What Makes a Great Photographer?
At Michelle and Brittany Photography you get two photographers – for every shoot: from weddings to family sessions and everything in between. But what exactly does that mean for you on the receiving end of the photos? What makes a great photographer? We have the perfect photography recipe with so many benefits that you receive when hiring Michelle & Brittany for any photography needs. Let's dig in!
What Makes a Great Photographer?
An Introvert and An Extrovert
We’re going to start with this because it tells you a lot about us, and also because this is such a benefit. Between our personalities, we can connect with anyone.
For portrait sessions, on the day of the shoot, Michelle brings tons of energy and a friendly welcome, likely waving hello from across the parking lot with all the excitement in the world. Brittany tends to be a little more reserved, but just as friendly, getting everyone set up where they need to be and making sure everything stays on track. This is where you will see the team get into the flow and the photos to come will be everything that you will want to keep close to your heart. The duo helps you preserve all the memories you could possibly want.
On wedding days, Michelle and Brittany both have pivotal roles that they each excel in. Michelle takes the lead with the groom and groomsmen getting ready photos. Being raised with all older brothers, she fits right in with this group, even when they get a little rowdy. She is also great at rallying the troops for family formals and making sure that everyone is where they need to be. Brittany is great in the smaller group settings, especially during the couple portraits and first looks or first touches, and makes sure that everything is running smoothly, keeping things on track.
Variety in Your Photos
Have you ever wondered how photographers get those ultra close up shots and the full body of basically the same image? We’re going to spill the tea here about how photographers do that. Some photographers have two camera bodies and two separate lenses attached to a harness that they use throughout the shoot (and we do too sometimes). However, we primarily use two photographers so that you get the same outcome, but it takes less time.
When it comes to photography, the angles and lighting make all the difference. When you have two photographers, you are going to get more in less time. Typically we choose to get full body, cropped, and detailed photos for both weddings and portrait sessions. The amount of photos is another conversation altogether, but you get more quantity and more variety with two photographers. We also see opportunities in different locations that the other might not. These photos where Alexis and Sam are framed in the ivy archway are some of my absolute favorites we’ve EVER taken and they wouldn’t have happened if Michelle hadn’t stopped and insisted we shoot in an alley behind the venue that I was walking past.
On wedding days, this variety extends to allowing us to get both the bride and the groom getting ready without having to sacrifice missing sweet moments at either location, getting the groom’s face and the bride walking down the aisle, and getting a vertical and a horizontal framing of the first kiss.
As a bonus, we also DO NOT put a photo limit on the number of photos we give you for sessions or weddings. That’s right, there is no photo limit! We have minimums per hour that we promise for weddings, but we don’t keep your photos locked up so that you have to pay even more to get them. Included with each booking is a digital gallery of all edited, high-res images for sharing and ordering prints and the print release for all photos.
Quicker Turnaround Times & Communication
There’s something fun about this point. Maybe because we really do produce top quality photo galleries with precision-editing, or because I just enjoy getting to brag about our turnaround times. Either way, the truth of the matter is, we have created a system of how we are able to divide and conquer when it comes to client sneak peaks, galleries, blog posts, and more so you’re not left waiting, and waiting…and waiting.
With communication we strive to deliver quick and complete answers to questions. We don't like surprises in general, and want to make sure that our clients are fully prepared for their sessions. Feel free to shoot us an email, or send us a quick text if something has you concerned. We are here for you.
Photography Expertise
If you are anything like most of our clients, being in front of a camera the first time can be weird and kind of awkward. So how can we ensure that you are going to have beautiful, dreamy photos to look back on forever? It's because together we have almost ten years of photography experience.
We understand that lighting and composition are just the basics to make sure you look and feel your best! We know not to put you into direct sunlight. This will create harsh shadows and be truly unbearable on those pretty eyes of yours. Instead, we are going to put you in the shade, and make sure that everything looks great before we even take the picture.
Being able to see leading lines, which is just a fun and fancy photography phrase that means there are objects in the frame that are linear, giving the photo more depth and directing where you look, allows us to provide you with beautiful dreamy photos. It is going to give your images a little something extra.
There is nothing quite as stressful as learning that scouting hasn't been done. We take pride in exploring and learning about the places we recommend for photos so that you are able to get unique, tailored photos delivered to your inbox! We are fun and adventurous with our scouting, so we hope you are ready to have some fun too!
Personalized Experience
One of the benefits I love the most about Michelle and Brittany Photography is the personalized experience that every client receives. Given both of our backgrounds in customer service and leadership, we’ve learned that no two people are alike. Because of that experience, we know that no two weddings or portrait sessions are going to be the same. First off, we want to get to know each of our clients, whether you’re booking us for a family session, newborn, couple, or wedding, we want to know you: what you like, who you are, where you’re at in life, everything! It’s why we ask for you to tell us a little about yourself in our contact form, which is often the very first communication we have with our clients. Getting to know you also helps us to be able to write a personalized blog post after your session with a preview of your photos.
We provide personalized location recommendations for portrait sessions based on what each client is seeking. We have shot at locations all over Central Indiana and are happy to provide additional specifics about what you’ll get at each location.
When you’re in front of the camera, we want to make sure everyone feels comfortable and we know that people are often insecure about themselves in pictures. We ask about preferences (like do you have a side that you prefer?), and make sure to take them into account; we pose to help mitigate any insecurities you might have; AND we show you some of the photos in camera so that you can see how AMAZING you look, because you will look amazing.
For weddings and elopements, we sit down with every couple before booking to make sure that we’re a good fit for what they want in their wedding photos. Plus, we get to know a little bit about them. From there, we work on personalized timelines that incorporate everything the couple wants and makes sure that there’s time to photograph every moment.
At the time of this post, we’ve been working together for almost five years. Because of our history, we work and communicate with ease, serving you with the highest level of professionalism and warmth. You are getting beautiful, professional photos, and of course a fun and stress-free experience too: quality, quantity, and experience!