~COMMON QUESTIONS~
click a question to see the answer
how long have you been in business?
Matt Shumate Photography has been in business since 2009, since Kylie first talked me in to photographing her wedding. Nearly ten years and more than 350 weddings later (and who knows how many other sessions), I'm still here doing what I love.
are you willing to travel for weddings/sessions?
Absolutely! I've photographed a half dozen weddings in Hawaii, all different parts of the United States, Mexico, and even the ruins of a castle in Germany!
how will i get my photographs? how long does it take?
I deliver your photos via an online gallery where you are able to download your high resolution images. You're also more than welcome to share your photo gallery with friends, family, wedding guests, or anyone you'd like! They're able to order photos from the gallery as well, so that's one less thing you'll have to worry about!
do you have a second photographer?
I'm very comfortable working by myself, but offer a second photographer as an option during weddings.
how long are you there on the wedding day? how many photographs do you deliver?
I like being able to tell the whole story of the wedding day so I prefer to be there to capture as much as I can. That's one of the reasons that I don't have hours built in to my wedding coverage (it is also important that my hours not be a cause of stress on the wedding day. I've heard horror stories about couples cutting the cake as soon as the ceremony's over because the photographer was out of time!).
what can we do with our photos? can we share them on social media?
Because of copyright law, the only limitation is that you can't resell your photos (like to a magazine or something like that—of course that's negotiable if you actually have magazines wanting to print your wedding photos!). Other than that I want you to enjoy every bit of your photos however you can.
what else do you do during the wedding day?
Anything really. If it will help you have a better day, it's part of my job description—even if it doesn't involve a camera.
will you help pose us and come up with photo ideas?
That's literally my job. Most of my time is spent photographing non-models. Here's a little secret you get to know by reading this far in to the FAQ: awkwardness to start a session is a great tool for me to use in getting outstanding photos. It also doesn't last that long and after about a half hour, it'll feel completely normal to be sitting in front of my camera.
photo booths, yes or no?
Y-E-S! Want to make sure you get great, fun photos of all your guests, hire a photo booth! It really is one of the best activities for wedding guests, and the best part is that you'll get to see the results. It also makes for an easy and fun wedding favor for your guests! If you need recommendations, let me know!
can we ask for opinions on non-photo related subjects?
Absolutely! Please, please, please use me as an extra resource whenever you can! I've been to LOTS of weddings and have seen tons of different ideas in practice.
can we see a full gallery from a wedding?
Without a doubt! All you have to do is ask and I'm happy to share! It's hard to really represent what a full wedding day of photos looks like via a portfolio site, a blog post, or on social media due to the limitations of space and trying to keep everything neat and tidy.
can we purchase albums or prints later?
Heck yes! I don't want to sound like a 'salesman' to the people I photograph. I want to make sure they get exactly what they want and don't feel like they've been sold something. That's why I don't offer any **BUY THE ABLUM/PRINTS NOW FOR A DISCOUNT** sales. If you know you want an album, that's awesome. But if you aren't sure or don't think you want one, then there's no reason to "buy it now."
why don't you have pricing on your website?
I wish I could and have it be valid pricing for every couple. The reality is that weddings are so heavily date-focused that my prices for a wedding on a weekday or during the winter are quite a bit less than the prices for a summer wedding on a Saturday. If you let me know when your wedding date is, I can get you a good, clear price. Click here to send me a pricing request.
is winter a good time for a wedding or portrait session?
Oh my goodness yes! I really do love winter photography. And I promise you won't hear me whining about it. Once I even went for a run outside at 2 in the morning because the temperature dropped below zero and I wanted to see what that felt like. Guessing your wedding day won't be that cold.
do you have any funny wedding stories?
How much time do you have? I have amazing stories. I should probably write a book. I'd have to change a lot of names and blur a lot of photos though! :)
do you really throw your camera up in the air and take a picture? Have you ever dropped it?
I really do. After thousands of tosses, I still have yet to drop in on accident. I did once—on purpose—with a previously broken camera to make a funny video. It was epic.
can you help me take better pictures?
I hope so. In addition to running a 2 day workshop for photographers, I am an adjunct professor at Spokane Falls Community College's amazing photography program where I teach students the basics of digital photography.
do you use natural light or artificial light on a wedding day/portrait session?
For a wedding, most of the time I let the day and available light dictate. That means I'm most often using the natural light, but I'm always on the lookout for spots to use artificial light and make really unique photos. Usually I'm looking for dark skies, dark streets, or inside buildings to make those types of photos. If you have a preference, let me know!