Ben Wagner Photography

Serves , WA

35244

Hired 50 times

1 employee

6 years in business

Not yet available

5.0

This pro accepts payments via Cash, Credit card, PayPal, Stripe, and Venmo.

Next Service

Hours

Sun 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Mon 4:00 pm - 11:59 pm

Tues 4:00 pm - 11:59 pm

Wed 4:00 pm - 11:59 pm

Thurs 4:00 pm - 11:59 pm

Fri 4:00 pm - 11:59 pm

Sat 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Credentials

Background Check

Ben Wagner
Completed on 8/2/2021

Introduction

Complimentary Engagement Shoot Upon Wedding Booking of 6 hours or longer* As a Documentary style photographer, my influence is the legacy of photojournalism, street photography, and reportage. I apply this ethos to my wedding photography to produce authentic and meaningful photographs of your day. My goal is not to make perfectly posed portraits I can submit to bridal magazines to boost my profile. My goal is to capture the story of your day as it really happened, giving you the peace of mind to enjoy each moment knowing it will be faithfully documented and preserved. Every wedding package includes my one-of-a-kind PhotoFilm, a unique video that blends photographs and recorded sound to tell the story of you wedding day in a personalized documentary. *Complimentary engagement shoots must be within 25 miles or a 30 minute drive of Downtown Seattle or additional travel fees may apply. Complimentary engagement shoots are subject to availability and may require weeknight or sunday scheduling during peak season.

Q&A

What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?

Currently offering complimentary engagements shoots upon wedding bookings of six hours or more! Weddings and events have a two hour booking minimum. Additional hours may be purchased on the day of the event subject to photographer's availability.

What is your typical process for working with a new customer?

Step 1: After discussing fees, dates, availability, etc. I send every client a contract. (Never book a photographer without a contract! It protects you too!) Step 2: Upon deposit, I schedule the complimentary engagement shoot. Step 3: Before the event, I reach out to finalize any details and make sure I know the schedule for the big day and your expectations for photographs. Step 4: The big day! I begin with documenting the preparation of the event, the bride and groom getting ready, and then I'm with you every step of the way. But, I don't believe the biggest memory of your day should be the photographer. My goal is to be as discrete as possible. The best compliments I get are "we didn't even realize you were there to get that shot". Step 5: Editing! Exact timing depends on workload, but you'll have your photos back within 8 weeks of the event (usually quicker). You can expect around, at minimum, 50 finished photographs per hour of shoot time.

What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?

While my formal education was in English Literature, I have over ten years of experience in photography, years I've spent honing my craft, attending workshops, reading photobooks, etc.

How did you get started doing this type of work?

I've been passionate about documenting my life through photography ever since I received my first camera as a birthday gift my senior year of high school. In 2018 I started taking the art form more seriously, and in 2019 I first started shooting professionally.

What types of customers have you worked with?

I've worked with clients having small, intimate backyard weddings, to full scale all-day weddings, to destination wedding elopements.

Describe a recent project you are fond of. How long did it take?

I recently shot a small backyard wedding. A very typical Covid era wedding (I also got married during Covid lockdown). This intimate wedding was beautiful, a gorgeous day, lots of family zooming in, and just 10 or so people in attendance. What was wonderful about it was how normal it felt. There were tears, there was joy, and despite all the precautions it couldn't have turned out more lovely.

What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?

Always have a contract! Thoroughly review any photographer's website and portfolio. In Washington, Photographers are required to charge sales tax. If your vendor isn't charging sales tax then they aren't properly reporting taxes, are not business licensed, or may not have the proper insurance.

What questions should customers think through before talking to professionals about their project?

While getting photos back quickly is importantly, these are once in a lifetime memories. If a photographer offers to get photos back to you more quickly that the competition, you may want to consider how much effort they are actually putting into making sure your photos are professionally edited.