Review is written by Staff @ The Ring and is based on • Interviews with this vendor • Interviews with past brides
Alicia Riley has all the ingredients needed to become one of Kitchener and London area brides’ favourite local photographers. She’s young, energetic, her past brides rave about her, and she shoots fabulous, creative, candid photos.
After calling 2011 her “break out year”, Alicia Riley made the transition from graphic designer to full time photographer official, her booking calendar filling up quickly. Alicia's work has been featured in The Wedding Ring Magazine, her photo booth at the Expo @ Waterloo Inn (January 2012) was a complete smash, and she's proven that she knows what brides want in a wedding photographer. So, from a creative shooting style and competitive prices to coffee table style albums and all things in between, here’s everything you need to know about Alicia Riley…
Personally speaking
After declaring declared 2011 her “Break Out Year” (breaking away from her graphic design career to focus on full time photography), Alicia has found success behind the camera. She had already played the part of successful graphic designer for the previous seven years in the GTA, throughout which time she has also assisted a master photography for three years and shot weddings on her own for the past seven.
By last year, Alicia was shooting an average of twelve weddings a year just from word-of-mouth referrals. And in 2011, she realized that she was ready to follow her passion and take her knowledge of wedding photography to the next level. She laughed, explaining to The Ring, “This is what I want to be when I grow up. It just took me twenty-nine years to figure it out!”
Yup. Gotcha.
Like many photographers, Alicia finds it difficult to categorize her own shooting style because every wedding calls for something different. But she can say that she likes to go with minimal direction and keep her shooting style fairly candid. “Typical posed shots are not my clients’ style… I’m up for trying anything my clients are up for or suggest.” Half the time, she’s making it up as she goes – and that’s exactly how she likes it.
What Alicia is really after is that moment when she sees a connection between the bride and groom that makes them who they are. “That little smirk… The way they touch and laugh or joke… There’s nothing like uncovering those true, organic, honest moments after the couple has forgotten you’re even there…” Alicia considers it her job to uncover that magic and reveal it to her clients. “I think most times they have no idea – until they get their photos back and they can see how cool it is to see what I see.”
Alicia knows the shoot was a complete success when she’s previewing photos and finds herself stopping and saying, “Yup. Gotcha.”
Fun, fresh and all about you
“I would define my style as fun. I approach everything with a young, fresh energy and a laid back attitude,” says Alicia. “The more we laugh and joke and have a good time, the better the photos will be.” She regularly shoots couples who “despise” having their photos taken. “They always walk away saying ‘That was fun!’”
For July 3rd, 2010 bride, Lauren Manser, having a photographer who she felt 100 percent comfortable with made a difference. Lauren told The Ring, “It felt like one of our friends was taking our pictures… With Alicia we knew that the pictures will be beautiful, natural, and artistic. Alicia is a skilled and talented photographer whose prices are incredibly reasonable… Truthfully, we would’ve paid twice as much for her service because the pictures were so good!”
It’s also about putting the bride and groom in the spotlight. “It’s all about my clients on their big day. They are the centre of attention. Not me.” Alicia's goal is to make her couples' photography more about having an enjoyable experience, rather than just about having their photos taken.
She describes her ideal brides as budget brides. “They’re do-it-yourself’ers. Easy going but expect quality. They are careful with their money but know how to throw a good party. Not extravagant or over-the-top, yet elegant. Quick to strike up new friendships. Open and honest with what they want.”
Graphic design still playing a steady role
With seven years of corporate graphic design under her belt, Alicia finds herself crediting her eye for shooting to her design background. “It helps A LOT, especially with composition, colour and exposure.”
When it comes to albums, Alicia uses her design skills for creative layouts in fabulous coffee table style albums, which she says are “instant brag books to show off to friends and family!”
Alicia says she’s actually asked by many of her couples to custom design their invitations as well and is toying with the idea of expanding into this area.
Costing your photography with Alicia Riley
Alicia’s prices range from $1550 for “the basic” package, which is five hours and includes a coffee table book and 100 unwatermarked images on CD, to $2550 for “the whole sha-bang” (and the best deal!) which includes twelve hours, an engagement shoot, a big fat fabulous coffee table style album, 350 unwatermarked images on CD, a second shooter for a portion of the day, 100 thank you post cards, and a one-hour photo booth at your reception – with props!
Nadina & Joel Ayer say that getting good quality photography at reasonable pricing was a selling point for them when they hired Alicia for their December 18th (Sunday) 2010 wedding. “We got her most expensive bundle… It was a great choice for us… Not only are her services reasonable but she is also very flexible in terms of the product, start time, locations. We could also change those on the day of the wedding if needed.”
Alicia will do Destination Weddings starting at $1200 plus travel fees, and invites couples to give her a call or send her an email for more details.
Walking you through it
Alicia Riley is a hands-on business owner. She’s the person that meets with, answers, and photographs each couple that comes through her doors. “My photography is a lot about that one-on-one connection created between me and the people on the other side of the lens.”
Your first step is to call or email Alicia. Then, she sends you her price list along with an open invitation to call or email her to talk details. From there it’s a more in-depth consultation about what you’d like out of your wedding, what would happen throughout the day and photo shoots, the making of your final package and pricing decisions, and any other details that apply at that point. Alicia says she works within your budget whenever humanly possible.
Alicia does everything she can throughout the planning process (during emails, meetings, and on the wedding day) to make the bride and groom feel as special and important as they are. “We talk about strategies in shooting such as gathering family members… We appoint a responsible person to be in charge of that who is NOT the bride or groom… We arrange to have the officiant make announcements before or after the ceremony so that everyone’s on the same page on the day of the wedding…”
"The flow of the day is super important," Alicia told staff at The Ring. She aims to work together with each couple to create a timeline that includes time buffers, and that will be as stress-free as possible. "I'll even go as far as helping to appoint people ahead of time to take up 'jobs' like gathering family members for specific shots."
Sabrina Da Maren, who was married on July 18th, 2009, says Alicia was very helpful with the initial planning of shots. “Alicia was also fun to work with. She kept everybody focused and on schedule and kept my nerves at bay.”
And while planning ahead is a must, there’s always issues that pop up on the wedding day. Alicia adapts, troubleshoots, and keeps on shooting.
Details, details, details
• A non-refundable retainer is required upon booking of one third of the package price
• The remainder is due at time of package pick-up
• As of January 2012, Alicia was already booking well into 2013. That's why she recommends trying to book at least eight months in advance. That said, Alicia welcomes all inquiries!
Alicia Riley has all the ingredients needed to become one of Kitchener and London area brides’ favourite local photographers. She’s young, energetic, her past brides rave about her, and she shoots fabulous, creative, candid photos.
After calling 2011 her “break out year”, Alicia Riley made the transition from graphic designer to full time photographer official, her booking calendar filling up quickly. Alicia's work has been featured in The Wedding Ring Magazine, her photo booth at the Expo @ Waterloo Inn (January 2012) was a complete smash, and she's proven that she knows what brides want in a wedding photographer. So, from a creative shooting style and competitive prices to coffee table style albums and all things in between, here’s everything you need to know about Alicia Riley…
Personally speaking
After declaring declared 2011 her “Break Out Year” (breaking away from her graphic design career to focus on full time photography), Alicia has found success behind the camera. She had already played the part of successful graphic designer for the previous seven years in the GTA, throughout which time she has also assisted a master photography for three years and shot weddings on her own for the past seven.
By last year, Alicia was shooting an average of twelve weddings a year just from word-of-mouth referrals. And in 2011, she realized that she was ready to follow her passion and take her knowledge of wedding photography to the next level. She laughed, explaining to The Ring, “This is what I want to be when I grow up. It just took me twenty-nine years to figure it out!”
Yup. Gotcha.
Like many photographers, Alicia finds it difficult to categorize her own shooting style because every wedding calls for something different. But she can say that she likes to go with minimal direction and keep her shooting style fairly candid. “Typical posed shots are not my clients’ style… I’m up for trying anything my clients are up for or suggest.” Half the time, she’s making it up as she goes – and that’s exactly how she likes it.
What Alicia is really after is that moment when she sees a connection between the bride and groom that makes them who they are. “That little smirk… The way they touch and laugh or joke… There’s nothing like uncovering those true, organic, honest moments after the couple has forgotten you’re even there…” Alicia considers it her job to uncover that magic and reveal it to her clients. “I think most times they have no idea – until they get their photos back and they can see how cool it is to see what I see.”
Alicia knows the shoot was a complete success when she’s previewing photos and finds herself stopping and saying, “Yup. Gotcha.”
Fun, fresh and all about you
“I would define my style as fun. I approach everything with a young, fresh energy and a laid back attitude,” says Alicia. “The more we laugh and joke and have a good time, the better the photos will be.” She regularly shoots couples who “despise” having their photos taken. “They always walk away saying ‘That was fun!’”
For July 3rd, 2010 bride, Lauren Manser, having a photographer who she felt 100 percent comfortable with made a difference. Lauren told The Ring, “It felt like one of our friends was taking our pictures… With Alicia we knew that the pictures will be beautiful, natural, and artistic. Alicia is a skilled and talented photographer whose prices are incredibly reasonable… Truthfully, we would’ve paid twice as much for her service because the pictures were so good!”
It’s also about putting the bride and groom in the spotlight. “It’s all about my clients on their big day. They are the centre of attention. Not me.” Alicia's goal is to make her couples' photography more about having an enjoyable experience, rather than just about having their photos taken.
She describes her ideal brides as budget brides. “They’re do-it-yourself’ers. Easy going but expect quality. They are careful with their money but know how to throw a good party. Not extravagant or over-the-top, yet elegant. Quick to strike up new friendships. Open and honest with what they want.”
Graphic design still playing a steady role
With seven years of corporate graphic design under her belt, Alicia finds herself crediting her eye for shooting to her design background. “It helps A LOT, especially with composition, colour and exposure.”
When it comes to albums, Alicia uses her design skills for creative layouts in fabulous coffee table style albums, which she says are “instant brag books to show off to friends and family!”
Alicia says she’s actually asked by many of her couples to custom design their invitations as well and is toying with the idea of expanding into this area.
Costing your photography with Alicia Riley
Alicia’s prices range from $1550 for “the basic” package, which is five hours and includes a coffee table book and 100 unwatermarked images on CD, to $2550 for “the whole sha-bang” (and the best deal!) which includes twelve hours, an engagement shoot, a big fat fabulous coffee table style album, 350 unwatermarked images on CD, a second shooter for a portion of the day, 100 thank you post cards, and a one-hour photo booth at your reception – with props!
Nadina & Joel Ayer say that getting good quality photography at reasonable pricing was a selling point for them when they hired Alicia for their December 18th (Sunday) 2010 wedding. “We got her most expensive bundle… It was a great choice for us… Not only are her services reasonable but she is also very flexible in terms of the product, start time, locations. We could also change those on the day of the wedding if needed.”
Alicia will do Destination Weddings starting at $1200 plus travel fees, and invites couples to give her a call or send her an email for more details.
Walking you through it
Alicia Riley is a hands-on business owner. She’s the person that meets with, answers, and photographs each couple that comes through her doors. “My photography is a lot about that one-on-one connection created between me and the people on the other side of the lens.”
Your first step is to call or email Alicia. Then, she sends you her price list along with an open invitation to call or email her to talk details. From there it’s a more in-depth consultation about what you’d like out of your wedding, what would happen throughout the day and photo shoots, the making of your final package and pricing decisions, and any other details that apply at that point. Alicia says she works within your budget whenever humanly possible.
Alicia does everything she can throughout the planning process (during emails, meetings, and on the wedding day) to make the bride and groom feel as special and important as they are. “We talk about strategies in shooting such as gathering family members… We appoint a responsible person to be in charge of that who is NOT the bride or groom… We arrange to have the officiant make announcements before or after the ceremony so that everyone’s on the same page on the day of the wedding…”
"The flow of the day is super important," Alicia told staff at The Ring. She aims to work together with each couple to create a timeline that includes time buffers, and that will be as stress-free as possible. "I'll even go as far as helping to appoint people ahead of time to take up 'jobs' like gathering family members for specific shots."
Sabrina Da Maren, who was married on July 18th, 2009, says Alicia was very helpful with the initial planning of shots. “Alicia was also fun to work with. She kept everybody focused and on schedule and kept my nerves at bay.”
And while planning ahead is a must, there’s always issues that pop up on the wedding day. Alicia adapts, troubleshoots, and keeps on shooting.
Details, details, details
• A non-refundable retainer is required upon booking of one third of the package price
• The remainder is due at time of package pick-up
• As of January 2012, Alicia was already booking well into 2013. That's why she recommends trying to book at least eight months in advance. That said, Alicia welcomes all inquiries!
