+ Your work looks different from a lot of other photographer’s. Why is that?

One of the reasons our work stands out is that we are committed to capturing the energy of a wedding day. From the still moments of the ceremony to the liveliest parts of the reception, our images offer a window into not only what a wedding day looked like, but how it felt to be there.

We hold ourselves to a high standard of excellence and use only the finest professional equipment available. In keeping with their Fine Art style, Robert and Kathleen Trenske use medium format film cameras during all of their weddings and portrait sessions. Film has a unique way of capturing light, smoothing skin and drawing the eye. It requires more thought and skill, something Robert and Kathleen apply when using digital cameras throughout the day as well.

+ How would you define your style?

We bring a fine art approach to weddings, and define our work as clean, elegant and timeless. We act as photojournalists the majority of the day, observing and capturing moments as they naturally unfold and providing gentle direction during portrait times. To find out more about our style, visit the "Approach" section.

+ How long have you been in business? How many weddings have you photographed?

Rob started this business in 2004. Kathleen came on full-time in 2007.

+ How did you start photographing weddings?

After spending the majority of college photographing nearly every event on campus for the university newspaper and yearbook, Rob was approached by campus staffer and asked to photograph her wedding. That was in 2004. He built this business while working in the IT field and ultimately became a full-time as a photographer shortly before our own wedding in 2007. After she graduated, Kathleen worked in journalism, publishing and teaching but finally found her creative outlet when Rob put a camera in her hand.

+ What are your rates? What do your wedding photography collections include?

We have several photography collections and can create a customize collection to fit your day. No matter which one you chose, all of our collections include wedding day coverage with two photographers, a personal, password-protected event site with your wedding images.

We think the most important thing is to hire the photographers whose work you absolutely love and with whom you feel 100% comfortable. You can add things like engagement sessions, albums, parent albums, thank you notes, etc. either before or after your wedding.

+ We would like to talk to you about our wedding. Where or how can we do that?

We can absolutely schedule a time to talk with you about your wedding. We conduct the majority of our in-person meetings in NYC or in the LA area. Since we are typically photographing weddings on the weekends, meeting during the week is best for us. Many of our couples have busy schedules (or are planning weddings from afar), so we also do meetings over the phone or via Skype.

+ How far in advance should I book you for my wedding?

As soon as you have your date! We typically schedule dates at least a year in advance but definitely contact us even if you're planning your wedding within a shorter time frame as we may have your date available.

+ Do you travel for weddings? What are your rates for destination weddings?

Absolutely! In addition to being available for weddings in the Northeast and California, we are available for a number of destination weddings each year. Travel costs are dependent on the location but typically include airfare, hotel and transportation.

+ My fiancé thinks he/she is not photogenic. The people in your photos look so natural and comfortable. How do you do that?

Believe it or not, before they have been in front of our cameras, more than half of our couples tell us they're not photogenic. Once they see their photos, they are relieved to discover that they were wrong. We believe that everyone is photogenic, especially when they're standing next to the person they love.

Most people have started to think they're "not photogenic" because of awkward high school photos or bad-angle snapshots from family parties. When we take your picture, we are looking for the best lighting, playing up your best angles and - most of all - letting the natural connection you have as a couple shine through in every shot. We want you to look at your wedding and engagement pictures and say “These are so us” We take time to get to know you, to discover the ways you make each other smile and draw from that so that you not only look fantastic in photos, but you also have a great time while they're being taken.

+ How many weddings do you photograph per year?

It’s really important to us that we get to know our couples and are able to dedicate time to each and every one of you. We don’t have a set number of weddings we photograph per year, but we do limit the number of weddings we take each month based on our travel schedule.

+ Have you been to my venue before? Have you ever photographed a wedding like mine?

It’s possible. After shooting over 300 weddings we have been to A LOT of venues, hotels and estates, but we always bring a fresh perspective. Even if we've been to a venue many times in the past, we approach every wedding as if it's the first time to ensure each couple has a unique set of images that capture their day exactly as it unfolded.

+ I’m interested in having you photograph my wedding. How do I secure my date?

All wedding dates are booked on a first-committal basis. In order to give each of our clients personal attention, we take a limited number of weddings each year. Dates are secured once we receive a signed contract and initial payment. You can sign your contract and submit your payment online through a secured personalized client website we make just for you.

+ Can I see a full wedding that you photographed?

Absolutely! We'd be happy to show you a complete wedding. Email us through the contact page and we'd be happy to send one over. In the meantime, you can visit our galleries (LINK) page to see more of our work.

+ Can I have a list of references?

We would be happy to provide you with a list of references! In the meantime, you can head over to our "Praise" section to see a sample of the reviews and thank you notes we have received from your couples or check out our over 60 reviews on Wedding Wire.

+ How and when do I receive the images from my wedding?

Your wedding images will be available on a personal, password-protected event site usually within 8-10 weeks after your wedding. All of our wedding collections include the files from your wedding delivered on custom USB. Digital and film images are delivered in the same format. All images are color corrected and complete, delivered about 60 days after your event site goes online. You can also purchase (non watermarked) proof prints that are delivered in a custom linen keepsake box.

+ Do you take family photos?

Yes we will. We feel strongly that family photos are important to capture. We recommend taking family photos either shortly before or shortly after your ceremony.

+ Do you shoot in black and white?

We generally shoot everything in color (both digitally and in film). We select images at our discretion to turn into black and white. Any image that we do turn into black and white, we include the color equivalent.

+ We're on the fence about doing an engagement session. What are the benefits of doing one?

For many couples, the majority of their pictures together are snapshots and selfies. You cherish them, of course, because they capture a time and a place in your relationship together, but there is nothing that compares to gorgeous professional photos of the two of you at this time in your life. Even more, they give you an opportunity to get even more comfortable in front of the camera by the time your wedding rolls around. For more about why you should consider doing an engagement session, we recommend this Blog Post

+ What kind of albums do you offer? How does the album process work?

We spent a lot of time researching albums to ensure that our couples have the best albums available. We know that this custom book essentially becomes your very first family heirloom. Our albums are custom designed, hand bound and every single image is hand-checked before it is put into your book. We offer a variety of album styles (from flush mount where the image is a part of the page to beautiful hybrid matted albums that offer a mix between flush mount pages and a modern take on traditional matted albums).

You can customize your album by selecting your own cover materials, cover image and embossing. We guide you every step of the way throughout the album design process - helping you select images (if you have a hard time narrowing down your favorites - a common problem!), putting the initial album proofs up online for you to review and making sure it's exactly how you want it to be before we go to print.

+ What's your typical wedding day schedule?

We want to make sure your day flows smoothly and that you have plenty of time to get amazing photos AND still get to enjoy your day. We create custom schedules for all of our couples, detailing what time you should start hair and make-up all the way to what time you should cut your cake (working alongside your wedding planner and/or venue or caterer, of course).

+ Can I give you a list of shots I would like taken?

We suggest that all couples create a list of family/group shots, since you would know best which friends and family groupings you would like. If you're not sure what that list would be, we suggest doing group shots with your immediate family (including grandparents) and any other special aunts/uncles/cousins. We recommend taking those photos shortly after the ceremony (or before if you're doing a first look). Other than group photos, we urge you to trust us to use our unique style to capture your day as it unfolds. Of course, if you have any special traditions or unusual touches that you would like us to capture, definitely let us know.

+ What do you wear to a wedding?

We dress formally but comfortably, in dark (usually black) clothing so we blend into a crowd.

+ My wedding venue requires liability insurance from my photographer. Do you have that?

Yes, we do. We can provide proof of insurance to your venue.

+ What equipment do you use? Do you have back-up equipment?

We use professional film and digital cameras (Nikon for digital and Contax for film, specifically) and bring extra equipment to every wedding.

+ What if something happens to you and you can't photograph my wedding as planned? Do you have back-up plan?

One of the extra bonuses of a working with a studio of creative professionals is that we can depend on one another should an emergency arise. In addition, we are members of several professional photography organizations and have a wide-ranging network of photographers that we can contact to fill in for us in the case of an unforeseen emergency.

+ Do you offer payment options?

We offer two payment options for wedding or event collections. The 50/50 option: 50% due at the time of scheduling, 50% due 30 days prior to your wedding or event. Pay in full option: 100% due at the time of scheduling. With this option, we give you a $250 credit that can be used toward any product or service we offer. All payments can be processed online. We accept Visa, Master Card, Discover, and American Express.