What is your photography style?
My approach is rooted in documentary and photojournalistic photography. That means I focus on capturing your day as it naturally unfolds, without staging moments or overly posing people just to make a photograph.

I pay close attention to candid moments, relationships, emotions, and the details you’ve told me matter most to you through our emails, conversations, and a questionnaire I send about a month before your wedding. I photograph you, your guests, your family and friends, and the meaningful elements that make your day feel like yours.

Most of the time, I work quietly and unobtrusively, to the point where you may not even realize I’m taking photos. But when you need guidance, help, or a calm presence, I’m right there. I’ve learned how to anticipate when to step in and when to stay back, while still documenting everything honestly.

At the end of the day, my goal is simple. I want you to relax and actually enjoy your wedding. When you look back at your images, I want you to remember how the day felt more than just how it looked.

My background in art, fashion design, and life experience all shape the way I see and document weddings. I recommend browsing my portfolio for a general feel, and I’m always happy to share full client galleries so you can see complete wedding stories from start to finish.

How much do you charge and what’s included?
Every wedding day is unique, so we’ll tailor the coverage to match your story. My starting rates for 2026 is at $6,800 for a wedding — but many couples choose options in the $7,500–$9,000 range when we include more coverage time, film photography, Super 8, an engagement or rehearsal coverage, a second shooter or a portrait lounge. Weekend wedding celebrations and multi-day cultural celebrations start at $10,000.

If you’re eloping, doing a weekday wedding, or planning something intimate or destination-based, I have custom packages starting at $1,000 for San Francisco City Hall and $3,000 for weekday intimate weddings.

Every collection includes:

• Time to chat and plan

• Timeline support, help with venue logistics or permits if needed

• Your high-resolution digital images delivered in an online gallery with print & reproduction rights

• Transparent contracts and invoices all handled online

Do you have any vendor recommendations for us?
I’ve been photographing weddings full time since 2013, and over that time I’ve built a wonderful community of vendors I adore and some whom I can even call friends. From planners, florists, caterers, to DJs, videographers and even other photographers, who know how to collaborate and who I know will take very good care of you. After our first chat, I’m happy to send you some recs, just let me know.

Do you charge for travel?
If your wedding is within the SF Bay area and at most, a 2 hour drive one way - travel is already included and there is no additional fee. Beyond that, there may be a travel fee - or not - contact me to find out if there will be. I will always be transparent in my pricing and you will never get any surprise charges from me! Travel fees to your destination wedding is always billed at cost and I always try to minimize any additional fees that are necessary.

I LOVE to travel, so if you have a destination wedding, let’s chat! Drop me a line and let me know where you're getting married! I definitely travel all over the world and have experience with destination weddings (logistics, traveling with camera gear, speaking another language (Spanish + Tagalog)).

Who will be photographing my wedding?
Me- Cherlyn! I do not outsource my photography or editing. I am comfortable photographing weddings with a guest count of 175 or less by myself and I have plenty of full galleries to share with you showcasing my ability to be everywhere and blend seamlessly into your events. However, if you have a larger guest count, have several more beautiful details, or are getting ready in different locations far apart that I can’t get to by myself, then I highly suggest we add an additional photographer to help me with your day. Just let me know as I have a short list of trusted established photographers I work with in my community.

Do you offer wedding albums?
YES! Albums, fine art prints, and canvases are available as add ons, so you can decide what feels right after your wedding once you’ve seen your images.

I offer everything from press books to signature heirloom albums, along with a range of professional print options. Many couples appreciate having the flexibility to design an album later, without having to decide before the wedding. I’ll guide you through the options when you’re ready. Contact me to find out more. 

When can we expect our photos?
I usually send some sneak peeks of about 20 images within 48 hours. If you’ve mentioned you wanted something for your thank you cards - then you’ll receive those in your sneak peeks as well.

Your full gallery will be completed within 6-8 weeks, or 10 weeks if during peak season (June - October), you’ll receive a shareable link to your online gallery. You'll get a personal download code to be able to download the full resolution files to print wherever and whenever you like. Guests are also able to download web ready and social media sized images from your day - unless you'd like me to protect that from happening or we've agreed to an NDA or confidentiality agreement (which I offer at no extra charge)

Do you do any traditional posed shots like family or formal portraits during our wedding day? What about a shot list?
Despite being a candid and photojournalistic photographer, I do understand the importance of the more formal and camera aware portraits. So yes, I for sure take them and make time for them, because they’re important too. I do also ask my couples for an additional 15-20 mins {30 mins would be ideal} of time around the golden magic hour {about 20-30 mins before the sun sets} to create those more composed couple’s portraits which are yes, less candid and somewhat posed {just some gentle guiding - like - look at each other! How do you two feel today?! YOU’RE MARRIED! Let’s walk this way.. hold each other...etc as you can see, very very difficult directions}. 

As for shot lists - If you give me a short must have shot list of what is important to have of your day, I will do my best to capture those but know that I will already have a mental shot list of the more general wedding must haves - unless you’ve let me know what is and what isn’t that important (i.e - I’d love a photo of my dress, but don’t really care about our shoes, etc). Generally, I don't ask for a shot list because I already know to photograph the key moments and details of the day - so chances are, whatever you would put on your shot list, it's probably something I would already capture (like the dress-if it’s important to you, you getting ready, your veil if you have one, you and your parent, your MOH, your best friends hanging out with you, the reception area, the ceremony area, etc etc- don’t worry!! I’ve got this!). BUT - what I DO request and what is extremely important, is a list of family members and family groupings for your formal portraits and any important heirlooms or key details you’d like captured (i.e., I’d like photos of the tablescape as my best friend designed some of the centerpieces or my parents will be giving me gifts to add to my bouquet!)

How many photos do you take? Do you shoot film?
Because of the way I photograph weddings, you will receive plenty of images. I document the full flow of the day, not just the highlights, which means I’m photographing what’s happening in between moments too. The best way to understand this is by looking through the full galleries I share. You’ll see how complete the story feels from start to finish.

That said, I know some people like to have a number in mind. For a full day of coverage, you can typically expect between 450 and 800 carefully edited images. On average, that’s about 75 to 100 images per hour of coverage, depending on the flow of the day, the timeline, and how much time we spend together for portraits.

I don’t cap the number of images I take or deliver. I photograph what’s needed to tell the story of your day, then thoughtfully curate and edit the final gallery.

Yes, I photograph using both digital and film. Film is included in my hybrid coverage, and additional film or Super 8 can be added if desired. I’m always happy to share galleries that include both.

Do we get to keep the digital files? What about the prints? What about the RAW files? What about copyrights, do I own the photos?
You’ll receive all edited high resolution JPEG files shown in your gallery, along with a print and personal reproduction release so you can print and share for personal use.

RAW files are not included. They are unfinished working files and not representative of my final work. If you’re curious about RAW files or have a specific reason for requesting them, I’m happy to talk it through. RAW files can be purchased separately, and a commercial license would also be required.

If you’d like to purchase full copyright or a commercial usage license, please contact me for details. I also respect privacy and confidentiality requests and offer those at no additional charge.

What happens if you get sick?
It’s incredibly rare, but if I were ever too sick to photograph your wedding, you would hear from me right away. I’m part of a close network of trusted photographers who share a similar approach and philosophy, and we keep each other on standby for emergencies. If something truly beyond my control came up, I’d make sure your day is fully covered and your experience stays as seamless as possible.

That said, I’m really intentional about protecting my health and energy throughout the season. This is why I only take on a limited amount of weddings where I can space them to build in downtime, and usually go into full hermit mode before events to lower the chance of getting sick. It also means I can stay caught up on editing. And those quiet “editing cave” days help me deliver galleries on time (and often early). I’ll always do everything I can to be there for you — unless I’m truly bedridden or contagious and risk getting others sick.

What about if we cancel? Are there any refunds?
The retainer is non-refundable. It secures your date on my calendar, and once it’s paid, I turn down all other bookings for that day.

That said, life happens. If something unexpected comes up, communicate with me. While the retainer itself remains non-refundable, I approach situations with empathy and openness, and we can talk through next steps together.

Are you licensed & insured? Do you have backup equipment?
Yes! I’m fully licensed and insured and can provide a certificate of insurance for your venue if needed. I’m also a registered limited liability company.

I carry backup cameras, lenses, lighting, and essential gear so your day is covered even in the unlikely event of equipment failure. I’m a member of several professional organizations, including the Professional Photographers of America, American Society of Media Photographers, and Sony Imaging Pro.

How do we book you?
Saweet! *Happy dance* Just contact me!

To officially reserve your date, a signed contract and a non refundable retainer of 25 %of your total coverage fee are required. Everything is handled online, and the remaining balance is due two weeks before your wedding date.

Interest free payment plans and gift registry options are also available.

If you have questions that aren’t covered here, please reach out. I’m happy to help, even if I’m not ultimately your photographer. Finding the right fit matters, and I want you to feel supported throughout your planning process.