Am I able to print the photos myself? What rights do I have with the digital images?

Yes! You have the right to reprint images whenever you want. However, you may not sell your images for profit or publish your images without the written consent of Scott English Photo.

Do you watermark your digital images?

NO! All the images are clean and watermark free. I want your images to be about YOU, not about the photographer who took the pictures, so I have chosen not to use a watermark. If you decide to post the pictures to social media, I do require a text credit in the description of the photo. See the social media sharing section below!

Do you offer other types of photography services? Like Family, Seniors, Event, Headshots, etc?

YES! Although my availability is limited due to shooting a large number of weddings and engagements each year, but don’t let that deter you!! Please contact me to check my availability!

What is your pricing for your other photography services?

Each shoot is different. Some may require more time during the shoot, others may require more time editing. Contact me for a specific quote!

Where do you live? Are you willing to travel?

I am based out of Scottsdale, Arizona, however, I am available for travel worldwide!!! I shoot about 6-10 out-of-state-weddings and engagement sessions each year, and I love it! Destination weddings are especially wonderful! Connect with me for my travel package and pricing information!

Do you shoot and edit everything? Or do you have other photographers and editors within your company?

I shoot and edit everything! Although I do have second shooters for certain wedding packages, but I will always be the main photographer!!!

Do you deliver every image you shoot?

No, I do not. I eliminate duplicate images, test images, missed focused shots, pictures with bad expressions and other images that may dilute the overall product delivery. For example, because I shoot with low apertures, sometimes I take a few extra shots to make sure we have the perfect focus, and then select only the in-focus shot afterward. In another example, candid laughs and emotional tears are some of the best images from the day. Unfortunately, they can also yield some unflattering facial expressions. I might snap a few extras of any of these moments to make sure I have a great shot with the ideal expression for the moment. With my expertise of processing tens of thousands of images each year, I may eliminate ones that I feel are not necessary and only deliver the best images. On average, I deliver 50-75 images per hour of coverage, and 50-100 images for 2-hour portrait shoots.

What types of payment do you accept?

I accept Cash, Checks, and Credit Cards.

How do you deliver images?

I deliver the images through a beautiful online gallery. You can quickly download the high-resolution digital files, purchase prints, and share the gallery with family and friends. I can also deliver the images Via USB if requested (additional charges may apply)

Do you provide videography services?

Not at this time. But here is a talented wedding filmmaker that I highly recommend:

Jake Weisler Films : jakeweislerfilms.com

Social Media Sharing and Photo Credit

Can I share my pictures on Social Media?

Yes! In fact, I encourage it! I think its so important to be able to share your wedding or engagement pictures on social media, especially without ugly watermarks!

Do I have to credit you in the pictures that I post?

Yes! I put my heart and soul into your pictures and I consider my career an art form, not just a service. Because it’s an art form and I am the creator of the art, I own the copywrite to the images (Don’t worry, you still get printing and sharing rights!). Most folks don’t get too wrapped up in this, but it is an important distinction to understand. Although I am offering a service to document your relationship, your family, or your wedding day; Each image is still a piece of art, owned by me.
With this in mind, whenever an image is posted on social media, it needs to be accompanied with textual credit of ownership. It doesn’t have to be a super official credit like: “Photography by Scott English Photo”, but that is still an appropriate way to credit me! You can also simply put “Photo cred: Scott English Photo” Or instead, for certain social platforms, you can include my username link in place of Scott English Photo”. So either “@Scottenglish” for Instagram and twitter, or “@Scott English Milam” for Facebook. Importantly, I still encourage you to write the sweet caption/description you had in mind, and then at the bottom of that, include the photo credit. You don’t need to go through and credit me on every single image if its a Facebook album (I realize that would be incredibly time-consuming!) instead, include a credit/link in the main description of the album and that will suffice. Simply tagging my account in a photo on Facebook or Instagram does not count for textual credit of the image. I realize that it is a cleaner way to “credit” me, but is not appropriate for full credit.
Here are the samples for how you should credit me:
Instagram caption:
“I’m so excited to marry my best friend tomorrow!
I can’t believe its finally here!
Photo by: @scottenglish #longlivemarriage #smithwedding

“Just got the pictures back from our photographer
and they are great!! Thanks @scottenglish for the pics!
I love them! #engagementpictures #smithwedding #139daysleft

Facebook Album Description:
“Our Wedding Pictures- 10.10.20 Photography by Scott English Milam www.scottenglish.photography”

“Our Engagement Pictures- We loved getting to adventure around Sedona for the day taking our engagement pictures! Thank you, Scott English Milam, for the beautiful pics! www.scottenglish.photography”

Can I share my wedding gallery?

Yes! I highly recommend sharing your wedding gallery with family and friends. You can simply copy the gallery URL and send that link to whomever you’d like. You can also post the link directly to your Facebook wall.

Wedding Questions

Pricing and booking Questions

 What is your base pricing?

Basic wedding packages start at $2,400. From there, you have many options to upgrade your coverage, so don’t hesitate to Contact Me for the full package and pricing information.

How far should we book you in advance?

I typically book 6-12 months out especially for popular, wedding season dates. If you are planning a wedding sooner than that, contact me ASAP for my availability. You have to have an official date set in order to book me.

Do you require a deposit to hold our date?

Yes. A 50% non-refundable retainer is required at the contract signing. The retainer guarantee’s that I’ll hold the date exclusively for you and once you’ve signed the contract, I turn down all other offers and commissions for that date. The final 50% will be due when I am ready to deliver the images after the wedding. This way, you don’t have to worry about me taking your full payment and skipping town or not delivering your images. It allows us to be held accountable on both ends.

What does the booking process typically look like?

When you have decided you are ready to book, let me know and I’ll send you a quick questionnaire for the contract. From there, you’ll get an email with an official quote, the contract, and an invoice for payment. Once you approve the quote, sign the contract, and pay the 50% deposit, your date will be reserved!

If we change our wedding to a different date, will we be able to use our deposit towards a future date?

Generally no, but this is taken on a case by case basis. Once your date is booked, I say no to all other inquiries and by changing the date, that lost business is taken into account. Additionally, if rates change from your original date to your new date, the new rates will apply.

Do you offer any discounts on weekday weddings, Sunday/weekday weddings, or weddings during the off-season?

I do not offer discounts on Sunday, weekday, or off-season weddings. As you may know, wedding season is almost year round here in sunny Arizona, because of that I don’t have much of an “off-season”. I also cannot offer discounts on weekday weddings as all of the costs (second shooter rates, etc.) associated with the wedding remain the same.

What exactly am I getting for the wedding package that I purchased?

Some photographers include prints, albums, thank you cards, etc. Instead, I opt to streamline the process and let you make those choices according to your budget. The product that I deliver is this: Beautiful wedding images (and a fun mini book). You can take those images and get them printed wherever you’d like, and make whatever products you want with them. For me, I think that the images and memories are priceless and worth every penny! I do offer top quality prints, albums , and other A La Carte items for additional purchase, but in general, I want you to have the freedom to do what you want with the images.

Do you offer Engagement Sessions? How much do they cost?

Yes! I love engagement sessions!!! Engagement sessions are complimentary in the top 2 packages! If you would like to add an engagement session to the basic package, it can be added as an A La Carte item for $400. If you are just looking to do an engagement session, and not book me for your wedding photos, I am happy to do that for the same A La Carte price of $400.

Images and Delivery Questions

Do you edit all of the photos that are delivered?

Yes! Every photo you receive will be hand edited, one at a time, without batch processing in bulk or mass-producing the results. My editing process creates a unique style and tone to the images which have helped me stand out from the crowd. Additionally, more time intensive retouching for certain images is available upon request. This would be for major skin reconstruction, removing people from a background, adding a missing person into a group photo, removing bra straps from dozens of images, fixing makeup, etc. Each retouching case is different and fees will be applied to those circumstances accordingly. Ask Scott for more details about specific situations and prices. Most editing and minor retouching is included into the cost of the shoot.

When will I receive the edited pictures?

Typical turnaround time is 4-6 weeks after the wedding. During busier seasons, that deadline might need to be extended a bit longer, so I have the delivery time set at 8 weeks in my contract.

Do we receive the RAW, unedited images from our engagement session or wedding day?

The RAW, unedited images are not available for viewing or purchase. The images selected for editing reflect my very high standards and I’m confident that you will love the final images I select for delivery.

What size can we print our photos at without quality loss?

In most cases, you can print your photos up to 20×30 without any quality loss. Canvases can be printed even larger, up to 32X48!

What if I lose my images?

There is a $50 replacement charge for additional downloads within a year of your wedding date. After the year is past, I do not keep the archived images and therefore they cannot be replaced. I strongly suggest you make at least one copy of the download when you receive it from me.

Style and Quality Questions

What is your photographic style?

I pride myself on being a “People-centric” photographer. I care deeply about creating Authentic and Meaningful Images , and I hope it comes across through my images. I primarily shoot with a true to life, photojournalistic style, but when it comes to posed portraits, I work hard to capture flattering and beautiful images! I want my photos to have life and joy, it’s your freakin’ wedding day for goodness sake! So the images and photographic experience should reflect that joy and enthusiasm!

My venue is very dark. How do you handle these situations?

I have shot in the darkest of dark chapels and reception halls so no need to worry! If the situation allows, I will set up additional lighting to ensure I get focused, correctly lit pictures. Some churches do not allow for flash photography; and for that reason, we shoot on camera’s with superb low-light performance and lenses with low apertures. Please check with your venue to see what their flash photography policy is so that there are no surprises on the wedding day!

Can I see a full wedding, start to finish?

Absolutely! I highly recommend you ask every photographer for a full wedding event. Blog posts and gallery pages tend to only show the best, most impactful shots from the day; so viewing the entire wedding will give you a better idea of how the photographer can handle all situations throughout the day. Notice how they shoot the getting ready pictures? Are they a bit blurry, dark, and not very captivating? Or are they tack sharp, correctly exposed, and life filled? How about the wedding party pictures? Does the group look bored and stagnant? Are the poses too traditional, or too cliche? Or is the group having fun, with real smiles? Are the poses natural, unique, and flattering? Because that is how it should be! How about the reception? Does the photographer have adequate, dynamic lighting for the dances and toasts? Or do the photos look too flat and “flashy”? Or maybe too grainy and blurry? A well-experienced wedding photographer should be able to light any room and situation, and should also be able to capture more than just the big moments. The little, sweet moments with family and friends are some of the best parts during the reception, so being able to capture them is important as well! Please contact me for a link to a full wedding event!

I strongly prefer more tradition, posed pictures. Would you be the right photographer for me?

I always include some traditional, posed pictures. But my style tends to lean towards a more modern and whimsical approach. With this in mind, I may not be the best fit for your needs, and can recommend some other photographers who are more traditional. I strongly encourage you to check out my blog and full wedding galleries to get an idea of the style of photography I shoot, from there, you can determine if we are a good fit!

Do you have a Second Shooter? An assistant?

Adding a second shooter to your wedding day coverage depends on the package you select. Having a second shooter is very helpful to cover multiple angles and events happening at the same time. I only hire full time, top quality second shooter. There will be no noticeable difference between my images and my second shooters images because I want your wedding images to flow smoothly; so making sure my second shooters have the same style and ability level is crucial to that process. I would highly recommend including a second shooter in your package, but I am also very confident in my ability to fully cover your wedding by myself. With over 125 weddings under my belt, I know where to be and how to handle everything on my own. The basic package does not include a second shooter, but can be added for $350. The top two packages include second shooters. And yes, I have an assistant who takes care of setting up lighting, switching lenses, and other needs so that I can focus on taking excellent pictures.

Wedding Day Questions

How much time do you suggest we set aside for wedding day photos?

The amount of time you set aside depends on a few factors? How much coverage have you booked? Are you doing a first look? Do you want more or less group and formal pictures? As we figure out the wedding day schedule and your needs, we will be able to determine an appropriate photo schedule to suit our needs and time frame. But at the end of the day, its about you and your priorities. Don’t want to take formal portraits for 3 hours… Great! Let me capture you and your wedding party just as you are! Do you want to go to another location for wedding party pics? Awesome! I’ll work with you to figure out the right timing on everything to make that happen! So the sky is the limit!

Can we provide you with a ‘shot list’?

Other than the family formals, I prefer you didn’t. Let me explain why! Its very helpful to know all the important family members and which groups of families you want to be photographed, so providing me with that info is great. But when it comes to the rest of the images, it is actually counter-productive to give me a large number of specific pose requests and will result in images that aren’t consistent with the photos you have come to love from my photography. “Shot lists” from bridal magazines are a good idea in theory, but please understand that I will already generally capture those images without prompting (cake cutting, bouquet toss, first kiss, father/daughter dance, etc). Additionally, if I am required to copy a large number of pictures from Pinterest or bridal magazines (which were taken by different photographers, in different locations, often using professional models) it discourages me from taking images that are meaningful and authentic to you, and it can also stifle creativity and the “magic” that I try so desperately to capture on wedding days. So using ideas from Pinterest for table settings, wedding themes, outfits, and other details is really wonderful; but try to avoid searching for a bunch images for me to copy. Here is a great article link that can better explain this idea: A photographers Perspective on Pinterest

What happens if we go over the contracted amount of time?

I understand that not everything goes as planned during a wedding. I never pack up before the contracted time, and moreover, I’m not leaving on the dot when the contracted time is up. Instead, I will ask you at the end of your contracted time whether or not you would like to extend. If you would like me to stay, I will charge the rates specified in your contract rounded to the closest 30-minute increment.

I have downtime between events on my wedding day. Will I be charged for that downtime?

For a variety of reasons, I have to charge for the time in between events. The fact is, I’m never truly resting during the day, whether setting up lighitng for the reception, traveling to the second location, taking venue shots, or making up for lost photo time because of potential wedding day delays. In many cases, I use that “downtime” to prep for whatever the next event will be.

What if you get in a car accident, become very sick, or die just before our wedding day?

I really hope this never happens! I have never missed a wedding, and I don’t plan on it! I take care of my health, drive very carefully, and stay away from tall trees in lightning storms! But, in the case of a catastrophic emergency, my wife has a call list of other top photographers in the area. So I have no doubt that we will be able to provide you with an excellent replacement. My second shooter and assistant are both ready to respond and fill in if needed.

Do we need to feed you during the reception?

It would be wonderful if you did! You don’t have to provide us with the plated meal because we know how much of an investment they are, so most caterers offer a “vendor meal” as an option. I strongly prefer to be fed when you are fed, not afterward, because let’s face it, when we’re eating we’re not our most photogenic selves, so pictures during that time won’t be a top priority. And when you’ve finished dinner, I want to be done as well, so that I can continue your coverage during the important reception events. If I have a second shooter, then you will need to include an additional vendor meal for them too!

Can family members or friends take pictures with their cameras too?

Yes! Weddings are such a wonderful and photo worthy affair, so I am not bothered by it! I do request that they don’t jump in front of me or stand right next to me during the family formals because I need to make sure to get my shots, and it is important to have all eyes on me for those pictures! But they can totally snap away from the background! However, I don’t allow family or friends to take pictures during the wedding party or bride and groom sessions because it can be distracting for you guys and sometimes it can ruin the romance of the shots.

Do you take pictures at the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner?

Rehearsal dinner coverage is optional if you’d like to add it to your package, otherwise, it is not included. Based on location and availability.

Business and Equipment Questions

Do you have Business Insurance?

Yes! I am fully insured for liability (required by some venues) and for my own equipment.

My venue requires a certificate of insurance. Do you have one?

Yes! Just forward the venue email to me, and I’ll take it from there!

I want to make a payment with a Credit Card, is there an additional fee?

I include the 3% credit card fee in my prices, so there is no additional or hidden cost to you!

What equipment do you use?

The short answer: I use all professional quality cameras, lenses, and flashes. I am ready for any situation (including rain!) and my gear is made to last!
The long answer:
Canon 5d mkIV
Sony A7III
Fuji XT-3
Canon 50mm f1.2L
Tamron 70-200 f2.8
Canon 24-70 f2.8L II
Canon 35 f1.4 II
Sigma 85 f1.4
4 Yongnuo 600ex-rt Speedlights
And a variety of other fun things to get the job done.

Engagement Session Questions

What are your Engagement Sessions like?

My hope is to step back and take a new, simple approach to photographing people in love. I seek to create space for honest and meaningful connection for you and your fiance. Gone are the days of fake smiling, awkward poses, and rushed photo sessions; instead, I just want to see your genuine love for one another. That’s it! Just be you… because you are worthy, just as you are! So if you love getting your picture taken and wearing fancy clothes, GREAT! I am here for you! And if y’all don’t feel comfortable in front of the camera, and dont want to make a big deal out of it… wonderful! I am here for you!

Do you travel for Engagement Sessions?

Absolutely! I love traveling and adventuring with couples for their engagement sessions. Are you from Arizona and want to shoot in Sedona? Let’s do it! Or how about the magical Aspen groves in flagstaff? I love that place! Are you from out of state and want to shoot around your hometown. Heck Yeah! Together we can find some amazing places to make memorable images!
There are additional fees for travel which vary depending on the situation, but I assure you it is worth every penny! Contact me for a quote!

We are on a really tight budget, can we do a mini engagement session instead?

I totally get it. You are figuring out ways to make it work with your budget, so reducing the engagement session time is a viable solution. But unfortunately, through experience, I have found that reducing the shoot time can make things really hard. Most importantly, it tends to rush things. With the Beloved technique, taking your time to be in the moment is crucial because that’s how the “magic” happens! It allows you space to be with the one you love, and it gives me opportunities to try new things, change stuff up, and explore new areas. All of those things are important for making authentic, meaningful images. Along with rushing it, mini sessions don’t allow for the unknown hangups. If you end up arriving late because of traffic, our mini session turns into a micro session. Or maybe a location isn’t working out how we’d like it to; with the full session, we’d have time to go with the flow and relocate if needed. I have found that shooting for 2-2 1/2 hours is the right amount of time needed to make top quality images. It also gives us the time we need to get to know each other and for you to get used to being in front of the camera, which will be so helpful for being comfortable on your wedding day when things are more stressful! So with all that said, I don’t offer mini engagement sessions; but I am convinced that the full engagement session is worth it!

How many final images will we receive from the engagement session? When will you deliver them?

I typically deliver 50-70 fully edited images within three weeks of the session. Expedited processing (within 1 week of the shoot) is available for a $50 fee.

How many outfits should we bring?

I encourage couples to stick with 1-2 outfits! It’s a great way to get a bit of variety, without having to spend half the shoot in the changing room!

What type of outfits and colors should we plan for?

Think wedding date attire! Long flowy dresses and cute sun dresses are great options, or even a fun tulle skirts or a sequined maxi! The sky’s the limit! For guys, dress shirts and slacks are always a good choice, and you can also mix it by adding a sport coat or blazer. Nice jeans can definitely work too, but I would still encourage you to keep things dressier, instead of being too casual. When choosing colors for your outfits, I recommend selecting lighter tones and more muted shades. By avoiding ultra-bright, bold colors, it will help bring all the attention to your faces and let the eye focus on the way you feel about each other. The camera loves shades of soft pink and muted blues, mixed with sophisticated light neutrals like heather gray, creams, leather brown and white. That softer color palette fits beautifully into almost all natural outdoor environments and especially compliments the desert. For Men, solid shades of gray or navy are a strong compliment to most women’s outfits, whereas pinstripes or plaid patterns tend to distract the eye. I’ve got a bunch more ideas and info about outfits, so please don’t hesitate to ask!