FAQ

General

Who are you ?

My name is Alexandra, and I am a wedding and portrait photographer!

How long have you been doing photography?

I studied photography in 2010, but only started my own business in 2014 after working for a studio for a few years. I have photographed well over 150 weddings and countless smaller shoots!

Where are you based?

I live in Somerset West, but I I travel all over for work, mostly within the Western Cape, but I have also photographed weddings internationally.

Will you travel?

Of course! I include basic travel in my packages that get me to most wedding venues in Cape Town and the Winelands, but additional travel is always welcome.

What is your style?

I consider my style of photography to be very relaxed. I use primarily natural light, and I just love to capture genuine moments between people. I guide my clients into poses, so that it looks as natural as possible, without looking stiff or uncomfortable.

Do you only do weddings?

No. I love photographing anything that involves people. Families, maternity, children, events, etc. Check out my lifestyle section for examples of my work.

So we’re not comfortable being photographed…

Technically not a question, but I get told this a LOT. Don’t worry, about 80% of people tell me they’re uncomfortable with being photographed, and they end up getting really beautiful photos in the end. Trust me, and they’ll come out great!

Do you work with an assistant or second shooter?

I do work with an assistant at every wedding. Their role is to help me with lens changes, memory card swops as well as helping the bride fluff out her dress, straighten the grooms tie and generally be a second set of eyes! They are available for second shooting duties as well, if needed.

What equipment do you use?

I shoot with Canon, and use prime lenses, mostly 50mm and 85mm. These are lenses that don’t zoom, so I walk around a LOT to get all my angles. I find this suits my style best.

Do you edit your photos?

I do! I use Lightroom to do basic editing, but my goal is always to aim for natural editing. I want you to look like the best version of yourself. More intensive editing (skin smoothing, object removal, etc) can be done at additional rates.

Do you have a backup? How do we know you won’t lose our photos?

I always shoot with 2 memory cards in my camera at once. One of these serves as a backup until I get home, where I download the photos onto my computer and then copy onto a hard drive.
I also always have backup gear on me at weddings and events in case something should happen on the day. I am overly paranoid and prepared for anything going wrong!

Editing, bookings & payments

What do your packages cost?

My collection information can be found on this page here. This is up to date with all the latest info. You are also welcome to email me directly for package information.

How long in advance do I need to book you?

A lot of couples plan their wedding 6-12 months in advance, but there is no magic number. If I am available, I am happy to photograph you!

How do I make a booking?

You can contact me using my contact page, or email me directly at info (at) alexandragraham.co.za After we have chatted a bit, I will send you a booking form to get the process started! I do require a 50% booking fee to secure your date, and the remainder if due before the wedding/shoot date.

How long does it take to get our photos after the shoot/wedding?

My contract states 6-8 weeks for weddings, but I do like to edit a little bit faster than that. Family shoots, portraits and maternity shoots take 2-3 weeks.

Do you offer wedding albums?

Absolutely! I love printed wedding albums and include them in some of my package options for weddings. They can also be added to any shoot package.

Will we receive a blog post on your website?

I try and blog every wedding and shoot I do,  but as I run my business alone, I don’t always get to everything.

Personal

Are you married?

Engaged as of 2019 – we all know what happened in 2020, and so things are on hold on any wedding plans. However, I have been with my fiancé for over 10 years, so we’re heavily committed for sure!

Tea or coffee?

Tea, all the way! (1/2 sugar, normal tea, little bit of milk!) Or if I’m feeling fancy, a chai latte.

What do you do for fun?

I have been dancing for 15+ years, and teaching dance for 10+ years. You can find me at the studio in Somerset West 2-3 nights a week. I also love to do yoga and attend classes 4 days a week! I love to craft and sew, and have developed an interest in historical costuming and sewing techniques. A lot of my hand made items can be found either on my body or in my camera bag!
I started another business with my oldest sister in late 2021, Evermore Shoppe, where I make resin items.  I also really enjoy gaming and cooking. I like to fill my spare time with learning new things and developing skills.

I also volunteer and foster for a small mammal animal rescue, Boggle & Brux.

Favourite guilty pleasure?

I don’t believe in guilty pleasures! Anything that makes you happy is a deserved pleasure. Having said that, I love

Favourite movie?

I love romcoms, and Under the Tuscan Sun and The Holiday will always be top of my list. I also love animated movies, and I’m a frequent rewatcher of Disney and Studio Ghibli films. I like movies and series in general and will watch almost anything. My fiance and I love to go to the movies, and because of both our jobs, we can often go on a Tuesday morning and get the cinema all to ourselves!

Favourite book?

Reading was one of my first loves, my older sister taught me when I was 4 and the first book I read was a Noddy book. I don’t read too often these days, but when I do make time for it, I gravitate towards fantasy novels. My favourite author of all time is Robin Hobb.

Dream holiday destination?

So many, mostly influenced by movies or series. Italy, Scotland and France are all on my list! I’d also love to see some of North Africa.