cliche'd artist statement:
I know you’ve already looked through way too many portfolios. They all kinda look the same. They look “nice”–they’re all really bright and clean and green–but you want something… different. I feel you. That’s why I got into this business. I knew there were couples out there who would want photography that *I* would want at my wedding. Unconventional. Pushing boundaries. YOU WANT TO LOOK FUCKING COOL. You want stuff you can show off to your friends and put their jaws on the floor. You want your day to be documented in a way most photographers simply cannot. Many photographers can take a good photo… can they tell your story?
Good photography is, essentially, good story-telling.
My Typical couple are people who have been scouring the internet for an artist, not a photographer. Anyone can be a photographer today. So what sets me apart?
Over the past eight years (wow, it really doesn’t seem that long) I’ve been honing my craft. When I got into this I didn’t want to be good. I wanted to be, pardon my french, fricken amazing. I wasn’t amazing at first. I was pretty bad, actually, I’d say. There was a lot of trial & error. Lots of harsh overprocessing and unnecessary filters. Lots of missed moments while I was fiddling with this or that piece of equipment. There was a lot of learning on the job. I started out shooting a friend’s wedding for free. Then worked my way up the slums of Craigslist, caught a few breaks from some cool couples willing to take a chance on me, learned from a few pros (who I now call great friends) who taught me along the way, and now here I am today. Still learning, still growing, but with a body of work that stands apart from what most photographers can offer.
I am an observer by nature, so a photojournalistic approach to weddings always came naturally to me. As my work was progressed, however, my passion for lifestyle and fashion has spilled over into how I shoot, as well. The result is a mix of photography that brings your day to life. My aim at every shoot is to create amazing photographs at the best value in the industry. My goal is to be world-class. Never dull, never boring.
F*ck Boring Wedding Photography.
Availability:
Many clients book over a year in advance. Some much less, if the date is still open. I do my best to accommodate short notice bookings, but the more time, the better. I hate having to turn down weddings. 2019 is filling fast, so if you’re wondering if you’re searching for a photographer too early in your process, the answer is probably no. Let's talk ASAP!
F.A.Q
YO, DO YOU HAVE REVIEWS SO I KNOW YOU’RE LEGIT, BRO?
Yeah, bro, I do! I’ve won the Knot’s Best Of Award for three years in a row. Check me out at this link right here. I pride myself on my reviews. I love each of my couples so much.
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WHY DO WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS CHARGE SO MUCH?
Fair question… check out my philosophy about that here.
We all value things differently in our society, and we all have different budgets when planning our weddings, and I totally respect that.
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I ONLY NEED YOU FOR 4 HOURS… CAN’T YOU JUST QUOTE ME FOR THAT?
When I first started shooting weddings, like a lot of newbie photographers, I priced by the hour. However, as I shot more and more weddings and developed my style, I realized that by doing this I was not only short-changing my clients, but also myself. As a photojournalist, if I’m looking at a clock, I’m not getting my shots. As a bride and groom, you shouldn’t be worried about your photographers’ schedule on your busy day. I want to capture the whole day, as it happens–how can I do this if I’m only there for half of it?
This was the single biggest change to my business that I’ve gotten the most positive feedback from. Time after time bride’s tell me how this set me apart from others, and why they chose me to work for them. I’m shooting your whole day. Not part of it.
That said, if you have an elopement scheduled, or have a wedding on an off-day (generally not a Saturday, that is), feel free to email me and we might be able to work something out.
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WHY SHOULD I BOOK YOU AND NOT MY UNCLE BOB WHO HAS A NICE CAMERA?
Because I am awesome at what I do, and your uncle Bob probably sucks at taking pictures. I’m sure he’s a very cool uncle, though. Let him enjoy your wedding while I give you photos you can be proud of showing off on your coffee table. Do you really want your day remembered like this?
But if you’ve already made it this far you’re probably smart enough to already know all this, eh?
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I LOVE YOUR WORK, BUT I’M AFRAID TO SHOW MY MOM AND DAD BECAUSE THEY DON’T LIKE SWEARING.
Hey, no problem! I totally get that my site isn’t the most mom-friendly. Show them this PASS gallery, that has my full portfolio & many more!
http://jalbusphoto.pass.us/jalbusweddings/
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CAN I SEE MORE OF YOUR WORK? MAYBE AN EXAMPLE OF A WEDDING FROM START TO FINISH?
Yes! Here’s a PASS gallery (included in your photo package–great for mobile and social media sharing) of a recent NYC wedding I shot with Galit & Clay.
Here’s one I shot in Puerto Rico, March of 2016 with Pat & Julie. I fell in love with this set.
Here is Ryan and Alex, getting married in Madeline Island, WI, this past summer.
These will give you a good look at exactly what you should expect from my wedding coverage. Many photographers will cherry-pick their portfolio (we all want to look our best, right?), and this can sometimes give clients expectations that aren’t always met when they get their photos back. I like to show you exactly what a full day of shooting looks like, from hair and makeup, to send off.
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ARE THE SHOTS IN YOUR PORTFOLIO FROM REAL WEDDINGS, OR STYLED SHOOTS WITH PAID MODELS?
Yes, these are 100% real weddings. While I do some styled shoot work for various blogs and wedding websites, all of the work in my portfolio are real brides and grooms on their real wedding day. Nothing staged or produced.
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CAN I SEE MOOOOOOOOOOOREEEE???
Okay, yeah, no problem…
Here are a few more PASS galleries:
Jamie and Jerrod get married in the northern MN woods
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DO YOU HAVE ANY REFERENCES? I WANT REFERENCES!
Yes, for sure! Again, check out my reviews over on my page at The Knot!
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WHAT KIND OF EQUIPMENT DO YOU USE?
I shoot Nikon, but I’m not obsessive about brand loyalty. It’s just what works best for me. I bring a Nikon D3 and D750 to every wedding, along with 50mm 1.4, 12-24mm, 105mm 2.0, 70-200mm VR 2.8; as well as professional off-camera flash lighting which makes me able to shoot in virtually any adverse lighting conditions. This is especially important in dark reception halls that are lit for ambiance, not necessarily for good photography. Everything is backed up immediately to three sources to ensure security of your photos. Your photos are then backed up for 10 years to my secure cloud server on PASS. You receive high-res digital copies for your own computer, ipads, etc. You have full printing rights.
For video and film work we use the Sony A7III, which is an amazing piece of technology, and shoots in beautiful 4K.
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MY SISTER’S WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER SUCKED. HE WAS RUDE AND BOSSY AND HE MADE THE DAY VERY TENSE AND AWKWARD. THEN HE HIT ON ME. ARE YOU LIKE THAT?
Whoa, I’m sorry to hear that! Actually, I hear various versions of this more often than I’d like, and it gives my profession a bad name. Actually, no, I’m nothing like that. Besides the creative session where we get all the fun fancy lifestyle shots, I am very hands off. As someone who shoots in a photojournalistic style, it’s very important to me to be unnoticed. This way I get the most natural, candid shots, and don’t bother or annoy people in the process. If I’m doing my job right, you will forget I’m even there. And, no, I will not hit on you or your bridesmaids.
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DO YOU TRAVEL?
YES. I spend my summers in Minneapolis, and my winters in New Orleans. I will drive or fly anywhere, and I love to shoot in new places. I have done destination weddings all over the country, and have a valid passport for international work. Expenses are reasonable & negotiable.
Can I “like” you on Facebook?
I thought you’d never ask! YES. Sorry, I don’t update it much.
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TELL ME MORE ABOUT YOURSELF!
That’s not really a question, but ok. I’m 34. A pisces. I’m from Hartford, CT, but I’ve lived in MN most of my life. I fell in love with New Orleans and now call it my other home. When I’m not being a photographer, I like going to shows, drinking cocktails, roadtrips, film, books, wasting time on the Internet, sitting on beaches with cold beer on hand, etc. I enjoy looking at my phone in my free time.
Any other questions, feel free to send them to jalbusphotography@gmail.com
I am also reachable at 612.607.4133
Best,
Jason