Zoe Larkin Photography: 10 Questions with Zoe Larkin

Photographer - Zoe Larkin

Business: Zoe Larkin Photography
Location: San Francisco, California CA
Experience: 6 Years
Photography Types: Engagements, Weddings
Profile: Zoe Larkin Photography
Website: zoelarkin.com

1. Introduction: What's your story?

I got into the business of wedding photography when at a crossroads in my life and my career. My husband was actually the one that suggested it, as I was an obsessive amateur photographer at the time! Fast forward a few years later, and I couldn't imagine doing anything else. After a career in the investment banking field that spanned 7 years, I always knew I'd get back into something truly creative. Wedding photography for me is another way to connect with the world, by forming deep bonds with my couples which in turn allows them to trust me and to relax on their wedding day. It's opened up a whole new world for me, of telling stories and engaging with people from a wide range of backgrounds.

2. How long have you been shooting weddings? How many weddings have you photographed?

My goal was always to create a business for myself, so I actually set up as a business before I even photographed a single wedding! My first jobs were second-shooting for other photographers for a couple of years. My first solo wedding was in 2016. I was full-time from the beginning, because I was so passionate about making my business a success! It took time, but through my hard work and dedication I have built up a thriving business which has gone through another major boom post-pandemic.

3. How would you describe your photography style?

My imagery is light, bright, crisp and airy. My colors are true-to-life with a film-like quality. I seek to tell the story of my couple's wedding day that’s also the story of them. My style is bold and tender, modern and timeless, edgy and romantic. What that means is I love to cover all the bases giving my couples a variety of imagery to bring back the day.

I am primarily a photojournalistic-style wedding photographer. I want to capture everything that’s happening to create a vivid visual record. I believe wedding photos should transport you right back to the moment. Candid photos capture 'what is', as it is. They embody the spirit of the event, the emotions and the essential truth of the moment.

Being a photojournalist doesn't mean that there are no staged or formal photos. Far from it. It's always combination. Wedding photography combines everything from product photography, architectural stuff, family photography, event photography and of course the portraits of the happy couple. But there's much more to it than just those couples' photos!

4. How well in advance should couples book their wedding photographer?

Couples book with me right up to 3 weeks before the wedding. The pandemic meant that wedding planning timelines and priorities were shifted. I've seen absolutely stunning weddings pulled together in 3 weeks. I don't take anything less than 2 weeks because there simply isn't enough time for the onboarding process, which shouldn't be rushed.

I advise booking no more than 2 years in advance, just because you never know what could happen in your photographer's life or business-wise. Many photography businesses are unfortunately very short-lived.

5. What are the different packages that you offer and which one is your most popular package?

I don't offer any packages, everything I offer is a la carte so couples only book what they actually need. My base pricing depends on the time of day/ year, with off-season and weekdays incurring lower minimums.

6. Are you the wedding photographer who will be shooting on the wedding day? Who else is there in your team?

I have an ever-growing team of associate photographers. Couples understand that an associate will be allocated to their wedding shortly beforehand and they will have a chance to meet their photographer via video call prior to the big day. Couples can choose whether they would like me as their photographer (if I'm available) or an associate, which comes with a lower price tag.

7. Do you charge a travel fee? For what distance? What does that cover?

I offer bespoke pricing for weddings beyond 100 miles from San Francisco 94110, with surcharges for (as well as my time), mileage, rental cars, accommodations, flights and any other costs reasonably incurred.

8. Are albums or prints included in your packages?

Albums and prints are available for purchase after the wedding. Prints are self-serve through the finished gallery link. Albums are a custom experience, with clients being able to choose the images that go into the album and to proof their design that is created in-house before going to print. Turnaround time is incredibly fast, but being a collaborative process it depends on how quick the client is to give their input, how fast we can progress to completion.

9. How long after the wedding will the couple receive the images? How will they be delivered?

This depends on my current workload but an exact gallery delivery date guarantee will be stated in the contract. It's usually 4 weeks, but during heavy workloads or time away from my business, it can be up to 6 weeks that the client will contract for. Clients are invited to view recent galleries so they can see exactly what's in store for them - beautiful, slick, responsive image delivery system that is intuitive and packed with features.