FAQs & Details

Do you have any suggestions for choosing a photographer?

Photography is not a "one size fits all" industry. Each and every photographer is completely different from the next; different styles, different niches... And that's what's so great about it! It's diverse. But that is also why it's so important to find a photographer whose work you absolutely LOVE. When booking a photographer you need to not only look at the price of the packages and what they offer, but also their own unique style (both in the act of photographing and in the post production process). Photography is a creative and artistic field, and each photographer's particular style and workflow is not something that can easily be changed to fit different clientele.

Whether it be for a portrait session or a wedding, finding a photographer you trust and feel comfortable with is monumental in insuring a beautiful product. It's all about working together in creative unison.

Another great thing about Photography is the community; I've had the pleasure of working with and meeting some really talented photographers in the area. If I'm not able to meet your specific needs, I'll bet I can send you a referral of a photographer who can!

Where are you based?

I recently just relocated across the country to Huntsville, AL but I still work & travel back frequently to California. At my new home base, most of my work is in northern Alabama up to Nashville, TN. In California, the majority of my work is between Los Angeles + San Francisco.

Do you travel for destination wedding & portrait photo shoots?

Absolutely! I've had the incredible pleasure of traveling up and down the coast of California photographing some amazing weddings & engagements and I would without-a-doubt love to photograph some more! I’ve also had the pleasure of traveling up to Nashville within the last few months of living here for weddings + portraits, and I absolutely love photographing in new places! Always, always up for a little adventure.

Do you work alone?

For portrait & engagement sessions and elopements, yes. Weddings with 50+ guests, I like having an extra person to assist, help keep the timeline running smoothly and of course to second shoot some of the major events of the day. For weddings with over 100 guests, I highly encourage my couples to add a second photographer to their wedding package.

What type of cameras & equipment do you have?

 I have two cameras; for most portrait sessions & weddings I have two 5D Mark III's slung from either shoulder. I'm a prime lens girl-- no zooms for me. The prime lenses keep everything sharp and beautiful but do require me to move around a lot since they have a fixed focal length. I have a 28mm 1.8, a 35mm 1.4 sigma art, a 50mm 1.4, a 50mm 1.2L, 85mm 1.8 for my Canon and you'll sometimes see me break out the 70-200 2.8L if I need to get close by want to still respect that bubble.

Do you edit your photographs?

Yes. As much as I like to get the images "right" in camera, there is always minor adjusting that happens in post production, be it exposure or color/tone correcting. With that said, I do have a definite style that I would describe as dreamy, deep and emotive.

Images are edited in both professional programs, Photoshop & Lightroom.

I also should add that for each session & wedding I deliver, there will be black and white edited images included in the final galleries. I honestly love black and white-- there's something so deep and connecting to those photographs, but I understand it's not everyone's cup of tea. Most likely you will get both the colored copy as well as the black and white photograph in your gallery; if you don't, it's because I sincerely believe putting the image into black and white is the only way to do the moment justice. Trust me.

Can you "photoshop" me?

While I do use the program Photoshop, I do not actually edit a person's appearance. I do not go in and manipulate and ultimately fabricate images; it's just not something I stand behind. I strive to keep the photographs I create authentic and genuine, hoping to bottle-up the emotions and relationships into a quick frame to be cherished throughout lifetimes. Being asked if I can make people thinner, younger, teeth whiter, etc takes the focus away from what I'm actually trying to capture with the images. And that's the thing, I want people to not only see the photographs but to feel them.

With that being said, I do have what I like to call a "two week rule". If I'm asked to "photoshop" something that will most likely not be there in two weeks (like a blemish or perhaps a bad bruise or even stitches), I totally will.

Do we get all the images?

You will receive the best of the best images from your collection. Each package has a different minimum quantity of images promised, but 9 times out of 10 the client receives more than the minimum.

What format will the images be in?

The images are exported from Lightroom/Photoshop into high resolution jpgs ready for printing. Like most photographers, I do not give out raw images.

When will our images be ready?

For portrait sessions, the online gallery link is in your inbox within seven days following the session. The night of the portrait session I send a "sneak peek" of 3-5 edited images via dropbox.

For weddings, turnaround time is 6 weeks. Again, I send a "sneak peek" of highlights from the wedding day within 72 hours of the event to tide you over until the custom USB Flash is in your hands. As I tell all my couples, usually the longest part of the post-production process is waiting for the custom engraved USB to arrive in my mailbox.

During the busy season (September - December), portrait sessions can take up to 10 days to be completed. If the turn-around is going to be longer than a week, I always update the clients and keep in the loop from the very beginning.

What is the best way to connect with you?

The best way to get in touch with me is through email (hannahkatefotographie@gmail.com). Most evenings & weekends I'm out at sessions and cannot always answer my phone, let alone return a call at a decent hour.

For wedding inquiries, while I love meeting with the couples in person, I am also up for Skype or phone consultations! Please email first to touch base, see if I have a the wedding date available and then we can go about setting up a consultation.

How do we book you?

 For portrait sessions, it's simple enough to get on the schedule. Email me for my availability. In the fall/winter months (September through December), the schedule is especially full. It's always safer to secure a fall/holiday session a couple months in advance. The last few years, I’ve booked out my September, October, November & December calendars before August 1st.

For weddings, a signed contract plus $100 non-refundable retainer is required to secure the date.

Do you have referrals for wedding planners, make-up artists, hair stylists and other wedding vendors?

 I sure do! Let me know actually what you're looking for and where you're getting married and I'll happy put you in contact with some awesome vendors I've had the pleasure of working with!