Studio 18 Associate Photography 

You hear about “associate photographer” when the photographer you want to book for your wedding is unavailable, or maybe his/her package is out of your budget. He/she referred you to his/her associate photographers. So what are exactly “associate photographers”?

Although associate photographers have been around for a long time, we know it is a new concept to you. This can cause a lot of confusions and fears. You are afraid they are inexperienced, not as good as the main photographer. Their prices are usually lower than the main photographer, which you believe even more that they are not as good as the main photographer, don’t you?

If my best friends ask me if they should hire an associate photographer for their wedding, without knowing who they were referring to, I’ll ask them two questions: “Do you like his/her works?” and “Is his/her price within your budget?”. If they say YES to both questions, I will tell them to book that photographer. That’s it!

Although personalities are varied, associates and main photographer have the same style. This is, btw, the first condition for them to work together. In some businesses, like ours, the associates only focus on shooting, while editing is done by the same editing team. This ensures the consistency between associates and the main photographer. Basically, you get a similar service when you hire associates, before and after the wedding. The only difference is the person who takes your photos on the wedding day.

Contrary to what most people think, they are not inexperienced, at least for our associate photographers. They can be either trained by us or someone we’ve worked with for many times. They have the experience and abilities to shoot any type of wedding. However, each of them might prefer some specific weddings: outdoor vs indoor, Asian vs American, location types, etc. That’s why we always ask for many details before we assign/suggest a certain associate to our couples, to make sure that person will perform at his/her best.

Associate photographers F.A.Q
Will the quality of work from RGP (Ruben Gorjian Photography) change?

Exceptional quality – both in artistic quality & customer service – is still my top priority. When hiring an associate, I was looking for someone who not only could create beautiful photographs, but also someone who my couples would love as much as me! Character & personality are SO important, and our new associate is as passionate & enthusiastic as I am about creating an unforgettable experience!

Additionally, I choose to train my associate from scratch! Instead of hiring an already-trained photographer who would undoubtedly have his/her own way of doing things, I trained our new associate in every element of wedding photography so that she would have the exact style and eye for photography as I do! This is a usual way to do things because it takes much more of an investment on my part, but it was so worth it! After over 6 months of intensive training, shadowing & shooting, I am so confident that our couples will receive RGP quality work, no matter which photographer they choose!

Will your new associate be responsible for editing her own photos?

Again, the answer is no! The editing style will remain consistent across all RGP work, including editing. We use the exact same editing style across all weddings, and I will remain in control of all editing processes!

Why does an associate cost less than working with you?

As the founder & owner of RGP, couples naturally are more inclined and trusting of the person with whom the business’ name is associated. Many couples have been referred to me by friends and family, and so there is a higher demand for working with Ruben Gorjian than anyone else! Additionally, I will be shooting less weddings as my associate team grows and shoots more weddings, so hiring me will be more exclusive and (again, naturally) in higher demand!

With that being said, it was important to me that we are able to serve a broader audience of couples, which also means serving a wider variety of budgets! Hiring an associate will be more affordable for couples who previously could not afford to work with RGP. Because my time has become more precious (and more occupied with growing multiple areas of the business), this was the logical next step in being able to serve a diverse group of couples!

I want to reiterate that quality will not be compromised as the team grows. My priority is ensuring that every couple who works with an RGP Studio18 photographer has the same, incredible experience and the most beautiful photographs from their wedding day! I am so proud of my new associate, and even more confident that she will provide the best of the best quality service!

What’s the best way to decide between Hannah and an associate?

There are so many reasons that you may want to work with Ruben (RGP) OR work with our new associate, Studio 18. If you’re an engaged couple trying to choose between us, I’d encourage you to view both of our portfolios. It’s so important to connect relationally with your wedding photographer, so learning more about each of us may make you lean in one direction or the other!

Finally, get in touch to see what our availability is like! You may find that just one of us is free for a date or both! You also will have a chance to view our pricing guides and get a feel for which of us is a better fit!

How do I hire your associate for my wedding?

The process of inquiring and booking our new associate is the same as working with me! Simply send us a message through the contact form and indicate which photographer you’re interested in working with (associate, Hannah or open to either!). We’ll be in touch with information, and then send you appropriate instructions for booking!

Does your associate shoot weddings outside of RGP or for other photographers?

Nope! Our new associate is 100% a part of the RGP team. 

This was an important part of training our new associate. It was very important to me to maintain the quality and brand that RGP has established over the past several years, even as the team grows! In order to do this, it was important to hire someone who was excited about more than just shooting weddings, but to contribute to the team as a whole and is 100% dedicated to the success and growth of RGP! I’m so thrilled to have found the perfect person!

Actual Studio 18 Images