Frequently asked questions for a wedding photographer
Where do you work?
I live in Warsaw, but I’m happy to travel to you anywhere in Poland and abroad! Write to me for the details.
We can communicate in English and French. Sometimes better, sometimes worse – but combined with a big smile, we can do anything 😉
Do you meet the couple before the wedding?
Of course! I want to get to know you and hear your story and your vision for the wedding day. I’ll also be happy to show you some albums. In some cases a phone or video call works too, but I really recommend meeting face to face.
Do you always photograph as a duo?
Not any more, but I really love it. Two photographers make sure that none of the important parts of the day – both the obviously big ones and the seemingly small ones – go unnoticed. It also allows for shots from different perspectives.
While I focus on you, the second photographer can capture the reactions of your parents and guests. Instead of one point of view you get two – plus an extra “backup”.
In the 2026 and 2027 seasons Kasia, who has also been part of White Balance, is taking a break from weddings – but if two perspectives matter to you, that’s not a problem: you can still book the second photographer (second shooter) option. Just let me know!
How many photos will we get… and why not all of them?
As set out in the contract, I deliver on average between 380 and 450 photos. I don’t always stick rigidly to the upper limit, though – it all depends on the length and flow of your day. Why don’t I hand over everything I shoot? Because over the day I take several thousand frames, some of which are duplicates, blinks and technical shots. Culling isn’t hiding photos – it’s the work that gives you a polished, coherent story of your day instead of a folder where the same photo appears eight times. Every photo I deliver is individually edited in my signature style.
Will you photograph every guest?
At our meeting before the wedding we try to agree which guests are especially important to you. A good idea is to send me the guest list along with the seating plan.
Besides documentary photos, I also try to capture guests in portraits and group photos, but I can’t guarantee photos of every single person who attends the ceremony or reception.
It also happens that some guests don’t want to be photographed – I want them to feel comfortable too, so I always respect that decision.
When can we schedule a portrait session and how long does it take?
First of all: a portrait session is not mandatory. If the idea of a photo session gives you a stomach ache, there’s no reason to force yourselves.
But if deep down you dream of session photos and just aren’t one hundred percent sure – write to me about your doubts. I guarantee a session with me is great fun! There’s nothing stiff or posed about it, and no fake smiles.
There are two types of portrait session to choose from: engagement and post-wedding. The first is a great chance for us to get to know each other and for you to see how I work. The second takes place after the wedding – you’re usually much less stressed by then, and we have more time for relaxed, dreamy shots.
We set the date together, keeping some flexibility because of the weather. It’s worth setting aside about 2.5-3 hours for the session.
Do you edit the photos? Can we get all the unedited RAW files?
I shoot in RAW format (a digital negative), then edit the photos in my own style and deliver them to you as top-quality JPEG files, ready for large prints. That way you get a coherent, polished story in the style you see in my portfolio.
I don’t hand over raw RAW files – and here’s why. A RAW file is a “digital negative”: raw, unfinished material, a bit like cake batter before it goes in the oven. It’s only my editing that gives the photos the style you see in my portfolio – the style you choose me for.
You receive top-quality JPEG files, ready for large prints. That’s more than enough to capture the atmosphere of your day – and a coherent, polished gallery will be far more of a joy to look at than a folder of raw negatives you’d have to sit down with editing software anyway.
Please remember, though, that I know how important this day is to you – the photos I deliver (usually around 400, depending on how the day goes and the package you choose) are more than enough to capture its atmosphere and the most important people.
How long will we wait for our photos?
You’ll receive your full gallery within 45 working days of the last shots at the latest – and often sooner, depending on how busy the season is. I know from wedding forums that waiting for the photos is the hardest part for couples 😉 That’s why I stick to the deadlines in the contract.
Why does it take that long? A photographer’s work doesn’t end on the wedding day. After your wedding I have dozens of hours of work ahead of me: downloading and backing up the files, culling from several thousand frames, another round of culling and another, editing every photo I deliver, arranging the material in the right order (giving it a rhythm that makes it a pleasure to look through), uploading the files to a special password-protected gallery and preparing a dedicated page for you.
But do check the next question!
When will we see the first wedding photos?
Soon! Within about a week after the wedding I send you a sneak peek of 20-30 photos to satisfy your first hunger and give you something to show off to family and friends before the full gallery arrives 😉
We’d like to order an album. Who chooses the photos for it?
Some frames are already taken with the album in mind while I’m shooting. If you’ve decided on an album, once you’ve received your edited photos I start designing it – I want your story to be shown in a coherent and thoughtful way.
Before production you receive the design for approval, with the option to make changes. The number of revisions is limited so that the whole process runs smoothly and doesn’t drag on for months. That way you can enjoy your finished album sooner and show it to your loved ones.
Until what time do you stay at the wedding?
Depending on the package, I stay with you until 10 pm or until 1 am. In practice, the 1 am option usually covers the traditional Polish “oczepiny” games and the cake – everything that most often happens “after midnight” – while the 10 pm option works perfectly for weddings without oczepiny or with the main attractions planned earlier.
A little tip from experience: if you’re planning sparklers, shows or other attractions, don’t leave them until the very end – we’ll put them in the schedule so that I’m sure to capture them. And if during the reception you decide you’d like me to stay longer – that’s possible, and the rate for an extra hour is set out in the contract.
We’d also like a wedding film – will having a videographer there be a problem?
I recommend Filip, the videographer I work with – we understand each other well and know how to plan our work so we don’t get in each other’s way. Privately we’re a couple and parents of a little boy 🙂
If you’d like to hire someone else, though, that’s no problem. The only important thing is that they’re experienced and understand what working at a wedding involves.
Sometimes too many cameras can have a negative effect on the quality of the shots, but it’s usually possible to reach an agreement. I do, however, advise against asking family members to film or take photos – it almost always lowers the quality of the material.
Will our photos be published on your website?
Wedding stories and sessions are an important part of my portfolio – they let future couples see how I work. I always check with you before publishing any photos. If you’d rather a particular shot didn’t end up online – just say the word.
Full anonymity and no publication at all are also possible – just let me know at our meeting or in the wedding questionnaire.
Our wedding is unusual – can we get a package tailored to our celebration?
Absolutely! If you need a personalised offer, just write to me – I’ll prepare one specially for your day.
Are package prices negotiable?
Package prices are fixed – there’s a specific amount of work behind them: a dozen or so hours on the wedding day and at least as many again (often more) culling and editing the photos, and they’re based on my experience.
But! There’s also a PERSONALISED package. It exists precisely so that the offer fits your day, not the other way round. If your wedding is unusual, write to me. I’m always open to a conversation 🙂
Deposit vs. advance payment – what’s the difference?
This question comes up a lot, because under Polish law these are two different things. An advance payment (zaliczka) is refundable. A deposit (zadatek) protects both sides: if you cancel, the deposit is forfeited, and if I fail to fulfil the contract, I return it to you twice over.
I work with a deposit (zadatek). Why? When I book your date, I turn down all the other couples who write to me about that day – a deposit is simply fair protection for both sides. Everything is clearly described in the contract, which you’ll receive to read at your leisure before signing.
Are there any extra costs – travel, accommodation, extra hours?
I don’t like surprises when it comes to payments, and I think it would be unfair to hide any costs, so we agree on everything before signing the contract. In short:
- Travel: Warsaw and the area within 150 km are included in the package price. For weddings in further corners of Poland (and the world!) I quote travel and any accommodation individually – you’ll know the cost before signing the contract.
- Extra hours: if during the reception you decide you’d like me to stay longer – that’s possible. The rate for an extra hour is set out in the contract, so there are no surprises.
What if you get sick on our wedding day?
I understand the worry. In over 11 years of photographing weddings, I have never failed to show up at a wedding. I’ve photographed weddings seven months pregnant, and with a little one on board. The only time I wasn’t there for the whole wedding day was when my child needed me at night and I arranged a replacement for the second part of the reception. I can tell you the couple were delighted – the replacement was a truly excellent, top-tier photographer 🙂
But if fate did throw a spanner in the works (force majeure, sudden illness), I have a plan B: a network of experienced photographer friends with a similar documentary style who I can swap with in emergencies. Of course, the choice of replacement photographer is always made with your consent. The photos still go through my hands – I do the culling and editing, so the style stays consistent. This scenario is also described in the contract.
Do you photograph all the well-wishing after the ceremony?
In Poland guests traditionally line up to congratulate the couple right after the ceremony. I usually photograph the first part of it – the moment your closest family come up to you. Then I move to the reception venue to set up my equipment and get ready for your entrance, and also to capture the room before the guests sit down.
I have a tried-and-tested trick: ask your witnesses to “manage the queue” – important family members should come up first and can “jump the queue” without any guilt.
How long do you keep our photos? What about backups?
I take the safety of your photos very seriously – after all, it’s a keepsake that can’t be recreated. During the reception I already back up the photos continuously onto an extra drive. As soon as I get home, I copy them onto yet another drive.
I keep the edited photos for two years after delivering your gallery. If something happens to your copies years later – write to me, there’s a good chance I can save the day. Still, I strongly encourage you: once you receive your gallery, make your own copy in two places (e.g. a drive + the cloud). And order an album – paper has never heard of a “hard drive failure” 😉
Can we see a full wedding story, not just selected photos?
Of course – and I highly recommend it! Selected frames on the website or Instagram are always “the best of”. A full wedding story shows how I tell the whole day: from getting ready to the craziness on the dance floor.
Out of respect for my couples’ privacy, I show full wedding stories at our meeting or, if the couple agrees, share them via a private link after you get in touch. Write to me – I’ll also gladly send you a wedding from the venue you’re planning to use, if I’ve already photographed there.
Divorced parents – how do family photos work then?
It’s a very sensitive topic and I want you to know: you’re in good hands. At our meeting and in the wedding questionnaire you fill in shortly before the wedding, I ask about your family situation precisely so that no one is put in an awkward position on the day.
I plan the group photos – if you’ve chosen to have them – so that everyone feels comfortable, e.g. separate shots with mum and her partner and separate ones with dad. Nobody has to explain anything in front of the guests, because I already know it all. I simply organise the line-ups discreetly with your witnesses, and you enjoy your day.
Do you help with planning the wedding day?
Yes – and I love doing it! After years at weddings I know when the light is most beautiful in different months, and what time you really should schedule the cake so the guests aren’t asleep yet 😉
I’m also happy to recommend trusted vendors, advise on lighting the reception room and share various tips and tricks. You can count on my years of experience!
What is a mini session on the wedding day?
It’s a short, roughly 15-30-minute session of just the two of you – usually close to the reception venue, so you don’t have to go anywhere or disappear on your guests for an hour. Literally: we get up from the table, catch a few beautiful frames and you’re back to the party.
We plan the best moment together in the schedule – often it’s during the first meal. The so-called golden hour, just before sunset when the light is at its softest and warmest, works perfectly. A mini session doesn’t replace a full portrait session, but it gives you a few “just the two of us” frames full of the emotions of the day – without waiting for a separate date.
Do you post live on social media during the wedding?
It depends 🙂 In the wedding questionnaire you tell me whether you’d like me to share behind-the-scenes stories of my work on my social media, whether you want to be tagged, or whether you’d prefer online silence on your wedding day.
Both options are fine. Some couples love it when their friends can follow their day in real time, others prefer to see the first photos themselves before anyone else. The decision is one hundred percent yours – I simply adapt 🙂
We can also agree that I show your wedding “live” only from the perspective of my work – decor details and so on – without showing you or your guests. I’m flexible.
Most importantly: your photos are my top priority. Sure, behind-the-scenes content is tempting because it attracts future clients, but you, my current clients, are what matters most to me. I will never sacrifice an important moment of your Day just because I wanted to “film a story”. That kind of content is created only when I can put the camera down for a moment and I’m one hundred percent sure it won’t come at the expense of your photos.
How will our guests get access to the photos?
Every package includes an online gallery for your guests with photos in full resolution and web resolution, available for three months, six months or a year (depending on the package). You get the link and password, and then you just share them with family and friends – everyone can download the photos to their phone or computer.
A little tip: it’s worth letting your guests know at the wedding that they’ll get access to the gallery. They’re then much more willing to put their phones away during the ceremony (which makes a big difference to the shots!), because they know they’ll get the professional photos anyway.
And one more thing that hardly anyone talks about: I understand there may be photos that you as a couple want to see, but not necessarily show your guests. For this situation I prepare for you a special, additional password – you can hide selected photos behind it, and guests using the main gallery password won’t see them. Your private frames stay just yours.
What do you wear to a wedding as the photographer?
Something elegant, but that doesn’t draw attention away from you – it’s your day after all, and I’m meant to be like a ninja 😉 It won’t be a white dress, a tracksuit or a neon shirt. I go for comfortable shoes, because over the day I walk well over ten thousand steps, crouch, climb onto chairs and sometimes lie on the floor for a good shot. If your wedding has a colour theme and guests are dressing in a particular palette – let me know. I can try to rise to the challenge!
In short: I won’t stand out much from your guests, but you’ll recognise me by the camera in my hand and the smile.
I’m pregnant – does that change anything about the wedding photos?
First of all: congratulations! 🤍 It doesn’t change anything about the quality of the photos, and I’ll adapt to you one hundred percent. At our meeting or in the questionnaire just tell me how you feel about it: whether you’d like the pregnancy to be visible and celebrated in the photos, or whether you’d prefer frames and angles that don’t emphasise it – both are beautiful and I respect both. On the day I’ll also look after your comfort: more breaks, seated photos, no running around fields in the heat.
And if you’d like to capture this special double moment separately – you’re also very welcome to book a maternity session.🙂
How do you book a wedding photographer? In other words: you want me! 🙂
Wonderful – here’s the whole process step by step:
1. You write to me – on Instagram or (preferably) by email at info @ whitebalance.pl. Please include your wedding date and location, and I’d love to read a few words from you too: what you’re planning, roughly how many guests, and what you’re looking for in your photos.
2. I check the date. If it’s free – we move on and I send you my packages. If it’s taken – I try to recommend photographer friends who work in a similar documentary style and have the date free. I won’t leave you empty-handed.
3. We meet – if you’ve decided (or almost decided) on a package, I suggest a meeting, ideally in person over coffee or tea. We talk, get to know each other and see if we’re on the same wavelength. I ask you questions, you ask me 🙂
4. We sign the contract and you pay the deposit. I can send you the contract before our meeting so you can read it at your leisure. We can sign it on the spot, or if you need time to think – no problem, we can do it later online with an electronic signature. When signing the contract you pay a 35% deposit, which confirms your booking.
5. I’m all yours! From then on you can write to me with any question about planning the wedding or the photos themselves – I’m happy to advise. About a month before the wedding I send you my wedding questionnaire, where we finalise the details: the schedule, important guests and your special requests.
And that’s it – see you soon! 🤍
Those are the questions wedding photographers are asked most often – but maybe you have a different one? Write to me!
