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...changing the way brantford & area brides plan weddings... |
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JOIN | VENDOR REVIEWS | WEDDING SHOPPE | TIPS&TRICKS | CHAT | MAGAZINE | BRIDAL NEWS | LINKS |
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vendor reviews: photographers
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Interviewing Christina Chartrand of Chartrand Photography
Personally speaking... With a lifelong affinity for photography, Christina has known for a long time that wedding photography was the route she wanted to take. "I knew it was the right path because I love it. It doesn't even feel like work to me..." So, before she took on the wedding industry, Christina armed herself with professional training and equipment knowledge. She
graduated from Sheridan College’s photography program in 1999 averaging 100% in her courses before going on to Mohawk College where she specialized in Wedding Photography. Christina now stays on top of trends by taking correspondence courses, her most recent being a digital imaging course.
With a naturally enthusiastic personality, Christina brings her wealth of energy to every wedding she takes on. Her positive, hard-working personality made it easy to spend half a day in her home studio talking about wedding photography.
Opening the doors to photography Christina opened Chartrand Photography three years ago. A newlywed herself, Christina felt that aside from her photography, she could also offer empathy. "I can relate to my couples, and the planning stress they are under when they come to see me." From what we understand, she was right. Chartrand Photography photographed over twenty weddings last year, and have already booked up for much of the upcoming 2007 season. Christina wants and plans to photograph no more than twenty or thirty weddings each year in order to devote adequate attention to each one, although this year she's limiting it to only twenty since she's just had a baby.
Christina meets with you in her home office by appointment. You'll be talking weddings over coffee and wedding photos. As you share ideas, you'll be able to browse Christina's portfolio of past weddings. You'll see that she offers a mix of candid and posed shots and that she prefers colour over black and white. You'll learn that she uses two Canon digital cameras to make sure your day is covered. "I also have new interior studio lighting that I bring with me to each wedding so that if it is rainy we can take pictures virtually anywhere inside and they will turn out bright and cheerful!" Most importantly, you'll also get a good idea of what you can expect on your own wedding day. If you hire her, this meeting is where the true memory planning begins.
Telling your story Christina feels that many couples choose her because of the freedom she allows them on their wedding day. They can be comfortable and open in front of the camera, "My pictures are simple and basic! Couples will get their pictures exactly how the day was told... I like to keep my pictures simple by keeping the backgrounds clean so the people are the main focus and not the pretty flowers behind them."
Christina strives to simply tell the story of your day through her photographs. "I will normally only pose a couple if they want me to, because I am generally candid. I prefer to take pictures as they happen. If a bride wants to jump into a water fountain - what a fantastic shot! I actually attended a wedding where this happened... all I could keep thinking about was 'I wish I had my camera'."
It's these unplanned, candid shots that Christina prefers and is the bulk of the photographs that you will get when you hire her. "I would have to say my ideal wedding is working with a fun loving, casual couple, where they can just be themselves. A couple who is open to fun poses and crazy candids would have to be my all time favourite!"
Christina also makes it a priority to get all the 'must-have' photos as well. This includes capturing all the details you've worked so hard to coordinate, as well as the family shots that are once in a lifetime. "Most of the couples that I have worked with in the past have asked for candid shots only. The last wedding I did, I had to convince the bride to take a few posed shots because I felt it was important to get pictures of her entire family together, especially because that day was so important. It was the funniest thing, a few minutes later the bride ended up leaving the posed shots and said – finish up what you are doing, I am going to socialize now! That was a definite first for me, but it was so much fun!"
The reason Christina prefers full colour photos is that she thinks in colour. "I specialize in colour. I am a very colourful person!" While she sees the purpose and value of using black and white photography, Christina emphasized to us that in order to capture the colourful details in a bride's gown or the sequins of her bridesmaid dresses, she feels that you need a great colour photograph. She will use colour to document your wedding so that you can remember the vivid details of your day. "I always tell my brides that I take all the pictures in colour originally because you can never turn a black and white photo into colour but you can always turn a colour photo into black and white." Black and white as well as sepia prints are always available to you as options if you choose.
Pricing for the masses... One of the first things you notice about Chartrand Photography are their more than affordable prices. Christina explains, "I feel that couples choose Chartrand Photography for their weddings because of our price and for the clear and focused shots. With the quality of my camera and using nothing but the best in film is how I can capture such vivid images."
All of Christina’s wedding packages are economically priced, starting with Package 1 ('Basic') at just $500. With options at $650 (Package 2 - 'More for your money'), $900 (Package 3 - 'A beautiful wedding') and $1600 (Package 4 - 'The wedding story'), there are several ways that you can choose to have Chartrand Photography cover your day. Each package offers a range on the length of time, locations and amount of proofs and prints included, but every package allows you to keep your proofs and negatives (a DVD slideshow) from the day. Full specifics for each package are available at Chartrand Photography's website at www.chartrandphotography.com. If you don't see a package tailored to your needs, Christina can customize one just for you!
Besides a strong focus on wedding photography, Christina likes to offer her clients a range of other services as well. She has a great Engagement Portrait Package that includes 36 proofs for you to keep, a DVD slideshow and your choice of location. All of this is only $100.
Christina not only provides wedding and engagement photography services, but also a number of other services including portraiture of families, children and even the family pet. Having been in the modeling industry when Christina was a teen, she is able to offer her potential clients with a great start to their career by offering Modeling Portfolio Packages. This service is required to be done in her home as extensive set-up and lighting is required.
For the love of weddings... We asked Christina what she loves best about wedding photography. "Every wedding experience that I have had the pleasure of photographing, has been so different and completely new." Even though dozens of weddings take place each weekend, Christina says that no two are the same. "Weddings always offer unique experiences, moments. None are the same, but all are inspiring."
detailsdetailsdetails • Booking in advance is recommended, however if the date is available last minute Chartrand Photography will accommodate you. • At the time of booking there is a $300 deposit required. This deposit is non-refundable. • Two weeks before wedding, half of your balance is due with the remaining balance due when your photos are picked up. • Traveling fees apply for all clients more than 30 minutes driving distance from Brantford, at approximately $50 to $100. • There is GST and PST charged on all of Chartrand Photography's prices.
Contact Chartrand Photography... For more information or to speak with Christina Chartrand directly, give her a call at 519-758-8118 or email her at chartrandphotography@bellnet.ca. Chartrand Photography is also available online at www.chartrandphotography.com.
- The Staff at TheWeddingRing.ca * Prices are all approximate and are subject to change and verification by authorized staff and management of Chartrand Photography. |
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When
we first met
Christina Chartrand at a Paris bridal show, it was her genuine personality that
first won us over. Her candid story-telling photos, more than reasonable
prices and professional training were bonuses that we couldn't ignore. From a simple, short documentation of your wedding ceremony,
to complete wedding coverage from rehearsal to the reception party, Christina
gives her brides and grooms the digital coverage options they are looking for. Let us
explain...
Walking
you through it
A flare
for colour
More
memories