HIGHLY SOUGHT OUT & IN HIGH DEMAND
PUBLISHED WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
DARBY JOHNSON
specializes in capturing your vibe and translating that to your wedding photos and experience.
Wineries, barns, beaches, and every place in between.
ARE YOU MY GIRL?
Ask yourself a few of these questions……If you have answered yes to 10 or more…..we might be a great fit for one another!
1. I consider myself and my fiancé fairly adventurous. yes/no
2. I am someone who generally is capable and unafraid. yes/no
3. My fiancé and I are independent, yet adore our friends. yes/no
4. We like the outdoors. yes/no
5. We consider ourselves a bit of outside the box thinkers. yes/no
6. We are comfortable around easy going people, and attract fun people. yes/no
7. One or both of us, usually hates having our photo taken. lol yes/no
8. A photo of us cracking up is as fun as where we are looking our best. yes/no
9. I’m a good mix of traditional, and nontraditional at the same time. yes/no
10. My friends would say I would last a good while on “survivor”. yes/no
11. In general, we admire people who do their job well, and have little patience for those who don’t. yes/no
12. We want a few minutes of “just us” on our wedding day. yes/no
13. We work hard everyday, so our wedding day should just be non stressful and a true party. yes/no
14. Even though I can easily stick up for myself, I’d rather not need to on my wedding day. yes/no
15. We want our wedding day to be a day that “We have never had so much fun”. yes/no
Yes to more than 10?
Welcome to weddings by Rustically Romantic!
COWBOY TO COASTAL….& EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN
PHOTOGRAPHY + VIDEO COMBO PACKAGES AVAILABLE
“Darby value is unquantifiable on both your wedding day and throughout the process. Her knowledge of styling, her uncanny ability to know and get along with people within seconds of meeting, hustle & contagious energy, plus years of wedding photography experience to create not only timeless fun photos, but also make your wedding day the absolute best it can be”
Wedding Photographers are just like wedding dresses!
There will always be ones so much cheaper or way too expensive.
But, eventually there will that one, that you love too much to pass up and let go.
And that will be the one you fight to have.
Thank you for taking the time to visit……I realize that this is one of the most important days in your life, and the fact that you are even considering me and trusting me to be a part of it, is an honor! There are a ton, and I mean a ton of photographers out there, so why consider and choose me?
PERSONALITY, STYLE, APPROACH, TRUST, EXPERIENCE, VALUE
PERSONALITY: While images can be duplicated, personalities and styles cannot. I have built a business on my ability to bring my sunny but get down to business personality to work! I simply get along with and care about people, and making your day everything you hope for is my top priority! You must love not only your photographer as a person, but you must also love their work. Either without the other is a compromise you should not be willing to make.
STYLE: Since I genuinely care about my couples, not only do I instantly recognize your individual style, I combine my own styling sensibilities to create photos that are one of a kind for you, while keeping true to the brand of images I have built my business upon.
APPROACH: You want your fiancé, your wedding party, your family and your friends to all love the people you have chosen to surround yourself with on your wedding day! Especially your photographer, since they are literally with you ALL DAY! I am repeatedly complimented on my confidence, experience, ability to get the shots you want, my ability to not only stay on time but have everyone else on time as well, but am known in the industry for my chill, funny, personable approach from the morning til I “send off” that night!
TRUST: Having someone you trust, and are compatible with has immeasurable value for you and your Fiancé on your wedding day. It is truly the foundation of my personal and professional life. I show up, I hustle, I aim to never let anyone down. With over 200 reviews from couples and their parents, with the exception of some hilarious comments I’ve made to drunk groomsmen over the years (ask my brides :)) I have built a reputation for being a true professional. You can expect consistency, promptness, organization, backup equipment incase something breaks, etc. You will not see me drinking, go missing, lose your photos, spend all night on the dance floor dancing…well a little but while I’m working lol, wearing inappropriate outfits for hired help, causing a scene, etc. Throughout your entire wedding up until you receive your final gallery of images you will be reminded why you chose me.
EXPERIENCE: ABOVE ALL ELSE, HIRE FOR EXPERIENCE. Every bride has a “friend, relative, etc.” who is upcoming and wants to shoot your wedding. (Cause let’s face it, photography is the trendiest new career…thank you Covid and Pinterest). But, what if their style isn’t exactly right, and you haven’t seen a large enough body of work to prove their style, why let them “learn” on your wedding? Have they only shot staged styled shoots, but have no real wedding day experience…aka timelines, vendor problems, dress problems, keeping the guys on track, extended families, family portraits, stepparents, etc. etc. etc. Furthermore what happens about editing, how many photos you get, turn around time, or what we professionals hear all the time, a friendship ruined by mistakes. There is great value in having a true professional to navigate your wedding day and all that comes with it, help putting out fires, keeping your day on track, and providing the service and final product you want. Your wedding is a once in a lifetime event!
With over 20 years of photography/wedding experience and with over a couple hundred weddings under my belt, you can be confident that prioritizing who you picked and budgeted for was the wise choice.
VALUE: Value is multilevel. True value is both tangible ( Price, hours, quantity and quality of images, gallery hosting, etc. )and intangible (loving your photographer, being surrounded by professionals you like and trust, etc.)
Financially I have proven to be not only competitive in the marketplace, but low compared to my counterparts with similar reputations and experience. I could raise my prices to easily compete in the $10,000 range. But intentionally structuring my pricing strategy to be half of that, at times even less or more depending on package additions, is deliberate. I know my “girl”. I aim to align myself and my clients with similar outlooks, upbringings, values, etc. and it is my belief that going way above or way below my current price model would change who is my current client. ( Increasing prices results in booking brides who value photos over connection or by decreasing prices results in booking brides who are only price shopping, thus not valuing either)….and anyone who has worked with me knows I LOVE MY BRIDES….so I’m sticking with what works.
VALUE BREAKDOWN:
Your wedding photography services also include exclusive offerings such as….
VALUE BUILDER LEADING UP TO THE WEDDING
*CLIENT PRIVILEGES: Access to Client privilege password protected tips and trick guides tackling design, logistics, communication, help for moms, etc. on website
*STYLING ADVICE: No other photographer offers a R.R. signature styling package, lots of it complimentary, with industry experience to their brides as an additional service.
*TIMELINE CONSTRUCTION: Booked clients are provided an inclusive timeline to pair with venue/planners logistical timeline to help keep you on track throughout day
*LAYOUT EXPERIENCE: If given the liberty to lay out your venue, Clients gain access to how best to layout the property to capture the best angles, lighting, and backgrounds for both photography and logistical benefit.
* DAY OF INSIGHT: With years of experience coupled with both inside and outside the box suggestions, client gains access to invaluable suggestions from everything from party games, to decor ideas, budget savers, signage, etc.
*PROFESSIONAL ADVICE: Access to photographer to ask questions, get advice throughout process during office hours.
*WEDDING INDUSTRY CONNECTIONS; Gain access to knowledge of unadvertised venues and industry trusted professionals
VALUE BUILDERS DAY OF
*LOW PRICING: Competitive to low pricing based on experience and talent
*EXPERIENCE: Experience at over 200 venues with a connections with both venue owners and wedding professionals.
*PHOTOGRAPHER CRAFTS & EXECUTES CREATING MEMORIES: Clients gain photographer’s insight and energy to make sure all the important moments (first looks with Dads, time alone with Moms, first looks with Grandmas, etc.) are included, thought of, and fought for on your wedding day.
*MORE GENEROUS HOURS- Comparable photographers are in attendance only 4,6,or 8 hours. If booked, I am there from the time you get ready thru the big events that happen at your reception, with the option to hire more time for early morning church masses or late night afterparties if you want!
* MORE IMAGES: Unlike photographers who only give you 300-500 images, as my client you are provided with a proof gallery of all images taken throughout the day, you could expect to have 1600-2200+ images to choose from.
*VARIETY: Booked clients are privy to a comprehensive photography experience. Included is a mix of posed and candid images captured throughout the day; Mix of traditional and non-traditional R.R. signature poses that contribute to the reputable images Rustically Romantic is built upon, Mix of black and white and colored wedding images often styled and shot with “black and white” in mind
* PROFESSIONAL AWARENESS: Client benefits from photographer’s knowledge of wedding day schedules/activates and ability to anticipate upcoming events, shots, and prime locations to ensure you get the best photos without needing to delay, relocate, or reshoot.
* ABILITY TO ORGANIZE LARGE GROUPS: Clients and their families receive photographer’s expertise to know where, what, and who needs to be photographed in family portraits, with an ability to direct, work quickly and efficiently, with or without a shot list, within a tight timeframe.
*INCLUSIVE: Ability to work well with all age groups, so everyone from your ring bearer to your grandma will feel included and at ease.
*ACCESS TO THIRD PARTY LOCATIONS: No other photographer promotes R.R. signature wedding party “road trip” as an option if you need additional picturesque backgrounds on your wedding day.
*POSING ADVICE: Decades of photography experience on both sides of the camera, in all genres of photography, styling, makeup, etc. which includes professional guidance on flattering poses and angles to emphasize and minimize your favorite or least favorite parts of your figure.
* SAFETY SYSTEMS IN PLACE: A trusted system for taking, storing, processing and delivering your photos
* BUILT IN BACKUP: Photographer deliberately invested in cameras that provide client with built in systems for memory backup, such that files are more secure during your wedding day up until gallery delivery.
*BACKUP EQUIPMENT: Professional equipment with backup gear incase of mishaps
* STRONG VENDOR RELATIONS: Added security in hiring a photographer who is independent by her own right, but also a team player, clients can have confidence that their vendor team can seamlessly collaborate.
*BFF FOR THE DAY- Client reviews testify to photographer’s ability to problem solve, protect, etc. the wedding couple from mishaps, intruders in the wedding suite, makeup mishaps, broken zippers, broken corsages, etc., etc., etc. Having a professional help to repair, refocus, reprioritize, and/or pivot provides tremendous value.
VALUE BUILDERS AFTER EVENT
* SNEEK PEEK; within a day of your wedding. My clients are provided with 20-50 favorites the following day to use on their socials, show family, share with wedding party, etc!
* BEST IN LOCAL INDUSTRY TURN AROUND TIME: Although my contract gives me an ample window to process and deliver your wedding gallery, my average turn around time for your wedding photos is 2.5-5 weeks! AMAZING!!!
* MORE EDITED IMAGES: Editing bonuses. Some photographers only edit their favorite images, I edit all your images with timeless, on-brand edits that will not be out out style come next season
*HIGH QUALITY: High quality images in composition, color, and resolution. All edits/images retain their high quality resolution
* ON DEMAND ACCESS TO IMAGES: Access to an online gallery enabling you and your guests to view images from both your desktop or your mobile device.
* ABILITY TO IMAGE SHARE: Once gallery is delivered, Client has ability to grant immediate access to family and guests to an online store to purchase their favorite images directly with no effort/cost to the couple
*GALLERY HOSTING: Two year hosting of gallery from date of wedding.
To arrange a phone or in person consultation to check availability, see examples, discuss my approach, customize your wedding package, and the opportunity to exchange your hopes with my vision
Please text or call 707-489-5750
GET TO KNOW ME……
!
