Frequently Asked Questions
Do you travel?
Heck yes, scroll to the bottom to see some of my bucket list locations!
What happens when there is rain in the forecast?
Cali can surprise us with rain sometimes so I'm always flexible with rescheduling shoots with no fees when it's due to unpleasant weather. But ALSO sometimes crazy weather makes for the BEST photos (the sun peaking through those rainy clouds or crazy winds or snow falling on your face), so if you're down to just roll with it... I am too!
Do you take family portraits?
This year I decided to stop offering family portraits regularly. I want to focus on serving my current couples to the best of my ability, which I can only do if I take on less work. Don’t worry, I still offer mini sessions a few times a year, costing $275 for 20-minute sessions! And I give discounts to any returning clients!
Do we think of our own poses?
Definitely not! That is absolutely my job. I will guide you into poses and I’ll give you freedom to be yourself and have fun with it.
How many couples hire a second shooter with you for their wedding?
About 50% of couples add on a second shooter.
What are the pros and cons of having a second shooter?
Pro:
We can be in different places at the same time, which is great for getting ready photos.
They can assist with details, family, couple portraits etc. which can result in photos taking less time.
We can capture different moments at the same time or we can capture the same moment at different angles.
Con:
I can confidently shoot a wedding alone, knowing I can capture all of the essential moments.
Do you have a travel fee?
Travel within California: I charge $1/mile if the location is farther than the distance covered in a session or wedding package. This is both for gas and the time it takes for me to get there.
SoCal travel add-on: $650
Out of State travel add-on: $800 - $1800 depending on location
How do I book you for my wedding?
First, fill out the contact form on the Contact page. I will return your message within two days and if I am available for your wedding date, I will ask you to meet up for coffee or FaceTime call so we can get to know one another better. If all things align and you’re still interested in booking me for your wedding, I will then send you my contract. 25% of the final payment is required to book the date and should be given to me with the filled out contract. Once I receive payment and the contract, you are officially a Christa B Photography bride!
On average, how early do your couples book their wedding with you?
On average, couples typically book me around one year before their wedding date.
What’s your backup process?
Every image I take is copied onto two memory cards. I also use two cameras at the same time. I backup all RAW images on two hard drives. This ensures images are safe from beginning to end.
How would you describe your photography style?
I like sharp, colorful, joyful images, creating timeless photos.
Joyful: I like to bring out joy in all my couples. I want you to smile any time you see an image I took of you!
Sharp: If you’re going to pay this much for professional images, they should look super sharp, right?
Colorful: I believe that you chose a specific location and specific colors to wear for a reason, so I’m all about capturing those colors.
What kind of equipment do you use?
2 Canon EOS R6’s
50 mm f/1.2
85 mm f/1.4
35 mm f/1.4
70-200 mm f/2.8
Double Camera Harness
Zecti Camera Backpack
(4) 4 TB Harddrives
MacBook Pro and iMac
Adobe Lightroom
What kind of equipment do you use for wedding films?
2 Canon EOS R6s
50 mm f/1.2
85 mm f/1.4
35 mm f/1.4
70-200 mm f/2.8
Tascam DR-10L Micro Portable Audio Recorder with Lavalier Microphone
Rode Microphone
2 Tascam DR-40 Recorders
Tiffen 72mm Variable Neutral Density Filter
DJI Ronin S
Mavic Pro drone
Can we request B+W images in color?
You can request a re-edit on a black + white image within two weeks of your gallery delivery! However, I make images b+w as an artistic choice. If I didn’t include an image in color, there is a reason.
When do I get my photos back?
Portraits and engagements are delivered within 3 weeks of the shoot. Weddings are delivered within 8 weeks of the wedding date.
Do you deliver RAW images?
I don’t. I want you to see yourself at your best. I get rid of the unflattering blinking or bad-angled photos. Also, a huge part of my brand is the editing involved.
Go Big or Go Home
I have to admit, I have a HUGE travel bug. I want to travel the world, BUT I would love it even more if I could create magic while I’m there, which is why I think we could both help each other here.
Wouldn’t it be so cool to travel to an epic location to take your engagement photos or even ELOPE? Why not go big?! If you choose an epic location on the list below. If you already have a trip planned (a vacation, honeymoon, etc.) to one of these places, that is an even bigger reason to send it. No harm in asking about other epic locations, too.
Discounts are given to those who book sessions in the following locations:
Oregon Coast
North Cascades National Park, Washington
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
Glacier National Park, Montana
Hawaii
Iceland
Greece
Amalfi Coast, Italy
Bali