+ what type of wedding photography do you do?

I cover weddings in primarily a journalistic style but doesn't think photography should be limited by "genre." While generally I am very hands-off and unobtrusive in his coverage of the day he does believe that there is a time and place for gorgeous, casually posed images of the bride and groom together. So, while I won't stop you and make you pose while cutting the cake or while you are doing your dance, I would like about an hour (or more!) alone with you both (if possible) sometime during the day to create some images of you without your wedding party or guests looking on. I believe strongly in preserving all of the details of the wedding; from your cake to your shoes, so detail images are a priority for the coverage. I prefer to spontaneously capture guests laughing, smiling, dancing, drinking, and having a great time, so I try not to do too many posed images but will do them if requested.

+how would you describe your style?

My primary role as the Photographer at a wedding is to act as both a storyteller and documentarian. I would describe my style as combination of wedding photojurnalistic and fashion inspired lifestyle and editorial photography. The mix of the fusion of these two different approaches will vary depending on the needs of the client as well as how the day develops.

+do you shoot same-gender weddings?

Damn skippy I absolutely will shoot same gender weddings! I am a strong supporter of the LGBT community. I'm excited for any couple who have been fortunate to find found the love that we all seek and want to share their lives with each other. I strongly believe that marriage is a human right belonging to us all, regardless of orientation or gender identity. Love always wins!

+what type of wedding photography do you do?

I cover weddings in primarily a journalistic style but doesn't think photography should be limited by "genre." While generally I am very hands-off and unobtrusive in his coverage of the day he does believe that there is a time and place for gorgeous, casually posed images of the bride and groom together. So, while I won't stop you and make you pose while cutting the cake or while you are doing your dance, I would like about an hour (or more!) alone with you both (if possible) sometime during the day to create some images of you without your wedding party or guests looking on. I believe strongly in preserving all of the details of the wedding; from your cake to your shoes, so detail images are a priority for the coverage. I prefer to spontaneously capture guests laughing, smiling, dancing, drinking, and having a great time, so I try not to do too many posed images but will do them if requested.

+how would you describe your style?

My primary role as the Photographer at a wedding is to act as both a storyteller and documentarian. I would describe my style as combination of wedding photojurnalistic and fashion inspired lifestyle and editorial photography. The mix of the fusion of these two different approaches will vary depending on the needs of the client as well as how the day develops.

+do you shoot same-gender weddings?

Damn skippy I absolutely will shoot same gender weddings! I am a strong supporter of the LGBT community. I'm excited for any couple who have been fortunate to find found the love that we all seek and want to share their lives with each other. I strongly believe that marriage is a human right belonging to us all, regardless of orientation or gender identity. Love always wins!

+where DO you live? you travel? right?

I live in the Washington DC area, specifically Fort Washington, MD ... but rest assured that should you commission me to cover your wedding and travel to you then you are hiring someone experienced with traveling for weddings. I’ve done several weddings outside the DC/Baltimore area (San Fransisco, Seattle, Cancun to name a few) and I have a Passport. I welcome travel opportunities.

+are you the only photographer?

I am the sole primary photographer for Rodney Mickle Photographer.

+do I have an assistant? another photographer?

I usually work alone and occasionally bring an assistant with me. If you would like a second shooter, that can be arranged for an additional fee.

+do you come to the rehearsal?

rehearsal dinner coverage is available if you'd like to add it to your collection; otherwise I do not attend the rehearsals.

Can we give you a shot list of photographs we want you to take? Other than the list of family groupings, I'd prefer if we hashed this list out together. It’s very helpful to know what important relatives and friends are coming to your day, and if any specific events during the day bear special significance worth documenting, but repeated requests for posed images and having to work "from a checklist" is counterproductive to the photojournalistic approach. It also can create an unintended consequence of missing shots because I'm working a shot list. With all that said, I will welcome "shot lists" provided to me from my clients that are custom and specific. We can discuss specifically what shots I generally take at every wedding know that I generally capture typical images without prompting.

+do you still take posed family images?

absolutely. Rodney strongly believes in those family images, as they are records of your entire family at an important time in their history together. a few weeks before your wedding he will send you a questionnaire covering the details of the day and among the other questions is a list of posed images - these are the family groupings that Rodney traditionally photographs at each wedding he covers. you will have space to write in your own additional groupings. PLEASE bear in mind that the hallmark of Rodney's coverage is journalistic and real-time, so a very long list of posed images will hinder him ability to cover the event in a documentary manner. he provides you with nine groupings and strongly suggests your final list include no more than 12 or 13 total. these groupings are quick, easy, and largely informal and Rodney tries to make them pleasant and enjoyable for everyone involved!

+do we need to feed you at the reception?

It would be really super if you do me a solid on this. It doesn't have to be the same as your sit-down meal (many caterers offer "vendor meals" as an add-on option) but feeding me ensures that my inner-troll stays in check. Surely you would want me to faint from starvation? I prefer to be fed when YOU are fed, not afterwards, because when you are eating you're not at your most photogenic and when you're done, we want to be done as well to continue your coverage.

+if we run overtime, will you stay?

Yep. If I’ve been treated nicely, the first hour is on me, but I do have an overtime rate and it goes into effect only with your permission and approval that I continue coverage. I will invoice you for those hours after you return from your honeymoon.

+can our family and friends take pictures with their cameras? will that bother you?

Fo shizle! It doesn't bother me in the least bit! I do request they not swarm the family photographs right away because it’s a good thing that folks look at my camera when taking pictures but I don't mind at all if they snap away from the background after I’ve gotten the shot. With bridal images, groom images or the images of you two alone, I does not allow family or friends to come along for the for privacy purposes and because, frankly, other people can be disrupting or distracting! I welcome other cameras during dancing, cake cutting, and other events just asks politely if people could please not push me out of the way and respect that you hired me to do your wedding pics and allow me to do my job.

+how many pictures will we get?

The number of photographs taken depends on many things - the number of guests, hours of coverage, types of events. Our general rule of thumb are 100 images per hour of coverage, but often it's much, much higher.

+do we get to keep the “negatives”?

I provide the print-resolution digital files (the digital equivalent of film negatives) as standard with my basic collection. When the files are released to you, I will provide you with a list of resources from which to get quality prints. I do retain the copyright to the images and the right to use them for promotional purposes, photography print competitions, professional review, and other business supporting purposes. You will be provided a usage license that will allow you to make unlimited personal print reproductions and copies for your friends and families.

+how long does it take to get our products and images?

online galleries are posted within two-three weeks of the wedding date. The digital files are available within nine weeks of the wedding date. Upon final approval of album designs most albums are ready for delivery within 12 weeks of the approved design (this can be faster or slower depending on the album maker).

+what’s a proof image? Is it different from other images that you provide?

A proof image is an image that has been taken through initial post-production (image processing). Where necessary, I will adjust the image for exposure (lightening/darkening), white balance (warming up/cooling down of image) and density and saturation (punch and richness of colors). These are global adjustments that can be done quickly and is applied to every image that I deliver to my clients. These are the type of image files that you get from me that’s part of your collection. Images that are for gift prints, wall print, and albums orders are taken through a complete post-production process. In addition to the processing described above for the proofs, I will custom detail each image with local adjustments to the image. This includes skin smoothing, getting rid of wrinkles, blemihes, pimples, whiting teeth and brightening eyes, reducing unflattering bulges. This could also include conversions to black and white, sepia tones, cross processing and adding textures. This is rather time intensive work and is reserved for print orders and albums.

+do you print our photos for us?

To save on costs for you—and for me—I do not print the photos unless you order a print. Instead of printing images, I provide a private, password protected online proofing gallery where you can download the proof images. You can share this gallery with family and friends via email where they (and you) can also order prints or download the files. Alternatively, you can take the images to any photo processing center (such as online vendors like Mpix which is my vendor of choice or to a local place like Ritz, Costco, CVS etc.) to print any number of photos in any gift print size (8in x 12in or smaller) and any quantity desired. Most people prefer this method to the older method of a package with a certain number of prints in a certain number of sizes—this way, everyone can get the exact print and size they like. In addition, you are not dependent on me to release images to you. Because you have the images on digital media, you have total control and never have to pay extra to get more prints from the photographer (who would have to charge you again and again for the time/labor involved in printing things and getting them to you).

+how does the album design process work?

You have six months from the event date to select the images for your album, should you choose to get one. If you don't select your images within that time frame I will make a first draft design for you. You do get to preview your album design and make two rounds of changes to it before a change-fee is assessed. Once you approve the layout I will help you choose your album cover style, color, imprinting, and other small details. You will then sign off on the book and it will go to print. All of this process can be completed online or via e-mail. Once you choose your images it takes about four weeks to produce your first draft and each round of changes generally takes two business weeks to complete.

+what will my album look like?

All ofthe wedding albums I offer are modern books. They are flush mount (mounted to cover the entire spread flush to the edges) and the images are printed directly onto the pages, much like in a coffee table book you'd buy at the bookstore. This allows for infinite design possibilities.

+what is the online gallery?

the online gallery is a private, password protected section on our website where all of your wedding photographs will be placed online for you and your family and friends to view. it is also a secure shopping cart - which allows you (and your family and friends) to order prints and cards and select album prints online. all you have to do is provide the password to anyone who you want to be able to view the images.

+do you have insurance?

Yes. If your venue requires a rider on my policy let me know as soon as you can to get that process moving forward.

+what kind of equipment do you use?

top of the line professional Canon equipment and extensive backups.I also have top qaulity lighting and modifers.

+how long have you been in business? how many weddings have you photographed?

I've been in business since 2005 and has photographed over 100 weddings.

+can you hold the date for me?

I’m sorry, but we can't hold the date or pencil you in. to be fair to everyone we can't "hold" a date without a retainer and a signed contract. We accept bookings on a first come/first served basis.

+what is your payment schedule like?

A booking fee/retainer of $500 is due to reserve your date. 50% of the remaining balance is due 60 days before your event with the final amount due 30 days before the wedding. If booking is less than thirty days before the wedding the entire contract amount is due at the time of signing.

+can we pay you part of the amount after the wedding?

Weddings must be paid in full thirty (30) days before the wedding date.

+if I must cancel my wedding. Can I have my retainer back?

The retainer guarantees that we will hold the date exclusively for you and once you've signed the contract we do turn down all other potential commissions for that date. The retainer fee and all monies paid are considered liquidated damages and thus non-refundable.

+what if you, like, die before the wedding?

If I die I can guarantee that I will NOT be at your wedding. However, my survivors will still supply you with coverage from my network of Photographers (based on your contract). I am also a member of several national and local organizations and networking groups upon which we could call to try to find you a replacement photographer.

+if we decide to commission you for our wedding, when should we book?

As soon as you can. Since I cannot "hold" dates or "pencil you in", dates are booked when...well, when they're booked. Most of my commissions contract her within a year of the wedding date (typically 9-6 months before the event), sometimes as close as one or two months prior, sometimes a full calendar year ahead.

+do you offer discounts for off-season or non-Saturday events?

Occasionally discounts are available but are based on time of year, my travel schedule, and availability. If you have concerns about your budgetary needs, please contact the studio and let us know.