DREADKO MEDIA 7 THINGS

t o c o n s i d e r w h e n b o o k i n g a w e d d i n g photographer

dreadko.com TABLE OF CONTENTS START SOMEWHERE —

3 TABLE OF CONTENTS

5 7 THINGS

6 YOUR BUDGET EVERY COUPLE 8 THEIR STYLE 10 THE QUALITY EVERY WEDDING 12 THEIR CREATIVITY 15 THEIR STORY EVERY BUDGET 16 THEIR WORKFLOW IS DIFFERENT 18 YOUR EXPERIENCE 20 ABOUT DREADKO MEDIA

22 SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR YOU

Dreadko Media Tel. 856.213.3894 7 Things Email. [email protected] 3 7 THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN BOOKING A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER —

You’ve spent countless hours researching different vendors, investing hard earned money into decorations, and had many mimosas going over flowers, dresses, and food for your special day. Don’t let all that hard work, money, and time go to waste!

Thanks for taking time to read Dreadko better chance of finding the right photographer. Media’s “7 Things To Consider When Booking Each one will be broken down into the aspects A Wedding Photographer”. This little booklet of each topic, and why they are important. will hopefully give you some insight in things to consider, look out for, and help in making your As you’re reading through each step, take decision a little easier. We’ve complied a list of note of each element and how it relates to the 7 things we find ourselves talking about with story of your wedding day. There are many every couple and broke them down to help you points in this booklet that may bring a different with your planning! perspective you were unaware about. Dreadko One photo can Media wants to make sure that you have every In this booklet, we’re going to break down the angle covered for your wedding day, and, as change the day. following 7 things to think about when booking you read the book, we made sure to make a wedding photographer: everything as clear and easy as possible.

One experience can | Budget If at any point in this booklet you find yourself | Style having any additional questions, please feel free change your life. | Quality to email us at the email down below. Please | Creativity note you can also text or call us directly at the One photographer can | Story phone number provided. | Workflow change your wedding. | Experience So let’s get started with everything! Obviously, there are other topics to consider, but we feel that covering these 7 will give you a

Dreadko Media Tel. 856.213.3894 7 Things Email. [email protected] 5 Seriously. Stop thinking and second guessing. YOUR BUDGET Spend the money on pictures. IT’S YOUR MONEY — - Cyndi B (Dreadko Media Bride)

It’s your money. The number 1 thing I tell all my couples is it’s your money, dont let me (or any other photographer) tell you what to do with it. Often, couples • Don’t let any photographer tell • Listen to your photographer’s find themselves with budgets that Tips from us you what to get and not get. It’s thoughts. If they’re worth it, they’ll can’t meet their wants. When this your wedding and your money. give you recommendations over The average happens, one of three things occur: • Know your budget’s flexibility • Have your budget be a price • Consider the value of mandatory requirements (the cost of a 1) The couple goes with a range, not a set price limit. photography and your wedding. difference is crucial). wedding hobby photographer, and the final photos show the photographer: lack of experience. 2) The couple goes over their budget and has $2500+ to sacrifice elsewhere for their wedding. 3) The couple finds a is” and are forced to choose from the photographer that will work limited options. That number isn’t there with their budget. “Custom packages” are exactly what to scare you. It’s merely they sound like: custom. Couples Set packages VS Custom packages there for perspective. are able to build their packages Photographers come in The majority of photographers have according to their needs and $600 $1800 $200 what we like to call “set packages”. budgets while still getting the quality all shapes and sizes (and By this we mean that they have 3 Our Starting Price The average cost Increments in our they deserve. prices too). One of the to 5 prebuilt packages for you to of our couples options most important things is choose from. In these cases, there’s THIS IS WHERE custom packages knowing your budget. usually little room for adjustment. DREADKO MEDIA Couples basically hear “it is what it COMES INTO THE MIX.

Dreadko Media Tel. 856.213.3894 7 Things Email. [email protected] 7 THEIR STYLE QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT STYLE —

Dynamics

Does the photopgrapher show flexibility in their dynamics? Do they cover formal, detail, Dreadko Media’s Style and candid shots with great flexibility? Don’t pick someone While in your search for a who specializes in one thing. photographer, remember us and Versatility is key to creating this booklet. We take a different beautiful memories. spin on things. Dreadko Media prides itself on not being like other photographers. While we Trends take the trendy pictures that are popular today, we ensure Does your photographer only to capture the moments in a do what’s trendy? Do they get different light so that when creative or only follow the flavor you’re celebrating 50 years of of the week? Remember that marriage, your photos remain the photos of your wedding special and different from day are the most referred to everyone else’s photos. memories of the day. In 20 years, do you want to only see what was trendy? Or do you want to see your wedding day Originality from a variety of perspectives? When looking over a photographer’s portfolio, do all their photos look similar? Are all the formal shots posed the same for every couple? Are all the ring shots the same? Find a Dreadko Media photographer who can change things to make your wedding Tel. 856.213.3894 9 7 Things photos your own, and not the same as someone elses. Email. [email protected] THE QUALITY YOU DESERVE THE BEST —

This may seem like the most obvious of all the “things” we’ve listed. The reality is “you get what you pay for” no longer applies in the age of DSLR cameras and modern editing programs. Reputation Portfolio Delivery One of the most common questions we face is This is the This can’t be This is often “What do your photos actually look like if your prices 1 first key to a 3 stressed enough. 2 overlooked, are so cheap?” The answer: Look at our portfolio. photographer’s Look at the especially when quality. If their photographer’s digital delivery is Look at any photographers portfolio. reputation is good, they’re final portfolio. If their work doesn’t meet the norm. Ask the photographer the Don’t go off the dollar signs. More and more modern product is too. The easiest way to the quality standards you have, or resolution of the images delivered. find out about their quality:Check they have nothing to show you, walk Dreadko Media follows the industry photographers are realizing that the quality that we their reviews and ratings. If they away. Look out for: high-resolution standard of 300 DPI can deliver is more than anyone could ever deliver have no reviews or ratings, or the | Blurry portfolio images and 3500px long edge. If you ask before today. ratings are subpar, you don’t even | Same images with a photographer for their delivered have to read the reviews. Trust past different couples resolution and they either don’t That said, if you see a low price, the portfolio is what couples’ opinions. They can give | No large sized samples have an answer or the numbers are will give you an idea if “you’re getting what you paid the best idea in terms of quality. | Bad editing / photoshop less than what we have listed, for” rather than “getting more than what you paid for”. I repeat: RUN! Look at the photographer’s portfolio.

Dreadko Media Tel. 856.213.3894 7 Things Email. [email protected] 11 TITLE Editing and Filters Aren’t the Same This isn’t your everyday photo app

Every photo today is run through some sort of editing. Is your photographer able to edit your photos in new and exciting ways? Or are they just throwing a sepia filter over it? Gone are the days where the THEIR photos delivered are exactly as they are shot. Ask your photographer what kind of editing goes into all their weddings. If they say “none”, start asking a lot more questions. CREATIVITY WHO DOESN’T WANT UNIQUE PHOTOS — The photos have been edited very well and capture the special TITLE Trendy VS Creative TITLE Embrace the Elements No two images are created equal Making it all work together moments of our

There isn’t a photographer out there that won’t take requests from a couple to recreate other photos. We If there’s a car or table in a photo, does the photographer special day. live to make our couples happy. That said, when looking at their portfolio, how many of their images have make it work, or does it look forced? One of the key you seen before? Are they simply what is “cool” right now? Or do they offer the trendy photos and more? components to a creative photographer is how they utilize Be sure to find a photographer that takes your story and makes it yours, not just what makes it cool. the elements and make them work as part of the photo. - Julian H (Dreadko Media Groom)

Dreadko Media Tel. 856.213.3894 7 Things Email. [email protected] 13 DREADKO’S STORY THEIR Our first camera. Dreadko first placed his hand on a STORY camera during a free class at his local 2002 church on photography. A spark grew. WE LOVE WHAT WE DO AND WE Dreadko gets married. LOVE OUR STORY— On January 9th, 2010, Dreadko got married to the love of his life. His personal wedding opened his eyes to 2010 Dreadko Design was born. the joys of weddings. On the verge of graduating with a degree in Graphic Design, Dreadko 2014 began Dreadko Design to further his freelance design work. Our first wedding. Always loving weddings, Dreadko booked his first wedding and the story of our lives shifted forever. Weddings 2017 Weddings forever. were in our blood. In May of 2018, Dreadko Design shifted out of the office and design and 2018 changed to Dreadko Media, focusing on weddings full time. Your day makes ours. Booking over 25 weddings a year, Dreadko now lives his dream: Capturing the stories of love and helping people Present A photographer’s story is as ASK THEM ABOUT THEIR STORY. The future. remember those moments forever. important as yours. Find out why they got into wedding As time moves on, we will continue photography in the first place. Ask them capturing stories, loving our couples, why they keep doing it. Question what and continue changing the industry for There’s a lot of money in weddings. No one 2025 the plan is. Wonder what their favorite the sake of future love. can deny that. Unfortunately, this means that photographers can also be in the game part of the day is. They’re the one’s telling for nothing more than that. your story, so make sure their’s is just as important to them.

Dreadko Media Tel. 856.213.3894 7 Things Email. [email protected] 15 Workflows are everything in the photography world. Without them, things take longer, don’t end up the way they should, and you’re left wondering what’s going on. Transparency with workflows is crucial. Ask your photographer about their workflow and how it will affect you. THEIR While the majority of photographers have some form of concrete workflows in place for their 75% business, it is a major red flag if your photographer can’t answer any workflow questions for you. This usually means it’s hard to know what to expect, even for them. What could be worse than having no idea of what is going on with all your photos.

WORKFLOW Dreadko Media prides itself on its transparency. Below is a breakdown of our editing workflow. HOW THEY WORK [FOR YOU] — ++ Uploading images onto a secure and backed up drive. ++ Culling images (fancy word for weeding out all the pictures of people sneezing). After-wedding work ++ Basic color correction. ++ Cropping of imagery to best suit the composition. On average, 75% of a photographers time spent on one ++ Detailed color correction for each image. wedding is after the wedding in the editing phase. Make ++ Our editing phase. At this point, we go through and get creative with some images. Whether sure to ask questions on how this affects your wedding. you’re looking for fantasy style or funny, we always aim to please. One thing we often see Day of workflow. ++ Skin smoothing and blemish removal. We go through each image individually and get rid of any Dreadko Media averages 30 hours per wedding day of blemishes, scars you want removed, and smoothing of skin. dismissed is the questioning of Timelines are always important. You’ll have ++ Delivery to you! 4 workflows. Workflows are the one for your wedding day. MAKE SURE you process the photographer goes sit with your photographer and go over their 3 timeline for the day so that way they can through the day of the wedding 2 ensure your day goes as perfectly as you and after during editing. deserve it to! 1

We got our J F M A M J J A S O N D pictures Time of year back to us The time of year greatly effects the after-wedding workflow. The more weddings in a month / day a photographer has extremely fast, can delay your delivery substantially.

4 days later Dreadko Media never double books a date fast! 28 40% 4 days Weddings booked 50% in our first year Referral clients Fastest delivery - Randi P 30% (Dreadko Media Bride) 20%

Ask about their after-wedding workflow. to deliver your product. In that, ask them what their average turn around time is. Amount of “camera people” Every photographer works differently. That’s There’s nothing wrong with asking these what makes us all unique. Most couples questions. Going back to the first “thing” “Camera people” simply defines photographers and don’t think to ask details about after the we listed, it’s your money. Find out what it’s videographers. The more people, the longer it takes. Ask your photographer about the editing processes. Dreadko Media wedding. Ask them what kind of editing they going towards and what you can expect Tel. 856.213.3894 7 Things Email. [email protected] 17 do. Find out how long they give themselves from the investment you place. Dreadko Media’s stats: Black: 2 photographers, 1 videographer. Yellow: 2 photographers. Grey: 1 photographer. YOUR EXPERIENCE. 01 02 03 04 05 06 No matter your story Why your experience is as or the location of important as your photos: “Game Plan” “Above & Beyond” “So Natural” “Stay on Track Time-wise” “The Entire Experience” “Attentive & Hardworking” the wedding, your ++ IT SHOWS | If your photographer doesn’t make sure to give you a He was full of energy & had a game They were the perfect match The thing we loved the most is that Jeremy was so easy to work with, He has the ability to be assertive He was very attentive and experience should good experience, it will show in plan the entire day. We hadn’t met for us. Jeremy, Kenny, & Victor we didn’t have a camera shoved he answered any questions or when needed, but is willing to hardworking during our wedding be golden and your photos. Don’t only research Jeremy before the wedding day exceeded our expectations! The in our face as I’ve seen at multiple messages I had very quickly. The day listen to suggestions and ideas of and reception. He really knows his their photos, but how they work but he made us feel completely trio was professional; made us feel other events. The pictures were so of he was everywhere without me the bride and groom. I was very equipment well, so the down time nothing less. with their couples. comfortable! He captured every comfortable; & really went above natural and that’s when it’s the best. even seeing him. He got great shots thankful of how he took charge standing around posing for pictures ++ REVIEWS | The most obvious moment I wanted him to and the rest and beyond for us on our big day. In It’s like like the team were ninjas of and helped us stay on track time- with the photos of the groomsmen. was minimal. During the reception, it of the time he blended into the crowd the future when we have another big some sort the pictures we got were wise and then he turned around and Overall we couldn’t have asked for seemed like everywhere you looked, A solid photographer reason is photographers rely on their reputation. A good & managed to get relaxed, candid moment we want to be captured- like they were right in front of us but I got us our pictures in LESS THAN a better photographer as the entire he was there! He captured all of the should be focused on your experience for you means a good shots without anyone noticing. we will use Dreadko Media in a don’t recall seeing them unless I was one week!!! I honestly can’t believe it. experience was wonderful. great moments from our special day, experience. They aren’t just review for us. heartbeat, no hesitation.. asking them to take a picture. I can’t say enough good things about and I would recommend him for all Dreadko Media. of your photography needs. taking pictures; they’re the ++ YOU DESERVE IT | You are the Randi Julian reason any photographer gets to Dreadko Media Bride Elaine Michael Dreadko Media Groom one capturing your story. do what they do. You deserve to Dreadko Media Bride Dreadko Media Groom Cyndi Giovanna be happy with your experience. Dreadko Media Bride Dreadko Media Bride

Dreadko Media Tel. 856.213.3894 7 Things Email. [email protected] 19 ABOUT DREADKO MEDIA FEEL FREE TO TALK WITH US —

One of the most common questions we answer is “what sets Dreadko Media apart from other photographers?”.

Reputation. The most honest answer to that question that we’ve I think it’s important to Dreadko daily strives to continue his found: we’re different. We don’t want to do what reputation as the innovative, fun, and everyone else is doing. We don’t want to be anything point that out in that the affordable photographer in the area we aren’t. We just want to be Dreadko. company defines who all while guaranteeing his work. With our roots in graphic design and not photography I am. The reputation of originally, our eye works a little differently in that we Dreadko isn’t just the aren’t only looking at what the photo will look like, but work that we put out, also how can we make it something different. but it’s who I am. I take Pride. We understand the trends of today. It’s what graphic designers live for. We capture those “trendy” shots as pride in what Dreadko In every wedding Dreadko captures, expected, but equally, we’re looking to tomorrow. We he ensures to make it special. It offers in the same isn’t “just another wedding”, it’s your want you to experience your wedding in ways that no wedding, and you should love it all. one else today is. way I’m a believer in reputation, pride, and This isn’t just a job for us. We truly love weddings. Our wedding day was the best day of our lives, so every honor. Dreadko Media time we go to work, we’re privledged to be a part of strives to bring all those the best day in your life. things to our couples. Honor. We get to capture your story. Between guaranteed work, affordable rates, and personal Dreadko Media experiences, Dreadko fights for Tel. 856.213.3894 7 Things honor in all he does. Email. [email protected] 21 SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR TAKING TIME TO READ OUR BOOKLET —

Thank you so much for taking the time to read our thoughts called “7 Things To Consider When Booking A Wedding Photographer”.

As a special thank you for your time, we’re including the specials below if you decide to book with Dreadko Media. It’s simple: Pick one of the specials below, mention it to us when booking, and rest easy knowing your wedding photography is in good hands!*

10% off your package 1 hour of free coverage 15% off any print option Free Premium Delivery Up to $1000 off $200 value Up to $210 off $400 value

This one is plain and simple. Create your As you’re figuring out what sort of timeline We already include a discount of 10% off any Momentos of your special day are just as custom package with Dreadko Media, and your wedding day is going to have, your print option added to your package. With this important as as every other detail. Our once everything is figured out, we’ll take photographer being there for more time is special, you can add an ADDITIONAL 15% off premium delivery offers a custom engraved 10% off your total package price! No strings always a plus. With this special, you must your print options! This gives you a total of wooden box, USB, and 100 4x6 prints. Final attached! Depending on your package, this book a minimum of 5 hours to receive the 6th 25% off any print option and up to $350 off package must be valued at over $1500 to option could save you over $900! hour for free. total! No minimum required. utilze this special. *new bookings only

Dreadko Media Tel. 856.213.3894 7 Things Email. [email protected] 23 Tel. 856.213.3894 Email. [email protected] Web. www.dreadko.com