Photographer - Ashley Regan
- Business: Rae of Light Photography
- Location: Dubuque, Iowa IA
- Experience: 5 Years
- Photography Types: Engagements, Family, Weddings
- Profile: Rae of Light Photography
- Website: www.raeoflightimages.com
1. Introduction: What's your story?
Hi, I am Ashley Regan!
Welcome to Rae of Light Photography! Named that way because my middle name is Rae. Please allow me this time to tell you about myself. I grew up in a very small town called Colesburg, Iowa. I moved to Dubuque in 2005 for college. In 2008 I stepped way out of my comfort zone and moved to Hollywood, California. However, I only lasted there for a short time. It just wasn't for me. I do still have some really great friends out there though!
I shoot on location. My family and I just recently relocated from Dubuque to Epworth, Iowa. My husband and I have quite the full house! A know-it-all 16 year old, a laid-back but sassy 10 year old, and a 4 year old who one day thinks he's a dinosaur and the next a Ninja Turtle. All boys! Oh, and not to mention we also have four cats, a Siamese (Owen) and a black cat (Daisy), a Tabby cat (Astro) and an orange Tabby cat (Blaze), and two dogs, a Golden Retriever (Roman) and a beagle (Bayley).
2. How long have you been shooting weddings? How many weddings have you photographed?
I shot my first wedding back in 2015. I quit doing them for a few years, but then I realized that I really missed them. I decided that weddings were the niche that I wanted to focus on along with engagement photos, so I began doing courses and other trainings in 2019 to really focus on that. I have photographed probably 30 weddings since then.
3. How would you describe your photography style?
I have a natural editing style. It is not light and airy and its not dark and moody. I do true to color but lighten up colors to make the photos bright. I like to take photos that are what I would classify as lifestyle. I'm not sure if thats how anyone else would classify it, but that works for me. It is true to the couple. I find out what my couple likes, enjoys, etc. and I love to capture those things for my couples as well as real moments of laughter, tears, anything.
4. How well in advance should couples book their wedding photographer?
I always recommend that your photographer be one of the first vendors that you book for your wedding. I suggest venue first so you can lock that in along with the date, and then photographer should be second. In general, wedding photographers book up quick. I am currently booking 2023 and 2024 weddings.
I like when my weddings are booked a year in advance if they can be. I do some last minute weddings once in a while. However, beings that I put a ton of work into each wedding that I do really getting to know my clients, I like having that extra time to have them fill out my surveys and just ask them questions. This is also beneficial to the couple to book that far out because of payment schedules. I realize that not every one can afford to pay up, this gives you more time to pay your balance.
I do get booked rather quickly, especially since I only do a certain number of weddings a year. Saturdays are the clear winner of days that book up the most since most weddings are held on Saturdays in my experience. However, Sundays and Fridays are also big wedding days lately.
5. What are the different packages that you offer and which one is your most popular package?
I do have a pay by the hour pricing scale. My rate is $250 an hour for one photographer, $300 an hour if you want a 2nd shooter. All of my packages include engagement photos. This also includes all the editing I do on your photos, an online gallery, a custom USB flash drive of your final images, and a print release to get any prints you wish at any time. The print release never expires. I also include a free wedding album for my clients with this.
I also do a lot of work with my clients before the wedding. I go over timeline with them and what photos they want.
6. Are you the wedding photographer who will be shooting on the wedding day? Who else is there in your team?
I am the only photographer employed by my business. When someone books a package with me that includes a 2nd shooter, I do have a few other photographers in the area that I work with closely that I will hire to work with me at your wedding. I have worked with all of these photographers in the past, and I trust them as much as I trust myself with your wedding.
7. Do you charge a travel fee? For what distance? What does that cover?
I do travel as far as my clients need me. I am looking into getting more into the travel / destination wedding niche also, so I'm hoping to travel to more places soon.
I do charge $0.60 a mile for anything over 20 miles from Dubuque. If the wedding is more than an hour away, I do charge an extra $200 to cover a hotel room.
8. Are albums or prints included in your packages?
I do not include prints, however you are given a print release with your photos to get any prints you wish from anywhere. This print release never expires. You do also have the option to purchase prints right from your gallery on Pixieset that I send you the link for. Those are done through their lab.
I do include a free wedding album with all packages.
9. How long after the wedding will the couple receive the images? How will they be delivered?
I have stated in my contract that wedding galleries can take up to six weeks to have images delivered to the client. This honestly depends on when your wedding is. During peak wedding season (May - September) they take about that long if I am booked out. I do put up sneak peeks on my Facebook page within 7 days after the wedding.
They are all delivered via an online gallery through Pixieset. The gallery is always password protected, but the couple can give the link and the password to anyone they wish. You can download images from there. All images are also put on a custom USB flash drive and mailed to the clients.
10. What is your cancellation and/or refund policy?
If wedding is cancelled by the client for any reason, all funds will be returned minus the non-refundable retainer fee of $500. That is held because I have put that day aside for that particular couple, and that is to hold that date and I do not book anyone else that day.
If wedding is cancelled by me for any reason, I will do my best to work with you to find a replacement photographer. If I am unable to do so, all funds will be returned to client.
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