Pre-wedding album delivery: photos, editing timeline, handover process

At Cáo Studio, a standard pre-wedding shoot yields 100–200 edited photos (exact count depends on shoot length and location coverage), delivered 2–3 weeks after your session. You receive digital files via secure cloud link, printed albums if booked, and a private gallery to share with family. Our editing timeline runs in parallel with scheduling: one editor per shoot, raw file review within 24 hours, initial edit pass by day 7, client review and revisions by day 14, and final delivery by day 21. We hand over files at our Hanoi or Saigon studio during a brief viewing session where you verify colors on our calibrated screens, or via email if you're abroad. Most couples prefer the cloud gallery for sharing, then order prints later from high-resolution masters. Chat with us on WhatsApp

How many photos do you actually send home?

We deliver 100–200 fully edited images per standard pre-wedding shoot. The exact number depends on three factors: session length (4-hour city walk yields fewer keepers than an all-day multi-location shoot), weather conditions (bad light means tighter culling), and couple's taste. We never pad galleries with mediocre frames—every photo we send meets our color grading and composition standard. A 6-hour shoot in Hoi An with golden-hour timing might reach 200 images; a rainy 2-hour Saigon session might settle at 110. We tell clients the expected range upfront via WhatsApp before booking, so there's no surprise.

See packages and prices on vietnamphotoshoot.com

What happens in those 2–3 weeks between shoot and delivery?

Day 1–2: Raw files land on our editor's computer. We cull obvious misses—blinks, motion blur, duplicate poses—cutting volume by ~40%. One editor owns the entire set to keep color and mood consistent.

Day 3–7: First pass edit. Exposure, white balance, skin tone matching across outfit changes, vignetting, sharpening. No heavy retouching yet.

Day 8–14: Client review period. You see a private gallery link via email or WhatsApp (we use password-protected cloud storage). You flag any color corrections, outfit swaps you prefer, or shots to remove. We typical receive 5–15 revision requests per gallery.

Day 15–21: Final tweaks, batch processing, watermarking (if needed), and file export. We deliver via secure cloud link with a download deadline (usually 90 days). If you ordered prints, we color-check samples before full print run ships.

The timeline holds even during Lunar New Year or typhoon season—we buffer edit schedules 4 weeks out.

When do you see the unedited photos?

Most couples never see the raw files—they skip that step and jump straight to the edited gallery. We've learned that raw JPEGs from our mirrorless cameras look flat and inconsistent without color grading, and showing them creates confusion. Instead, we send a curated-but-early gallery on day 7 (partial edits, all the safe keepers) so you can spot anything obviously wrong: a hair in your face, an unflattering expression you want removed, a location you wish we'd shot more at. By day 14 you see the final color-graded set. If you're a photography enthusiast and want RAW files for your own editing, ask us in advance—we can include them in your delivery, but storage size is large and most guests don't use them.

How does the handover session work in Hanoi or Saigon?

When your 2–3 weeks finish, we book a 30-minute studio visit. You arrive at our Hanoi or Saigon location with the couple (or alone if your partner is abroad). We display the gallery on a color-calibrated monitor, walk through the best 30–50 images together, and answer questions about specific edits. You download your files to a USB drive we provide, or sync to your cloud account while in studio. This tangible moment matters: couples say seeing the photos on a professional screen—not a phone—makes them real. We also show you the print-ready files if you've ordered an album, so you can approve layout and binding style before production.

If you're international and can't visit, we FaceTime or Zoom the gallery walkthrough, then email a secure download link. No pressure in-studio; the handover is a celebration, not a sales pitch.

What causes delays and how we handle them?

Issue	How it happens	Our fix	Timeline impact
Extreme volume spike	5+ shoots booked same week	Freelance editor joins team	+3–5 days
Client revision loops	10+ rounds of "can you brighten the sky?"	We set revisions to 2 rounds, then charge for extras	+0 if handled at intake
Equipment fail	Camera SD card corrupts (never happened, but we plan)	Shoot again before you leave Vietnam	Rebook within 48 hours
Weather reshoots	Typhoon cancels outdoor session	We reschedule free; old timeline clock resets	+7–14 days
Print production delay	Album printer backlog during holidays	We order 2 weeks earlier than needed	+0 if pre-planned
Client unavailable for revision input	Couple can't decide on edits for 10 days	We proceed with our recommendation; client reviews final before download	+5–7 days

Our single biggest issue: couples overseas request revisions after download, wanting edits Photoshop can't safely do (like "move my sister 2 inches left"). We prevent this by showing the full gallery upfront and asking "anything you'd change now?"

What does the final delivery package include?

You receive:

• 300 dpi high-resolution files (print-ready if you order later from another lab)
• Social-media JPEGs (1080p, optimized for Instagram, TikTok, Facebook)
• Digital gallery link to share with family (password protected, 90-day access)
• Printed album (if booked; shipped 2–3 weeks after you approve layout)
• USB drive with all files (backup copy, optional—most keep cloud only)
• License to share, print, and use for personal/social media (not commercial licensing or resale)

You don't receive: RAW files (unless requested), original Photoshop layers, or unlimited revision rounds after day 14. If you want a second album or large prints later, we provide a secure archive link so you can redownload files anytime.

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What to check before you book

Editing style match: Browse our pre-wedding photoshoot examples. Do the colors feel warm or cool? Is retouching heavy (poreless skin) or natural? Ask us to show a gallery from a similar season/location so you know what to expect.

Revision expectations: Ask upfront if 2 revision rounds are enough. If you're a perfectionist, discuss this before the shoot—some couples add an extra edit pass.

File delivery method: Confirm whether you want cloud-only (faster, no USB), or both. International couples traveling should know the download link stays active 90 days; download before you leave Vietnam if possible.

Album material: If ordering a printed album, see our binding and paper samples. We offer leather cover, lay-flat binding, and matte or glossy page finishes—each affects final look. Decide this during revision, not after.

Timeline flexibility: If you have a hard deadline (visa expires, you fly home), tell us at booking. We can sometimes prioritize your edit, but it costs more and may stress our team.

Real example: what went right and what we adjusted

Last month a couple from Australia booked a 6-hour shoot across Hanoi's Old Quarter and West Lake. Shoot went smoothly; 187 keepers after cull. On day 7, they flagged 15 revision requests—all reasonable: "the sky looks blown out in this one," "can you match skin tone to the first outfit change," "we love this location, any wider shots?" We saw the pattern: they loved the shoot but wanted refinement, not major changes. Day 11, they saw the updated gallery and approved for final. Day 14 we delivered. No delays.

What nearly tripped us: they asked for an album proof on day 12, which meant layout approval + print order before final delivery. We explained that's outside our 2–3 week timeline (our printers need 5 working days). They were okay to order the album after download and review at home. This taught us to clarify print timelines separately from photo delivery—they're two clocks, and mixing them confuses couples.

Transparent timeline checklist

Before booking: Know your shoot date and location (affects cull rate and edit complexity). Day 0–1 (your shoot): We back up files to two locations same day. You leave with a receipt and download link preview. Day 1–2: One editor claims your set; you receive a WhatsApp confirmation of expected delivery date. Day 7: Early gallery drops (partial edits); revision window opens. Day 14: Final gallery live; revisions close. Day 16–21: You schedule a studio handover or Zoom call for file delivery. Day 21: Files downloaded or cloud link confirmed active. Week 4+: Order prints anytime; your files stay archived with us for backup.

Couples sometimes ask if they can speed this up. The honest answer: no. We've tested faster timelines and quality suffers—colors shift between edit passes, we miss subtle retouching, or we miss your requests. The 2–3 week timeline is engineered for slow, careful work. If you're flying out before week 2, ask us about a "essential photos" partial delivery—maybe 40–50 best shots—while the full edit finishes.

See packages and prices on vietnamphotoshoot.com

Why we hand over in person when we can

Seeing your photos on a real screen—calibrated for color, not your phone—changes how you feel about them. Digital files on a computer monitor look richer than JPEGs on a phone. Our 30-minute handover sessions aren't required, but couples who do it tell us later that sitting down with a stylus, zooming into detail, and asking "why did you grade it this way?" makes the photos feel more real. It's the difference between reading a menu and tasting the food.

We've had couples fly in from Bangkok or Ho Chi Minh City just for the handover, even though they could download remotely. That's how much the ritual matters.

Learn more about our process

Read how we prepare for couple photoshoots and the decisions we make on set. Or explore special concept shoot timelines if you're planning a themed album. For the full package breakdown, visit our main pre-wedding page.

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Pages from our team you may need

• ao dai photoshoot package
• makeup and hair at your hotel

FAQ

Can I see the unedited photos before the 2-week edit is done?

Most couples don't ask for RAWs, but if you're a photography enthusiast, we can include unprocessed files in your delivery—they're large and will need your own editing software. Ask us upfront so we budget storage space.

What if I hate the color grading and want everything re-edited?

We offer two revision rounds included; a third round incurs a fee. Be specific in your first revision—"too warm," "boost blues," "soften skin tone"—so our editor doesn't guess. If you dislike the style fundamentally, this usually means our edit taste didn't match your vision; we'd rather know before you download.

Do you deliver RAW files or only JPEGs?

Standard delivery is high-resolution JPEG and optimized social JPEGs. RAWs available on request; they're 4–5x larger and require Lightroom or Capture One to view. Most couples don't need them, but photographers do.

Can I request additional copies of my album months after delivery?

Yes. Your edited files stay with us archived. Reorder albums or prints anytime by requesting a new layout and sending a new payment. Print production is 3–4 weeks after approval.

What if I want to extend the revision period beyond 2 rounds?

You can request it at the start of your revision window (day 7–8). Each additional round is a paid add-on. We limit this because unlimited revisions delay the next couple's schedule.

Do you deliver files internationally, or only in Vietnam?

We deliver worldwide via secure cloud link. You can download from any country once you have the login. Print orders ship to US addresses (5–10 days, free over set minimum) or we ship to Vietnam addresses directly.