Mischa Photography - San Francisco Wedding Photographer - Destination Wedding Photographer
Mischa Photography - San Francisco Wedding Photographer - Destination Wedding Photographer

Questions & Answers

General Questions

  1. What kinds of payment do you accept?
  2. What's the difference between proofs, loose prints retouched images & art images?
  3. Do you take images in black & white as well as color?
  4. What is a sepia print?
  5. Do I get the negatives after my session/event?
  6. What kind of equipment do you use?
  7. How are your photographs printed and are they of archival quality?
  8. Can I make my own copies of the images using the proofs or negatives?

Wedding Questions

  1. How do I choose between all the different photographers out there?
  2. Do you take posed or candid photojournalistic photographs?
  3. Who chooses the pictures that go in the album?
  4. How do I decide what kind of album to get? Which manufacturers’ albums do you sell?
  5. What is a "magazine style" wedding album (aka "flush mount")?

General Answers

  1. Q: What kinds of payment do you accept?
    A: We accept cash, check, Visa, Master Card, American Express and Paypal.
  2. Q: What's the difference between proofs, loose prints retouched images & art images?
    A: Proofs are images that are made for the purpose of selecting photographs to be enlarged. For portrait sessions these are shown in studio only. For weddings and events they are provided online, and are also available for order in a separate, printed book.
    One of the benefits of using Mischa Photography is the personalized help we offer in choosing the best photographs. We invite you to our studio to view your images projected on an 8' screen, where we can compare images side by side and see how they would look developed in varying treatments and styles.
    Loose prints are available from weddings and events only. They are printed using our professional lab and are individually checked to make sure they meet our high quality print standards. These are great for images that you or your guests would like to have for a scrapbook or similar use. They are available in color, sepia, black & white and with a variety of borders, with your choice of cropping. Basic and intermediate retouching is available if desired.
    Advanced retouching and art images are available exclusively from portrait sessions and as an option from all weddings and events. They include blemish removal, color enhancement, and special processes like hand coloring. Additionally these images are mounted to give them extra strength and durability. They also receive such enhancements as opening closed eyes, removing distracting background or foreground elements, and other corrections as needed or desired.
  3. Q: Do you take images in black & white as well as color?
    A: With digital technology, this is no longer an issue. All images, whether photographed with film or digital technology, can now be printed in both black & white and color as well as sepia and my own specialty tones like cross process, cyanotype, antique and selective color among others.
  4. Q: What is a sepia print?
    A: Traditionally, sepia prints were created through a toning process applied to black & white prints which rendered the images in brown & white tones. With today’s technology, any image can be made into a sepia print or, in fact, toned to any color you choose.
  5. Q: Do I get the negatives after my session/event?
    A: Negatives are not available from portrait sessions. However we can give you web resolution proofs if you'd like to use your images online. Negatives are available from weddings and events, subject to the terms of the contract.
  6. Q: What kind of equipment do you use?
    A: I use high end professional Canon SLR cameras paired with top-of- the-line lenses and accessories that allow me to create very large, top quality enlargements, to shoot in very low light without a flash while retaining picture clarity, and to shoot many images in rapid succession so that I can be sure of capturing that “perfect moment” when it happens. I prefer to use digital cameras, because in my opinion the character of the digital images from my cameras is indistinguishable from film images, while enlargements from my digital images are superior to film. However, I use film cameras upon request. If the look of film grain is what you want, this can be easily mimicked digitally.
  7. Q: How are your photographs printed and are they of archival quality?
    A: All my images are printed on real photographic paper called a C-print, using the traditional, time-tested photographic chemical process that is known for its archivability and found in museums around the world. Many inkjet brands claim 100+ year longevity for their prints, but the reality is that many factors will drastically shorten this longevity, from the quality of the paper or ink to chemical interactions with common environmental factors such as Freon (found in most refrigerators). However, it is best to store any photograph (whether it be a digital or photographic print) in a cool, dry environment away from direct sunlight. All my photographs are guaranteed for life, no questions asked.
    For especially discerning clients, we are also able to print our images on black and white Fiber paper or color Cibachrome paper. These are the ultimate in image quality and archivability, but are prohibitively expensive for most people. Please inquire if you'd like your images printed in one of these mediums.
  8. Q: Can I make my own prints using the proofs or negatives?
    A: According to federal law, images produced by a professional photographer are copyrighted the moment they are created. Federal law prohibits copying or reproducing copyrighted material without permission from the owner of the copyright.
    The packages we offer that include negatives do give permission for personal printing from these negatives. This means you are allowed to use these negatives to make any prints you want for personal use, although the copyright remains the property of Mischa Photography. Please note: it is never permissible to make prints from the proofs or by scanning and printing individual enlargements.

Wedding Answers

  1. Q: How do I choose between all the different photographers out there?
    A: First, find a few photographers whose work online you particularly like, not based on what they say but on how you are affected by their images. Look for photographers whose work evokes an emotional response from you, because this will be magnified many times when you’re viewing your own photographs.
    Once you identify some photographers that you really like, call or email them to arrange appointments at their studios. Don’t try to make your final selection based only on your phone or email contacts with them. You already know you like their work, so what you need to evaluate now is their professionalism, their personality and their finished product. There might be some photographers you could eliminate based on their email or telephone responses alone, but to make your final choice you really need to take the time to meet in person.
    IMPORTANT NOTE: Make sure that you get to meet the actual photographer who will come to your wedding, not just a sales person or one of a studio's many possible photographers. Otherwise, you may end up selecting the best marketing operation when what you really wanted was the best photographer for you.
    Professionalism: You want someone who will be on time and is professional in all aspects including dress, presentation, communication, etc. These things become important when the photographer needs to talk to your family and guests at the wedding, finish prints and albums on time, etc.
    Personality: Choose someone you genuinely like and relate to easily. You will be spending more time with your wedding photographer than just about anyone except your fiancé, so it is imperative that you get along well and enjoy each other's company.
    Finished Product: Look carefully at the finished images the photographer displays. Do you like the way they look? Do they seem professional? Technically excellent? If you like some of the photographs but not others, ask what the difference is between those you like and those you don't. It might be that the photographer is very versatile and can tailor their coverage of your wedding and of their finished work to match the style(s) you like the best.
  2. Q: Do you take posed or candid photojournalistic photographs?
    A: I don't know a single photographer that doesn't take some of both nowadays. I think what's important is to fully understand the true purpose of each of these approaches in capturing the experience of your wedding day. I also take a third style of photograph that I call contemporary romantic photography. Personally, I feel that it’s extremely important for a wedding photographer to be skilled in all three of these approaches in order to capture the essence of this uniquely important day.
    Formal Photography: Formal portraits may not be the most fun and most natural, but they can be a very important record of the day. For many families, this is a rare time when everyone is gathered together and a special opportunity to take a family portrait while everyone is looking their best. And a good photographer will make the formal portrait process fun and fast enough to be much more natural than the stiff photos you may have had taken for your high school yearbook or formal ball. When planning with your photographer, it's a good idea to make a list of the formal portraits you want and of any other "must have" photographs. Be specific in this list, spelling out names and describing who people are rather than just saying "parents".
    Candid Photojournalistic Photography: Each wedding is the story of a particular bride and groom, with elements both universal and utterly unique. The story is often broken into vignettes, like the bride getting ready or the shy flower girl being coaxed into walking up the aisle. Images of natural moments like these, captured without posing, are referred to as wedding photojournalism. This approach to photography is wonderful for capturing the spirit of the day. Of course, friends and family members may contribute excellent images of such moments too. But a professional photographer will ensure that these images are captured systematically, completely and beautifully. I use many special tools to achieve a very natural look to my images that cannot be obtained with consumer equipment.
    Contemporary Romantic Photography: These are fantasy images and are my specialty. These romantic portraits are loosely posed to reveal the true essence of a relationship. These are the images you will want to display large on your walls, perhaps as a signature watercolor or art image. They are usually composed on the fly, using available props and settings, but they can also be planned out, at least in part. If you see a particular image in a bridal magazine that you'd love to have of you and/or your partner, don't hesitate to cut it out and bring it to one of our meetings.
  3. Q: Who chooses the pictures that go in the album?
    A: We both do (unless you either don't want the help or want us to do it for you). During your projection presentation, we help you sort through the options to determine which kind of album you want, and together we go through the images to sort out your favorites for an album set. This way, you can tell me which images you like the best, and I can help you figure out how best to tell the story in a way that will make your album the most meaningful for you. This is a very unique service we offer, which our couples really love! It turns what might otherwise be a months’-long ordeal of picking images from proofs into a fun one-night session complete with wine and food! 4. Q: How do I decide what kind of album to get? Which manufacturers’ albums do you sell?
  4. Q: How do I decide what kind of album to get? Which manufacturers’ albums do you sell?
    A: For magazine style wedding albums, I recommend Viva flush mount magazine style wedding albums. These are essentially the same as those sold under the names of many other manufacturers, each of which uses their own leathers and has a variety of other subtle differences. Personally, I think these are by far the best because they have an almost seamless gap in the middle, lie flat when opened, have thick, durable pages, and each page is coated so you don't have to worry about fingerprints. I can also get others if you like the look of them. (Italian Graphi Studio albums are very popular, for instance, with thinner pages that are not cut in the middle.) I also work with many other manufacturers, such as Leather Craftsmen, Zookbinders, and Renaissance.
    For traditional albums, I most often recommend Jorgensen or Cypress wedding albums. These are traditional matted albums that can be highly customized for a truly unique album. The Jorgensen albums are very beautiful and classic. The Cypress albums have more of a fine art feel to them, with deckled edge pages and a ribbon bound spine. Another popular choice for those who like a classic design are the Flora albums, which are not as customizable but are still quite beautiful. Again, if you've seen a particular brand that you prefer for whatever reason, please let me know and I'll be happy to obtain it for you.
  5. Q: What is a "magazine style" wedding album (aka "flush mount")?
    A: A magazine style wedding album is an album that is digitally designed to utilize all of the space available on each page, often using graphic design elements to give the pages particular interest and appeal. Images can be in any size or shape; color can be mixed on a page with black and white; images can be overlaid and so forth, just as you might see in the pages of a magazine. The pages are printed using the same archival photographic paper as our regular enlargements. In this way, the entire page (including any number of images) is printed onto one piece of photo paper so that there are no seams. Each page is essentially a matte board with a digital collage photograph mounted on each side. This style has the advantage of allowing for a lot more creativity in the design and is also more durable. If you haven’t seen this kind of album before, they are well worth considering. They can be especially powerful for conveying the story of your wedding day.

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