Review is written by Staff @ The Ring and is based on • Interviews with this vendor • Interviews with past brides
Two things stood out to us when we started our research on the Empirical Photographic Arts team, Angela DeSalvo and D'Arcy McNeil… First, many couples who’ve worked with Angela and D’Arcy seem to absolutely adore these photographers. Whether friendships were formed over a bottle of wine during their first wedding consult, or whether it was after striking a ton of fun, edgy poses in unique locations, these photographers say this personal connection has played a big part in their success.
Second, Empirical’s photos are creative with each one carrying an attitude of its own. They admit, "We always tell our couples we'll be as brave as you are!"
So with a fabulous mix of veteran experience and fresh approach to wedding photography in Brantford, we had a lot of questions to ask Angela and D’Arcy. Here’s what we found…
Photography was fate…
Photography might very well be in the genes. D'Arcy's grew up with a father who was a professional photographer. That influence is what eventually led him to study commercial photography at Sheridan College. Angela's journey began after moving to Italy to shoot weddings with her Uncle. But it wasn't until meeting each other, and falling for each other :), while working for a Toronto based photography company that they both felt the push to turn their passion into a full blown career.
Eight months later, they opened their first studio. “We never looked back. It's really the only thing we wanted to do!"
And after fourteen years together, they couldn't be happier with their decision. "Both of us are constantly evolving our trade and developing our photographic vision. After this long in business together, we still love it!"
Lessons from the veterans
Because Angela and D'Arcy have been photographing weddings for nearly fourteen years, they say the flow of the wedding day has really become second nature to them. They know their craft inside and out, not second guessing anything, from their equipment, lighting or wedding day know how, "which is the way it should be!" if you ask them.
Their experience has taught them a ton about the business. They like to book less than twenty weddings per year so that they can truly give each couple (and their photos) the time they deserve. “We don’t want to become a wedding conveyer belt." They also do a lot of advertising and portrait photography which also adds to their ability to work under any type of situation on a wedding day.
You won't find Angela and D'Arcy skimping on products either. "Our prints and albums are of the highest quality, and we are meticulous in preparing them."
And the pair's philosophy on photography seems to make a big impact on the couple's that they work with. “It's not just about capturing moments but also dealing with all the different emotions from various people throughout the day… All said and done, we usually really hit it off with couple when we meet, so many of them come for the work and stick around as friends for years."
Brigitte and Frank Costantini booked Angela and D'Arcy for their July 2010 wedding. They like how “untraditional” Empirical’s photos were. “They were artistic and real in capturing the essence of their subjects. Frank and I were captured exactly how we are and every time I look at our engagement and wedding photos I see 'us' and how in love we are!"
Another reason why couples love working with them, is that they've always got two photographers covering the entire wedding day. While they've tried working separately in the past, Angela and D'Arcy find that working together helps them produce their best shots. "Because men and women are so different, we each offer a different point of view. We feed off each other’s ideas and pretty much know each other’s next move. When we work separately, it just isn't the same!"
Keeping your package simple
Angela and D'Arcy like to keep their packages and pricing simple so that couples don't feel overwhelmed during the booking process.
They have flexible rates, but their most popular package is $2695, which includes two photographers, your engagement shoot, a custom designed and printed flushmount album, all of your proofs in a perfect bound soft cover book, and a $500 print credit. After the album and prints are complete, the bride and groom receive a copy of their digital files as well.
The Trend Report
Angela and D'Arcy have seen many styles come and go throughout the years, and although they like to stay on top of current trends, the photography is still their top priority, "great work and great value never goes out of style!"
One trend they're seeing right now is customized save the date and thank-you cards. Angela and D'Arcy design these cards with images from your engagement shoot or wedding, which gives them a really personalized feel.
They've also noticed that guest photos at the reception are becoming more and more popular. They provide 4x6 prints, on the spot, which guests can take home as favours. It’s a fun keepsake for guests and it's great for the bride and groom, who might not otherwise have photos of everyone at their wedding.
Videography has made a huge comeback with the ability to use one camera to do both still imagery and video. D'Arcy and Angela prefer to focus on creating wonderful still imagery but have worked with some great videographers who offer this service if couples are interested.
An eclectic mix
Angela and D'Arcy say that they find that the couple's they work with really appreciate value and great work. "Our clients are down to earth, ‘real’ people who want us to capture them the way they are and are also willing to trust our judgment for creative shots."
And their personal style, which they describe as "eclectic" reflects in their work. They like to give couples a great mix of eclectic shots to choose from- many couples like to turn these shots into personalized pieces of art.
Robert and Brenda Vantyghem booked Angela and D'Arcy for their wedding day and fell in love with their style. “It was so unique...... I love shots that are different from the norm! I knew they had that quality from the previous shots I had seen. Plus, we loved the processing after, they like to call it "funktifyiing" the shots!"
"Our style comes from listening to clients. We understand the importance of capturing both the fun and funkiness of their wedding day as well as the family, candid moments, and all of the extra details.
Walking you through it....
It's easiest to reach Angela and D'Arcy through e-mail or phone to find out if you're wedding date is available.
Your first meeting is all about personalities. “We go over prices and details, but really, the bride and groom need to know that they are comfortable with us."
Nicole Todd remembers the instant connection she felt with Angela and D'Arcy and told The Ring, "One of my favourite memories was the day that we met them. We went into their old studio and drank wine together using pottery goblets. They were such a great couple that both my husband and I could see us getting along perfectly. Another memory was when we had our engagement photos; we hiked to where my husband proposed after we shared a delicious picnic lunch together."
If you click with the Empirical team, you'll start thinking about engagement pictures- where and when you'd like to do them. The engagement session usually takes a couple of hours and it's a great opportunity for Angela and D'Arcy to learn about you as a couple (and vice versa!). If you're stuck for location ideas, they can give you some good options, but they love to shoot in a location that means something special to each couple. After your shoot, they post the engagement session images online so they you can share with friends, family and start to build up excitement for your wedding day. From there, you can choose whether or not you'd like to have engagement prints done. Angela and D'Arcy say that many couples like to have a large print for guests to sign or a signature book with various images from the e-session, but, it's totally up to you!
On your wedding day, Angela and D'Arcy will typically start off with the bride and if time permits, visit the guys as well. They love shooting during the morning because it's a great opportunity to capture candid moments while the excitement builds up.
Angela and D'Arcy tend to get to the ceremony location a little early. "…we can set up lighting if need be, capture a few images of the guys sweating (ha ha), and meet the officiant."
During the ceremony Angela and D'Arcy get all of the important shots while staying as unobtrusive as possible.
Right after the ceremony, they like to take family group photos. Since everyone is in one spot , this helps ensure that they don't miss anyone. From there, they try to spend at least two hours with the bridal party at a predetermined location(s). For Angela and D'Arcy, the more time the better because it leaves time for spontaneity and gives the bridal party some room to breathe. "There's nothing better than being able to take fifteen minutes and relax with your wedding party, rather than feeling rushed the entire day."
Once you're at the reception location, they love to capture some of the details that the bride and groom often miss, like the table settings and decorations. When the wedding party is announced, the basic coverage ends. If you want extra reception coverage, it's available at a reasonable rate.
A couple of weeks after the wedding, you'll get together with Angela and D'Arcy so that they can present you with a soft-cover bound book, including all of the images from the wedding day. You can choose your favourite images for the album and you can decide on your album style, thank-you cards, prints, and anything else you might want.
Once you choose your favourite images for your wedding album, Angela and D'Arcy will design the layout and send you a PDF to review. When you've approved it, they'll order your album and you'll have your custom keepsake in approximately four weeks.
Robert and Brenda Vantyghem loved their entire experience with Angela and D'Arcy. "We are still very good friends today! They were there for us whenever we had questions, offered great advice as to locations for shoots, and had so much fun with them at our engagement shoot. They will climb mountains for the perfect shot, (which we basically did) to get a really unique shot under a bridge in Hamilton! Many of my friends were married before me and most had wished they had our photographers for their wedding. Everyone was very impressed with our wedding book and our proof book!"
Details, details, details
•The average bride spends about $3000 (with taxes)
•A $500 deposit is required to book your wedding day
•Angela and D'Arcy say you can try your luck, but, it's best to book a year ahead to secure them for your wedding day!
Two things stood out to us when we started our research on the Empirical Photographic Arts team, Angela DeSalvo and D'Arcy McNeil… First, many couples who’ve worked with Angela and D’Arcy seem to absolutely adore these photographers. Whether friendships were formed over a bottle of wine during their first wedding consult, or whether it was after striking a ton of fun, edgy poses in unique locations, these photographers say this personal connection has played a big part in their success.
Second, Empirical’s photos are creative with each one carrying an attitude of its own. They admit, "We always tell our couples we'll be as brave as you are!"
So with a fabulous mix of veteran experience and fresh approach to wedding photography in Brantford, we had a lot of questions to ask Angela and D’Arcy. Here’s what we found…
Photography was fate…
Photography might very well be in the genes. D'Arcy's grew up with a father who was a professional photographer. That influence is what eventually led him to study commercial photography at Sheridan College. Angela's journey began after moving to Italy to shoot weddings with her Uncle. But it wasn't until meeting each other, and falling for each other :), while working for a Toronto based photography company that they both felt the push to turn their passion into a full blown career.
Eight months later, they opened their first studio. “We never looked back. It's really the only thing we wanted to do!"
And after fourteen years together, they couldn't be happier with their decision. "Both of us are constantly evolving our trade and developing our photographic vision. After this long in business together, we still love it!"
Lessons from the veterans
Because Angela and D'Arcy have been photographing weddings for nearly fourteen years, they say the flow of the wedding day has really become second nature to them. They know their craft inside and out, not second guessing anything, from their equipment, lighting or wedding day know how, "which is the way it should be!" if you ask them.
Their experience has taught them a ton about the business. They like to book less than twenty weddings per year so that they can truly give each couple (and their photos) the time they deserve. “We don’t want to become a wedding conveyer belt." They also do a lot of advertising and portrait photography which also adds to their ability to work under any type of situation on a wedding day.
You won't find Angela and D'Arcy skimping on products either. "Our prints and albums are of the highest quality, and we are meticulous in preparing them."
And the pair's philosophy on photography seems to make a big impact on the couple's that they work with. “It's not just about capturing moments but also dealing with all the different emotions from various people throughout the day… All said and done, we usually really hit it off with couple when we meet, so many of them come for the work and stick around as friends for years."
Brigitte and Frank Costantini booked Angela and D'Arcy for their July 2010 wedding. They like how “untraditional” Empirical’s photos were. “They were artistic and real in capturing the essence of their subjects. Frank and I were captured exactly how we are and every time I look at our engagement and wedding photos I see 'us' and how in love we are!"
Another reason why couples love working with them, is that they've always got two photographers covering the entire wedding day. While they've tried working separately in the past, Angela and D'Arcy find that working together helps them produce their best shots. "Because men and women are so different, we each offer a different point of view. We feed off each other’s ideas and pretty much know each other’s next move. When we work separately, it just isn't the same!"
Keeping your package simple
Angela and D'Arcy like to keep their packages and pricing simple so that couples don't feel overwhelmed during the booking process.
They have flexible rates, but their most popular package is $2695, which includes two photographers, your engagement shoot, a custom designed and printed flushmount album, all of your proofs in a perfect bound soft cover book, and a $500 print credit. After the album and prints are complete, the bride and groom receive a copy of their digital files as well.
The Trend Report
Angela and D'Arcy have seen many styles come and go throughout the years, and although they like to stay on top of current trends, the photography is still their top priority, "great work and great value never goes out of style!"
One trend they're seeing right now is customized save the date and thank-you cards. Angela and D'Arcy design these cards with images from your engagement shoot or wedding, which gives them a really personalized feel.
They've also noticed that guest photos at the reception are becoming more and more popular. They provide 4x6 prints, on the spot, which guests can take home as favours. It’s a fun keepsake for guests and it's great for the bride and groom, who might not otherwise have photos of everyone at their wedding.
Videography has made a huge comeback with the ability to use one camera to do both still imagery and video. D'Arcy and Angela prefer to focus on creating wonderful still imagery but have worked with some great videographers who offer this service if couples are interested.
An eclectic mix
Angela and D'Arcy say that they find that the couple's they work with really appreciate value and great work. "Our clients are down to earth, ‘real’ people who want us to capture them the way they are and are also willing to trust our judgment for creative shots."
And their personal style, which they describe as "eclectic" reflects in their work. They like to give couples a great mix of eclectic shots to choose from- many couples like to turn these shots into personalized pieces of art.
Robert and Brenda Vantyghem booked Angela and D'Arcy for their wedding day and fell in love with their style. “It was so unique...... I love shots that are different from the norm! I knew they had that quality from the previous shots I had seen. Plus, we loved the processing after, they like to call it "funktifyiing" the shots!"
"Our style comes from listening to clients. We understand the importance of capturing both the fun and funkiness of their wedding day as well as the family, candid moments, and all of the extra details.
Walking you through it....
It's easiest to reach Angela and D'Arcy through e-mail or phone to find out if you're wedding date is available.
Your first meeting is all about personalities. “We go over prices and details, but really, the bride and groom need to know that they are comfortable with us."
Nicole Todd remembers the instant connection she felt with Angela and D'Arcy and told The Ring, "One of my favourite memories was the day that we met them. We went into their old studio and drank wine together using pottery goblets. They were such a great couple that both my husband and I could see us getting along perfectly. Another memory was when we had our engagement photos; we hiked to where my husband proposed after we shared a delicious picnic lunch together."
If you click with the Empirical team, you'll start thinking about engagement pictures- where and when you'd like to do them. The engagement session usually takes a couple of hours and it's a great opportunity for Angela and D'Arcy to learn about you as a couple (and vice versa!). If you're stuck for location ideas, they can give you some good options, but they love to shoot in a location that means something special to each couple. After your shoot, they post the engagement session images online so they you can share with friends, family and start to build up excitement for your wedding day. From there, you can choose whether or not you'd like to have engagement prints done. Angela and D'Arcy say that many couples like to have a large print for guests to sign or a signature book with various images from the e-session, but, it's totally up to you!
On your wedding day, Angela and D'Arcy will typically start off with the bride and if time permits, visit the guys as well. They love shooting during the morning because it's a great opportunity to capture candid moments while the excitement builds up.
Angela and D'Arcy tend to get to the ceremony location a little early. "…we can set up lighting if need be, capture a few images of the guys sweating (ha ha), and meet the officiant."
During the ceremony Angela and D'Arcy get all of the important shots while staying as unobtrusive as possible.
Right after the ceremony, they like to take family group photos. Since everyone is in one spot , this helps ensure that they don't miss anyone. From there, they try to spend at least two hours with the bridal party at a predetermined location(s). For Angela and D'Arcy, the more time the better because it leaves time for spontaneity and gives the bridal party some room to breathe. "There's nothing better than being able to take fifteen minutes and relax with your wedding party, rather than feeling rushed the entire day."
Once you're at the reception location, they love to capture some of the details that the bride and groom often miss, like the table settings and decorations. When the wedding party is announced, the basic coverage ends. If you want extra reception coverage, it's available at a reasonable rate.
A couple of weeks after the wedding, you'll get together with Angela and D'Arcy so that they can present you with a soft-cover bound book, including all of the images from the wedding day. You can choose your favourite images for the album and you can decide on your album style, thank-you cards, prints, and anything else you might want.
Once you choose your favourite images for your wedding album, Angela and D'Arcy will design the layout and send you a PDF to review. When you've approved it, they'll order your album and you'll have your custom keepsake in approximately four weeks.
Robert and Brenda Vantyghem loved their entire experience with Angela and D'Arcy. "We are still very good friends today! They were there for us whenever we had questions, offered great advice as to locations for shoots, and had so much fun with them at our engagement shoot. They will climb mountains for the perfect shot, (which we basically did) to get a really unique shot under a bridge in Hamilton! Many of my friends were married before me and most had wished they had our photographers for their wedding. Everyone was very impressed with our wedding book and our proof book!"
Details, details, details
•The average bride spends about $3000 (with taxes)
•A $500 deposit is required to book your wedding day
•Angela and D'Arcy say you can try your luck, but, it's best to book a year ahead to secure them for your wedding day!
