Pricing
and my brief psa about photography

Are professional wedding photos worth the cost?

Can you have a happy, healthy marriage even if you don’t hire a professional photographer?  Of course you can.  And I would never push someone to spend beyond their means to have a particular type of wedding.  However, if you’ve already set aside a certain budget for your day and are debating how to allocate it, I strongly -and with a fair amount of bias- advocate for a professional photographer.  



Here’s why

Days like this only happen once.


Sorry to be melancholy here, but time is fleeting. 

Thinking back to when I was a bride before I was a wedding photographer, I’m glad we devoted a good portion of our budget to the photos.  There’s one of my grandmother sitting at the ceremony site.  She got there early, even though it meant sitting in the rain, to “make sure she’d have a good spot”.  She passed away the year after our wedding and I would pay all that money over again for this photo alone.


Experience matters.

AKA: Can’t our guests just take photos?



– If you don’t have any (or very few) guests, this is obviously not an option. And in this case, photos are the only way they will get to see how you spent your wedding day!

– If you DO have guests, it is a lot of pressure to expect them to document the day for you, especially if they’ve never done it before.  Let them enjoy the day and be fully present with you.

– Experience matters. A guest with an iPhone (and a few whiskey sours) is not a professional photographer.  By all means, encourage your guests to share their photos with you.  But if at all possible, do not rely on that being your sole source of photography.

They’re fun to look at, but when you compare a guest photo to one I took at the same time, the difference is obvious.  It is a difference cultivated through thousands of hours of experience.





*I’m not a total jerk. These clients all said I could use their photos and knew why.

Sara made us feel like ourselves… just the best version of ourselves. —Emily and Colin

You’re not just hiring a photographer.

You’re also hiring an editor.  I spend more hours fine-tuning the photos than I do actually shooting them.  And I’ll be honest- things rarely look perfect straight out of the camera.  Part of the art of photography is being able to look something and realize its potential with a few intentional touches.  I never want to alter the scene (or you!) into something it’s not, but I do believe in coaxing out the natural beauty in everything.

Original

Edited

Original

Edited

Original

Edited

Sara is truly a storyteller and photography is her medium —Fatina and Forest

All clients will receive:

$50 donation to Humane Colorado if you bring your pet along to any part of our time together.

The option to add an engagement session for a discounted rate of only $200 when you book five or more hours of wedding photography.

Permit research and acquisition.  Most places in Colorado require a permit of some sort for photography, and the rules are frustratingly never compiled in one place.  Let me handle it for you.

All edited photos delivered in a private, online gallery.  You control who you share them with, plus the option to download in multiple sizes. No annoying watermarks on any of your images.

A printing release so you can make physical copies of your favorites anywhere you’d like (though there is a one-click shop linked within the gallery if you find that easier).

Customized timeline planning, based on a decade of experience, with an emphasis on letting you actually enjoy your day.

Beautiful location ideas that factor in your time, travel preferences, and desired level of athleticism to get there (plus a back-up plan just in case nature doesn’t cooperate)

Unlimited access to me for questions and/or moral support.  All this planning can be daunting, but I never want you to feel like you’re in over your head.

The Numbers

oak

$4500

10 non-consecutive hours of Photography

Who it’s for:

Couples who want to get the best lighting by taking sunrise photos, having a bit of a rest, then continuing for sunset.

People wanting a private elopement one day and a reception with friends and family another day.

* Option to add an engagement session at a discounted rate of $200

*** Split the hours between one or two days however you would like.

I want this

Aspen

$3200

8 Hours of Photography

Who it’s for:

People who want the entire day documented- from getting ready to saying goodnight.

Couples who want to include several activities in their elopement, like rafting or exploring the town they’re staying in.

* Option to add an engagement session at a discounted rate of $200

i want this

pine

$2500

5 Hours of Photography

Who it’s for:

Couples eloping with a moderate hike to their desired area

Weddings with guests, but with less of an emphasis on either the getting ready or reception portion

* Option to add an engagement session at a discounted rate of $200

I want this

spruce

$1200

2 Hours of Photography

Who it’s for:

Couples eloping alone (or with very few guests) who just want some photos while they exchange vows and take some awesome portraits afterward.

I want this

*Weekend Bookings Are Not Available More Than 60 Days In Advance

Other Services and Products

Engagement or Portrait Photography

$500

60 Minutes of Photography

Password Protected Online Gallery

Personal Printing Rights

Location Scouting and Wardrobe Advice

Travel Included Within 60 Miles of Metro Denver

Inquire

Wedding Albums

Starting At $1000

Custom Album Design with Online Proofing and Review

Choice of Premium Cover and Page Materials

20 Pages Included

Additional Pages Available to Add-On

inquire

Second Shooter

$250/Hour

Second Photographer for All or Part of Your Wedding Day

4 Hour Minimum

*Only sincerely recommended in very specific situations. Let’s discuss whether that’s you!

inquire

Frequently Asked Questions

Once we decide to work together, I ask for a signature from both parties on a digital contract.  After that, I require a 50% retainer to officially reserve your day with the remainder due one week prior to the wedding date.

If you don’t have the time or interest, it’s not the end of the world.  Your wedding can still absolutely be successful.  However, I do strongly recommend engagement photos if at all possible so we can get to know each other and so you have a variety of photos to put around your home.  That’s why I offer a steeply discounted engagement session for my wedding clients.  You can read more about how to prepare for an engagement session here.  (link)

If you have some flexibility in your date or have chosen to get married on a weekday, you have a lot more wiggle room.  If you already have a venue booked or have a very specific date in mind, photographers usually start booking popular dates 12-18 months in advance.

In a digital gallery with a password you can share (or not) with whoever you would like.  I keep galleries up for a minimum of two years so you can keep going back, but I do highly recommend you take advantage of the many free cloud services available online and make your own backups.

Personally, I don’t think so.  I do offer it as an option if you feel strongly about it or you are in the 1% of situations where I feel two photographers are logistically necessary.  But everything you see on this page is shot by me and I almost always work alone.  I feel most comfortable working solo and would rather you allocate your budget into other areas.

It’s a personal decision for every business, and there’s not really a “right” answer.  A lot of people think it’s better to give a very vague range so they can sell you on services after you inquire.  As someone who’s pretty introverted, I would personally never reach out to someone just to get that information. Although things can change slightly depending on time and distance, I’d prefer you have the general numbers up front so by the time we talk you already know what to expect.

Nope! I never include watermarks on photos. They’re distracting and, let’s be honest, our robot overlords can remove them pretty easily anyway. All galleries have an option to download photos individually or as a collection, and your contract will include a printing release so you can have physical products made anywhere. I do have a professional lab linked directly to my galleries so you CAN order from them if you find it more convenient, but you are not obligated to do so.

I deliver final photos within four weeks for shorter weddings/elopements, and within six weeks for days that last five or more hours. 

Let’s plan your best adventure!

Colorado wedding photographer – Apricity Images