Photographer - Jesi Wilcox
- Business: Jesi Wilcox Photography
- Location: Mobile, Alabama AL
- Experience: 8 Years
- Photography Types: Engagements, Weddings
- Profile: Jesi Wilcox Photography
- Website: www.jesiwilcox.com
1. Introduction: What's your story?
Hi, I'm Jesi! Sole owner and photographer at Jesi Wilcox Photography.
My story: (you heard it here first, friends! I have never shared this info.) A big part of what I do is my dad's fault. I started out getting my degree in graphic design and professional writing and dabbled with photos on a starter DSLR that my dad had purchased for me one Christmas.
Photography was never on my radar professionally. My best friend was a photographer, and I was golden with her and my novice self-portraits. My dad was a fantastic photographer with his old Canon film camera, though he only used his talents to take photos of his family. Print photos were his love, so when he purchased the camera for me, his only request was to receive more photos of me since I was moving away from home.
To speed my story along, I took photographs here and there for friends that wanted images of their families with a "nice camera," and these sessions were always prefaced with letting them know I had *no clue* what I was doing. Over time I started to learn my settings with tons of questions to other photographers, google, and youtube. I started charging for my work and then realized I had the most fun and creative energy when photographing couples. Fast forward a few years and a friend booked me for her engagement photos. We had a blast. She loved her photos so much that she asked me to photograph her wedding, to which I responded with a hard no. A HARD NO. Weddings were not for me, I knew it with certainty. I had never wanted to photograph weddings because OmG tHe PrEsSuRe.
She asked again. I said no again. And this process was repeated on six separate occasions. Until finally one day I told her to let me tag along to a couple of weddings with other photographers to see how I felt—there was no chance I would photograph her wedding without some kind of wedding day experience. I got to a place where I felt comfortable telling her yes to her wedding day, even though it still wasn't an appealing idea to me. The wedding day was fantastic, I learned a lot, and then someone else booked me for a wedding based off of those photos. And the cycle continued.
It is wild to see how the tables have turned. Now I LOVE weddings, wedding days are my comfort place. After the first wedding, I realized I thrived with all of the things I once feared. When my brides book me, they know from the moment they meet me that serving them and making sure their wedding day goes off without a hitch is my love language and number one priority. I am so thankful I fell into this career.
2. How long have you been shooting weddings? How many weddings have you photographed?
I started photographing weddings in 2019. I haven't kept count but I think I've done somewhere around 50 weddings.
3. How would you describe your photography style?
Classic. Timeless. Clean. Crisp. Light. Bespoke.
Photos that will stay relevant for a lifetime, that your children will still find beautiful 40 years from now.
4. How well in advance should couples book their wedding photographer?
Once you are engaged, you need to book the services that only serve one client per day first. For instance, venue vs florist. Venues can only offer their space for one couple per day typically. Florists can serve many people in one day, so their availability may not be as strict.
The venue is your first order of business, and when you have that established with your date, you should then book your photographer and videographer if applicable. I book couples anywhere from 6 months to 1.5 years in advance. April and May are notoriously my busiest months, though this seems to vary with every photographer.
5. What are the different packages that you offer and which one is your most popular package?
I currently only offer a 6-hour package and an 8-hour package, but I switching that up this year to offer a third package—my hourly structure will be changing a little. Currently, my 8-hour package is my most popular, I suspect due in part to it offering a complimentary engagement session.
I also offer add-ons for additional hours, an engagement session add-on if my package doesn't include it that is cheaper for my booked couples, a photo-book add-on, and second shooter options.
6. Are you the wedding photographer who will be shooting on the wedding day? Who else is there in your team?
I shoot all of my weddings, and I currently edit all of my weddings. I do not have any other team members.
Whenever a second shooter is added to a package, I reach out to other professional photographers that I know to see who is available on the wedding date to come with me. I get the photos from the second shooter and edit those as well.
7. Do you charge a travel fee? For what distance? What does that cover?
I do charge a travel fee, but it varies by location. I have photographed weddings all over the southeast, from North Carolina to Mississippi, so the cost varies by location and accommodations needed.
My process consists of chatting with my couples about where their wedding is and getting primary details and then giving them an all-inclusive price for the wedding photography and travel together. The total cost includes all travel with the exception of the flight, if applicable.
I have some bucket list destinations, and I am always up for something fun and creative. Contact me if you are wanting to go somewhere amazing—if I really want to photograph in the location, I have been known to offer a ridiculous discount and charge mainly for the travel to the location. Nothing is off-limits!
8. Are albums or prints included in your packages?
I include a digital gallery with all photos and full printing rights. I also have an online store connected to each gallery with the option to purchase prints (recommended for quality but not required).
I also deliver a sneak peek within three days of each wedding with around 50 images so that you can get to printing right away!
9. How long after the wedding will the couple receive the images? How will they be delivered?
Sneak peek within three days, full edited gallery anywhere between 6-8 weeks post-wedding. The amount of time depends on whether I am in peak wedding season. I give myself some cushion with the 6-8 week timeline—photos are typically delivered around 4-5 weeks.
Engagement photo turnaround is 4-6 weeks.
10. What is your cancellation and/or refund policy?
The deposit that holds your date is non-refundable as I have likely turned away other couples. This policy allows my business to not take a total loss on the date if I can't rebook it.
If for any reason I am the one that cannot complete your wedding and I cannot find another photographer to take my place (to date this has never happened), I will fully refund all payment.
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