About Weddings
Being in love is rad.
Your wedding photos should be too.
I love telling the story of a wedding in a way that moves past just getting pictures to put on your walls – I mean I'll get those too, but I want to help people remember what it felt like on that day. I don't know about you, but I'm pretty over the wedding day model that makes you guess how long every part of your wedding day will take in order to book hours with a photographer. Makeup always goes long, groomsmen get lost on the way to the portraits, shit happens. Let's just say, from the beginning, that I'll be there for your whole day. I'll be there for the excitement and the butterflies and the chaos of the getting ready photos, the all emotions of your first look and those first quiet moments you spend together just breathing on your wedding day; I'll be there to wrangle family members for your formal portraits and find the hidden beauty spots for your individual portraits; I'll be there for the energy leading up to the ceremony and the moment you pledge forever to one another; I'll be there for the well-wishers at the reception, the crazy drunken dancing, and the joy-filled send-off. And I wouldn't miss it for the world.
Because the truth is, when you photograph for time slots it’s easy to rush for the "big" details (the flowers, the cake, the garter, the ties) and the important details (like tear stains, flower girls playing in the dirt, the way the breeze teases the bride’s hair, and the look in your guests eyes as they congratulate you) are missed. I want to work with people who value these images. I want to work with people who want us to be a part of the planning, who want our input on how to make their images the best they can be. I don't want to be just another vendor. If you decide you would like me to be your photographer, you’re hiring me to tell your story - the whole story - the story of the first day of your married life.
Just so you know
All weddings include
2 photographers, high resolution digital images with a black and white and a color edit of each image, and a handcrafted album of your day, unlimited consultation, in-person scouts of all our locations prior to your event, plus discounts on additional portrait sessions. You also have the option of adding on hours for getting ready or an after party/reception should the need arise.
PACKAGES & RATES
Pricing & Details
Elopement
An "Elopement" is categorized as the most intimate of events, consisting of vows and/or a short ceremony plus a time for the couple's portraits. 0-5 people max (the couple, an officiant, and 2 witnesses). This is an opportunity for you to marry the love of your life in whatever wild or secret manner you want, anything from a mountain top adventure to vows in your backyard.
Starting from
$2,000
PACKAGES & RATES
Pricing & Details
Intimate Wedding
An "Intimate" or "Micro" wedding is just what the name implies – a low key gathering of a small group of people, coming together to celebrate the couple getting married. 6-40 guests in attendance, includes documentary coverage of getting ready, ceremony, and any planned reception/cocktail hour, plus structured times for the couple's portraits, family portraits, and wedding party portraits.
Starting from
$3,500
PACKAGES & RATES
Pricing & Details
Traditional Wedding
"Traditional Weddings" are for the people who love to throw parties, who love a crowded dance floor and want to share their special day with every person who has ever touched their lives. 40+ guests, documentary coverage of everything from both parties getting ready to the grand exit and every beautiful moment in between, plus structured times for the couple's, wedding party, and family portraits.
Starting from
$5,000
handmade wedding albums
I don't want you to just scroll through some pixels on your first or your fiftieth anniversary. That's why every wedding I photograph comes with an album. And not an album that a factory spits out that you later find out looks exactly like your cousin's wedding album. Yours is handmade, by me. Yours is a one of a kind, truly unique, piece of your day.
The way you view the pictures of your wildest day should reflect the day itself – tangible, tactile, and timeless.
Wait, additional portrait sessions??
Yep! take 50% off any wedding related portrait session when booked with a wedding!
Engagement Portraits
Documented proof of you and your fiancé being fully and completely and disgustingly in love. Great for “Save the Dates” and invitations (and handmade guest books, cough cough). On location, in studio, or in your own home, sessions are typically planned 6-10 months before your wedding.
Day Before Sessions
Portraits taken before the wedding day, often on the same day as hair/makeup trials, or once your final attire fitting is complete. These sessions offer a wider variety of portraits in a wider variety of locations while taking time and stress out of your wedding day.
Day After Sessions
An extended portrait session up to a year after your wedding day. Allows for more portraits at a wider variety of locations in a more relaxed environment. Includes the additional benefit of freeing up your wedding timeline so you can spend more of your day around the people you love.
Boudoir Portraits
Catered to your preferences and comfort – on location, in studio, or in your home – these images make wonderful wedding gifts for your partner (in digital or book form), with the added bonus of being incredible for self confidence and body positivity.
FAQ
How many photographers will be there?
Every wedding is documented by two photographers. James, my red-headed husband, is my standard second shooter and the best at catching what’s happening behind my back (and reaching tall things).
What will our communication look like?
I'm a big fan of grabbing coffee or jumping on a video chat so we can get to know each other before you decide to book a wedding with me. Vibing with the person who's gonna be shadowing you on such a huge day is as big a part of finding the right photographer as finding someone whose style you enjoy.
Once you're booked, I will be available for consultation, at any point during your planning process.
One month before your wedding I'll have a couple questionnaires for you to fill out and we'll schedule another in person or video meeting to go over all the final details of your day.
About a week before your wedding, I will do a scout of your venue and any additional locations to find the best areas of light and to plan ahead for specific shots unique to you and your day.
How many images will I receive?
I average 100 final images per hour at most weddings, with a color edit as well as a black and white edit of each final image. A 5 hour wedding usually yields about 500 images, a 10 hour wedding yields about 1,000 images, etc.
When and how will my images be delivered?
You'll get a handful of preview images within 48 hours of your session, but my standard turn around time for your full gallery is 9-14 weeks (depending on season and my current workload).
The reason I take a bit longer than other photographers is, first, that I give a TON of images, in part because I have no self control, but also I have a very documentary style that lends itself to the little in between moments and details on top of all the big dynamic shots. But also because I don't believe in copy/pasting a preset over every image - I do use presets for my editing work, but I go through and touch every image I deliver (twice, because you get a bw and a color edit of each image) so that each frame is crafted carefully and intentionally.
When your images are ready, you will receive a link to an online gallery where you can download your full gallery the same day I finish editing them.
Every wedding also comes with a handcrafted album in your choice of wood or leather. A USB with your full gallery of high resolution images will be delivered with your album once that process is complete.
When and how will my album be delivered?
The album building process starts the day you're sent your full digital gallery! You'll receive an email walking you through the process of image selection and album design and after you've completed those steps I will draft a pdf mock up of your book's layout for review. Once you're happy with the layout the print and build process typically takes 3-6 weeks depending on season and workload.
Can you deliver my images faster?
You betcha! I have a rush option that guarantees your full digital gallery will be delivered in 4 weeks for an additional fee, if you are in need of images ASAP.
Do you watermark your images?
Nope. My copyright information will be in the metadata of each file, but no visible watermark will be on your images. You will also own a limited copyright on your images enabling you to make print and digital reproductions as you like. I only ask that you tag me if you post your photos to social media, cuz 90% of my business comes through word of mouth, and I love seeing people say nice things about the folks I get to work with :)
Are you available outside of Alaska?
Absolutely! I primarily photograph weddings here in AK but I have done events across the US. Shoot me a message and let's talk about how to get me where you are!
Do you have insurance?
Yes, Amanda Kolstedt Photography is fully insured, and we will have back up gear on site at every wedding.
I don't like being in front of a camera, will I still get good pictures?
Short answer: Hell yes.
Long answer: I have, by some blessing of the cosmos, become a photographer for people who don't like to be photographed. This is my purpose in life. To be awkward enough that you'll feel like the cool one and quiet enough that you won't know I'm there. It's the role I've been preparing for my whole life. All you gotta do is show up and be you, enjoy your loved one, and party with the people around you.
You deserve to have good pictures of yourself and I cannot wait to create those pictures with you.
wild nostalgia starts here
Let’s talk details.
