FAQ's
Tell me a bit about you and the business then Andy!
Well, I'm 52, married to Karen for 30 years and have 2 beautiful and talented daughters ages 28 & 25. Lesley is a Medical BioChemist (BSc. Hons. - Glasgow) and Gillian has an English Literature Degree (BA Hons. - Glasgow) and runs her own business. Lesley is married to Stephen, and Gillian is married to James, and we also have a beautiful grand-daughter called Kathryn Rose.
Like most men my age, I'm slightly overweight (or too short for my weight if you like..) but I still have all my own hair and all of my own teeth. I have a wicked sense of humour, a great personality and the patience of a saint - all pre-requisites in this job!
I'm working hard to make a living at what is one of my main passions in life outside of my family - photography.
Is this your only job then?
No - like many others nowadays my photography business is just one of my revenue streams!! - but I do pay my taxes as a professional photographer who makes his living through photography of weddings, portraits, events, press/PR work, photographic tuition and holidays.
My photography has been seen in most of the major newspapers in Scotland and in magazines and tourist brochures worldwide. My commercial customers have included IBM, Scottish Power, BSkyB and I cover events for many other smaller companies at various venues acroos the country.
My personal photography has also been hung in the Dean Gallery, National Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh.
How did you get into doing weddings then?
30 years ago, Karen and I booked a VERY well known local Inverclyde photographer to shoot our wedding. He sent along a Maths teacher from a local secondary school, who didn't know or care about us as a couple. His pictures were rubbish and that has annoyed us ever since.
In 1986, I was asked to shoot a wedding by a workmate. Bobby and Margaret were the first wedding couple I shot, and we remain good friends to this day. I've known since then that I have a talent for this kind of photography...
What is "Unique & Beautiful" all about then?
It's our tagline for the business and it's our way of showing that we strive to produce something unique to you as a couple or at a venue, and that we shoot beautiful, timeless, fun wedding photography.
It also shows that we'll do whatever we have to do to make your dream images a reality on your wedding day, working with you to generate a plan for the day.
Fundamentaly, we will strive to produce a wedding album for you that reflects you as a couple, capturing all the emotions of the day and presenting them in a mix of styles - some reportage, some posed and mostly very natural!!
Everybody has a digital camera these days - why should I pay you to shoot my wedding?
Wedding photography is a VERY specialised situation that even some photographers can't handle. I always say that it's 90% skills and 10% photographic skills - and if you haven't got the 90% people skills, your 10% will be rubbish!
I have the experience, people and camera skills to the make the most of any situation, venue or person. I can work quickly, effectively and discreetly to produce images that you will treasure forever - that is why you should employ me.
Having a £400 digital camera does NOT make you a wedding photographer I'm afraid - so when "Uncle Bob" or your friend's boyfriend offers to do YOUR wedding photographers, ask yourself this question - "how awkward and disappointing is it going to be when the pictures they produce are rubbish?" - I can guarantee you won't have this situation when you book with us...
Are you a member of any organistions?
Yes, I'm a member of the Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers and the British Professional Photographers Association (SWPP/BPPA). To see what they're all about, look up the website at www.swpp.co.uk. There are some MAJOR advantages to being part of these organisations, despite some of the trash you read on other non-members photographers websites...
What awards do you have?
None. I don't believe in or chase awards or want letters after my name. In chasing the "qualifications" in our industry, a photographer must produce work to a formula that satisfies the "peers", therefore proving that they know what they're doing... making all of the "qualified " people clones of their peers!! - I don't want to be anyone's clone, I want to produce the style of pictures that I know my clients love - unique, beautiful and timeless images. By the way - I don't ask my customers to say nice things about me, I don't ask them to vote in the "Vows Awards" for me and I don't enter competitions to "up" my profile. I have HUNDREDS of satisfied wedding clients who are happy to share my name and reputation amongst family and friends...that'll do for me!
How long have you been a photographer?
I've been shooting pictures since I was 15. I spent many years shooting pictures as an amateur, touring and lecturing on photography in Scotland, but turned full-time in 2003.
Are you insured?
Yes, I carry both Public Liability and Professional Indemnity Insurance.
Public Liability insurance allows me to work in any venue in the UK and is almost universally required now by all of the big venues - IF YOU'RE LOOKING AROUND, ENSURE ANY PROSPECTIVE PHOTOGRAPHER HAS THIS COVERAGE.
Professional Indemnity Insurance is for my customers peace of mind. It means that in the event of me being unable to fill your requirements as per our contract, we are insured to allow you to claim suitable compensation. This would be useful in the case of image loss, equipment failure or theft at your wedding - ONCE AGAIN, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AROUND ENSURE THAT ANY PROSPECTIVE PHOTOGRAPHER HAS THIS COVERAGE.
Are you registered with HMRC?
Of course, and we pay our taxes like everyone else!
We were subject to an HMRC audit over 6 months between October 2011 and March 2012 that covered our business trading's and accounts over the last 5 years. I'm pleased and proud to say that we passed on all counts and HMRC were 100% happy with every aspect of our business that they enquired after.
We also run a very tight financial model, with no major debt in the business, which allows us to ensure we are able to keep up with the very best in equipment to cover your day and process the images.
By the way - if you're looking at another photographer, ask them if they've passed an HMRC audit recently - you might get a surprise when they tell you they're not registered with the HMRC - that makes them cowboys and tax-evaders...
What kind of cameras do you use?
I use Nikon professional digital cameras to record most of my work these days. I use Nikon Professional bodies and a selection of the best Nikon lenses on the market - 14-24, 24-70 and 70-200mm zooms, 85mm portrait and 90mm macro lenses as well as Bowens studio flash and the Nikon Creative Lighting System speedlights. I regularly take £10,000 worth of gear with me to shoot a wedding.
What do you do if it rains ?
We carry a full studio as a matter of course to the weddings we shoot. This allows us to shoot indoors to a very high standard if the weather is very bad. Most of the venues we shoot at are no problem because they have great interiors, but we can still shoot outdoors in the drizzle or light rain (under shelter) if required.
Do you shoot alone at weddings?
Only on basic package weddings. For larger package weddings, my daughter Gillian shoots candids on the day and acts as my assistant. In the event of my daughter being unavailable, I can employ a secondary photographer for the day.
Do you charge for travel?
If your wedding is within 25 miles of my home, we generally don't charge for travelling. Outwith 25 miles we generally charge for £25/hour of travel for a wedding.
What about Social Media?
We have an active Facebook page, which we update regularly, and a Twitter account. We're happy to put images on social media - but only with our clients agreement - and NEVER before the Bride and Groom have ok'd the images in their gallery. We NEVER publish images straight from weddings to social media and we NEVER publish images online that our clients haven't seen first. We're happy for our clients to share our Facebook details with anyone, but we NEVER troll for "likes". You'll also NEVER read about what we're having for breakfast, that we're babysitting, that we're doing our accounts, how FABULOUS a venue is, how we "love" working with some people and how we LOVE what we do!!...life is too short!
I don't want to spend a lot of money on wedding photography - can you help me ?
Yes, I'm sure we can. If you're planning a midweek event or a Sunday event, we can offer you a discounted rate if we have availability. However, we can't possibly offer such discounts on a Friday or Saturday between March and November due to the number of enquiries we recieve.
Why do you offer discounts on some dates and not others? - I saw my package reduced by £100 in a "special offer"!!
The reason for this is simple. Some dates are FAR more popular than others (April to August being the perfect example), but there are also some dates that are booked up because of the couples occupations - for example, teachers book weddings in April and September half-term breaks. For the LESS popular dates, we offer discounts as a means of trying to fill these dates up, with us taking the hit on profit margin by offering the discounted rate. There's certainly nothing sinister in this practice, and for THE MOST popular dates we always advise our clients to book well in advance to ensure they get the companies of their choice.
I don't like getting my picture taken - how do you get around this then Andy?
Easy. Have a look at the website and you'll see that we shoot pictures of people at weddings who are ENJOYING themselves. Most of the brides that I work with comment on my ability to get them relaxed and enjoying the picture-taking. That's one of the reasons that you should get a professional like me to take your wedding photographs!
I'm not that good looking and worry that my pictures will be horrible - can you help?
I've heard this hundreds of times. I've yet to see a bride who doesn't look just great on her big day, and most just RADIATE happiness, so the results are far better than you'd expect!
I'm worried that I'll cry and make a fool of myself - what do you suggest?
Weddings are emotional events and it's not unusual for people to blurb ! My advise is simple - don't have too much to drink in the morning, take a bottle of water with you in the bridal cars (ask you car company if they provide this..) and take plenty of deep breaths! - if you must cry, make sure they are tears of joy that the photographer can capture!
You should also remember that your guests are there to share your day with you - not to make a fool of you if you cry, so relax and enjoy the day - it'll be over in a flash...
I don't want to stand like a statue, but I also don't want to drape myself over cars like you see in magazines - help!!
You're not alone. Most brides don't want to drape themselves over anything, and also hate standing around. That's why we're so successful - we've developed a mix of formal, natural and fun situations that will help you acheive great photographs on the day without having to resort to standing around or draping yourself over anything...
I've seen this great shot in a magazine - do you do any like it?
Bring your shots along to a wedding meeting and let's see what we can do! - we can replicate ideas you have seen (within reason) - indeed we even create shots that others are now copying...
I've seen a shot where the bride has green hair and the sky is purple - can you do this?
We could - but we won't! These kind of shots are very "stylised" but they're not timeless - they'll date VERY quickly. In 2 years you'll be embaressed by them and in 20 years you'll hate them. If you want this kind of photography, we'd suggest you look elsewhere.
I'm worried that I'll get my dress dirty - what do you suggest?
We'll take the utmost care to ensure that you get to the Church as pristine as possible. Having done that, if you ARE going to a park or gardens, then we'll make sure you don't get TOO dirty. But bear in mind - your dress MAY get dirty. It's up to you what you want to risk doing - some brides will do anything as long as they get to the Church OK - after that, anything goes! - it's all up to you.
"I know a girl who booked you as her photographer - so I can't book you, and I'll need to book another photographer" - have you heard Brides say this before?
Yes, we have - AND IT'S COMPLETE RUBBISH!!! Why on earth would someone NOT want to book a professional person that's had good reviews from another customer?? If you wanted a good plumber, decorator or central heating engineer, would you ask a friend for a recommendation and then ignore it because they had booked that person?!!!! - NO!!
Brides need to get over this idea that we won't be able to cover their wedding differently to every other wedding. EVERY wedding we do is unique - our job is simply to take work WITH the couple to ensure we cover the day in the way they require. Like every good tradesperson, we're generally booked because of our reputation, and you should be prepared to book our services well in advance of the wedding date.
What happens if you double book my day?
That won't happen. We only ever do 1 wedding per day and never EVER sub-contract your wedding out to anyone else (except in the event of illness or major injury to me!). When you book with us, it'll be me you get on the day - the person who has worked with you to ensure that you get the kind of coverage that you want for your big day.
Do you offer an Image-only service?
Yes, we're happy to do a disc-only service but we charge a price only slightly below that of our album packages.
Why? - well, we take great care when processing your images to ensure that the colour balance, saturation and sharpness are to our very high standards, and that the picture is cropped and sized correctly for printing. All of this takes time, which we reflect in our charge.
Some "photographers" simply download images from their camera to a disc or usb stick without any kind of quality control. These images can often be a riot of over and under-exposed shots with variances in colour balance (which means your white dress IS NOT white!) and with variations in dress colours too!
PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE "PHOTOGRAPHERS" ARE SIMPLY COWBOYS WHO SHOULD BE AVOIDED AT ALL COSTS!
If you're in any doubt, please feel free to call me up for a chat to discuss why that £300 image-only package you've seen is anything but the "bargain" it appears to be. I'll be glad to educate you...
Please note also that our images can EASILY be blown up onto canvasses or for framing and when you purchase your images on DVD we also include your finalised album layouts too.
Some of the files offered by many photographers are no better than Facebook quality. If in doubt, please ask and we'll explain these differences in detail.
What is "Copyright" and what does it mean to us?
Copyright is a very important legal framework that protects the rights of the person that is responsible for producing images. In essence, it establishes my rights as the creator of images to have certain legal rights over their use by my clients and others. There's a great Government info page that can be found here: http://www.ipo.gov.uk/c-notice-201401.pdf which documents all aspects of Copyright law.
This page also explains clearly why we provide "Copyright-free" letters to our clients who buy our wedding images as part of their packages.
Do you offer proof albums?
Yes, but at a charge. Your main proofing will be done in your online gallery and if you wish a proof album we can draft one for you and advise you of the cost, which will vary depending on the number of images in the gallery.
Do you offer prints or parents albums?
Yes, we have a full range of products for parents including parents albums, mini-albums, enlargements, framed desk prints and wall-mounted products.
How long after the wedding do we see the pictures?
Our plan is to have a gallery fully ready and edited online for you 2 weeks after the wedding. This can sometimes slip to 3 weeks in exceptionally busy periods. You can choose to have a public or a private gallery on our website and you can choose the password to suit yourself - it's all up to you!
How long does our album take to make up?
Well, that's entirely up to you really! - our plan is to get you ALL of your ordered products (album, parents albums, dvd etc) 8 weeks after your wedding. To enable us to do that we require the couple to help us plan out their album layouts quickly, and this can be done by email or live at our workstations in our office.
My friend got married last year and still hasn't received her pictures or her album - is this normal?
Absolutely not. I'd be suggesting that the photographer has a problem if they are unable to deliver pictures or albums in this timeframe. We would generally NEVER allow a clients album to slip beyond 5 months, except in circumstances like illness or family problems that prevent them working with us to finalise their booking with us.
How do I book with you then?
Firstly, call us on 01475-638825 to check availability for your date. From there, we can arrange a wedding meeting where we can get your details and talk through what you want to acheive with your photographs on the day. Alternatively, you can also book your date over the phone - there is no need to book a wedding meeting if you REALLY want to make sure that nobody else gets your date!
In all cases, you'll sign and get a copy of our booking form, which becomes a legally-binding contract for both parties.
Our booking fee is £200 and the balance for your package is payable in the week before your wedding. We issue receipts for any monies we take from you (of course...).
After I book, do we just see you at the wedding then?
No. We generally arrange a get-together around 6 weeks before the wedding to discuss your booking form and any changes that may have taken place. This is important as some of our brides book over a year in advance!
When should I book my date with you?
I'm booked up to 2 years in advance, such is my popularity (honest - I'm not kidding!). For dates between May and September, we'd suggest you call ASAP to check availability for your date. These are our busiest periods, and dates can become scarce.
Having said that, we ALWAYS urge people to call us to check on the availability of dates. You'll never know if I can help you if you don't ask first - so call me on 01475-638825.
I need help with other parts of my wedding plans - can you help?
Of course - I've a large contact list and know all of the best people in this industry in Scotland. I can help you arrange most parts of your wedding day, or certainly point you in the right direction...
1 - Personal Service
Andy Currie Photography means just that - Andy Currie will be the main photographer at each and every wedding we book. You can be assured that we do not contract out weddings to others and any dealings you have with us regarding your day will be handled by either Andy or Karen Currie. We will work with you before, during and after your wedding to ensure 100% satisfaction - see our Testimonials section if you don't believe us!
2 - People Skills
Our people skills have been commented on many times. Whether it's saying the right word at the right time, paying a compliment or keeping the atmosphere light, this job is as much about personality as it is technical ability. You can be sure that we will ALWAYS treat you and your guests with the utmost dignity and respect throughout your day, and we promise you a fun day to remember!
3 - Professionalism
The success of your day is a measure of our success. We will deal professionally with you and your other service providers to ensure that the day you are planning is both achievable and achieved. We will work with you on the day to ensure that your day runs to schedule and we will NOT hold up proceedings.
4 - Quality Results
We promise that you will be 100% satisfied with every aspect of our results. In the unlikely event that you are not, we will resolve any issues to your satisfaction quickly and professionally. We always aim to completely deliver wedding albums within 8 weeks of your wedding, even in the busiest of times. All of our products are made right here in Scotland by the UK Professional Lab of the Year 2008.
5 - Experience
Our experience in working at venues across Scotland means that we can often bring elements into your day that you may not have considered. For instance, hidden parks or unique locations or the more mundane aspects of applying for written permission from Councils - we can help you with more than just your photography!
6 - Value for Money
We can promise you a true "value for money" experience. In booking us, we will always offer you the best possible deal on any of our products or services. We will offer you a discount for booking in advance, and we will hold your booked price via a contract. Our packages are highly competitive, but if you think they can be beaten then why not challenge us to come up with something to YOUR budget?
7 - The Best Business Contacts
This business is about who you know and who knows you. We regularly deal with other service providers to discuss possible availability and discounts for our clients. For instance we maybe able to get you a better deal on flowers, stationery, cars, dresses, cakes, bands etc. - being in this business means that other providers know who they are dealing with and are often keen to work with certain other businesses. Most of the businesses we know would give you a discount if they knew you were recommended by us...
8 - No Pressure Sales
We offer a no-obligation wedding meeting to anybody interested in our services. We never get involved in pressure selling or playing one person off against another. We will happily work with you to get your business and we'll happily provide a breakdown to you of why you should employ us rather than your local amateur (though you would know why if you read the FAQ section!).
9 - No Hidden Extras
We don't do hidden extras at a later date - no charges for travel, meals, overnight stays, staying late - nothing. We may discuss certain aspects of your day with you and there maybe a charge, but it will always be upfront, discussed and documented in our contract between us.
10 - Your Day - Your Way!
You are hiring us to work with you and for you on your day. We will do whatever you ask (within reason!..) and we'll photograph anyone you want - friends or even enemies. We will NEVER refuse to shoot any pictures you may want, though we may make you aware of time constraints on the day.
Well, I'm 52, married to Karen for 30 years and have 2 beautiful and talented daughters ages 28 & 25. Lesley is a Medical BioChemist (BSc. Hons. - Glasgow) and Gillian has an English Literature Degree (BA Hons. - Glasgow) and runs her own business. Lesley is married to Stephen, and Gillian is married to James, and we also have a beautiful grand-daughter called Kathryn Rose.
Like most men my age, I'm slightly overweight (or too short for my weight if you like..) but I still have all my own hair and all of my own teeth. I have a wicked sense of humour, a great personality and the patience of a saint - all pre-requisites in this job!
I'm working hard to make a living at what is one of my main passions in life outside of my family - photography.
Is this your only job then?
No - like many others nowadays my photography business is just one of my revenue streams!! - but I do pay my taxes as a professional photographer who makes his living through photography of weddings, portraits, events, press/PR work, photographic tuition and holidays.
My photography has been seen in most of the major newspapers in Scotland and in magazines and tourist brochures worldwide. My commercial customers have included IBM, Scottish Power, BSkyB and I cover events for many other smaller companies at various venues acroos the country.
My personal photography has also been hung in the Dean Gallery, National Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh.
How did you get into doing weddings then?
30 years ago, Karen and I booked a VERY well known local Inverclyde photographer to shoot our wedding. He sent along a Maths teacher from a local secondary school, who didn't know or care about us as a couple. His pictures were rubbish and that has annoyed us ever since.
In 1986, I was asked to shoot a wedding by a workmate. Bobby and Margaret were the first wedding couple I shot, and we remain good friends to this day. I've known since then that I have a talent for this kind of photography...
What is "Unique & Beautiful" all about then?
It's our tagline for the business and it's our way of showing that we strive to produce something unique to you as a couple or at a venue, and that we shoot beautiful, timeless, fun wedding photography.
It also shows that we'll do whatever we have to do to make your dream images a reality on your wedding day, working with you to generate a plan for the day.
Fundamentaly, we will strive to produce a wedding album for you that reflects you as a couple, capturing all the emotions of the day and presenting them in a mix of styles - some reportage, some posed and mostly very natural!!
Everybody has a digital camera these days - why should I pay you to shoot my wedding?
Wedding photography is a VERY specialised situation that even some photographers can't handle. I always say that it's 90% skills and 10% photographic skills - and if you haven't got the 90% people skills, your 10% will be rubbish!
I have the experience, people and camera skills to the make the most of any situation, venue or person. I can work quickly, effectively and discreetly to produce images that you will treasure forever - that is why you should employ me.
Having a £400 digital camera does NOT make you a wedding photographer I'm afraid - so when "Uncle Bob" or your friend's boyfriend offers to do YOUR wedding photographers, ask yourself this question - "how awkward and disappointing is it going to be when the pictures they produce are rubbish?" - I can guarantee you won't have this situation when you book with us...
Are you a member of any organistions?
Yes, I'm a member of the Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers and the British Professional Photographers Association (SWPP/BPPA). To see what they're all about, look up the website at www.swpp.co.uk. There are some MAJOR advantages to being part of these organisations, despite some of the trash you read on other non-members photographers websites...
What awards do you have?
None. I don't believe in or chase awards or want letters after my name. In chasing the "qualifications" in our industry, a photographer must produce work to a formula that satisfies the "peers", therefore proving that they know what they're doing... making all of the "qualified " people clones of their peers!! - I don't want to be anyone's clone, I want to produce the style of pictures that I know my clients love - unique, beautiful and timeless images. By the way - I don't ask my customers to say nice things about me, I don't ask them to vote in the "Vows Awards" for me and I don't enter competitions to "up" my profile. I have HUNDREDS of satisfied wedding clients who are happy to share my name and reputation amongst family and friends...that'll do for me!
How long have you been a photographer?
I've been shooting pictures since I was 15. I spent many years shooting pictures as an amateur, touring and lecturing on photography in Scotland, but turned full-time in 2003.
Are you insured?
Yes, I carry both Public Liability and Professional Indemnity Insurance.
Public Liability insurance allows me to work in any venue in the UK and is almost universally required now by all of the big venues - IF YOU'RE LOOKING AROUND, ENSURE ANY PROSPECTIVE PHOTOGRAPHER HAS THIS COVERAGE.
Professional Indemnity Insurance is for my customers peace of mind. It means that in the event of me being unable to fill your requirements as per our contract, we are insured to allow you to claim suitable compensation. This would be useful in the case of image loss, equipment failure or theft at your wedding - ONCE AGAIN, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AROUND ENSURE THAT ANY PROSPECTIVE PHOTOGRAPHER HAS THIS COVERAGE.
Are you registered with HMRC?
Of course, and we pay our taxes like everyone else!
We were subject to an HMRC audit over 6 months between October 2011 and March 2012 that covered our business trading's and accounts over the last 5 years. I'm pleased and proud to say that we passed on all counts and HMRC were 100% happy with every aspect of our business that they enquired after.
We also run a very tight financial model, with no major debt in the business, which allows us to ensure we are able to keep up with the very best in equipment to cover your day and process the images.
By the way - if you're looking at another photographer, ask them if they've passed an HMRC audit recently - you might get a surprise when they tell you they're not registered with the HMRC - that makes them cowboys and tax-evaders...
What kind of cameras do you use?
I use Nikon professional digital cameras to record most of my work these days. I use Nikon Professional bodies and a selection of the best Nikon lenses on the market - 14-24, 24-70 and 70-200mm zooms, 85mm portrait and 90mm macro lenses as well as Bowens studio flash and the Nikon Creative Lighting System speedlights. I regularly take £10,000 worth of gear with me to shoot a wedding.
What do you do if it rains ?
We carry a full studio as a matter of course to the weddings we shoot. This allows us to shoot indoors to a very high standard if the weather is very bad. Most of the venues we shoot at are no problem because they have great interiors, but we can still shoot outdoors in the drizzle or light rain (under shelter) if required.
Do you shoot alone at weddings?
Only on basic package weddings. For larger package weddings, my daughter Gillian shoots candids on the day and acts as my assistant. In the event of my daughter being unavailable, I can employ a secondary photographer for the day.
Do you charge for travel?
If your wedding is within 25 miles of my home, we generally don't charge for travelling. Outwith 25 miles we generally charge for £25/hour of travel for a wedding.
What about Social Media?
We have an active Facebook page, which we update regularly, and a Twitter account. We're happy to put images on social media - but only with our clients agreement - and NEVER before the Bride and Groom have ok'd the images in their gallery. We NEVER publish images straight from weddings to social media and we NEVER publish images online that our clients haven't seen first. We're happy for our clients to share our Facebook details with anyone, but we NEVER troll for "likes". You'll also NEVER read about what we're having for breakfast, that we're babysitting, that we're doing our accounts, how FABULOUS a venue is, how we "love" working with some people and how we LOVE what we do!!...life is too short!
I don't want to spend a lot of money on wedding photography - can you help me ?
Yes, I'm sure we can. If you're planning a midweek event or a Sunday event, we can offer you a discounted rate if we have availability. However, we can't possibly offer such discounts on a Friday or Saturday between March and November due to the number of enquiries we recieve.
Why do you offer discounts on some dates and not others? - I saw my package reduced by £100 in a "special offer"!!
The reason for this is simple. Some dates are FAR more popular than others (April to August being the perfect example), but there are also some dates that are booked up because of the couples occupations - for example, teachers book weddings in April and September half-term breaks. For the LESS popular dates, we offer discounts as a means of trying to fill these dates up, with us taking the hit on profit margin by offering the discounted rate. There's certainly nothing sinister in this practice, and for THE MOST popular dates we always advise our clients to book well in advance to ensure they get the companies of their choice.
I don't like getting my picture taken - how do you get around this then Andy?
Easy. Have a look at the website and you'll see that we shoot pictures of people at weddings who are ENJOYING themselves. Most of the brides that I work with comment on my ability to get them relaxed and enjoying the picture-taking. That's one of the reasons that you should get a professional like me to take your wedding photographs!
I'm not that good looking and worry that my pictures will be horrible - can you help?
I've heard this hundreds of times. I've yet to see a bride who doesn't look just great on her big day, and most just RADIATE happiness, so the results are far better than you'd expect!
I'm worried that I'll cry and make a fool of myself - what do you suggest?
Weddings are emotional events and it's not unusual for people to blurb ! My advise is simple - don't have too much to drink in the morning, take a bottle of water with you in the bridal cars (ask you car company if they provide this..) and take plenty of deep breaths! - if you must cry, make sure they are tears of joy that the photographer can capture!
You should also remember that your guests are there to share your day with you - not to make a fool of you if you cry, so relax and enjoy the day - it'll be over in a flash...
I don't want to stand like a statue, but I also don't want to drape myself over cars like you see in magazines - help!!
You're not alone. Most brides don't want to drape themselves over anything, and also hate standing around. That's why we're so successful - we've developed a mix of formal, natural and fun situations that will help you acheive great photographs on the day without having to resort to standing around or draping yourself over anything...
I've seen this great shot in a magazine - do you do any like it?
Bring your shots along to a wedding meeting and let's see what we can do! - we can replicate ideas you have seen (within reason) - indeed we even create shots that others are now copying...
I've seen a shot where the bride has green hair and the sky is purple - can you do this?
We could - but we won't! These kind of shots are very "stylised" but they're not timeless - they'll date VERY quickly. In 2 years you'll be embaressed by them and in 20 years you'll hate them. If you want this kind of photography, we'd suggest you look elsewhere.
I'm worried that I'll get my dress dirty - what do you suggest?
We'll take the utmost care to ensure that you get to the Church as pristine as possible. Having done that, if you ARE going to a park or gardens, then we'll make sure you don't get TOO dirty. But bear in mind - your dress MAY get dirty. It's up to you what you want to risk doing - some brides will do anything as long as they get to the Church OK - after that, anything goes! - it's all up to you.
"I know a girl who booked you as her photographer - so I can't book you, and I'll need to book another photographer" - have you heard Brides say this before?
Yes, we have - AND IT'S COMPLETE RUBBISH!!! Why on earth would someone NOT want to book a professional person that's had good reviews from another customer?? If you wanted a good plumber, decorator or central heating engineer, would you ask a friend for a recommendation and then ignore it because they had booked that person?!!!! - NO!!
Brides need to get over this idea that we won't be able to cover their wedding differently to every other wedding. EVERY wedding we do is unique - our job is simply to take work WITH the couple to ensure we cover the day in the way they require. Like every good tradesperson, we're generally booked because of our reputation, and you should be prepared to book our services well in advance of the wedding date.
What happens if you double book my day?
That won't happen. We only ever do 1 wedding per day and never EVER sub-contract your wedding out to anyone else (except in the event of illness or major injury to me!). When you book with us, it'll be me you get on the day - the person who has worked with you to ensure that you get the kind of coverage that you want for your big day.
Do you offer an Image-only service?
Yes, we're happy to do a disc-only service but we charge a price only slightly below that of our album packages.
Why? - well, we take great care when processing your images to ensure that the colour balance, saturation and sharpness are to our very high standards, and that the picture is cropped and sized correctly for printing. All of this takes time, which we reflect in our charge.
Some "photographers" simply download images from their camera to a disc or usb stick without any kind of quality control. These images can often be a riot of over and under-exposed shots with variances in colour balance (which means your white dress IS NOT white!) and with variations in dress colours too!
PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE "PHOTOGRAPHERS" ARE SIMPLY COWBOYS WHO SHOULD BE AVOIDED AT ALL COSTS!
If you're in any doubt, please feel free to call me up for a chat to discuss why that £300 image-only package you've seen is anything but the "bargain" it appears to be. I'll be glad to educate you...
Please note also that our images can EASILY be blown up onto canvasses or for framing and when you purchase your images on DVD we also include your finalised album layouts too.
Some of the files offered by many photographers are no better than Facebook quality. If in doubt, please ask and we'll explain these differences in detail.
What is "Copyright" and what does it mean to us?
Copyright is a very important legal framework that protects the rights of the person that is responsible for producing images. In essence, it establishes my rights as the creator of images to have certain legal rights over their use by my clients and others. There's a great Government info page that can be found here: http://www.ipo.gov.uk/c-notice-201401.pdf which documents all aspects of Copyright law.
This page also explains clearly why we provide "Copyright-free" letters to our clients who buy our wedding images as part of their packages.
Do you offer proof albums?
Yes, but at a charge. Your main proofing will be done in your online gallery and if you wish a proof album we can draft one for you and advise you of the cost, which will vary depending on the number of images in the gallery.
Do you offer prints or parents albums?
Yes, we have a full range of products for parents including parents albums, mini-albums, enlargements, framed desk prints and wall-mounted products.
How long after the wedding do we see the pictures?
Our plan is to have a gallery fully ready and edited online for you 2 weeks after the wedding. This can sometimes slip to 3 weeks in exceptionally busy periods. You can choose to have a public or a private gallery on our website and you can choose the password to suit yourself - it's all up to you!
How long does our album take to make up?
Well, that's entirely up to you really! - our plan is to get you ALL of your ordered products (album, parents albums, dvd etc) 8 weeks after your wedding. To enable us to do that we require the couple to help us plan out their album layouts quickly, and this can be done by email or live at our workstations in our office.
My friend got married last year and still hasn't received her pictures or her album - is this normal?
Absolutely not. I'd be suggesting that the photographer has a problem if they are unable to deliver pictures or albums in this timeframe. We would generally NEVER allow a clients album to slip beyond 5 months, except in circumstances like illness or family problems that prevent them working with us to finalise their booking with us.
How do I book with you then?
Firstly, call us on 01475-638825 to check availability for your date. From there, we can arrange a wedding meeting where we can get your details and talk through what you want to acheive with your photographs on the day. Alternatively, you can also book your date over the phone - there is no need to book a wedding meeting if you REALLY want to make sure that nobody else gets your date!
In all cases, you'll sign and get a copy of our booking form, which becomes a legally-binding contract for both parties.
Our booking fee is £200 and the balance for your package is payable in the week before your wedding. We issue receipts for any monies we take from you (of course...).
After I book, do we just see you at the wedding then?
No. We generally arrange a get-together around 6 weeks before the wedding to discuss your booking form and any changes that may have taken place. This is important as some of our brides book over a year in advance!
When should I book my date with you?
I'm booked up to 2 years in advance, such is my popularity (honest - I'm not kidding!). For dates between May and September, we'd suggest you call ASAP to check availability for your date. These are our busiest periods, and dates can become scarce.
Having said that, we ALWAYS urge people to call us to check on the availability of dates. You'll never know if I can help you if you don't ask first - so call me on 01475-638825.
I need help with other parts of my wedding plans - can you help?
Of course - I've a large contact list and know all of the best people in this industry in Scotland. I can help you arrange most parts of your wedding day, or certainly point you in the right direction...
The top 10 reasons to book Andy Currie Photography...
1 - Personal Service
Andy Currie Photography means just that - Andy Currie will be the main photographer at each and every wedding we book. You can be assured that we do not contract out weddings to others and any dealings you have with us regarding your day will be handled by either Andy or Karen Currie. We will work with you before, during and after your wedding to ensure 100% satisfaction - see our Testimonials section if you don't believe us!
2 - People Skills
Our people skills have been commented on many times. Whether it's saying the right word at the right time, paying a compliment or keeping the atmosphere light, this job is as much about personality as it is technical ability. You can be sure that we will ALWAYS treat you and your guests with the utmost dignity and respect throughout your day, and we promise you a fun day to remember!
3 - Professionalism
The success of your day is a measure of our success. We will deal professionally with you and your other service providers to ensure that the day you are planning is both achievable and achieved. We will work with you on the day to ensure that your day runs to schedule and we will NOT hold up proceedings.
4 - Quality Results
We promise that you will be 100% satisfied with every aspect of our results. In the unlikely event that you are not, we will resolve any issues to your satisfaction quickly and professionally. We always aim to completely deliver wedding albums within 8 weeks of your wedding, even in the busiest of times. All of our products are made right here in Scotland by the UK Professional Lab of the Year 2008.
5 - Experience
Our experience in working at venues across Scotland means that we can often bring elements into your day that you may not have considered. For instance, hidden parks or unique locations or the more mundane aspects of applying for written permission from Councils - we can help you with more than just your photography!
6 - Value for Money
We can promise you a true "value for money" experience. In booking us, we will always offer you the best possible deal on any of our products or services. We will offer you a discount for booking in advance, and we will hold your booked price via a contract. Our packages are highly competitive, but if you think they can be beaten then why not challenge us to come up with something to YOUR budget?
7 - The Best Business Contacts
This business is about who you know and who knows you. We regularly deal with other service providers to discuss possible availability and discounts for our clients. For instance we maybe able to get you a better deal on flowers, stationery, cars, dresses, cakes, bands etc. - being in this business means that other providers know who they are dealing with and are often keen to work with certain other businesses. Most of the businesses we know would give you a discount if they knew you were recommended by us...
8 - No Pressure Sales
We offer a no-obligation wedding meeting to anybody interested in our services. We never get involved in pressure selling or playing one person off against another. We will happily work with you to get your business and we'll happily provide a breakdown to you of why you should employ us rather than your local amateur (though you would know why if you read the FAQ section!).
9 - No Hidden Extras
We don't do hidden extras at a later date - no charges for travel, meals, overnight stays, staying late - nothing. We may discuss certain aspects of your day with you and there maybe a charge, but it will always be upfront, discussed and documented in our contract between us.
10 - Your Day - Your Way!
You are hiring us to work with you and for you on your day. We will do whatever you ask (within reason!..) and we'll photograph anyone you want - friends or even enemies. We will NEVER refuse to shoot any pictures you may want, though we may make you aware of time constraints on the day.