FAQs - Temecula + Southern California Wedding Photographer and Videographer

HOW DO I BOOK YOU FOR MY WEDDING OR PHOTO SESSION?

Please fill out my contact form and add as many details about your wedding or photo session vision as possible. This allows me to provide the best and most accurate quote. Once I receive your email, I will send my wedding or photo session guide that will help answer some additional questions for you + we’ll set up a wedding details phone chat. Weddings require a $1000 booking retainer and sessions require a 50% booking retainer. The booking retainer goes towards your total collection cost. Check out my wedding pricing here, photo session pricing here and my boudoir session pricing here. Scroll through my wedding + engagement portfolio here. I am currently booking limited 2023 weddings, and limited 2022 photo sessions. I am fully booked for weddings in 2022.

WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED AND WHAT AREAS DO YOU SERVICE?

I live in Temecula, California (southern California wine country). Temecula is about an hour outside of San Diego and Orange County, and about 90 minutes outside of Los Angeles, Palm Springs and Joshua Tree. I’m available (and love) to travel all over Southern and Northern California, USA + International. Most of my wedding and elopement wedding pricing includes the cost of travel.

WHAT IS YOUR STYLE?

My photography style is candid and natural with an emphasis on capturing authentic, natural and emotional moments. My posing style is sultry, romantic and timeless, yet still fun and playful to get real smiles, laughter, hugs, and kisses. I believe it’s so important to find a balance between the candid nature of love and wedding photography (aka, the Instagram worthy shots!) and the traditional photos that will be framed in your home, and your future family’s homes for generations to come. I also adore capturing the moments you may not have witnessed, like your guests mingling and meeting each other for the first time, that moment your mother wiped away her tears when you put your gown on, your soon-to-be husband getting into his tux (or holding back tears reading your love letter!) My photos are warm, bright and always romantic. My editing and posing is modern + trendy, while also keeping some traditional elements, so your photos will always feel timeless. More about me here.

WHAT ARE YOUR RATES?

I have base wedding pricing, but offer some customizations to fit your vision, timeline and budget. I suggest contacting me with general details about your wedding day by sending me an email. My base pricing + customizations take many things into consideration, such as time spent on the wedding day, location, date, and individual needs. Photo sessions begin at $200 for a petite session, and $400 for a full session. My complete photo session pricing can be viewed here. The only way to contact me is to complete my contact form, you can find that here.

I AM ELOPING, CAN YOU WORK WITH A SMALLER BUDGET?

Yes! I have an elopement and microwedding collection. Please fill out my contact form here and give me all the important details.

WILL YOU HELP ME CHOOSE AN ELOPEMENT OR SESSION LOCATION?

YES! This is something I really enjoy doing. Once you book your elopement or session, you will receive my exclusive photo location list. I will help narrow down the choices, and help with necessary research about the location rules, permits and more. I will also send my fashion + styling guide so you can feel confident + photo ready in your outfits.

WILL YOU PROVIDE A LOT OF POSING DIRECTION?

My job is to make you feel comfortable and natural in front of my camera. I PROMISE, you will receive so much posing direction you’ll leave the session feeling like you do this every day! Try not to feel nervous about having your photo taken, it will feel like date night (but with me as your guest, a professional third-wheeler).

HOW LONG UNTIL WE RECEIVE OUR WEDDING OR SESSION PHOTOS, AND HOW MANY PHOTOS DOES IT INCLUDE?

You can expect your wedding day preview gallery of 30-80 images within 7 days of your wedding. Your final gallery, of up to 900+ images, will be ready in about 3-9 weeks (no longer than 12). The final delivery date depends on how many photos are included and how many hours I was photographing your wedding. I hand edit each photo + give every photo the love it deserves. The wait for your final gallery will totally be worth it! For photo sessions (full sessions only, excluding boudoir and petite sessions), you will receive a preview gallery of 5-10 images within 7 days of your session. Your final gallery of 50+ images will be delivered in about 2-4 weeks, no longer than 6 weeks.

WHEN IS THE FINAL PAYMENT DUE?

Your final wedding payment is due 3 weeks before the wedding date. Your photo session final payment is due a week before your session date. I offer flexible payment options on all my collections, send me an email for questions about that.

WHAT IS A BOUDOIR SESSION, AND HOW SHOULD I PREPARE FOR IT?

A boudoir session is a photography session where you wear sexy outfits, lingerie, dresses, or even nude or implied nude. Most of my clients book their session as a wedding day, engagement, anniversary, birthday, Valentine’s Day, or Father’s Day/Mother’s day gift. Many clients book a boudoir session to celebrate a weight loss or fitness goal, a pregnancy, or as part of their self-care! My pricing can be viewed here. I love tasteful couples boudoir/intimate sessions, but I do not take male boudoir clients. Email me for more details + any questions about booking a boudoir session!

DO YOU OFFER DISCOUNTS?

I offer flash specials, such as discounted sessions + wedding dates, that are announced on my Instagram. Follow me @ellelilyphoto and be sure to follow my posts + story updates!

I have more FAQs in my collection guides. Send me an email to receive my guide + answer any additional questions for you :)