Q&A WITH EVA BRADLEY
‘I’m there to tell the story of how your wedding felt, not just document how it looked.’
What is your style?
Two words describe my style: candid and classical. My driving principle as I record your wedding story is to create wedding photography that will remind you in years to come how you felt, not just be a record of how you looked. I want your grandchildren to immediately see that your wedding was the best day of your life, bar none. I also want those grandchildren to love the photography, not cringe at how 2020s your filters were.
So…how do I do that? Well, lots of it comes down to my creative and technical skill and experience gained over 20 years shooting weddings, but mostly it is my way of working with couples and bridal parties so that laughter dominates and you feel like you can be yourselves. You're not just signing up for what I can do with a camera that others can't, but who I am when I’m with you. Importantly, I also resist the temptation to indulge in fashion filters and editorial poses. Beautifully developed natural colours, classic black and whites and natural chemistry between people in love is what I’m about. This ain’t no fashion shoot, its real life, real love and it should look that way.
What are your prices?
I have a really simple way of offering my wedding collections. The wedding day coverage with me is $4,950 then if you want to, you can add to the coverage with options that include video, reception photography, a second shooter, an earlier start so bridal party photos can be taken before your ceremony or including an album. I do elopements and off-peak bespoke coverage (winter and mid-week) as well, so get in touch with your date and I’ll send you back some detailed information.
What is included in your coverage?
I’m a wedding storyteller so coverage starts with getting ready, and continues in a documentary style through to the start of the reception, or right through the speeches, cake cutting and dancing. I don't base coverage on a set number of hours because weddings don't all slot into a 6 or 10-hour box. You’re also not paying for my time but for the creativity, experience and peace-of-mind I bring to your wedding day, after being in the Hawke’s Bay wedding industry for 17 years and shooting more than 700 weddings. I also believe you should have ownership of your wedding photos, so I supply high resolution digital files (about 700 depending on which collection you choose) and you own the copyright. Editing is another intangible asset that comes with your investment. Professional editing is a craft learned over many years and involves a full week’s work following your wedding. Because I don’t use filters or apply batch presets, every image is a bespoke piece of art that gets my focus and creative expertise.
Do you do albums?
Yes, a professionally-designed album is the final part of your wedding story, and something I strongly encourage so that you have something truly beautiful to remember your day. Queensberry wedding albums offer unparalleled quality and archival quality. I have samples at the Napier studio and would love to show them to you, or you can pop over to my albums page and check them out online.
When is the best time to book, and how do we do that?
If you are planning a summer wedding in Hawke’s Bay (or elsewhere), the best advice I can give is to book early. I take bookings from 18 months prior to your wedding and prices are fixed at the time of booking. But even in summer, we often have dates free a few months out so it's always worth getting in touch. While we are happy to pencil-book for a few days while you co-ordinate your venue/date etc, we require a 25% non-refundable retainer and completed booking form to confirm your date. Once confirmed we will turn any and all other requests away - we're yours for the day and that’s why the retainer is non-refundable.
Do you travel, and what is the cost of that?
Although I am mostly a Hawke's Bay wedding photographer, I love to be creative in new places but this depends on the time of year and the location. If you’re planning a wedding beyond Hawke’s Bay, I’d love to hear about your plans. Minimal travel costs to cover fuel and accommodation etc are based on how far your wedding is from my base in Napier.
When do we get our photos?
Because of the detailed post-production that goes into all of my weddings, my turn-around time is one month for all photos from your wedding. But I know you'll be itching for a sneak peek so if you are comfortable with social media, I'll post a few images a few days after your wedding (entirely optional). I’ll also send you a link to download around 20 images within seven days of your wedding.
Do you have insurance and back-up gear? What happens if you are sick, or it rains?
I have full insurance and lots of backup gear. Although my waters broke when I was shooting the family photos once in my child-bearing years (now behind me!), I’ve never failed to attend a wedding due to sickness in 17 years. When I broke my collarbone just before a busy wedding season in 2020, within hours I had tapped into the amazing network of supportive Hawke’s Bay wedding photographers and organised a new way of working that saw associate photographers shoot under my direction. The benefit of working with an experienced professional is that I have shot dozens of weddings in the rain and know how to switch to Plan B without letting it stress you out or compromise your photos. I’m also a long-time Hawke’s Bay local so I know all the secret spots to sneak away from the rain.
What is your policy around Covid-19?
I’m fully vaccinated and have comprehensive terms and conditions to cover most of the issues that have arisen due to Covid. Three years in, the wedding industry now generally asks that those booking dates carry the risk presented by future covid complications, so refunds and free date transfers are not offered in order to preserve the financial stability of the business. Hopefully all this is now just a technicality!
I live overseas or out of town - what if I can't meet you before I book?
Because Hawke's Bay is so popular for destination weddings and people 'coming home' to get married, most of our couples live outside the region. We really believe it's easy to organise a Hawke’s Bay wedding from a distance if you get a great lineup of local wedding professionals on your team. We are often booked via email or phone because our reputation and online portfolio has given our couples the confidence to do this. Personality is the secret ingredient to our candid style so we are confident that when you do get to meet us, you'll love us. Well, you'll like us heaps, at the very least!
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