Hey there :) You can pay your wedding reservation fee or make a follow-on payment or portrait payment, etc, by following this link to our secure credit card site: Make a payment!

If you want to check our availability for your wedding date or if you have any questions at all, please give us a call or shoot us an e-mail. We always have time to chat about your wedding plans and how our photography can mesh with your day.

You can contact us via e-mail at richandalyssa@nickelcitystudios.com.

If you're in a chatty mood, our number at the studio is 716.200.0956.

We're on Facebook, too :)

"How far in advance do you book weddings, and how do I check your availability for my date?"

We usually book about a year to a year-and-a-half out. The best thing to do is call or write us as soon as you start planning your day so we can meet with you and see if we're a good fit. Because we're not a "big box" studio (it's just us, so one wedding a day!), and we only take a limited amount of dates each year, we do book up very quickly.

Drop us an e-mail or give us a call to check on your specific date!

"Are you accepting bookings for 2012?"

We'll start accepting bookings for 2012 on Jan. 1, 2011.

"Where are you located and do you travel?"

We are located downtown in fabulous Buffalo, NY! We no longer travel out of the WNY region for weddings.

"Do we get reproduction rights to our images?"

Digital files with reproduction rights are available for purchase or you can let us shoot and just buy the images you want.

"Do you carry back-up gear and insurance?"

We carry the kind of insurance that makes it okay if your wedding day is overrun by machete-wielding ninjas and we have to use our camera gear to defend the bridal party. In all seriousness, it should be criminal to photograph professionally without carrying insurance or having proper back-up gear - but a lot of people do it. We are fully insured, and we carry duplicate gear so we're fully redundant should a piece of equipment fails on us.

"What's an engagement session?"

An engagement session is a couples' portrait session. We do relaxed portraits, so we'll work with you in selecting locations or activities that say something about you, as a couple, and we'll get some killer images of the two of you in non-wedding day gear. We'll suggest casual poses, but we spend more time working with you to get natural reactions (read: real smiles, not oh-crap-it's-a-camera smiles) for really amazing pictures.

It's also a way to get to know each other better. After all, on your wedding day, you're surrounded by your closest friends and family, and two random photographers. We found that we have a much better working relationship with our couples when we have the chance to work together before the wedding. It gives you the chance to know us and become comfortable in front of the camera, and it gives us a chance to see how you interact as a couple so we know how to get the reactions from you that we want on your wedding day.

It also gives you some great photos of the two of you (seriously, how many photos of the two of you are with your arm reached out, holding the camera?!). People have used our engagement images for everything from canvases, Save the Date cards or magnets, guest books or signing boards for the wedding day, custom candy and even the wedding programs themselves.

"Wait, you post-process every image?"

Yes. Even if it's just touching up a very minor blemish, we go over our images with a fine, digital comb. Over the years, we've become extremely adept at using the digital tools at our disposal to take great photos and push them beyond what you can do with a camera and some light alone.

"What is a typical wedding day like?"

We'll both normally show up where the bride is getting ready, until the groom is ready for Rich. Then he pops over, and we cover each of you getting ready. We meet up at the ceremony site to shoot your amazing wedding, and then we'll do family portraits, bridal party portraits and a couple's session before heading to your reception. (unless, of course, you opt for a first look)

We are documentary photographers, so we don't interrupt the flow of your day by dictating the way things should occur. We capture beautiful images of your day, the way it happens. Every wedding is truly unique, and we love to present you with images that capture the amazing details, interactions and reactions that make your day special. One of our favorite things is to be able to show a couple the things they missed, but also to show them the things they saw, but in a completely different perspective.

"Wait, you're documentary photographers? Do you shoot any posed images?"

Sure we do - everyone needs to have some posed, family shots from their wedding day. Wedding photography has changed a lot in the last 20 years, but classic shots of your entire family and of you and your bridal party will never go out of style.

"What's the benefit of having two photographers?"

Rich and I both have distinct artistic perspectives -- we can be standing right next to each other and shoot a wildly different image. It's actually pretty cool to go through each other's photos and see what happened at times of the day when we were shooting the same thing (the ceremony or portraits) and see what each other came up with.

The other benefit is the ability to be in two places at once! Whether that's at the groom's location and the bride's location for getting ready shots, or two different locations during the ceremony to get multiple perspectives of the same amazing moment (first kiss!!). Because we have both been working photographers for years, you're getting high-quality photographs from two professional photographers (we don't work with associates or assistants) of the most important day of your life!

"What's your turn-around time like?"

We take three to four weeks. After that we'll upload your images to your online, password-protected gallery, and if you're receiving the digital files, get them out to you in the mail!

"I'm looking for a really special gift for my groom. Do you do boudoir shoots?"

Not right now. We might later, but for the time being, we're concentrating on our weddings and portrait work.

"What's a typical family portrait session like?"

We aren't out to get the "perfect" photo - we want to capture the love and laughter you share with each other, whether we're shooting a couple's session or a family session. We usually shoot for about 90 minutes and keep things as relaxed as possible to get the most natural portraits possible - preferably without matching outfits :)

"Do you have hours?"

We keep "office hours" (email and phone calls) Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you're trying to get a hold of us after then, we'll get back to you the next business day.

We shoot all the time, so we'll work with you for the best time for you (hint-hint) though we sure do like to shoot at sunset. It's the prettiest light of the day! :)

We try to keep meetings Monday through Thursday since we're usually shooting all weekend. But we're pretty flexible on the hours, and if it's super early, we'll have the coffee brewing :)

"What do we have to do to book you?"

We book on a first contract in, first served basis. A $1,000 date reservation fee is also required to reserve your date and can be paid by credit card or with a check. We don't discuss other inquiries, so it is possible that we may become unavailable before you get a chance to come in for your meeting. If we are booked for a date we have been talking about, we will let you know immediately.

"We're going to elope to Niagara Falls/City Hall/Etc.! Can you work with us for a custom mid-week package?"

Certainly! Holler at us, and we'll come up with the perfect day of photography for you!

"How much do you cost?"

All our pricing information is available on our pricing page, under the drop-down menu "details."

"Where can I see more work of your portrait/engagement/wedding work?"

There are a few ways to look through the type of photos you're looking for - this blog literally has thousands of photos on it! Please take a look through our galleries at the top of the page. Each wedding gallery has some of our select favorites from the day, and our portrait and engagement photo slideshows have some of our favorites from the past year! You can also select a category and see our blog posts from the year or simply read back through our blog posts to see a mix of everything!

"I'm hoping to do a first look. Is that cool?"

Gah! Yes, yes, yes! We have found time and time again, that first looks are the best way to go. Everyone is more relaxed throughout the day and happier to go from the elation of having just been married right into the party! We'd love to help you set up your first look!

"What are your mentor sessions?"

We do full- or half-day one-on-two mentor sessions to help you with anything you're looking to learn photographically - shooting, lighting, posing, post-pro, business-related, portfolio review, etc. Our full-day session includes a practice shoot with us and some real folks (not models - they know how to act in front of the camera!). Holler at us for any specific questions about tailoring a mentor session to you!

"I have some other question that you didn't answer here!"

Please give us a call or drop us a line -- we're always happy to answer any questions you have. Our studio number is 716.200.0956 or click the contact link at the top of the page. We look forward to talking to you!