The Nicole Gesmondi Approach to Wedding Photography

At Nicole Gesmondi, we understand it is a big deal to book a photographer, whether for family or professional portraits, or major life events like weddings and rehearsal dinners. Above all else, it is most important you feel comfortable with your photographer and the process, which is why we wanted to take this opportunity to explain our approach to photography as a full service studio.

What does “full service studio” actually mean?

With all our clients, regardless of the session type, we are with them every step of the way - from the initial inquiry through hanging the finished product on their walls. If there are questions, we answer them; if there are concerns, we address them!

Where do we begin?

We always start with a pre-consultation phone call prior to a session or event to review what you are looking for. This personalized service really allows us to get to know our clients and notice key family dynamics, likes, and interests. During this call, we discuss what to wear, location, the timeline, and using the finished photos for printed artwork to hang or give as gifts. Whatever information we learn from this consultation applies to the session itself, and we then design products and albums with your personality (and memories!) in mind.

What about weddings?

While all portrait sessions are a big deal, we understand your wedding is arguably the most important day of your life. For this reason, our full-service approach intensifies. As with portrait sessions, we begin with a pre-consultation phone call. We want to get to know you and your personalities long before the wedding so we are sure to capture every special moment according to your unique couple style.

A fantastic way to acquaint ourselves with our wedding clients is through an engagement session (which is complimentary with most of our wedding packages!) long before the wedding day. Having this bonus time together not only lets us get comfortable with each other, but also allows you to get comfortable with the camera. For some, being in the spotlight can be a little intimidating, but do not worry, we are right here to talk you through it and help you relax!

How does the engagement session work?

During the pre-consultation call, we discuss the date, theme, location, and wants from the shoot. Sometimes our couples want the images for save the dates, holiday cards, and guest books – other times, it is just for fun!

Brainstorming locations important to you offers tons of insight on personalizing the theme and helping us determine your couple style. If you have no preferred location(s) in mind, we can make suggestions based on your likes and dislikes.

On the day of the shoot, we usually meet our couples and carpool together to the session (very helpful if we decide on more than one location!). The ride also gives us a chance to work off the rest of your jitters and get you comfortable - this is also usually when you meet Paul, the other half of the Nicole Gesmondi Photographer team!

Engagement session lengths depend on the needs and wants of our couples, but we are always open to ideas. In the past, we have had shoots last from one hour to a whole weekend (additional rates may apply), so if you have something special or unique in mind, pitch it to us!

What about the wedding itself?

We are very involved in the planning process; you will not just pay a deposit and never hear from us again. As the day approaches, we will email and talk out the photo timeline several times to ensure we capture every moment. Never be afraid to reach out with questions or requests, we are here for guidance! If you and your partner are interested, we will also coordinate a first look before the ceremony with the other vendors involved.

The Nicole Gesmondi photography team will stay with you for the entire amount of time contracted (up to 10 hours). While our couples are getting ready, we usually split up to obtain equal coverage of the pre-ceremony festivities, which will include many candid photos. During the ceremony and the reception, we will rejoin for dual coverage, which results in dual perspectives – meaning you will never miss a thing!

How does it all work out?

Our process is always evolving as trends and needs change, but overall, we are happy with the relationships we form with our clients. After spending so much time talking, planning, and photographing, we sometimes receive invitations to stay for drinks or dinner - because by the end of the day we are like part of the family. We pride ourselves on building these lasting relationships; we find more often than not, our clients return to us, and we become your photographer for life!