FAQs About Enown Photography & Wedding Photography

Hiring a wedding photographer is essential because your wedding day is a once-in-a-lifetime event filled with fleeting moments that you’ll want to cherish forever. A skilled photographer like Sarah DeShields at Enowen Photography captures these moments with artistry and emotion, ensuring that the memories of your day are preserved in a timeless, beautiful way.

Absolutely. A good wedding photographer is an investment in your memories. The quality of the photos, the experience of the photographer, and the ability to capture the essence of your day are all factors that make a skilled photographer worth every penny. With Enowen Photography, you receive not just photos, but heirlooms that reflect the true spirit of your celebration. For more on why a wedding photographer is worth the investment, read here.

It’s advisable to book your wedding photographer as soon as you have your date set, ideally 9-12 months in advance. Popular dates book quickly, especially if you are planning to have a wedding in the busy season. In Boone, Asheville, Charlotte and surrounding areas, popular seasons are May-October. At Enowen, we book no more than 18 months out.

Two hours might be sufficient for a small, intimate ceremony or elopement, but for a full wedding day, it’s usually not enough. To capture the full story—from getting ready to the final dance—more time is recommended. Sarah typically works with couples to create a timeline that ensures all the important moments are beautifully documented.

At Enowen Photography, we offer flexible packages that can cover as much or as little of your wedding day as you wish. Whether you want coverage for just the key moments or the entire day, Sarah will work with you to tailor the service to your needs.

Having two photographers can be beneficial, especially for larger weddings or when multiple locations or angles need to be covered simultaneously. However, for smaller or more intimate weddings, one skilled photographer can often capture everything beautifully. Sarah will discuss your specific needs to determine the best approach for your day.

The number of photos you receive can vary based on the length of coverage and the events of the day. Typically, couples can expect to receive between 400-800 carefully selected and lovingly edited high-quality images that tell the complete story of their wedding day.

The average amount spent on a wedding photographer can vary widely depending on location, experience, and services offered. At Enowen Photography, most couples invest between $5000-$7000 on their day, which reflects the level of artistry and care given to you and your images.

It is crucial that you view several full wedding galleries from a photographer before hiring them. Most photographers show their most curated images on social media, but you need to see a day from start to finish to decide if you like the way they tell a story. Consider what emotions you are drawn to when you think about your wedding (joy, depth, fun, bright, contemplative) and this will inform the visuals. If you are a contemplative, artistic personality, you might find Enowen Photography to be a good fit. If you love to party and are planning a 300 person big bash with bright color and lots of action, you might consider a different photographer. Pay close attention to color, tone, mood and detail when looking at portfolios, and ask as many questions as you want to about how your photographer came into their style. An experienced photographer will enjoy talking about their perspective, and you will start to notice if you share that perspective or not.

Yes, it is standard practice to pay a retainer to secure your wedding date, with the remaining balance due before the wedding day. This ensures that your photographer is committed to your date and allows them to begin the planning and preparation needed to capture your day perfectly.

You will receive a sneak peek of your wedding gallery just a few days after the wedding. This is just a small, curated batch of images to give you something to share and relive the memories until your final gallery is ready. Typically, a full gallery will be ready within 8 weeks of the wedding date.

Yes, typically, the photographer retains the copyright to the images. This allows them to use the photos in their portfolio or for promotional purposes. However, you will receive a license to print, share, and enjoy your images for personal use. You can also request a privacy clause if you would like. Be aware that other vendors will often include a clause to receive your images, which is not appropriate. If you have questions about your vendor’s contracts when it comes to photo licensing, please do not hesitate to reach out to your photographer first to ensure you are not unwittingly placed in a bind between vendors.

Paying for photography services does not transfer the copyright of the images to you. The photographer retains the copyright, but you are granted a personal usage license. If you wish to own the copyright, this would require a separate agreement and may involve additional fees. Sarah is happy to discuss the specifics of image use and copyright with you to ensure you’re comfortable with the terms.