Services:
Established:	2006
Employees:	2
Accepts:

Cocoriah is pronounced: Co-co-rye-ah

It is a combination of names that I made up for my two boys when they were babies.  Distinctions I gave them so they would know me when I spoke to them in the dark, or held them when they were sick.  I had them later in life and with a man I regard as my best friend and soul mate.  So it made sense that the most personal whispers I created for our children, would be the name I used for my business.

Marriage and family are sacred.  When two people get married it’s not an "institution" to me.  It’s a family.  It’s the start of a new heritage and legacy.  Sometimes children come into the family, sometimes it’s the community that surrounds the couple and there is a "sharing" of this love and committment.  Regardless, marriage is not a fashion statement or a trend.  Therefore I approach it as a celebration and as a act of creation.  I am honored and thankful to be a part of your day.


One of the albums I created from this summer.  Susie and Phil are such wonderful people and I was honored to do this for them.  I use top of the line Grade A Bookcalf for my leather albums and all the pages I print and bind myself.  ;)  Enjoy looking.

 

Images Makeup Artistry

Not only is Dee an exceptional photographer, but she is also a wonderful and vibrant person. She is a professional through and through while still making things fun and light hearted. I have worked with her often and have used her services on more than a few of my own personal projects and I simply can not gush enough about her. She is my top choice every time for recommendations.

How would you identify your photographic style? My style is a combination of editorial fashion and photojournalistic.

Do you offer special techniques such as hand-coloring or toning? I do what I call "artistic rendering". This means textures, overlays and different coloring that I use on a color photo. For black and white, I use a deep sepia and a soft chocolate, depending on the image.

Do you have experience shooting in various lighting situations? Everything. Even just sparklers to light the exit of the bride and groom. I've got great cameras, don't worry.

Is your media preference film or digital? I love digital and offer that exclusively. It helps me in the processing and also helps you, in that you can purchase the CD of all your images without my ever having to lose those images.

How many photographers do you work with? Two. I have one assistant that stays with me and another photographer that is the second shooter.

Do you guarantee your presence at the actual event? Yes.

Do you sometimes book yourself for more than one wedding in a day? Weekend? No. I never book more than one wedding per weekend. Mainly for my health and for the health of my family. I've also discovered that I'm not useful to the bride and groom when I'm overworked and stressed out.

Do you have a replacement photographer in case you become unavailable on the wedding day? I have two. Both of whom are professional photographers working in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

What kind of equipment do you typically bring with you on the day-of? I travel light. I like to be sneaky. I have one bag with all my lenses and I carry my camera(s). My assistant carries my flash, video light and batteries.

Do you bring back-up equipment to the event in case of malfunction? Always.

Do you charge hourly or full day? Hourly.

If hourly, are you available for shooting overtime? If so, how much do you charge for overtime? If I shoot overtime and it is on the day of the wedding, I charge 50% more on my hourly rate.

Do you require a meal break? If yes, do you require that the wedding party provide your meal? I do require a meal. The amount of work I'm doing, it is helpful to have about 10 minutes to refuel. I bring my own meal bars but do require that the wedding party provide my meal.

How many breaks do you usually take throughout the day? One.

Do you charge for travel? Yes.

How soon after the event are the proofs ready for viewing? Generally within three weeks. Depending on the time of year. In the summer, I'm working every weekend, so the proofs may not be ready for up to four weeks. I don't take longer than that.

In what format are the initial proofs offered? I offer an online gallery/ordering site called Collages.net. It is password protected and very professional.

How long can the couple keep the proofs? If you have ordered the proofs in traditional format (i.e., 4 x 5 hardcopy photographs) then they are yours to keep. If you order the CD, the same thing applies.

Do you retain the copyright for the photos? I retain the copyright as I am the photographer and artist.

Do you reserve the right to publish the photos? I reserve the right to publish the photos. If you don't want me to publish then a handwritten letter signed by you and the groom must be submitted

Do you provide the digital files and/or negatives (or copies of the negatives) to the couple? I provide the digital files for purchase.

Will images be available for viewing on an online gallery? Yes.

What kind of albums do you offer? Handmade Japanese silk flush mount albums. Memador Leather albums and the beautiful Asukabook magazine style albums.

When will I get the final book? You will get an initial album design, once you have reviewed and made your edits, I will submit it for your final approval. At which point your book will be ready within one month.

How long does it take to deliver a book? four to six weeks, depending on the type of book ordered.

Additional Questions and Answers

Wedding FAQs:

What if I’m expecting a certain kind of look or picture but I’m not sure how to explain it?

My first answer is look at the pictures on my site. Look at my style. Look at how I saturate colors or contrast images. Look at my black and whites. Look at how I compose my shots. If you are wanting something different than what you see, I may not be the right photographer for you. That doesn’t bother me. In fact, this is what makes my job so fun. I can make suggestions of photographers I know and love that actually do different work than I do and that is a service I’m happy to provide. After the preliminary meeting on the phone or in person, I have a set of questions I ask my clients to really sit down and answer. It will help you determine if I am really the one for you.

1. What kind of picture(s) are you expecting? (I know a lot of clients who say they aren’t expecting anything or that they just want to have fun but then they get the pictures and they realize they were expecting a certain shot or shots.)

2. What does this picture(s) look like in your head? (Where are people standing, looking, what are they doing?)

3. Have you seen something like this in a magazine or an ad, and if so, do you have an example you can show me?

4. What do you want to use this picture for? (Gift, to hang in your house, wedding program, announcements, etc.)

5. Does my style of photography look like what you are visualizing?

Of course, as an artist, my dream is just to surprise you with photos you didn’t even know you wanted or to give you something you were never expecting. I’d love to have carte blanche with every shoot but I realize that’s not always going to happen. What I can do, however, is make sure we’re on the same page, and if my style is something you like, then we can do anything you want.

How many pictures should I expect from my coverage?
 
You will have two photographers always, so this will depend on how long you book us. Expect somewhere close to 50-75 images per hour of coverage. Sometimes more or less than that, but this depends on the direct cooperation of the subjects being photographed. We’re not responsible for closed eyes, open mouths, moving your head as the shutter clicks, looking away from as the picture is being taken, etc. If you need more prints then make sure and say so up front. We will need more time to make this happen for you.

What if I don’t like how I look in my pictures?

This is always an issue. And not just a bride issue, many grooms want to look their best as well. This is why we provide an in house make-up artist. She is trained in photographic lighting and knows how to help you both look your best for the camera. We also use photoshop and specifically on areas where you might feel you need it. We are also available to consult with you regarding colors, dress type, etc., but we do not volunteer this information as it is a personal preference. Our suggestions would fall into the category of what looks best on you. What colors make your eyes pop and compliment your skin? Pure white doesn’t always work, and thankfully, designers have begun to create dresses that flatter many types of brides. We would also suggest that you be well supported, as you will be wearing this dress in all or most of your photos. Bend over, sit down, dance, look at your neckline and backline. If it is open or low make sure you are not spilling out. We would suggest this to the wedding party as well. Many brides allow their bridesmaids, etc., to choose the cut they feel most comfortable wearing. As not everyone comes in a size 2. The most important thing is that you understand we will do everything WE can to make sure you look your best. Everything in our control, which is our cameras, our eyes and our photoshop work. We are not responsible for the rest.

How do you handle formal portraits?

We try to only spend about 15-20 minutes on these. If they are more important to you than this, please make sure you say so. Some brides will say these are not so important to them and then be disappointed when there are only a handful to choose from. Formal portraits, the stiff, smiling, lined up like a firing squad look, is not our style, so if it is important for you, we may not be your photographers. We like to conduct formal portraits quickly and painlessly. We also love to make people laugh and have fun while they do these portraits. If you really need these (or more specifically your Mom and your grandparents) and you need several to choose from, then make sure that you add this into your coverage time as we will need a full hour to do this properly for you.

Why are storyboards and collages so important to your photography?

We are storytellers. We shoot for the album, we shoot to bring together those images that tell the story of your day the best. Because we don’t believe one image ALWAYS tells the whole story. I’m sure a whole lot of photographers out there just passed out, but, to us, a story is a sequence of images. It’s the putting together of all the images taken over a certain amount of time that show change, growth, expression, etc. Sometimes a photographer gets that ONE image that says everything, but that comes from deliberate practice, being alert and a happy dose of divine intervention. We aim to show you the sequence, the movement and the sheer delight of watching something beautiful unfold.

 

If you have any further questions. Please don’t hesitate to contact us. Thank you so much!!