Wedding photography

Wedding photography packages

My packages start from 4 hours coverage and go up to whole day package, with beautiful album and prints. If you would like to know more about Martin Setunsky wedding photography, just send me an email with the date of your wedding. I will check my availability and send you my price list, where you will find all about my wedding photography packages and prices for your wedding photos. contact me here.

Before you book with me

And now let’s have a look at what the wedding day with me looks like …

Bride’s getting ready

I really like to start the day early, so I will arrive at ‘the ladies’ soon after the makeup artist and hairdresser. But if you are afraid I will pull out my camera and start shooting photos of you first thing in the morning, don’t worry. I know that no one wants to have photos done before the magical hands of hairdressers and makeup artists. Firstly I will start the morning with you by taking care of the dresses. Then shoes, accessories and whatever else is an important and part of your wedding day. For this part, it is always really good if the wedding rings are with the bride in the morning. (I can always take them to guys once these photos are done.)

Now when I am done with these, it is time to join the ladies. Crack some silly jokes and start taking some wedding photos. It is also a perfect way for everyone to get use to the camera and me being around. If you have some children there, I will never forget to capture some photos of them too 🙂

When the time allows it and the guys are getting ready close enough to the ladies, now is the time to give them a visit. If they are a bit further away, then my assistant/second shooter will do the task instead. So let’s jump right there.

I always ask the groom and his groomsmen to be ready for the time I arrive. The best case is that everyone has had their shower, they are shaved, their hair is done and also their clothes are close by. From my experience in 95% of the time, when I get to the door, I can just hear “Oh no, he is here!” The groom is just pushing his best man into the shower and he is just getting his hair done. Another groomsman can’t find his shoes or tie and another one is curing his head from a hangover. Ha-ha okay not everyone is like that, but I have seen it many times already. Just like with the ladies, I will start with a few photos of suits and shoes.

However as guys don’t usually have that many accessories, I am done in few minutes. Now is time for them to jump in their clothes. I will take photos of everyone there while they are getting ready and helping the groom with his tie. We will crack few jokes and once they have enough of me, I will get to my car and get back to the ladies.

Back to ladies getting ready wedding photos

When I get back to ladies house/hotel, the makeup and hair is almost done. Firstly I capture the last touch ups for your photo album. After that is time for some crazy photos in dressing gowns. Nothing is better than jumping on the bed while holding a glass full of wine 😀

Now it is time to get into dresses. Bridesmaids will get dressed first and they will help the bride into her dress right after that. Of course I am waiting in another room and coming once the bride feels comfortable enough for me to join them.

Once the bride is dressed and we have captured all the getting ready photos, it’s time to say goodbye and I am heading to the ceremony.

I will arrive at the venue just in time to capture some photos of the guys greeting the guests. Also if the reception is at the same venue, I will go inside and capture all the decorations there too. It is nice to have some photos before all your guests are seated inside.

The ceremony

When the ceremony starts, my assistant/second shooter and I will split up. In Other words, more eyes see more and different angles are better. I will be taking photos from a distance with a zoom lens to ensure that perfect details are captured while keeping out of the way. This is especially good if a videographer is involved too, so we are not in his way.

Right after the ceremony don’t forget to allow some time for all guests. They will line up and all of them will want to hug you, shake your hand and congratulate you. I will take some photos of that too and once everyone is getting their hugs, I will be preparing all for group photos.

Now is the time for me to get noisy haha. Group photos may take some time. Collecting all your guests and organizing different groups is a bit of a challenging task. However if you will think about it in advance and create a list of groups you want to have, it will make it much faster on the day. Also your MC or someone else, who knows your guests, will make the whole process even faster. This will save you time which you can spend with some fun activities, or as I like better, we have more time for the bridal party photos.

The bridal party wedding photos

Yay! You are married now, all the stress is gone and the time of fun and craziness can start. There is no better time to do photos with the bridal party. We can stay at the venue, or we can travel to some location. The decision is yours – although don’t forget to allow enough time for travel. It will be up to you if you want to take more photos with your bridal party, or you would prefer more photos of just you two.

I like to use artificial lights which help me to create the most beautiful set of images for your prints and album. However I do combine them with candid photos of the most beautiful moments too. I will never say no to your ideas, on the other hand if you are worried that you don’t know what to do in front of the camera, don’t worry. I will help and guide you whenever you’ll need it.

Wedding reception

Time to get back to the reception … I know everyone is hungry. 😀 During this time I will be mostly in background and photographing speeches, the cutting of the cake etc. I will also be going around and capturing everyone by their table, so you remember everyone from your wedding. Don’t worry, I promise I will put my camera down during the dinner. Certainly no one wants photos of them with mouth stuffed with some yummy food.

First dance

The time for your first dance is here and of course I will be there to capture it too. As well as the party after that. There will always be someone who likes to party. As the night is getting away this is the time when the most people come to me, pose in front of my camera and say, “Hey, take a photo.” I am ready for that and you will get the most spontaneous and super crazy photos from the time.

As the night is getting darker, I will be going out to check for the starry sky.

Most of my clients ask me about these photos and yes they can be done right on your wedding day. (I hope you have ordered clear sky for these.) To create night sky photos is a bit tricky and it will require you to stand for about 15 seconds without moving. But don’t worry we have always managed even when drinking is already in the game too 😀

Usually these are the last photos of the day and it is time for me to hit the road and get home.

For everyone else from the wedding, the day finishes once they get back home and snuggle into their beds. Sadly not for me. Once I get home, I will turn my computer on and I will be uploading all of the photos to my computer and backing them up. They have to be on few different hard drives, because I know these photos are very precious and I am not going to risk losing them. Once all of the uploading and backing up is done, I will hit my pillow and sleep like a baby.

I am proud to say my editing is one of the fastest in the wedding photography industry. Even when my contract says, “with delivery no longer than two months” (just in case I would be sick or similar.) I usually deliver all photos within two weeks. Once I am done with all of the editing, I will invite you back to my place for cup of coffee, tea or cold beer and I will play the slideshow I have created just for you. After that all of the photos are yours and I have one last task to do.

I will be de designing your photo album for you and once I am done, I will send you a link where you can check it. The system I use for album creating is super easy. When you are looking at the album, you can comment on every photo or page. This allows you to come up with different ideas, or to ask me to swap a photo for another by writing down the photograph number from your USB. This is all online and connected, so I have your comments in my computer right after you submit them. In other words It means all adjustments are super fast. We will continue communicating between each other until you are happy and then the album can go to print.

With canvas or glass prints the whole process is even easier. You will send me the photo number of your favourite photo and after that my printing company will do the print for you.

Martin Setunsky Christchurch wedding photography