frequently asked Questions
This is our most commonly asked question! 'Azzura' is pronounced exactly like the word 'azure', but with an 'a' at the end. The name 'Azzura' is derived from the Italian word for 'azure', the color blue. Since we have Italian lineage and all of our albums are custom-printed in Italy, we chose a name that reflects our heritage.
How do you pronounce 'Azzura'?
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Azzura Photography is internationally known for our ‘Illustrative’ style of photography, blending a photojournalistic approach with fun group photographs and unmistakable artistic vision. The result is natural and stunning photographs that truly tell the story of your Wedding Day. Visit our portfolio to explore artwork from some of our favorite weddings!
How would you describe your photographic style?
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We never limit the number of images created on your Wedding Day, which gives us the freedom to take as many frames as needed to get just the right expression. We expertly edit the images to provide you a curated set of finished images that you will love. Most weddings will have 60-80 finished images for every hour that we are shooting, or 80-100+ if you have added an assistant photographer.
How many photographs will we receive?
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We work exclusively with the latest Canon EOS professional digital camera equipment, including the Canon 5D Mark IV and Canon 1DX. We carry between 3 and 4 cameras to every wedding as well as a variety of strobe and modeling lights, since different lighting and lenses work best for different photographs. Our favorite lenses are the "long lenses" (100-200mm) that allow us to photograph moments from a distance (often without you even being aware of the camera) and the L-Series 24mm 1.4, L-Series 50mm 1.2, and L-Series 85mm 1.2, which provide incredible sharpness with a shallow depth of field that create a truly unique look and work beautifully in low light.
What type of equipment do you use?
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Absolutely! We invest a tremendous amount of time after the wedding to create your finished collection of images. First we spend several days reviewing and culling the hundreds (and often thousands) of photographs created on the Wedding Day, selecting the best of each and every series. Next the selected images are organized into a cohesive storyline, and we begin the multi-week process of adjusting for color, exposure, contrast, and saturation in Lightroom so that each image looks its best. We complete the process by individually cropping the images for balance and composition, then convert them from their RAW format into the finished high-res archival .jpg files included in all of our Azzura Wedding Collections.
Do you edit the photographs?
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We love rich color, as well as the timeless and dramatic look of black & white photographs! Because we photograph in digital, every photograph we create is available in color and black & white. This gives us total flexibility when designing your album (and delights the parents who often prefer color.)
Do you photograph in color or black & white?
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As artists, it is important to us to bring our full creative energy and focus to your Wedding Day. We typically photograph only one wedding per week so that we can arrive relaxed, energetic, and feeling inspired. We also limit the total number of wedding commissions we accept in a calendar year, which allows us to invest the time after the Wedding Day to personally edit your photographs and create our gorgeous custom-designed Italian wedding albums.
How many weddings do you photograph in a weekend?
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Please visit our Investment page for details on Collections and pricing.
What can we expect to invest in our photography?
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We often book 6-9 months in advance, and some dates (such as summer Saturdays) are more popular than others. Summer and fall weekends tend to fill up quickly, so we recommend booking your photography as soon as your date and venue are confirmed. Please contact us to check availability.
How far in advance are you booked?
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A third of your Collection total is due when the Wedding Agreement is signed and is required to secure your date. The second payment is due 6 months prior to the Wedding Day, and the final balance is due 30 days before the Wedding Day. We accept cash, check, Visa and MasterCard.
What is the payment schedule?
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We will meet with you a few weeks before your Wedding Day to finalize the schedule, plan time for the group and family photographs, and talk about some of the unique parts of the Wedding Day that are particularly special to you. To help you organize your thoughts, we even provide a 'Group Photographs Checklist' to help you decide which family and wedding party photographs are most important to you.
How can I ensure that I get all the photographs that are important to me?
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We know you will be excited to see your photographs, and we will be excited to share them with you! Your photographs are typically ready 4-6 weeks after the Wedding Day, which is when we schedule your Premiere Show at our Bellevue Studio. The Premiere Show is an intimate gathering where we break out the champagne to reveal your wedding photographs for the very first time, presented on the big screen in a custom slideshow set to music. Friends and family are invited to share the experience, and all your photographs will be available on thumbdrive to take home that day. As part of the Premiere Show we even help you select the images for your wedding album, creating a custom-designed heirloom that reflects all the moments and memories you love the most.
How soon after the Wedding Day will we see our photographs?
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To officially reserve the date, all we need is the retainer (typically 1/3 of your Wedding Collection) and signed Wedding Agreement.