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WEDDINGS + SENIORS + EDUCATION

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Jared & Allison

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Iris & Lexi

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George & Jordan

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Kevin & Laura

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STEP FOUR: TIMELINES

HOW DOES THIS WORK?

STEP ONE: LET'S BE FRIENDS

STEP TWO:SAVE THE DATE

STEP THREE: ENGAGEMENTS

STEP SIX: GALLERY & ALBUM

STEP FIVE: YOUR WEDDING

READ FROM PAST COUPLES

Kara became our photographer very last minute for our wedding after our original photographers scammed us and thank god that happened to us because we had the opportunity to meet Kara instead who was 100% meant to be our photographer! Her attention to detail, easy going personality and her obvious gift for photography made her the perfect fit for my wife and I who are less than photogenic…. She even had us excited to get our picture taken!!!!! We would recommend her to anyone and are so thankful for her! She exceeded all my expectations and went above and beyond to provide us with the best experience, she really cares and it shows in her actions and in every picture!

-Jeff Stubblefield

Jeff & Baleigh

Kara is absolutely amazing at what she does! She captures all the memories so perfectly and is a joy to work with! We are so thankful for all the amazing pictures we received! Her Bridal and Grooms guides were really helpful for picking out outfits for engagement pictures. It also helped to remind us of things we hadn’t thought of yet!

-The Rottschafers

Hudson & Tori

READ FROM PAST COUPLES

Kara was incredible and I cannot praise her work enough, both the result and the helpfulness throughout the entire day!

-The Trans

Calvin & Nicole

READ FROM PAST COUPLES

The perfect day!! And if you need ANY photos please use my girl Kara Marie. She is truly the best at capturing every detail.

-Danielle (Mother of the Bride)

Calvin & Nicole

READ FROM PAST COUPLES

"I definitely hope that I have an opportunity to work with Kara again. I have worked with a lot of photographers over the last 6 years and I have to tell you that some of the shots she took and some of the detailed shots were some of the best I have ever seen!"

Warmly, Kristen from Delicate Dishes

Delicate
Dishes

READ FROM PAST COUPLES

Kara was such a joy to work with! Communicative and hilarious thorough all of it! She had a plethora of resources available to us that were so helpful. She made sure we had a reasonable timeline and a list of all the pics we wanted for our wedding. I was blown away by her turnaround time, it was so quick and the images turned out absolutely gorgeous! She especially made sure we got the signature shot I dreamed of. I would recommend Kara any day of the week!

George &
Jordan

READ FROM PAST COUPLES

Kara is absolutely amazing and so talented! She did our engagement and wedding photos and had them back to us the following week. Her style is amazing and her photos are flawless! She’s worth every penny We HIGHLY recommend Kara for any of your photography needs.

-Allison Helder

Jared &
Allison

READ FROM PAST COUPLES

Kara is very professional, friendly, timely, considerate, fun, thorough, helpful, and great with all ages. Kara focuses on detail, she picks up on the style of each person she works with. This makes her photography unique. We felt at ease with her and it felt like we’ve known her for awhile. She makes it fun. We found ourselves laughing during our time with her! Friends and family all said what a great experience having her the whole day!!

-Kathie DeJong

Dwight &
Kathie

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A PHOTOGRAPHER?

I've been interested in photography my whole life. I Bought my first professional camera in 2008 but it wasn't until 2012 that I considered myself a professional by going full time and devoting myself to further education. This was when I began photographing weddings and I absolutely love them! I shot my first wedding that year and realized this was what I loved to photograph. I'm a Grand Rapids, MI photographer ready to become friends and make your day memorable not just in photography but in your experience too.

WHAT IS YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY STYLE?

My photography style can be described more Light and Airy with some muted greens that match my brand. I like pop in my images. What you see throughout my work is consistent. Unfortunately I don't change my style based on bride preferences so if a different style is important to you then I recommend finding a photographer that matches that look. I do offer specialty edits post delivery of your gallery but an extra charge will be added for those.

WHAT KIND OF GEAR DO YOU WORK WITH?

 I photograph with professional grade, full frame mirrorless Canon camera bodies. and L series lenses(at the moment), along with a variety of canon speedlites, light stands. If you would like a full review you can check out my blog post on my equipment.

DO YOU OFFER A SECOND PHOTOGRAPHER?

The answer in short is yes. However it is all based on the needs of your wedding. I use a second photographer to get the shots I am not able to photograph. This means that they may or may not be there as long as I am. I really determine these needs based on your timeline.

SHOULD I BOOK AN ENGAGEMENT SESSION?

Of course! I include an engagement session in most of my wedding experience collections because I truly believe it is a vital part of the process. During your engagement session you'll have the chance to get to know me, experience how I shoot and how I handle posing and lighting. This session will make a HUGE impact on how the wedding day flows. I'll arrive on your wedding day already knowing how you two interact, what your best poses are and how to photograph you in a genuine way! What I learn about you during your engagement session in invaluable! I also schedule these usually 3-6 months in advance to avoid stress. Plus it's great to have these images for your save the dates and wedding blog. I usually photograph these on Mondays and Thursdays as my weekends are reserved for weddings and my family in the summer months. Engagement sessions are complementary and may not deduct cost from your wedding pricing if you opt out of it so why not give it a chance. 60 miles from Allendale, MI are also included in this for travel. But I'm willing to go anywhere.

HOW MANY PHOTOS WILL I RECEIVE? AND HOW DO I RECEIVE THEM?

I average 50+ images per hour that I'm shooting. I deliver all photos taken except for duplicates, blinks, test shots, etc. I love delivering my client’s photos quickly and easily via an online gallery. You'll have the ability to print, share and download your images as much as you want. I believe in freely sharing my work because that is what I would want if I was in your shoes!

HOW MANY HOURS OF PHOTOGRAPHY COVERAGE DO WE NEED?

Usually if you’re having your ceremony and reception in one location with a 20-30 minute ceremony (which is most common) 9 hours is perfect! If you’re having a longer ceremony or having a church wedding/venue reception, usually 10 hours is a safe bet. You can always add additional coverage as we get closer to the big day and we have a good idea of your timeline - no matter how many hours you choose, I will help you make the most of your coverage!

DO YOU CARRY INSURANCE?

Yes! I carry both General Liability and Property Coverage. If you have a venue that is asking I'd be happy to communicate any of the information with them.

DO I OWN THE COPYRIGHT TO THE IMAGES IN MY COLLECTION?

Kara Hanes Photography retains the copyright in order to ensure the editing quality is maintained, but you have full rights to print your photos anywhere you’d please and can post your photos anywhere you’d like! All I ask is that you don't alter the images with filters or color changes besides black and white.

WE’RE SOLD! HOW DO WE BOOK YOU?

Once I have answered any questions you may have and you have decided that the KHP Wedding Experience is exactly what you’re looking for on your wedding day, the next step is an invoice and contract (all completed online). When you’re ready you can reserve your date by signing your contract and paying your retainer (30%) online. Once paid, the retainer amount is credited against your total package amount. Let's see if your date is available!

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI  WEDDING AND SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER