David S. Marshall Photography

Serves Beverly, MA

35244

Hired 58 times

2 employees

14 years in business

$200

4.8

This pro accepts payments via Cash, Check, and Zelle.

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Credentials

Background Check

David Marshall
Completed on 6/26/2021

Introduction

Wonderful, beautiful, and evocative -- that's how clients describe our work. We are two professional photographers working to provide compelling images for every occasion. Whether you need family portraits, wedding photographs, portraits or event coverage, we will work with you to understand exactly what you're looking for and deliver just that. We love working with people and telling stories through images, and clients tell us that we put them at ease, which makes for great results. Our pricing is very reasonable, and our approach is creative and imaginative. Clients include Sleeping Weazel Theatre, Huntington Theatre Company, Harvard University, Rhode Island School of Design, Wheaton College, and many families and individuals.

Q&A

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

We have priced our services to make them accessible to all potential clients. Because of our price point, we rarely offer discounts apart from reduced rates for non-profits, actors, musicians, and other artists.

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

Generally we meet prospective clients in person to discuss the details of their wedding. Contract signing may occur before or after this meeting. We provide the client with a shot list to provide them with ideas about images they would like to capture. We contact the client a week in advance of the date to confirm the information we have and to discuss any changes in plans.

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

We attend relevant workshops sponsored by professional photographers organizations whenever possible. David received a Graduate Certificate in Photography from the Center for Digital Imaging Arts at Boston University.His primary second photographer also holds a graduate certificate from CDIA.

How did you get started doing this type of work?

Working as an arts administrator for 30 years in arts centers, museums, and state arts agencies, I was frequently called upon to document people, events, and art pieces. In 2011 I decided to follow my life's passion and begin a career as a professional photographer. I earned a Master's Certificate in Photography from the Center for Digital Imaging Arts at Boston University.

What types of customers have you worked with?

We love to document weddings and shoot portraits, including head shots for actors and photographs of individuals, families, and children. We also specialize in covering arts events, including theater, dance, and music concerts and arts festivals.

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

We recently worked on a project with the Huntington Theatre Education Department that documents the August Wilson Regional Competition conducted in Boston. This tape will be used to orient teachers to the Wilson Competition. We particularly love working with actors, musicians, and performing arts companies.

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

Don't make a decision based purely on price. Review the artists' portfolios and discuss your needs in detail with them. Look for a photographer whose style resonates for you. If you are hiring for an event, look for a photographer who has an artistic sensibility that will distinguish his or her results from the ordinary. If you are hiring for portraits or a wedding, be sure to get to know the photographer(s) so you will feel comfortable with them and confident that they understand exactly what you are looking for. Remember that quality and experience do not come cheap. As with other products and services, you will get what you pay for. Make sure that the photographer is not over-committed. We do not schedule any other event for the day of or the day before or after a wedding. This enables us to put all of our energy into your wedding day. We are usually working hard the next day backing up everything, correcting images, and sorting through them to get them to you as quickly as possible. We place selected images on our website within a few days of the wedding. We mount all of your images up on our website within five to six weeks.

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

When selecting a venue ask yourself whether it is photographer friendly. Does it have access to natural light? Does the venue have structures outside like gazebos, which can serve as places to take great photos? Are there gardens? Does the interior have plain walls that can serve as an unobtrusive background? What are the overall lighting lighting levels in the spaces you will use. The lower the light, the grainier the images will be. Will the photographer have easy access to the wedding ceremony from all angles? Reserving a seat for the photographer in the front row or a close aisle seat helps capture good images and limits the photographer's blocking of guest sightlines. Ask yourself how much photographic coverage is really necessary. We find that anything over seven hours is unnecessary. There are only so many images of people dancing that the photographer can take without becoming redundant. There are two exceptions to this- you want to schedule an hour session completely dedicated to the bride or bride and groom or you want to capture the couple leaving the venue in their car. Finally, find a person in the wedding party (or a venue employee) who can help manage group and family shots. The faster people are assembled and photographs, the more photos we can take.