Review is written by Staff @ The Ring and is based on • Interviews with this vendor • Interviews with past brides
For Sasha and Danielle Herakovic, capturing moments of their clients' weddings - and delivering the best quality in each image - is not just a job, it's a passion. And if you ask this photography duo, that inspiration for their work is how they manage to keep their style fun and fresh. "We can take any over-shot location and make it new again," they told staff at The Ring.
Even though they've been shooting weddings for over five years, have had images printed in National Geographic publications and are growing in popularity with local weddings, Sasha and Danielle say they run their business with the motto that great wedding photography doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. Their lowest package starts at just $1499 and includes unlimited photos, two photographers, and several other products and services. Adding to the reasons it's easy to picture having them at your side on your wedding day, Sasha and Danielle are outgoing, wear their passion for photography on their sleeves, and approach clients with a no pressure attitude. We sat down with Herakovic Photography to uncover what we thought brides might love best about this company. Here's what we found…
Personally speaking...
Sasha told The Ring that he has always had a love for photography, but it wasn't until he and his wife, Danielle, spent six months in Singapore and traveling around Asia that this love grew even more – which is evident in the photos themselves. Just check out their gorgeous landscape and architectural shots on their website if you don't believe us. This trip landed one of their images in East meets West Organization's calendar and National Geographic's coffee table book for their "China - A Visual Adventure" feature.
In January 2006, Danielle started the company for Sasha after it became obvious to them that people enjoyed their photography based on the number of friends who asked Sasha and Danielle to shoot their weddings. "We felt that our photography deserved to be shared with others and it's such a nice feeling to know we have captured the moments that will essentially live forever for the friends we make along the way," Danielle told The Ring.
Both Sasha and Danielle have taken the Fundamentals of Photography course at Conestoga College, as well as "Nature at Work Intermediate" and a "Creative Workshop" while they were in Singapore. Sasha is the Primary Photographer at Herakovic and takes care of the digital post-production. Danielle is the Secondary Photographer and usually shoots at the ceremony. She also assists and organizes during the wedding day shoot, coordinates meeting times with couples and handles most of the post-wedding production.
Though they've been photographing weddings for over five years now, Sasha and Danielle also do portrait and corporate photography. They've appeared on TV to promote the K-W Multicultural Festival and contribute photos to other photographers to utilize in their classrooms.
Fun, casual style to match their clients
Sasha and Danielle say that they only shoot twelve to twenty-four weddings per year in order to keep their style fun and fresh, which seems to be the case as they told The Ring that they enjoy taking even the most popular (and sometimes over shot) locations and reinvent the way they come across in photos. "It's all about perspective and finding different angles."
Emilia and Nathan Spitse ended up having snow on their May 2010 wedding day, but say that Sasha and Danielle were open to nearly everything. "We had a lot of improvising to do that day, and we certainly did... Both Danielle and Sasha are really fun, yet professional. Danielle knew how to connect with the wedding party and make people comfortable in front of the camera."
They also keep their style fresh by approaching things as casually as possible. "We like to capture moments as they happen naturally instead of trying to force the shot to happen," they told us. Self-described as a down to earth, fun to be with couple, Sasha and Danielle say that whether they're shooting candids or posed shots (which they say is 60% vs. 40%), they blend in nicely on your wedding day.
Andrew loved the combination of traditional, straight-on family shots and shots with unique angles that Herakovic took for his August 2010 wedding day. He adds that both Sasha and Danielle were great to work with. "They were professional and fun throughout the planning stages and during the actual event... as things ran behind schedule, they were flexible enough to stay later than we had originally agreed. Also, Danielle was great at helping us move things along to make sure that the things we wanted to do got done without her being pushy or prodding."
Herakovic's clients also tend to be just as fun, outgoing and adventurous as they are and aren't afraid of the camera or going with the flow. "They're enthusiastic, fun-loving people, who are excited to have their wedding day captured with the love, heart and soul that surrounds their wedding day. Those who most definitely want to be able to remember the exact feeling they had at the very moment the photo was taken." Which is perfect for the casual approach that Sasha and Danielle take to their shoots.
Tammy and Mehdi Dehghan initially booked Herakovic for their May 2010 wedding photos because they felt their work spoke for itself. They add that once you talk to Danielle, she makes you feel really great about what they do. "They are very friendly and compromising and we had an excellent experience working with them."
Weddings by Herakovic
Memories aren't the only things that live forever when you hire Herakovic for your wedding photography, as Sasha and Danielle say that their clients almost always become their friends after the wedding is over. And that's because, for Sasha and Danielle, "It's all about the connection." They love really getting to know each couple to make sure everyone can work together. That's also why they don't use what they call 'hard-selling tactics' when you meet with them.
Paul and Tania Bowers told us that after having Herakovic photograph their engagement session and August 2010 wedding day, they've found photographers for life. "Working with Danielle and Sasha of Herakovic Photography has been nothing but a pleasure," adds Tania. "I feel that through consults and photo shoots, Danielle and Sasha took the time to get to know us and understand what we were looking for." The couple loved Herakovic's artistic eye, attention to details, and unique shots, saying that "There wasn’t a moment that they did not capture that day; every smile, every tear, every laugh, every emotion."
Packages for less...
When you hire Herakovic for your wedding, you not only get two photographers to capture your day, you also pay less for their services as they run on the motto that great wedding photography doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg.
Paul and Tania told us that Herakovic's prices were exactly within their budget – even better than they expected. "We especially loved the fact that we were getting two Photographers for this price," they add. "The products we received were well worth the price we paid. All of our albums, DVDs, prints and thank you cards were done so tastefully, and we received so many compliments...." One of Tania's favourite memories of their wedding was looking at the photos of the men getting ready, which is something that she wouldn't have been able to see had they not had two photographers. "What Sasha and Danielle offered that no other photographers could is the dynamic of having a young, married couple photograph our wedding. A husband and wife who can work off each other, communicate effectively, and who know one another so well. They are the perfect team."
All of their packages include as many personal meetings as you want/need with Sasha and Danielle from the point of booking until the wedding day, two photographers, all photos retouched on a high resolution DVD and no minimum or maximum for the amount of photos taken, which, in itself, is a great deal! Wedding Package 1 gets you both Sasha and Danielle for six hours of coverage, which usually means until dinner, for $1499 plus tax.
Wedding Package 2 is also six hours of coverage and adds one 10x10 Bridal Album complete with twelve 8x10’s and twenty-four 5x7's, one 11x14 Wall Portrait, a DVD slide show complete with music of your choice, and fifty thank you cards. This package rings in at (the very affordable) $1999 plus tax.
For $2499 (plus tax), you can book Wedding Package 3, which gets you eight hours of consecutive coverage, all of the extras that are in package 2, as well as two 8x8 Parent Albums with 20 5x7's each, an engagement photo session with unlimited locations, an 8x10 portrait and all retouched photos on DVD, and 100 thank you cards.
"Herakovic was the most flexible in terms of arranging a package that suited our exact needs, and making it work within our budget," says Andrew. "We also liked the composition of the photos, and felt that many of the photos were better than other photographers charging substantially more."
You can also keep Herakovic for longer on your wedding day, if need be, for $100 for each additional hour. Aside from the quality of their gorgeous prints, Sasha and Danielle say that their most popular product is their bridal and parent albums. "People LOVE them!" Danielle told us.
"Danielle and Sash were very willing to work within our budget and produce a package that was good for us," says Tammy and Mehdi.
Walking you through it...
Email or phone Sasha and Danielle to see if they're available for your wedding date. They recommend booking six to twelve months in advance, though some dates fill up faster than others. If they are available for you, they'll book a time to meet with you at their home studio for hors d'oeuvres and a glass of wine so they can work on that connection that's so important to them. "It's important that everyone is comfortable and happy to be working together," Danielle explained. "The day is too important to worry about your photographer, so make sure you're happy with your choice." During this initial meeting, they'll also discuss how you envision your dream wedding and what you're looking for in terms of photography for your day.
"We first met with Danielle at William's Coffee Pub," say Tania and Paul. "Our first impression of her was that she was very down to earth and easy going; she immediately made us feel comfortable... She answered all of our questions, provided suggestions, and wonderful samples of her work. We were sold on the spot."
When you've decided that Herakovic is right for you, a contract is completed and a deposit is made to reserve your date. The deposit amount placed at the time of booking is based on an individual basis (depending on your package price).
One month before your wedding day, Sasha and Danielle walk through the wedding venue and other selected photo locations with you.
On the wedding day, both Sasha and Danielle shoot (with Sasha being the primary shooter and Danielle assisting). Danielle is also the organizer/coordinator – of meeting times and photo shoots. The balance of your package price is due on the day of your wedding, before the photography sessions begin.
After the wedding, Danielle says it takes about four to six weeks for your DVD of images to be ready "for the magical unveiling," as she calls it. At the first post-wedding get-together, the newly married couple and Herakovic Photography view the top 200 to 300 images of the wedding day.
Much like the services they offer, Herakovic Photography itself seems like a perfectly packaged deal that comes complete with two eyes for detail and gorgeous photo backgrounds, wonderful people to work with, amazing prices and a casual, yet organized approach that could help make your day run smoothly and not add any more stress to an already busy day.
Andrew certainly agreed that Herakovic is the complete package when he recommended them, saying, "They got all of the shots we asked for, many we hadn't thought of, were professional with our guests, and they suited the budget. What more could you want?"
Details, details, details
• Book a meeting to get to know Sasha and Danielle about 6 to 12 months before your wedding.
• A deposit based on your individual package price is required to reserve Herakovic for your wedding date with the remaining balance due on your wedding day.
• Packages range from $1499 to $2499, plus tax.
• Your DVD of images is ready about 4 to 6 weeks after your wedding.
For Sasha and Danielle Herakovic, capturing moments of their clients' weddings - and delivering the best quality in each image - is not just a job, it's a passion. And if you ask this photography duo, that inspiration for their work is how they manage to keep their style fun and fresh. "We can take any over-shot location and make it new again," they told staff at The Ring.
Even though they've been shooting weddings for over five years, have had images printed in National Geographic publications and are growing in popularity with local weddings, Sasha and Danielle say they run their business with the motto that great wedding photography doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. Their lowest package starts at just $1499 and includes unlimited photos, two photographers, and several other products and services. Adding to the reasons it's easy to picture having them at your side on your wedding day, Sasha and Danielle are outgoing, wear their passion for photography on their sleeves, and approach clients with a no pressure attitude. We sat down with Herakovic Photography to uncover what we thought brides might love best about this company. Here's what we found…
Personally speaking...
Sasha told The Ring that he has always had a love for photography, but it wasn't until he and his wife, Danielle, spent six months in Singapore and traveling around Asia that this love grew even more – which is evident in the photos themselves. Just check out their gorgeous landscape and architectural shots on their website if you don't believe us. This trip landed one of their images in East meets West Organization's calendar and National Geographic's coffee table book for their "China - A Visual Adventure" feature.
In January 2006, Danielle started the company for Sasha after it became obvious to them that people enjoyed their photography based on the number of friends who asked Sasha and Danielle to shoot their weddings. "We felt that our photography deserved to be shared with others and it's such a nice feeling to know we have captured the moments that will essentially live forever for the friends we make along the way," Danielle told The Ring.
Both Sasha and Danielle have taken the Fundamentals of Photography course at Conestoga College, as well as "Nature at Work Intermediate" and a "Creative Workshop" while they were in Singapore. Sasha is the Primary Photographer at Herakovic and takes care of the digital post-production. Danielle is the Secondary Photographer and usually shoots at the ceremony. She also assists and organizes during the wedding day shoot, coordinates meeting times with couples and handles most of the post-wedding production.
Though they've been photographing weddings for over five years now, Sasha and Danielle also do portrait and corporate photography. They've appeared on TV to promote the K-W Multicultural Festival and contribute photos to other photographers to utilize in their classrooms.
Fun, casual style to match their clients
Sasha and Danielle say that they only shoot twelve to twenty-four weddings per year in order to keep their style fun and fresh, which seems to be the case as they told The Ring that they enjoy taking even the most popular (and sometimes over shot) locations and reinvent the way they come across in photos. "It's all about perspective and finding different angles."
Emilia and Nathan Spitse ended up having snow on their May 2010 wedding day, but say that Sasha and Danielle were open to nearly everything. "We had a lot of improvising to do that day, and we certainly did... Both Danielle and Sasha are really fun, yet professional. Danielle knew how to connect with the wedding party and make people comfortable in front of the camera."
They also keep their style fresh by approaching things as casually as possible. "We like to capture moments as they happen naturally instead of trying to force the shot to happen," they told us. Self-described as a down to earth, fun to be with couple, Sasha and Danielle say that whether they're shooting candids or posed shots (which they say is 60% vs. 40%), they blend in nicely on your wedding day.
Andrew loved the combination of traditional, straight-on family shots and shots with unique angles that Herakovic took for his August 2010 wedding day. He adds that both Sasha and Danielle were great to work with. "They were professional and fun throughout the planning stages and during the actual event... as things ran behind schedule, they were flexible enough to stay later than we had originally agreed. Also, Danielle was great at helping us move things along to make sure that the things we wanted to do got done without her being pushy or prodding."
Herakovic's clients also tend to be just as fun, outgoing and adventurous as they are and aren't afraid of the camera or going with the flow. "They're enthusiastic, fun-loving people, who are excited to have their wedding day captured with the love, heart and soul that surrounds their wedding day. Those who most definitely want to be able to remember the exact feeling they had at the very moment the photo was taken." Which is perfect for the casual approach that Sasha and Danielle take to their shoots.
Tammy and Mehdi Dehghan initially booked Herakovic for their May 2010 wedding photos because they felt their work spoke for itself. They add that once you talk to Danielle, she makes you feel really great about what they do. "They are very friendly and compromising and we had an excellent experience working with them."
Weddings by Herakovic
Memories aren't the only things that live forever when you hire Herakovic for your wedding photography, as Sasha and Danielle say that their clients almost always become their friends after the wedding is over. And that's because, for Sasha and Danielle, "It's all about the connection." They love really getting to know each couple to make sure everyone can work together. That's also why they don't use what they call 'hard-selling tactics' when you meet with them.
Paul and Tania Bowers told us that after having Herakovic photograph their engagement session and August 2010 wedding day, they've found photographers for life. "Working with Danielle and Sasha of Herakovic Photography has been nothing but a pleasure," adds Tania. "I feel that through consults and photo shoots, Danielle and Sasha took the time to get to know us and understand what we were looking for." The couple loved Herakovic's artistic eye, attention to details, and unique shots, saying that "There wasn’t a moment that they did not capture that day; every smile, every tear, every laugh, every emotion."
Packages for less...
When you hire Herakovic for your wedding, you not only get two photographers to capture your day, you also pay less for their services as they run on the motto that great wedding photography doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg.
Paul and Tania told us that Herakovic's prices were exactly within their budget – even better than they expected. "We especially loved the fact that we were getting two Photographers for this price," they add. "The products we received were well worth the price we paid. All of our albums, DVDs, prints and thank you cards were done so tastefully, and we received so many compliments...." One of Tania's favourite memories of their wedding was looking at the photos of the men getting ready, which is something that she wouldn't have been able to see had they not had two photographers. "What Sasha and Danielle offered that no other photographers could is the dynamic of having a young, married couple photograph our wedding. A husband and wife who can work off each other, communicate effectively, and who know one another so well. They are the perfect team."
All of their packages include as many personal meetings as you want/need with Sasha and Danielle from the point of booking until the wedding day, two photographers, all photos retouched on a high resolution DVD and no minimum or maximum for the amount of photos taken, which, in itself, is a great deal! Wedding Package 1 gets you both Sasha and Danielle for six hours of coverage, which usually means until dinner, for $1499 plus tax.
Wedding Package 2 is also six hours of coverage and adds one 10x10 Bridal Album complete with twelve 8x10’s and twenty-four 5x7's, one 11x14 Wall Portrait, a DVD slide show complete with music of your choice, and fifty thank you cards. This package rings in at (the very affordable) $1999 plus tax.
For $2499 (plus tax), you can book Wedding Package 3, which gets you eight hours of consecutive coverage, all of the extras that are in package 2, as well as two 8x8 Parent Albums with 20 5x7's each, an engagement photo session with unlimited locations, an 8x10 portrait and all retouched photos on DVD, and 100 thank you cards.
"Herakovic was the most flexible in terms of arranging a package that suited our exact needs, and making it work within our budget," says Andrew. "We also liked the composition of the photos, and felt that many of the photos were better than other photographers charging substantially more."
You can also keep Herakovic for longer on your wedding day, if need be, for $100 for each additional hour. Aside from the quality of their gorgeous prints, Sasha and Danielle say that their most popular product is their bridal and parent albums. "People LOVE them!" Danielle told us.
"Danielle and Sash were very willing to work within our budget and produce a package that was good for us," says Tammy and Mehdi.
Walking you through it...
Email or phone Sasha and Danielle to see if they're available for your wedding date. They recommend booking six to twelve months in advance, though some dates fill up faster than others. If they are available for you, they'll book a time to meet with you at their home studio for hors d'oeuvres and a glass of wine so they can work on that connection that's so important to them. "It's important that everyone is comfortable and happy to be working together," Danielle explained. "The day is too important to worry about your photographer, so make sure you're happy with your choice." During this initial meeting, they'll also discuss how you envision your dream wedding and what you're looking for in terms of photography for your day.
"We first met with Danielle at William's Coffee Pub," say Tania and Paul. "Our first impression of her was that she was very down to earth and easy going; she immediately made us feel comfortable... She answered all of our questions, provided suggestions, and wonderful samples of her work. We were sold on the spot."
When you've decided that Herakovic is right for you, a contract is completed and a deposit is made to reserve your date. The deposit amount placed at the time of booking is based on an individual basis (depending on your package price).
One month before your wedding day, Sasha and Danielle walk through the wedding venue and other selected photo locations with you.
On the wedding day, both Sasha and Danielle shoot (with Sasha being the primary shooter and Danielle assisting). Danielle is also the organizer/coordinator – of meeting times and photo shoots. The balance of your package price is due on the day of your wedding, before the photography sessions begin.
After the wedding, Danielle says it takes about four to six weeks for your DVD of images to be ready "for the magical unveiling," as she calls it. At the first post-wedding get-together, the newly married couple and Herakovic Photography view the top 200 to 300 images of the wedding day.
Much like the services they offer, Herakovic Photography itself seems like a perfectly packaged deal that comes complete with two eyes for detail and gorgeous photo backgrounds, wonderful people to work with, amazing prices and a casual, yet organized approach that could help make your day run smoothly and not add any more stress to an already busy day.
Andrew certainly agreed that Herakovic is the complete package when he recommended them, saying, "They got all of the shots we asked for, many we hadn't thought of, were professional with our guests, and they suited the budget. What more could you want?"
Details, details, details
• Book a meeting to get to know Sasha and Danielle about 6 to 12 months before your wedding.
• A deposit based on your individual package price is required to reserve Herakovic for your wedding date with the remaining balance due on your wedding day.
• Packages range from $1499 to $2499, plus tax.
• Your DVD of images is ready about 4 to 6 weeks after your wedding.
