Frequently Asked Questions

How do I book a session or wedding with you?

Fill out the contact form in the tab above!

Do you welcome LGBTQ+ clients & couples?

Hellllllll yes. All love is welcome here.

How would you describe your working style on wedding days?

I'm a take-charge gal without skipping a beat during the moments where couples are most prone to stress, such as coordinating groups photos and keeping us accountable to the timeline. I'll direct you & your babe during your formal portraits so that you don't have to think about anything other than how in love you are and how amazing the other looks in that moment.

Other than that, I like to stay in the background and channel my best photojournalist and capture your day exactly as it unfolds. I feel it is not my place to impede on your wedding day and create events and situations that are not true to you, your relationship, your people, and your vision for the day just for the sake of a chance for my own viral Instagram moment.

I'm there to document the story of your wedding day, and my hope is, except for the moments where my skill and expertise is needed to keep things moving smoothly, that you forget I'm even there.

When can we expect to hear from you?

I respond to all inquiries and emails within two business days.

Where can we see more reviews from your past clients?

You can check out dozens of 5-star reviews by searching "Gretchen Wittry Photography" on Google.

How many photos can we expect in our final gallery?

When it comes down to it, for me, every photo is a memory.

For weddings, I cannot and will not deliver a gallery that doesn't feel fully representative of your day; I will not cut down on the total number of photos just to save myself work on the back end. Who am I to decide what memories from your wedding day you receive photographic evidence of? I'll deliver every photo that I deem to contribute a different take on a particular memory and/or offer a different angle/facial expression. This means that you'll likely receive at least 100+ more photos than what I promise contractually for the package you select.

For sessions, similarly you can expect to receive all the "good" photos I take; meaning I will take different angles/facial expressions into consideration when culling photos prior to editing. 30-minute sessions can expect around 50 final photos and hour sessions can expect closer to 100.

How will we recieve the final gallery?

I will share a link via email to a private gallery hosted on Pic-Time. Pic-Time is a very user-friendly gallery hosting site that allows you to easily scroll through the photos, bookmark your favs, and even order physical products featuring your photos directly from the site.

How do you describe your editing style?

I like to think of my editing style as falling right down the middle of the two major editing styles, "light and airy" and "dark and moody." I like to think of mine as "enhanced reality."

I aim to keep colors true to life, meaning the colors of your session outfits and wedding colors that you so carefully picked out will appear as the same color in your photos that you remember them appearing the day of, not with some funky hue.

Can we see a full wedding gallery before booking?

Yes! When inquiring via my contact form, note that you're interested in seeing a sample gallery or two, and I will send a couple your way that are similar to the vision of your wedding day.

In the meantime, head over to my blog to view snapshot galleries from my recent clients' wedding and sessions.

How much "Facetuning" or retouching do you do when editing the photos?

Ah, Facetuning. What a rollercoaster of a relationship we have. I do not and will not remove permanent “imperfections” (i.e. birthmarks, wrinkles, cellulite, weight, etc.). Upon request, I will remove temporary imperfections, such as acne, bruises, stains, etc.

I will also do my best to remove all unnecessary distractions from the background of your photos. Examples: exit signs, trash cans, wires, a rogue uncle running to the bathroom during your first dance, etc.

What is your turnaround time for galleries?

2-3 weeks for sessions, 8-10 weeks for weddings on average. Need it sooner? Let me know, and we can discuss an additional fee for rapid turnaround.

How do we pay you? Do you offer payment plans?

I accept payments via the following methods: ACH bank transfer, credit/debit card payment, Venmo, and mailed check.

I do offer payment plans for weddings and sessions. All bookings will have a 30% nonrefundable retainer that is required to secure the date and remove it from my availability for other potential clients. Depending on how far out your wedding/session is, you'll have the option to split the remaining payments into 1-3 additional payments, with the final payment due one month before the wedding /one week before the session.

Do you offer discounts?

I do not offer discounts.

Do you release raw images?

I do not release the RAW images in any case.

Are you able to provide guidance on what to wear and how to prepare for our engagement session?

Yes, absolutely! I have a 10-page engagement session guide that gives allllll the good details and suggestions for how to choose locations, outfits, props and in general how to mentally prepare for your time in front of the camera. As soon as you book with me, I’ll share this document with you and we can begin to brainstorm for your session. I will also share a questionnaire with you that will help me collect more details about the two of you and your relationship so I can tailor the session specifically to you to evoke the most authentic and comfortable experience for you.

I'm the most awkward person ever in front of the camera...any tips?

Approximately 90% of my couples and clients come into sessions saying the exact same thing, and guess what, not all of you can be telling the truth!! I honestly prefer it when couples have no experience in front of the camera. I come equipped with dozens of prompts and poses that are designed to get you to interact with your person in a natural, fun way. I'm proud to report that my couples who come into the session nervous about not being Tyra Banks leave saying something along the lines of "that wasn't that bad!" / "that was so much fun!" / "that was so much easier than I thought!"

What should I wear to my session?

Check out this blog post.

What is your rescheduling policy with sessions and weddings?

Rescheduling a session per client request less than 48 hours prior to the scheduled session time will result in a $100 fee. I may suggest we reschedule a session if it is expected to rain or have suboptimal lighting during your session; if you're aligned with rescheduling the session to one of my suggested dates and times, this will not incur any rescheduling fee.

Rescheduling a wedding after booking (contract signed & deposit paid) but prior to six months before the initial wedding date will result in forfeiting the initial nonrefundable retainer. Rescheduling a wedding after booking and less than six months before the initial wedding date will result in forfeiting 50% of the total cost. The new date will require a new nonrefundable deposit.

Do you travel for weddings and sessions? If so, what are your travel fees?

Yes! I love to travel anywhere and everywhere for weddings and sessions, including internationally.

If I already have travel booked to a destination and you're interested in setting up a session while I'm there, there will not be any additional travel fees for your session. If you're interested in having me meet you in a destination of your choice for your wedding or session, reach out to learn more specifics about what the travel fees would be! Travel fees in this case would cover the cost of the plane ticket/gas, Ubers to/from the airport, lodging (if applicable) and meals on the go.

Check out my contact page for the list of cities where I already have travel booked for the first half of 2024. I'd love to connect while I'm there!

For the foreseeable future, there will be no additional travel fees associated with weddings and sessions that take place in the greater Grand Rapids area. Reach out to learn more!