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Tim Macking -
Christian, Husband, Father, Professional Photographer

I am a photojournalist. While others may advertise shooting with a "photojournalistic style," I am the real thing. I am trained to unobtrusively document actual events as they unfold, without interference. As a photographer, I won't stop you as you are walking down the aisle and ask you to smile for me. Instead by the time you are half-way down the aisle I have already taken several pictures capturing your wedding dress, your smile, your fathers tears and the joy and expression of family and guests. I won't force you into uncomfortable situations, but rather let the day unfold and capture the raw and true emotion of your wedding. I prefer to capture moments that are REAL, not forced. My goal as a wedding photojournalist is to allow you to look back at your pictures 20 years from now and recall in a way you can't grasp now how beautiful you really looked, remember exactly what you were feeling, and through pictures bring yourself back to that moment and remember the true emotions of the day exactly as they were. Those little moments will come together to tell a fairytale story of your wedding day, your dream wedding and dream come true, allowing you to relive it again and again.

Where do you offer your services?

Wow, what a great question. While I live in beautiful St. Petersburg, Florida that doesn't preclude me to just shooting wedding and portrait sessions locally. I have a passion for photography and have photographed weddings throughout the USA and abroad. There are a few locations that take up more of my time than others including Montana, Alaska, Idaho, New Mexico, Arizona, Vermont and Kentucky. I have several clients in these locations and am in these locations often. Of course what's great about travelling to a wedding is that I am able to photograph nature and scenery and as you can tell from my portfolios I really enjoy that too.

Do you shoot film or digital?

I shoot digital, for many reasons. First, I can shoot an unlimited amount of pictures during the day without having to worry about how many rolls of film I am using. There are many different types of film you would need in different lighting situations, shooting outside vs. inside, and shooting in Black & White vs. Color. With digital, all of these features can be changed from picture to picture. Another benefit, because everything is initially shot in color, I can later change pictures to Black & White, Sepia tone, or B&W with Digital Coloring. The ease of retouching images and applying digital color enhancement is extremely beneficial with digital. Digital also allows me to get your proofs online within about 3-5 days of the wedding. Overall, the advantages of shooting digital are tremendous.

What kind of camera do you use?

As a Don Cesar wedding photographer my primary camera for wedding photography is the new Nikon D700, one of the leading digital cameras for professional wedding photojournalists. My secondary cameras are a Nikon D300, Nikon D200, Nikon F5 Film Camera and a Mamiya 645D. I have a wide array of professional lenses, flashes and other available lighting for destination weddings and sunset weddings on the beaches. I always carry backup equipment to every event.

Do you shoot Color, Black & White or both?

Because I shoot digitally, everything is initially captured in color. However, during the editing process, I will convert some of the pictures to Black & White, Sepia, and Digital Colorization (Black & White with partial coloring) to give you a wide variety of styles. Of course, if you prefer a certain style, just let me know and I’ll be happy to accommodate your requests.

How many pictures do you typically take at a wedding?

As a Tampa Wedding photographer inside St. Joseph Catholic Church I might take one to three hundred pictures during a ceremony alone. As a Clearwater wedding photographer taking pictures of a destination wedding or sunset wedding on the beaches of Sand Key or Clearwater beach I may take up to 300 pictures of the ceremony. Wedding photography varies from destination to destination and every ceremony is different. Most wedding ceremonies are between 100-300 digital pictures though. The reception can vary drastically too, from 100 to over a thousand depending on the reception location. At the Vinoy or Don Cesar on St. Pete beach I might take several hundred pictures, if it's just a small beach wedding on Fort Desoto and the ceremony is at a pavillion I may only take a hundred or so. The important thing is that I capture all of the wedding pictures that matter. With over 15 years experience you can be certain of that.

Do you retouch photos?

Depending on each client’s needs I may or may not retouch photos. If the client demands require retouching I may retouch every single photo. With so many images, I will generally spend about 60-70 hours editing and retouching your photos. This includes customized color enhancement, blemish removal, digital colorization, and the adjustment of contrast and saturation to make the image really pop out. Just as with film where the negatives need to be "processed" with chemicals, digital files need post-processing to ensure they look their best when printed. Depending on your needs there are additional costs for touching up your photos.

How soon can I see my pictures?

Your proofs will be available online within 5-7 days of your wedding. Typically upon return from your honeymoon, your photos will be waiting for you! This is also a great way for family, friends and wedding guests to view and/or purchase your wedding pictures.

What will you wear on the wedding day?

I will dress professionally yet comfortably, in black solid or khacki colored clothing to make sure that I blend into the background, allowing me to photograph the event without being noticed or in the way. If you wedding is casual or tropical I will dress accordingly.

Are you willing to travel outside of Tampa Bay Florida for Destination Weddings?

Absolutely! Aside from shooting weddings, I have traveled throughout North America, Europe and the Caribbean on photo assignments. My experience shooting abroad provides me an added benefit to shooting a destination wedding and in giving you the unique and breathtaking shots you are looking for. (Additional travel fees apply)

I would like to book you for my wedding. What do I need to do?

A signed contract, along with a deposit of 25% of the package price selected will reserve your date. The remaining balance is due in three equal payments of 25% each: 60 days before the wedding, 30 days before the wedding, and the final payment is due upon receipt of your pictures. Please contact me as soon as possible if you would like to reserve a date.

What other things do you do / enjoy?

I have worked in the IT Profession for several years, I enjoy working with the latest and greatest in technology, I guess I am the same way with my photography tools too. I love to travel. With much of my family scattered throughout the world I'm often found travelling as time permits. In 2006 I travelled to Germany to be with family and while there shot over 1100 pictures. I love to work with wood and my latest project is working on an old wooden canoe. Spending time with my kids and watching them grow is great. Of course, I always have my camera. I keep thinking that I might miss something. Sometimes I think I just need to put it down and play more. I used to love skydiving but with a wife and kids I just don't think it's a great idea anymore.

What is your philosophy on shooting weddings?

I was recently married myself, (November, 2000), and so I truly understand what it feels like to go through the wedding, from the initial planning process through the moment you say "I do." I feel that I can anticipate those moments of true emotion, because I KNOW how it feels. I remember the way I felt as soon as I locked eyes with my wife as she was making her way down the aisle, and how my eyes started tearing up, and I will never forget the look on my wife’s face as I saw her for the first time. These are the things that I look for in YOUR day, and the things that I want to capture the most. I want you to have those pictures of the moments that are the most emotional, because I know how important they are. As a recent groom, I feel that I can relate more to your experiences, and as a photojournalist, I can document your day in a story-telling manner that will ensure you have memories to last a lifetime.