Beach Wedding & Photography F.A.Q.

Wedding Photography and Packages FAQs

What are the advantages of hiring a professional photographer?

A professional photographer will be timely arriving at your wedding promptly and has just the right digital equipment to photograph your wedding. Having attended many weddings, an experienced photographer will be at ease at your wedding. A professional uses a color laboratory that is in the business of meeting high professional standards of print quality. They are also used to working with individuals, couples, and groups to make the formal portraits go smoothly. When you think about the cost of photography, remember that the photographers fee is only part of your investment: You, your parents, your extended family, and your friends will be investing time with the photographer during your wedding. Don't waste time on your wedding day with a photographer who won't produce results you love! By speaking to him and making sure you are comfortable with the style of work, the equipment being used, and the promised results. The most important day of your life up until now should not be entrusted to Uncle Charlie just because he is doing it for free. We want you to feel as comfortable with hiring us as much as we want you to feel in front of our cameras on your wedding day. If you have any questions after reading through these frequently asked questions, just give us a call at 850.529.6670.

What is the first question I should ask the photographer?

Once you have established that the photographer is available for your date and location, you will want to ask, If we select your studio, will you be the photographer covering our wedding? Some studios have several photographers and you may be speaking to a salesperson. If this is the case, you should make arrangements to meet with and see the work of the particular photographer who will be doing your wedding.

What do I get and how much does it cost?

Even shopping for shoes or furniture, you wouldn't ask that question until you find the style and quality you like. After you have looked through a photographers portfolio seeing candids, formals, and illustrative pictures, you will know if this photographer has the technique, style, and spirit to be the eyes through which you and your children will see your wedding day. Of course, you should determine if the photographer is within your budget, give or take a little, but what you really want from photography is memories and feeling. If you find a photographer who makes you happy, you will never regret your investment, whatever the dollar cost. When we have invested in items that will be with us for the rest of our lives, our satisfaction has been highest when we have paid that extra bit for the best quality.

How far in advance should I book my wedding photographer?

As soon as possible. Most brides book us months in advance to make sure they are on our calendar. We will often work seven days a week in most of the warm weather months-especially June, July, and August. Friday, Saturday and Sundays are often the first days booked. Call us now at 850.529.6670 to reserve your date before it is gone. Because we are in and out of the office, please follow up with an email if we don't answer the telephone.

How do I reserve my wedding date?

We require a retainer fee of 1/3 down if your wedding date is more than four calendar months away, and If the calendar is within three months of your wedding date, then ½ of the balance fee is required. The only way for us to keep track of inquiries and book dates is to have it on a first come, first serve basis. By this we mean, the first one to send in their retainer and sign the contract gets the date. The retainer is subtracted from the total of your package price.

Can you pencil us in for photography services?

When you are serious about us doing photography at your wedding, let us know and we will pencil you into the calendar for a period of 5 business days. We will need to know within that time, and we will need to receive your signed contract and retainer fee.

How much time will the photographer spend at my wedding?

That is really up to you. You can have the photographer meet you where you are getting dressed, and keep taking pictures until you leave the reception. Or you may just want a few hours of photography, with a few formal photographs and some pictures of the ceremony.

What locations do you service?

We perform weddings on all of the Destin area beaches. We also do destination beach weddings in Navarre, Pensacola, and Perdido Key, Florida.

How do I pay for your wedding services?

We accept Paypal, Visa and Mastercard. We will also accept personal checks when the wedding date is more than 30 days into the future. The balance of the remainder is due 14 days before your wedding date. Please make your checks payable to Craig's Photographic Service. When your retainer is received, we will send you a contract and a confirmation showing how much was paid and your balance due. Please call us at 850.529.6670 if you have any questions at all.

If we cancel the wedding, will we receive our deposit back?

No, unfortunately our deposits are actually a retainer fee to guarantee your spot on our calendar. Once we have received your deposit, we can not accept any other clients for that date and time. Retainers paid are NOT refundable. We will also have spent time and made payments to our employees and vendors.

Will we be able to use our deposit toward a future date if we have to change our wedding date?

You can use the deposit for up to one year from your original wedding date. A MUTUALLY upon date on the calendar must be available for us to do this. It is up to the bride and groom to call us at 850.529.6670.

Why don't many photographers give you printed proofs any more?

Now proofs are usually in digital form on a website, CD, or DVD. Because some customers can scan photographs, printed proofs are a problem for the professional From the photographers point of view, paper proofs have become a liability. Dishonest clients are scanning the proofs and making low quality prints. Just as DVD manufacturers have made it difficult to copy their product, photographers will move toward proof presentations that protect the photographers copyright. Online proofing is a great solution.

What about getting an album?

Some photographers offer Packages, each package having a set number of hours, images, and a certain number of final pictures in an album. It might be better to get a package that includes an album that the photographer will assemble completely because most of us never get around to putting our pictures in albums if we have to do it ourselves. Brides love our new multi image and panoramic page albums. Consider ordering parents albums too. If your parent's vision is less than perfect, they would really appreciate getting an album with large photographs so the faces are easy to see?

Who chooses the pictures that go into the album?

After looking at all the proof images, the bride and groom usually decide what goes into the album. Some photographers will suggest a layout for your album or design the album for you. You will benefit from the photographers eye and feel for the wedding. You will probably let your parents decide what pictures go into their album.

Since the year 2000, the Magazine Album (also called Template Album, Table-top Album, Storybook Album) uses digital techniques to put more than one image on a page. I recommend you have your professional oversee the design and production of the album, since complete wedding photography is the combination of images captured on the wedding day and the final design, cropping, color correction, and special effects that complement the initial images.

What about black and white or soft focus photography?

That is why the God of photography invented digital! Digital capture in color leaves open the option of having the final print on sepia, black and white, or color, soft or sharp focus, or with special effects and filters. Making a print with part of the image is in color and the rest is in black and white is a very popular option with today's brides. We can easily convert any color file that has been posted online to black and white. You or your photographer can decide when the images are printed or put into an album what looks best for each image.

What equipment is used and why did you choose these components?

It varies based on whichever package is chosen. We currently use a variety of Canon cameras. From the full frame 5D Mark 5 to multiple 80D bodies. If additional light is necessary, we have all Canon 580 model 2 flashes. We chose these components because they work well together on the beach and in the lower lighting situations we find at most receptions. The Canon cameras can even record in low light situations! Our equipment list may be upgraded at any time without notice.

What if my ceremony or wedding runs late or into overtime?

Each of our Destin beach packages include a certain quantity of time. All time runs from the scheduled START of the ceremony. We realize that schedules don't always go as planned and if you decide you would like to keep the photographer stay longer, there is an overtime rate starting at only $150.00 per hour. It is very important to build in enough time into your wedding day schedule, so please start on time.

How many images will you take?

It depends on the level of service we are hired for. Please see our wedding packages. We photograph in RAW format and they take a special software to view. RAW files look rather dull until they are post-processed (in On1 Photo Raw, Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop) and then converted to jpegs which is what most peoples computers can read. These are first generation jpegs with no quality loss due to compression.

How fast can we see our images?

Generally in 3 to 4 days. Most of the time your images will be posted to an online gallery before they arrive at your residence! Your family and friends can view and order any professionally printed lab prints they choose. You will also receive your own flash drive in the mail.

How many flash drives or DVD copies of my images will I get?

Each package gets 1 copy of the flash drive. Additional flash drives for parents and family and friends are at a reduced price until the files are deleted from our workstation. We do archive your files to an off board hard drive and to a duplicate flash drive so all files are still available for a minimum period of six months. You never know when the next hurricane, flood, fire or tornado will strike, so it is a good thing to purchase an additional copy or two for security sake and leave them in your parents houses or rent a safe deposit box and stash them away. All additional flash drives are shipped to the bride and grooms address unless an additional payment has been made for postage. Overnight shipping and other expedited shipping is available and is paid by the client.

Suppose I want more copies in the future?

Obtain the high-resolution digital files, which will either be included or available for purchase. However, keep in mind that the photographer is not only giving you the files, but the right to legally reproduce them on your own. Be prepared to pay extra for this privilege. We provide a secondary image release so you can take them elsewhere for printing. If you own the images, you can use them on a website, email them and make acceptable prints. I have found it takes a professional color lab to produce rich color high-quality prints from digital files, so owning the files does not automatically guarantee you are going to get the best wedding images at the best price. You can also go back to the photographer for a short period of time to purchase extra prints at a better quality.

What about having two photographers?

Some companies offer two-photographer coverage where both professionals are taking pictures. This allows for better coverage of the overall day. One photographer can be shooting the bride and bridesmaids, while the other is covering the groom and groomsmen. If you have only one photographer, he/she cannot be in two places at once. During the reception and formal portraits, one photographer can focus on posed images and the other on wedding photo-journalism. However, if this is the kind of coverage you are looking for, be prepared to spend much more than if you were to have only one photographer. This is due to one simple fact: if both photographers are shooting your wedding, they will not be able to schedule additional weddings on your date.

What is the best time of day to hold a beach wedding in Destin?

The best time for Destin beach weddings is about 1 1/2 hours before sunset. If you are scheduled for a sunset wedding and arrive more than 15 minutes late, we may not be able to take the amount of photos in your package. And there will be no adjustment on costs. Call us and we will give you the sunset time for your location and date.

What if I don't I want something in the complete package?

We want to customize a wedding that is suitable to your needs. We may be able to exchange one part of the package for something else or somehow adjust it to your needs. We want to include your creative ideas as well so you will enjoy looking at your wedding portraits for the rest of your lives.

Wedding Service And Officiant FAQs

How far in advance should I reserve my wedding minister?

As soon as possible. Most brides book us months in advance to make sure they are on our calendar. We will often work seven days a week in most of the warm weather months, especially June, July and August. Friday, Saturday and Sundays are often the first days booked. Call us now at (850) 974-2990 to reserve your date before it is gone. Because we are in and out of the office, please leave a voicemail or follow up with an email if we don't answer the telephone. Thank you.

How can I reserve my wedding date?

We require a retainer fee of 1/3 of the total cost of the wedding. The only way for us to keep track of inquiries and book dates is to have it on a first come, first serve basis. By this we mean, the first one to send in their retainer and sign the contract gets the date. The retainer is subtracted from the total of your package price.

What are the marriage license requirements?

Both parties must be present when applying for a marriage license and each must present one of the following forms of identification: Valid government-issued photo driver license issued in the United States Valid federal or state photo identification card Valid government-issued Passport or Consular photo ID Birth certificates or green cards are NOT accepted If either person was previously married, the manner in which the last marriage ended and the exact date the marriage ended (month, day and year) are required. Copies of the death certificate, final decree of divorce, annulment or blood test are not required. You do not have to be a resident of Florida to apply.

Must I apply for a marriage license in the state and county where I live?

No, a marriage license may be applied for and solemnized in any Florida county. You can not use a license issued from your home state because it is not recognized in Florida.

What if we are from out of town?

All the more reason to call us. We are an all-inclusive wedding ceremony planning company. Our wedding planner will talk to you as often as it takes to be certain we have all the details the way you want them to be. Your wedding on the beach will be just as unique and romantic as you always dreamed it would be. There is no limit on the number of emails we will answer to get things right! All the more reason to call us.

How long is the marriage license good for?

The marriage license will expire 60 days after the issue date.

How many witnesses are needed?

None. Witnesses are optional in Florida.

Who signs the marriage license?

The bride and groom and the officiant (hopefully us).

If the bride/groom and I are both non-Florida residents, is there a waiting period for the issuance of the license? If both the bride and groom are non-Florida residents, there is no waiting period for the license to become effective.

Are blood tests and physical exams required?

No. The law requiring these tests was repealed on October 1, 1985.

Are there any rules when it comes to getting married by you?

Other than the legal requirements in the state you are getting married in, there are no rules. You can be as traditional or as non-traditional as you would like to be. Want to recite your vows while jumping out of an airplane, tie the knot while in a pool, or cruising in the middle of the bay on a boat NO PROBLEM. With us, most anything will work.

Can we customize the wedding vows?

Yes. We will customize any ceremony until it is fully acceptable to the bride and groom. It can be a civil, religious or spiritual ceremony. We do not judge the bride and groom and tell you how it has got to be. If you chose to do so, you can even write your own vows!

Can we bring our own minister?

Yes. We would be honored to work with or alongside your minister-OR stay out of the ceremony entirely. You are welcome to give my name and phone number to your minister.

Are there any restrictions on our attire, or to our bridal party

No. Please let us know what is going to be worn so we can try to match it and avoid standing out like a sore thumb. We have seen everything from full tuxedos and shoes to bikinis and bare feet.

Do we need to have a rehearsal?

Rehearsals are generally scheduled the day before the wedding at about the same time as the wedding is scheduled to take place. They help everyone knows where to stand and what to do and say. The majority of weddings we officiate are done without a rehearsal. If you are organized, they are not a necessity. If you want to have a rehearsal, schedule it as soon as you book us, so our schedules allow us to attend. The cost for a rehearsal is $150.

How long is the typical ceremony?

Most beach ceremonies last from 10-20 minutes. If you are doing a shell ceremony or blessing stone ceremony at surf side, after the vows, you should factor in additional time.

Will you wear a wireless microphone if the videographer needs one to capture the vows during the ceremony?

Yes. We really want your video to be absolutely perfect, and audio is a large part of that. If you have purchased the full audio package, then your guests will be able to hear your vows as well as the music.

We have a really unique situation and would like certain accommodations for the ceremony. Are you able to do this?

I am able to accommodate any type of ceremony and other special requests. We can discuss what you need to make your ceremony exactly how you envision it should be. After all, you want a ceremony that expresses your love for each other and a minister you can depend on.

We want to get married today (or tomorrow or this weekend), can you do anything for us?

We will try to. There is a beach permit fee due for most any beach usage that MUST be presented to us ON the beach as well as your wedding license. Sometimes we will have an open date or a cancellation at the last moment. Call us at (850) 974-2990 as soon as possible and we will try to accommodate you.

Wedding Video Production FAQs

How do I choose a videographer for my beach wedding?

The best way to go about choosing a videographer for your wedding is speaking to him or her and making sure you are comfortable with the style of work, the equipment being used, and the promised results. The most important day of your life up until now should not be entrusted to Uncle Charlie just because he is doing it for free. We want you to feel as comfortable with hiring us as much as we want you to feel in front of our cameras on your wedding day. Call us with your questions after reading through these frequently asked questions, at 850.974-2990-we have answers!

What kind of equipment is used and why did you choose it?

This varies based on whichever package is chosen. We may use one, two or three DSLR high-definition style cameras to record your ceremony and/or your reception. We have three Canon 80D and one Canon 5D Mark 4 cameras available. Our DSLR cameras are all new this year. The HD image quality is just outstanding! We use all HD Canon DSLR cameras with a separate Tascam DR-60D four channel audio recorder and high end Azden wireless microphones and receivers. If we are providing the speaker system, they are Alesis battery powered speakers which can work by a wireless signal or be wired. We use Adobe Premiere Pro software to edit your video. We chose these components because they work well together on the beach and in the lower lighting situations we find at most receptions. The DSLR cameras can even record in low light situations! Our equipment list may be upgraded at any time without notice.

How much raw footage do you record?

It depends on the level of service we are hired for. Ceremony only coverage will run from one to four hours (depending on the number of cameras paid for and goes to as much as ten hours if you have chosen full coverage for your reception.

How long is the final video?

The video's duration depends on the package you have chosen. A ceremony only video will usually run anywhere from 15-60 minutes. A full-coverage video covering the entire reception right through the send off will probably run anywhere from 60-120 minutes. The length of the video also depends on the add-on choices such as photo montages and whether we have done a Love Story interview or even added Day After coverage such as a Trash the Dress session.

How many copies of the video do I get?

Each package gets 1 copy of the DVD for the bride and groom. Additional DVDs for family and friends are available at a reduced price until the program is deleted from our workstation. After the program has been deleted, you can still purchase additional DVDs at $35.00 each. All DVDs are shipped to the bride and grooms address unless an additional payment has been made for postage. Overnight shipping and other expedited shipping is available and is paid by the client.

If I do a childhood and dating photo montage, when are my picture and music due?

ALL photos and music are due in the office at least 30 days before the date of your wedding to be included on the video.

What other services are in the add-on category?

We offer photo montages using childhood photos of the couple, our "Love Story" where we follow you on a date with action and interviews, and a "Day After" where we do interviews or a "Trash the Dress" session. These are ALWAYS fun, and a real shock to family and friends to see just how exciting and unpredictable the two of you can be together!

Is editing included in the price of your packages?

Yes, editing is included.

Do you do table interviews?

Virtually never! However, it would not be unusual for us to have your guests say something to the camera in a secluded area to wish you well or tell a story about you growing up, etc. You will be amazed at the advice and stories for the newlyweds that you sometimes hear. Its also a good way to see and hear some of the things you could not get to at your own reception. You might be up front and we might be in the back and you would never even hear what that crazy group of friends was saying!

How soon after the wedding will I receive my edited DVDs?

Editing takes about one week on ceremony-only packages and three to four weeks on packages that include your reception-it might take longer during the busiest months. All packages that have Hollywood Style editing will take about two weeks longer. Then it is up to the postal service after that. Many people have the misconception that digital recordings are somehow all automatic. It can take 40 hours to edit a video with the appropriate cuts and effects to tell your story in a romantic fashion. Our editor reserves all rights to the final creative approval of the video. After that, if you want additional editing and revisions of your video, we will do that at a rate of $75 per hour with a three-hour minimum fee.

Will I receive the raw footage?

The raw footage burned to a DVD will be available for a very limited period of time. The price for that DVD is $100 PLUS the cost of the SD cards that the footage is on.. Raw footage is NOT ARCHIVED, it is deleted.

Do we need to provide a meal for the videographer?

A meal is not necessary for ceremony-only weddings and weddings under four hours, including the travel and reception time. If the time booked for your wedding is longer than the four hours, we ask that you provide a meal or at least a break of 30 minutes to allow us to eat. If the reception is on the Solaris cruise boat at Sandestin, we ask for a meal to be provided (no way we are jumping off to go get something to eat !).

Will you attend the rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner?

We can record the rehearsal as well as the dinner, but there is an additional charge for that. We have photographed at hundreds of locations over the years so there is a good chance we have been to yours. If not, we will be early enough to thoroughly check out your location before the wedding.

What about licensing and copyright terms?

Videography is covered under federal copyright protection laws. As the creator of the work, Destin Florida Beach Weddings retains the copyright of the raw footage and finished work. The finished work is licensed to you for your own personal use which includes non commercial viewing by you, your family and your friends. For an additional fee, we will license the finished work for commercial or broadcast use, or we will transfer the copyright and outright ownership to you. If you would like to use your wedding video for commercial purposes (making money), please call our office at 850.974.2990 to discuss these arrangements in detail.

Can I copy or edit the DVD you create for me?

Your finished video is licensed to you for your own personal use and viewing (including family and friends). The DVDs we create for you are locked and may not be copied. If you would like to order extra DVDs to share with your family and friends, we are happy to make them for you. We offer additional copies at a reduced price.

Will you post my wedding video to your website or social networks?

Yes. We reserve the right to post them to YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook and other social sites in our marketing efforts. We will not publicly present your video for commercial purposes or for pay with out your authorization.

Will your videography get in the way of my wedding photographers work?

No. Wedding photographers and videographers work side-by-side at nearly every wedding. Generally, the amateur videographer is the only one in the way. Most of the time we work with the photographer and we both just know when to be where. We will work with your photographer to ensure they have the space and freedom they need to do their best work. We will even inform them if we are going to pull a group of family members or friends to the side so they can take a group shot of them if they wish.

Destin Florida Beach Weddings

Craig Garrison and Destin Florida Beach Weddings have provided the best weddings services on the Florida Gulf Coast since 1982. We offer custom designed beach wedding packages, wedding photography and other wedding services. Call us today at (850) 529-6670 to learn more about how we can help you plan the perfect beach wedding

Contact Us

175 Main St UNIT 1057

Destin Fl 32541

Call Us At 850.529.6670