Planning the wedding photography for your wedding day is very important, and there are a lot of factors to consider, so we hope these frequently asked questions give you some helpful advice!

How soon before your wedding should you enquire or hire us?

You should make an enquiry with us as soon as you decide on a wedding date and have booked your ceremony and/or reception venue, and couples will book anywhere from 8-18 months from their wedding date. Keep in mind that the summer months in Sydney are very popular for weddings and they will book out much eariler than the somewhat cooler times of the year. We are at our busiest between September and April, so if you are planning a wedding during this time and like what we do it's best to contact us early.


What is the advantage of hiring a professional wedding photographer?

As professional photographers we take photographs for a living, and the difference between a professional set of weddings photos and what, for example, your uncle Bill can take is simply worlds apart! It's not just having a good camera, it is many years of experience and developing an 'eye' that has been honed to capture moments that pass in an instant. As such we have an intimate knowledge of our equipment and the wedding day that a non-professional will never have. It is also the post capture and processing work that we provide, as well as printing and album design that makes a professional service an essential part of your wedding day. As a member of the AIPP, you can be assured of receiving the highest quality in service and photographs from McKay Photography.


How does the pricing or packages work?

We believe we offer simple wedding packages that will cater to a wide range of tastes and budgets, and don't have any hidden or surprise costs. Start by assessing how much coverage you think you will need over the day (eg preparations, ceremony, location photos, reception), and then decide on the style and size of album that you might like. And that's it! All other choices and extras can be made or added at any time before or after the wedding.

We offer Coverage Only packages and Album Inclusive wedding package options. Our albums are hand made to the highest standards by Australia's best album makers and you can choose from variety of traditional mat wedding albums and modern looking magazine style (flush mount) albums, and coffee table style albums.

We also offer parent albums, prints, enlargements, canvas prints, mounted and framed photos. You name it, we can do it - just contact us for a customised wedding photography package.


How do we book a date?

We do not hold dates nor take tentative bookings. We require a $950 booking fee and a signed contract to confirm a wedding date - a date is NOT confirmed until we have both these from you. Payment can be made by bank transfer, cheque, cash, or credit card (1% surcharge applies).


How many pages do the albums have?

Our current packages include 30 sides and additional pages can be added before or after the wedding. Typically around 90-120 photos fits a 30 sided album. For album examples please click here.


How soon after the wedding will our photos and album be ready?

I aim to have your photos ready for a viewing session 2-3 weeks after the wedding. We then meet and run through all the photos on our big screen at the studio and also look at your album design & layouts. Once you have approved the final album design (this time frame varies a lot) it then takes 6-8 weeks to be made and ready for pick up from our studio.


What do you mean by the high-res images supplied?

I provide you with a DVD disk that has a large proportion of all the images shot at your wedding in colour JPG format. These files are intended for prints up to A3 size at 200 ppi. All images are subject to copyright and can only be used for private use such as prints for yourself, family and friends. If you wish to have prints made that are larger than A3 you can purchase these from me, in fact, I highly recommend it as large prints need to be retouched especially for the best final product.

Can we do large prints ourselves? Yes you can, but I highly recommend buying any wall display sized products from me. I have a great range of products from framed prints to acrylic displays and when you purchase these you also get detailed retouching on the files. Because I want my work to be displayed at the best possible quality - my reputation depends upon it! - you know you will get the best result that last a lifetime. Any printing should be done by the best labs in Australia - I know there are a lot of places that print in bulk very cheaply using low quality materials and inks which means the prints wont look good nor last.


Do you have any example photos from Sydney wedding reception venues?

Yes I have a section on my website that shows various photos from my favourite wedding venues in Sydney. You can view this page here: wedding venues example photos


Can we hire a second photographer?

Yes you can! I have several photographers who I use regularly. A second photographer is great for getting more coverage of your wedding, especially people photos, during the ceremony, and the beginning of the reception.


Do your prices include GST?

Yes.


How far do you travel for weddings?

I am based in Manly on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, but can travel fairly much anywhere for your wedding! I have photographed weddings in the Hunter Valley, the Blue Mountains, Bowral & the Southern Highlands, Newcastle, the Central Coast, Noosa, Byron Bay, Darwin, and New Zealand, just to name a few places. That said, there is a travel and/or accommodation cost for weddings out of greater Sydney / interstate and a travel fee will apply for weddings outside of the Sydney metro area.


When are you available for meetings?

An appointment is always necessary, but in general I am able to meet Tuesday to Thursday during work hours 9am-3pm at my studio in Manly. I am also available one or two evenings per week for 30-45 minute meetings. Please note Saturday mornings or weekends are not available as I have weddings to shoot!


Can you offer any advice for wedding locations?

In my years of photographing weddings I have been to a lot of great locations around the Northern Beaches and Sydney. If you would like to discuss wedding locations, churches, or outdoor venues please contact me. You might also like to check the blog which has tags for each location: blog. As I am based on the Northern Beaches I have very good knowledge of locations in this area, and also Sydney city. For outdoor weddings, be sure to check with your local Council regarding bookings and fees.


Do you recommend any videographers or other suppliers?

I have a resources page dedicated to wedding suppliers I have worked with before on more than one occasion and I highly recommend. Click here to view my preferred suppliers.