Where is your photography studio or you located?
During Busy season we are based on Playa del Carmen, in the Riviera Maya, Mexico, during low season (august, september and october) we will probably be in New York, if we have wedding in the Riviera Maya or any where else we will flight right there
Do you accept destination weddings?
Yes, we will accept destinations weddings worldwide, we love to travel and we have a great deal for International destinations outside Mexico emails us for more detail you will be amazed!.
For how long before our wedding-engagement-trash the dress do we have to select you as or photographer?
As we book up fast and have limited availability in busy season from November through July we strongly suggest you to select your photographer as soon as possible, we have limited events per year. We accept for weddings up to 12 months in advance.
I have a small wedding, what is your minimum time requirement?
For weddings to cover our costs, we can only accept 4 hours of wedding coverage, we really wish we could not charge as we love Photography, but it is impossible, as we have to run this business. We understand some wedding are over a budget and limited but unfortunate We cannot go down, the price is really inexpensive, accurate calculated and due to the high cost of the equipment and the quality We offer it is impossible to go down in price and keep the quality for other brides. For TTD we risk our equipment exposing them to the salt water and sand, in this environment equipment last less than usual.
We have stand by or free time during our wedding stages, can you work on something out?
we wish to, but we can’t, our packages are made to fit most of the weddings photography, when we attend a wedding we are supposed to be working consecutive hours and then we get back to work on backstage work, we get back to our day to day administrative and editing activities, this time may me more expensive than the event day itself.
How can we booked and secure our wedding, engagement or trash the dress session day?
To book your day you must agree a contract, do a 50% retainer payment and must wait for a LuckiePhotography email confirmation to make sure there is no other commitment for the same day, it is a really uncommon situation but this is due that in the area the monthly workload is unstable specially for busy season and we can not follow every inqueries due to the high demand for some busy months. it may be done by hiring specific people for the task that increase the cost significantly.
How do you break down the payments?
We ask for a 50% deposit and the balance one day before the wedding, engagement or Trash the dress session.
What payment do you accept?
Cash, deposit and Major Credit Cards via PayPal only, we do not accept Credit card just over Paypal.
Do you charge travel fees?
No within the Riviera Maya (Cancun, Isla Mujeres, Tulum, Akumal, Puerto Aventuras) however some resorts/hotels may charge additional fees such as Day Passes, outside vendor fees, or also some night stays to allow us to access to their property.
Are there any hidden costs?
No, but just make sure to check hotel policies for outside vendors, you will have to pay for that. Additionally after 6 hours of photography we will need a meal and hydration for photographer and assistant. Also for the Trash the Dress session in Cenote, Cenote administration may charge from $20-$150USD for the photography team and bride and Groom or 6$ per person.
If we select any of your packages and need you for more hours, can we hire per hour? What would the hourly rate be?
Yes you can ask me to stay for more hours of coverage, payment must be done before we agree and must be cash only
If we want an extra hour of coverage, does it include additional images, are they edited?
Yes. Our target is to always deliver the most complete story we can with the images we shoot.
How many photographers will be at my weddings?
Most of the weddings have been done by Ivan, now we are working with 2 photographers, Ivan Luckie is the main photographer and usually my wife Anell is my second photographer and assistant, she may not be available and will go with another person.
Do we need to provide meal to you and your assistant?
As we carry all our stuff in hot weather a full meal is required for lasting 6 hours. If no meal is provided, we will need to leave the event to purchase a meal or will take 1.5 hours for meal, however no photographer and assistant will be taken pictures during meal time if we go far from the wedding place, we strongly suggest to setup a table or place close to the wedding area so we can be aware and ready for capture any required moment, we do not need to be sited with your guests but we are more than honored if you invite us, we do require that photographer and assistant are added as a guest so there is no confusion for the meal service and we are served too, it ensures the wedding coordination team to have all ready for us.
Do you do video?
I can recommend some pretty awesome wedding cinematographers.
Do you know and recommend cool vendors like Resort, Wedding coordinator, Makeup Artist, DJ-lighting?
Yes we can help you making your day special, we have worked with awesome vendors that may be the right one for you and also we can work and coordinate smoothness so we can all make your day unforgettable.
Do you shoot formals?
Yes, unless we are told otherwise in written. Typically, we spend no more than 20 minutes just after the ceremony and photograph immediate families on both groom and bride sides and wedding party, we are storytellers based on doing a photojournalism style mixing with creative portraiture and storytelling we Focus on capturing real moments, so formals are simple and quick.
Do you provide Hi resolution digital files and what size can we print?
All of our packages include full resolutions JPEG files, no watermark or logo is inserted in the full resolution files. You may easily make prints of 20 inches the long side in a local lab from the photo shoots sessions, if you need enlargements we can provide this services, enlargements are not the JPEG native full resolution file of any camera, it is a different post production process and cost and takes time.
Do you watermark the high resolution digital files you provide in the DVD?
No, There is no branding or marking on the High Resolution files, just in the low resolution.
What equipment do I use?
The cameras I work with are Canon Brand one 1D mark III, 2 bodies 5D Mark II. Lenses, I have some but my favorites are 50mm 1.2, 85mm 1.2, 24mm 1.4, 35mm 1.4, and more that we have for special situations, all from Canon. I use Canon 580 EX flashes and a Canon ST-E2 with pocket wizard and radio Popper to fire them and some video lighting, we also have continuous lightin.
How do you light your images?
I try to use natural or available light whenever possible, I use off-camera flash fired wireless, or both.
Do you shoot RAW or JPEG?
I shoot entirely in JPEG
Do you edit the pictures?
As you may know the camera has a lot of limitations to emulate the images as the human will see, so we enhance all the already quality selected pictures and try to match as we see in the real world, Color correction is basically contrast, sharpness, tonality, white balance, change to old B&W .
Do you provide digital negatives or RAW?
We shoot JPEG and provide JPEG files.
Do we get prints at all?
We do not provide any print included in our packages, delivering prints internationally costs 40% more tan the print itself, for enlargements see the last point.
Do you shoot black and white or color or mix?
We shoot all in color and convert them in B&W in our post process. If an image is delivered in B&W, it is permanently B&W because since we do the camera shoot it was intended to be B&W most of cases can be revert or can be used in color.
How many photos do you provide (wedding, TTD and Engagements)?
Depending the package, but we may take from 20-50 pictures per hour and we will always deliver our best images, fully enhance with our own style and art. As this is an artistic storytelling concept we may not be thinking on getting the minimum images for you but the necessary images to tell the story. We have so many happy brides’ reviews outside we can provide link on request.
How do we see our images?
We will provide for 60 days and online gallery, this gallery can be shared.
What is your pictures delivery timeframe?
As every wedding is a different story with different challenge, We always target for the best scenario, but our standard turn around times vary depending on the season.
LuckiePhotography works in an area where we have a short busy season (5 months) , so we have to get as much as we can to survive the low season, in low season if we are lucky we gets one wedding per month, so we need to guarantee the quality and permanency of LuckiePhotography without affecting anyone, so it may take us 30-90 working days and it is subject to change without notice, deliveries are not included within the time frames shown over, during some holidays, delivery may be slightly delay or due to custom check out.
Do we get a chance to meet with our photographer before the wedding?
Yes but due to the high amount of events we may not be able to meet you prior to the weddings. Anyway more than 90% of our clients have booked us through email without meeting us prior to their wedding day but we have arranged a conference call to talked about how we can help on your event day, it is important that you provide the wedding itinerary and a list of things you would not like us to do at least a week before the event day. Reviews, testimonials and raves links can be provide upon request.
Is there a problem on using hotel photographer and videographer?
Most of the videographer are not a problem, just need team work to perform each other our jobs, however a second main photographer and some videographer are certainly a problem, so I would prefer not to shoot your wedding, for me the flash and the obstructive way when they want to get a shoot is the reason I cannot work with another photographer, videographers who understand how to be as unobtrusive as possible and work with the photography crew like a TEAM on a mission it is what the videographer need to understand so we can all get an outstanding job. If the videographer isn’t our recommended or well-known vendor, this is difficult in most situations the videographers and photographers does not let us work freely. We have had experiences with some videographers that were anti productive on wedding day. Please let us know who your videographer is or if you would like a reference.
How long does a TTD session in the beach and in a Cenote last?
Each one takes 2 hours, so it means if you select a TTD session in the beach and in a Cenote it will be 4 hours plus traveling to the Cenote. You will be responsible for transportation to Playa del Carmen unless other arrangements are made.
How do we get to TTD sessions in a Cenote, beach or both?
We will select a meeting point in Playa del Carmen, after this, we are responsible to take you to the TTD spot.
Do you do underwater photography in a Cenote Trash The Dress?
Yes but this just depends on weather or not the client feels confortable to get underwater, it is important and it is your responsability if you want underwater pictures to be sure you can swim and dive very well .
What time do you recommend to start and engagement or Trash the Dress Session?
We recommend very early in the morning or some hours before sunset, so we will arrange the starting time some days before the event.
Do we have to use our original wedding dress for the Trash the dress?
We strongly suggest you to wear your original wedding dress, it usually get washed in the clear and fresh Cenote waters.
What could the groom wear for the Trash the dress?
Linen, Khaki, or Cotton pants with a cotton shirt.
Should I bring my veil for the water?
Sure!!!!! Please do not forget it!
Are albums included in your packages?
They can be added to your package, album size is 12X12 inches, 24 inches when it is wide open, we will design a unique template for your wedding album using this story book based on a chronological layout of your wedding day, picking the best and asking you for your approval. We will also ask you to make a list of your favorites as images for consideration in the book.
How many pictures will the album have?
To know the actual image count is really complicated. We may averages 20 pages 30 images, 30 pages 50 images.
What is the album turnaround timeframe?
30 days.
For more answers please contact me in the upper left “Contact” link
Lighting during the wedding day
It is important to know that having a reception and not having lighting may affect the final pictures, we have light and we use it as fill light, but we can not light the whole place, so please think about it and hire a good DJ with good lighting you will not regret!
