FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

why are you passionate about photography?

I believe you can’t put a price tag on a photos. Ever hear the quote “a picture is worth a thousand words?” Photographs hold something that is sentimental and intangible, memories. I love being able to capture priceless moments and milestones in someone’s life. I truly believe we, as a society, don’t take enough photos. Personally, I take picture of everything and with everyone. One day, we will no longer be here but the memories and moments preserved in photographs will forever live on!

how long have you been in photography?

I bought my first camera back in my sophomore year of high school back in 2012 and have been hooked ever since. I bought a $100 camera off of Craigslist to photograph the lava flow back on the Big Island!

HOW WILL I RECEIVE MY IMAGES?

All high-resolution images will be delivered via online gallery. This gallery is not your ordinary online gallery. This online gallery allows you to buy physical prints of your photos directly from the gallery, share your photos online via social media or email, favorite your top picks, and download individual photos or the entire gallery! Buy prints of your photos to cherish this priceless milestone in your life. Show off your photo gallery with your friends and family through social media sites or email. Everyone with the link will have access to the gallery. Favorite your best images and save it to your favorites list. Your favorites list will be saved and you can return to it by implying entering your email. Download your images and be sure store it safe place!

do you sell physical prints?

Yes! Every booking comes with an online gallery where you can purchase prints directly from the gallery! I use a high-end professional photo lab to ensure quality, consistency, and clarity throughout all your prints. To order prints, simply select an image in the gallery, select paper type and size, and add it to your cart. When you’re ready to checkout, press the checkout button and you can pay for your purchase via credit or debit card. Prints will be quickly shipped directly to your door!

how much photos should i expect?

I focus more on the quality of photos rather than the quantity of photos. For regular one-hour photoshoots, you’ll receive approximately 50-60 high-resolution images. For events and weddings, you can expect 60-70 images per hour of photography coverage. For example, for 5 hours of photography coverage, you can expect 300-350 images. This is just a rough estimation.

IS EDITING AND RETOUCHING INCLUDED IN THE PRICE?

Yes! All photos will be edited and retouched with professional Adobe softwares.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE FOR ME TO RECEIVE MY PHOTOS?

This totally depends on how much hours of photography coverage is booked. For an ordinary one-hour photoshoot, you will receive your images within 1-1.5 weeks. For events such as weddings, you will receive your photos within 5-6 weeks of the wedding. The process of editing and retouching is very intensive, therefore, an adequate amount of time is needed for the best results!

How do i book you as my photographer?

Go ahead and click the “Contact” link at the top or bottom of the page and submit a contact form with your name, email, and a message. I will get back to you ASAP via email.

how long in advance do i have to book you as a photographer?

Depending on availability you can book me at any point in time! Need last minute photos? If I’m free tomorrow, you can book me as your photographer!

what do you require in order to book you?

For photoshoots, I don’t require anything prior to the photoshoot. The full payment can be made at the photoshoot. For weddings and events, I require a signed contract and a deposit in order to reserve the date. The non-refundable deposit is half of the grand total. The remaining balance can be made on the day of the wedding. The contract will be sent to you via DocHub which allows you to sign the contract directly from your mobile device!

WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED? ARE YOU AVAILABLE FOR TRAVEL?

I’m based in Honolulu, Hawaii, however, I do travel back home to the Big Island quite often. Yes! I am available for travel and travel expenses would have to be accommodated.

What happens if it rains on the day of my photoshoot?

If you’re comfortable, we could utilize rain to add a unique element to your photos! Yes, I’m able to shoot in the rain as long as it’s not torrential downpour! We can always reschedule to a later date or relocated to a different spot.

I ACCIDENTALLY DELETED OR LOST MY PHOTOS you took. DO YOU HAVE A BACKUP OF MY IMAGES?

I understand that accidents happen.. Yes! I always save and backup all my RAW files and edited images. If you lost or deleted your photos, feel free to email me and I’ll be able to send you your photos again!

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME FOR PHOTOs?

This is dependent on the photographer and their style of photography. For me personally, I enjoy shooting at golden hour since the light is very soft and not harsh. Golden hour is 1-2 hours after sunrise or before sunset.

what forms of payments do you accept?

I accept cash, check, or credit/debit cards. Credit and debit cards will be charged an additional 3% processing fee.

WHAT TYPE OF GEAR DO YOU USE?

I use a wide variety of professional-grade photo gear. For starters, I use a Canon 5D MKIV & MKIII camera body. I also have a wide variety of professional lenses in order to accommodate any type of situation. For low-light situations, I use off-camera strobes (also known as a flash) to fill the scene with more light.

what file format do you shoot in?

All photos will be taken as Large Raw files to achieve the highest resolution possible. These files are brought into an Adobe software and converted in to the easily-usable JPEG files.

Do you deliver RAW files or just Jpeg?

The majority of clients don’t want RAW files since there is no editing done to them. Once in awhile, someone would ask me for the RAW files. I can provide the RAW files for you at an additional cost. *Please Note: RAW files are extremely huge!

do you offer any other services?

Yes! Along with my photography services, I offer a photo booth service called Lume Booth Hawaii. You can find more information about Lume Booth Hawaii by clicking here!

do you have business insurance?

Yes! I have business insurance for Tom Takata Photography LLC and Lume Booth Hawaii.