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vendor reviews: london ontario wedding photographers
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Reviewing Leanne Murray, Owner of Intuition Photography
There are several great reasons why it's looking like 2009 is going to be a big year for Leanne Murray, and for her brides. Leanne is the owner of Tavistock-based Intuition Photography. She is also a Fanshawe graduate with a double photography major and is in the midst of turning her childhood dream into a career. Over the past four years, she Leanne has covered roughly fifty weddings as an assistant shooter and ten as the principle shooter. She's done countless portraits in between covering rewarding events such as a Heart & Stroke Foundation charity event and the upcoming 91.5 The Beat fundraiser in El Salvador. Her images have turned up in wedding albums from London to Woodstock, in the local Tavistock Gazette, and now, in The Ring. Why? Because we like her. You can't help but like her. She's excited about your day, she's affordable for just about any budget, and she's willing to try just about anything. "I'm young and fresh to the market," Leanne explains, as a sort of admission and also a selling point. It's obvious that Intuition's 'new-factor' is also one of its biggest 'cool factors'. Leanne offers incredible prices for couples on a tight budget. She says she strives to offer greater quantity for less expense, as she uses each wedding to build her portfolio. We sat down with Leanne to find out more about what she has in store for the brides and grooms who will be coming to her door this year. Let us explain...
Personally speaking... Since she was in her first wedding at the age of ten, Leanne has known that she wanted to be a part of "one of the best days of someone's life." She attended Fanshawe College in London and received a Diploma in Photography and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Photography Advanced with a double major in Commercial and Portraiture.
She started her professional photography career during her first year of college at her brother's wedding. That led to more weddings which ultimately led to one of the best Christmas presents we've ever heard of. "... In 2006 my parents, always supportive of my dream, registered my company name as a Christmas present to me."
Aside from the weddings she's shot as an assistant and ones that she's shot as the sole or principle photographer, Leanne's portfolio extends into family photos, baby portraits and engagement sessions as well. She also gives back to the community that supports her by photographing events like a local Country & Western Concert, Fanshawe College Fashion shows, projects for the Fanshawe College Fashion Merchandising Department, the Tavistock Gazette and the YMCA Outdoor Education Centre and Day Camp.
"My philosophy comes from Les Brown's quote: 'Shoot for the moon, 'cause even if you miss you'll land among the stars.' You may have a goal in mind but being a part of its' evolution is just as important."
Part of Leanne's daily goal, and what she thinks is her biggest selling point as a photographer is that she is new to the scene. She tells us her services are reasonably priced for couples on a budget and that she adds her "personal touch so clients get what they want in a comfortable setting."
"I keep my techniques fresh by finding inspiration in knowing that I am creating images that will stay with families for a lifetime."
T.S. Murray, who used Intuition Photography for her July 2005 wedding and reception photos agrees with this notion and says she "loved the fresh approach that Leanne Murray took and she always seemed professional while working."
Lisa Parker-Barclay, who had Leanne photograph her engagement and her August 2005 wedding, echoed that same feeling. She told The Ring, "I knew I could trust her and she is creative and can think on her feet... She is original and fun while being professional... She made the shoot effortless for us (normally we shy away from the camera). We had three children and a fairly large party and everything went smooth. No stress!!"
Ryan and Jen Zehr said Leanne knew which pictures needed to be taken without them having to ask. They were married April 15, 2006. "Our experience was awesome with Leanne," explained Jen who says she liked the fun atmosphere and photos Intuition offered, "... not all posed."
Why choose Intuition? Aside from her enthusiastic attitude and constant smile and laughter, Leanne says that couples remember how comfortable they felt hanging out with her for the day, not to mention "the images that reflect the moments they shared. I want couples to have fun and feel at ease while working with me."
T.S. couldn't agree more, saying that Leanne's photos are about the clients. "She reflects their personalities and interests, and each photo not only captures a moment in time but it tells a story." She goes on to say that the wedding photo shoot was fun with "a few formal poses" but mostly photos of the whole party and the fun, good times they had throughout the day.
Walking you through the process... Leanne recommends booking her services six months to a year before your wedding day. An initial meeting is set-up with the couple at a location that is convenient for them, usually at a William's Coffee Pub or her home office in Tavistock. This first meeting allows for Leanne and the couple to get to know each other. "Meeting with the couple lets me get an idea of what their wedding day will be like." After that meeting, couples can book when they decide that Intuition is right for them.
T.S. told us, "Leanne was very prompt at setting appointments to go over the day of events, contracts, and standby photographers, who we met in person beforehand. She genuinely tried to get to know us as a couple."
If you book a package that includes an engagement session, Leanne will arrange the shoot with you for some time between the booking day and the details meeting.
After working out the details, a third meeting takes place and the second payment is due during the two weeks prior to the wedding day - this also allows the opportunity for any last-minute questions or changes to the schedule to be made.
When your big day arrives, Leanne attends the rehearsal so she knows how the service will run and what the schedule for the wedding day is.
Though Leanne is a sole proprietor and usually works alone, she does (on occasion) have her assistant, Phillip, accompany her to help carry equipment, load cards on the laptop (in case of an emergency), and provide any other needed support – like getting those who are camera-shy to laugh and relax.
After all is said and done, Leanne arranges a final meeting to deliver the final product and receive the last payment from the bride and groom. If the couple is getting an album, they have up to six months after receiving their proof book to choose images for enlargements - after this time additional charges will be added.
What does it all cost? The most popular package at Intuition is The Greatest Gift of All package for $1700. "This package is most popular because clients get the best of both worlds - a full proof book and an album of their favourite images enlarged to their liking." The proof book contains 200 images and the additional album has thirty images. The package also includes one 11x14 enlargement of your choice, two parent albums with thirty 4x6 images, your choice of black & white or colour, and Leanne shoots the getting ready photos, church, formal pictures, a posed cake cutting and the first dance.
The Love At First Sight package includes a proof book of 200 images, one 8x10 of your choice, two parent albums of thirty-five photos sized at 4x6, black & white or colour images and allows Leanne to be with you at the bride's home, church, formal poses, posed cake cutting and first dance. This package is only $1100.
"I target brides with a moderate budget, not too high but not too low - the more they can spend, the more fun we can have with the final product." Jen Zehr says Leanne's prices were really good, "They definitely matched the value of the pictures we received."
Couples often ask Leanne how her prices are less expensive than some other photographers, to which she replies, "I'm new. I give you a chance to have a skilled professional photographer, without the big ticket cost. In this day and age couples are looking to keep within their budget and still get great quality."
The average bride who books Intuition Photography spends $2000. Leanne's prices are also subject to PST and GST. To book your wedding with Intuition, a deposit of one-third of the total package price is due. While she loves local brides, "the ones you travel for end up being the most memorable." And if she has to travel to photograph your wedding, there is an additional cost of 40¢ per kilometer.
The proof books are black leather bound and album styles come in either coffee table books or scrapbook style. You can also receive a disk of your photos upon request. Additional photographs are individually priced, from $8 for a 4x6 to $125 for a 24x36.
detailsdetailsdetails • Leanne can accommodate last-minute requests if she has availability, but highly recommends booking her services 6 to 12 months ahead. • 1/3 of your chosen package price is due as a deposit and saves your date. • At a meeting 2 weeks before your wedding, a second payment of 1/3 is due. • Your final payment of 1/3, kilometers and any additional fees is due when you pick up your proofs or albums.
Getting in touch with Leanne... Booking Leanne Murray for your wedding is easy. Give her a shout at 519-281-5164 or send off an email to IntuitionPhotography@gmail.com. She can meet you in a public location comfortable for you, or her home office in Tavistock. For more details and info, check out the Intuition Photography website at web.mac.com/leannemurray.
- The Staff at TheWeddingRing.ca * Prices are all approximate and are subject to change and verification by authorized staff and management of Intuition Photography. |
New
company Intuition Photography is young, fresh to the wedding scene and
budget-friendly
Leanne's 