Why Choose MDP?
South Carolina Vacation, August 2014 :)
Why choose McCall Doyle Photography over a thousand other wedding photographers in this immediate area?
That's definitely a fair question. :)
Well, for one thing, I hope you like our work. I hope that you like our ability to create unique photos for our clients on their special day...not just traditional, pretty images, but a style that suits your venue, your gown, your two distinct personalities. We're not a "brand" per se. While we do have complementary shooting styles, we love being able to adjust to the roller coaster that is a wedding day and instantly realize the vibe that is happening, and then take the right photos, and do the right editing, to ensure it's captured in a creative and memorable way.
We're not rigid in our approach to taking photos of YOUR day. We have high standards, but we're always keeping our clients and their vision in mind.
I think another thing that sets us apart is my editing. I do all the editing of our photos to keep your photos consistent and your overall look cohesive. I don't just mean standard editing to ensure that you have consistently beautiful images that are sharp and perfectly exposed. First, I like my clients to look their best in their photos. Some photogs will argue that natural is better. I agree up to a certain point...I'm not going to make you lose 20 lbs or give you a nose job in your pics. :) But when you're paying thousands to have that perfect day, and the photos (like your awesome marriage!) are going to last forever, don't you want to look your best? You've paid special attention to your hair and makeup and gown (or tux)...so when I look at the images I've taken, I work carefully and thoughtfully to make sure that you maintain that glow that *I* saw on that day, that your guests saw. Photos have a way of freeze framing (literally) moments in time. And sometimes, a flat photo can't accurately convey how gorgeous you looked while smiling at your groom or how dashing he looked dancing with his mom...instead it grabs on to the tiniest flaws (the blemishes, dark circles cause you're too excited to sleep that whole week before the big day, etc.). On the actual day, no one sees those things because you look so darned beautiful/handsome/overjoyed that those things simply vanished. But in photos, they have a nagging tendency to live on forever. But not in my photos. Every single photo is lovingly and hand edited to ensure you feel so good about how you looked on your special day...that you were as exquisite on the outside as you were on the inside. Secondly, I do have a style that makes my photographs easily recognizable. Most of my images are hazy and light filled, with just a hint of magic and fairytale. I do everything from traditional, bold colors to painstakingly created vintage tints, and black and white images that range from creamy, warm sepia tones to cool, film looks with a bit of grain. This part of the creative process is my very favorite. Your photos are my canvas, and I get to paint my signature all over them. I treat each photograph like an individual work of art. I want you to always feel like your photos are special, that no one else has anything quite like them. You know, like your love for your intended. :)
Another big part of our business is that we don't hold your photographs "hostage." When they are completely edited and ready to roll, they are loaded in their hi res sizes in your own online gallery for you & your guests to enjoy...and download, and print...on your own time, with your own printer...which means you can go wherever you like and not have to buy images from me, or have a huge mark up from the online gallery printer. Most photographers charge an arm & a leg for you to have a disk of your images in their sizes (with the watermark removed), or only allow you to order prints from them. We completely understand why they want you to order prints from their companies as they can guarantee the quality of their work will be reflected in the quality of the print, but we don't do that. We have recommendations for excellent printers, and feel that it's the client's right to use how and when they want to use their own images. We also find that wedding guests, both friends & family alike, enjoy being able to have copies of photos from the big day as well, and our system makes it easy for them to print or have printed the ones they like, without the $75 an image price tag. And not only do you get the online gallery which will remain up indefinitely, but you'll have the edited photos on a flash drive as well, with the option to buy additional flash drives if you need them for safekeeping (or Mom). :)
Did I mention we're really fun to work with? :) Brian and I are warm, quirky, helpful, and good at putting people at ease. We want you to feel like we're your friends on your wedding day (and in the months/weeks/days leading up to the wedding as well). Nothing gives us greater pleasure than being there for our clients on that day...we share in your joy in a way that doesn't resemble a job. We work tirelessly to make everything as easy and wonderful for you as possible. In the time leading up to your wedding, we talk shooting strategies with each other, find out what we want to accomplish and how we'll approach your particular wedding, discuss specific gear we'll be divvying up, and create notecards of poses, ideas, and things to remember. It helps keep us organized and grounded.
Brian and I are a complete team, and having two photographers who work exceptionally well together is better than just one. :) We get different angles and perspectives (his being 6ft tall and having no qualms about standing on a table to get a cool aerial view is part of that!) and we also get to spend more time with groups and individuals. We use walkie talkies to communicate during the big day and I can't tell you how much of a lifesaver it's been over the last two years!
I always wear cowboy boots and often vintage dresses, and whenever he can Brian wears all black a la Johnny Cash. Sometimes we color coordinate. :) We each wear a camera necklace for luck (I have a wide variety due to wonderful brides and other clients who give them to me as gifts, and Brian wears one vintage style camera that is "manly" enough for him) and superhero socks because that's what we feel like, the superheroes who can and will do anything to ensure your day is amazing and captured flawlessly.
Our wedding seven plus years ago was the start of the happiest days of our lives. It was magical, and by doing this, we not only get to relive the excitement and joy of our own day over and over again, but we feel like we impart some of our own incredible fairytale relationship to all the couples we photograph.
I hope that you'll choose McCall Doyle Photography. We are In Love with Love, and waiting to capture that Love on film forever. :) :) :)