not later than 30 days before the date of the wedding. For portrait shoots, the full amount is payable at the time of booking to secure your date. The booking fee is - non-refundable because once I commit to photographing your wedding, I turn down all other inquiries for your wedding day.

For most weddings, I arrive 1.5 to 2 hours before the ceremony to capture the bridal party getting ready and to take a few portraits of the bride and groom before the ceremony. Most people then like me to stay for speeches, cake cutting and a little bit of dancing at the reception. However, every wedding is different and I work to suit my clients’ wishes.

The couples have the option to reschedule if they feel that is best for them. While most couples are happy to get married whatever the restrictions are, if you prefer to wait for “normal” to return, we can discuss rescheduling your wedding. If you’re choosing to reschedule for any reason, a rescheduling fee is due at the time of choosing your new date.

The first look is a special moment between the couple that takes place before the ceremony. I have the groom with his back to the bride, and get some awesome shots of her walking up behind him. After that, the groom will turn around and I will capture your expressions as you see each other for the first time. After a few photos, I will leave the two of you for a moment to yourselves. There are many reasons why I suggest doing this. First of all, it is less stressful on the both of you. Second, you get more pictures, because we are not rushing and we have more time.

If the wedding were to be called off, I would require compensation of 50% of the package total. I am not likely able to re-book your date and that is not only a loss of income for me but I have already put in a great deal of work for your day between meetings, photo calls, and email communication with yourself and other vendors as well.

Yes! Because photography is all about how the light is falling on you, certain types of light are better. The warm, late afternoon light is best, as it gives you a radiant glow. A few hours before, and right up until, sunset is the ideal time to take photographs – however this is also the time many people wish to have their reception – so we’ll work within your time allowances.
The worst time of day is late morning to mid-afternoon, as the high sun tends to cast harsh shadows.

Communication and trust! The more I know about you and what you are looking for, the better we can work together to produce beautiful photographs.
What makes the difference between “good” and “great” photos is when my clients have gone that extra mile. I love it when my clients play along with me, rather than try to hide from the camera. It is also very important to give me ample time. The worst thing is to be running late and for the day to be a huge rush.

Yes! The idea is for you to enjoy as many photos of your wedding day as possible. I am happy to accommodate friends and relatives who would like to take their own photos, even during posed family groupings. We will work with them to make sure that everything flows smoothly and that there’s no confusion in the process.

Absolutely! I would recommend keeping it to around 10-15 photos, which takes around 20 minutes. It is not the taking of the photos that takes time, it's the time it takes to gather everyone up.

Absolutely! Even though engagement sessions are totally optional, I strongly recommend you do an engagement session before your wedding day. Apart from getting beautiful photos of you two, you will also have the opportunity to get comfortable in front of my camera and get used to having me around you during your special day. Plus, what better way to celebrate this special time of your life than by getting dressed up and taking some photos?!

Weather can be unpredictable even in the best of climates so it's worth having a few extra items on hand.

Start looking for a an emergency umbrella. You may not use it but it’s better to be prepared. Make sure to get a pretty one that matches your wedding style, in case it’s used in photos. 

And a second pair of flat shoes for walking on the wet ground. 

Small things can save the day.

Almost anywhere! I like to shoot somewhere different and a place that means something to you but I can also suggest places if you are happy to go with my ideas. What parts of town do you like to visit? Are you a nature person or an urban person? Which style of photography do you prefer, lots of trees and nature, or lots of buildings and that sort of thing? Is there a part of the city where you go frequently on dates, where you went for your first date, where the proposal took place? All of these can be fun locations for a shoot. The choice is up to you!

I suggest that you wear complementary colors, although they do not need to match exactly. I recommend that your colors harmonize well together, and are similar in tone both light, and dark, but not one wearing dark blue and the other wearing a pastel blue. Patterns should be kept to a minimum, and only one of you should wear them. If one of you is wearing a patterned shirt, the other should not be wearing one too. Look at photographs that you like of couples in magazines and online and notice what they are wearing and how it makes you feel.
Last but not least, look at your seasons. Make sure they match. A light summer shirt and a heavy winter sweater in the same photograph make the viewer focus on the clothes and not the people. If you are both wearing clothes from the same season, people will notice you and not what you are wearing.

Unfortunately no, but I can recommend a few talented makeup and hair stylists that I love to work with.

I currently do not provide videography services but I have a great list of wonderful videographers in the area.

Yes, please! Unless it's a half-day wedding or short coverage, it's a really long day for me, and likely won’t have eaten anything since early morning, so I will be starving by the time you sit down to eat. I like to stay close so I don't miss anything rather than driving off-site to find somewhere to eat. It would be great if I could eat at the same time as you. A simple supplier meal would be wonderful :)

Depending on the time of the year, your images will be with you between 6 - 7 weeks. Portrait sessions in 1-2 weeks during high season. I work as fast as I can to have your photos ready as quickly as I can.

I will make adjustments by hand to fine-tune contrast, color, sharpness, and cropping on every photo you receive. I will also make subtle lighting adjustments (“burning/dodging” in darkroom terms) to emphasize the composition of some photos. These adjustments are done at my discretion as I process the photos.

I do not re-cull or open archives after they are closed. After your wedding or photo session, I will cull the images; this means I will remove the blurry shots, blinking shots, unflattering shots, photobombs as well as unnecessary duplicates/repetitive images. I will give you all the beautiful images and never hold back anything good.

Yes, you will have an online gallery with a password that you can give out to your friends and family.

As the photographer, I own the copyright to the images I take. That’s just how the law works. But don’t worry – the images you receive are yours. You will receive high-resolution edited files and you can print them or share them however you see fit. 

Just don’t edit them and please don’t use them for commercial use without checking with me first. If any of your fabulous suppliers want to use my images on social media, they need to drop me a line and I will provide them with the images they need. I can’t think of a time I’ve ever said no – but I do like to keep track of where my work is going and I never like to see it subjected to IG filters.

I use Canon professional cameras and lenses and I always carry backup equipment too – just in case! Fortunately, I’ve never had to use it!