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Can we have our portrait taken outside?
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How long does a portrait session last?
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How many poses do I get?
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How many clothing changes do I get?
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When will I get my proofs?
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Do you do senior portraits?
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What should we wear?
WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY QUESTIONS
Are you available on my date?
You can check availability HERE.
However, it's not always up-to-the-minute so the safest thing to do is call me today at 513-702-0911.
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Will you hold my date?
Dates are held with a retainer payment and signed agreement on a first-come
basis.
I do not offer first refusals, so once you retain me, your date can not be taken from you.
Your retainer is fully refundable up to 4 months before your wedding date.
If circumstances come up and you need to cancel, no problem... you get your retainer back with
no hassle. I take the risk so you don't have to.
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Will you let me know if another bride contacts you about my date?
I get too many inquiries to keep track of and notify everyone.
Plus, many couples retain me with no advance contact.
You would be wise to assume that other couples are interested in your date, and that you
aren't the first to contact me
about it.
My advice is to be prepared to retain me when we get together so you don't risk loosing
your date right after we meet. (It happens often.)
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Will Jeff Schaefer photograph the wedding himself?
Yes, I will photograph your wedding myself with a second
photographer.
I won't send a less-capable substitute photographer to your wedding
after showing you photographs taken by myself. (An common
complaint about larger studios.)
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Will there be 2 photographers?
Yes. The second photographer provides more photojournalistic coverage
and captures different views of key moments. For instance during the toast
I'll be focused on your table, and my assistant might photograph the parent
table raising their glasses. Or, during your ceremony processional, I'll
photograph your bridesmaids walking down the aisle while my assistant
captures your nervous anticipation with your father.
The second photographer also assists me with portraits and lighting,
and enables me to work quickly and get dramatic and beautiful lighting.
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How many photographs will you take?
There is no limit to the number of photographs I'll take. After I edit the
selections, you'll receive on-average 100 photographs per hour that I was
with you.
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How much time will we need to spend taking photographs?
Every wedding is different, and the length of 'portrait session'
depends on how many creative photographs you want, the wedding party size, number of
small children, your family sizes, number of locations, and travel times. So, the
amount of time we spend doing creative photography 'sessions' varies. I can give you a good estimate once I get more information.
I will work with you before your wedding to construct a solid schedule for the day
so that we get all the photographs in the shortest amount of time possible,
without being rushed, and so
everyone has a great time.
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When will you start, and how long will you stay?
This varies with the package, but
I like to arrive before the arranged 'start' time,
to scope things out and set up. I assure you that I will stay for
the entire agreed upon length and often longer if the reception events
took longer than expected. I don't cut out early as soon as you've cut the cake.
Driving to and fro does not count towards the time.
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Will you pressure us to see each other before the wedding?
If I think it's in your best interest I will tell you the benefit
of photographing yourselves together before the ceremony.
But, I won’t pressure you, and I'll happily go with whatever you decide.
I understand that it's your wedding day, not mine.
I do recommend photographing you and your fiancé together before the ceremony if...
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you want photographs taken at a location other than the church or reception site, like a park.
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you want photographs taken outdoors, but it gets dark early (Spring and Fall).
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you don't want to miss any of your party.
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you want a wide variety of natural and candid feeling photographs.
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your ceremony is at 6:30 and you want dinner before 9:30.
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Lastly, there is one OVERWHELMING REASON to get your
photographs finished before the ceremony...
Imagine your wedding day. Imagine the excitement you feel
as you are pronounced husband and wife, you kiss each other,
and you speed down the aisle. You're bursting with joy. You want to hug
everyone, rejoice, and celebrate this blissful moment.
It’s the pinnacle of your relationship and your lives together and a
once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Why deny yourself that experience by standing on the altar for the
next hour while you MISS YOUR PARTY that you've been planning for a year?
You go from elated and blissful to anxious and on-edge because your hungry,
your feet hurt, we have to wait
for your brother-in-law, the flower girl won't cooperate, all while you're missing
your party. As quick and as wonderful as I am
(ha-ha), it's a mood killer.
An hour later, you will enter the reception in a vastly
different frame of mind than you would have right after your
ceremony. It's a true shame to deny yourself a fun and perfect experience.
Rejoice in that blissful moment instead. Do your formal photographs
before the ceremony, so that afterwards you can celebrate with
your family and friends. It’s your once-in-a-lifetime moment.
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What is your style or philosophy for weddings?
I want creative portraits that are comfortable and natural.
We'll do a few traditional photographs, then move on to more fun /
spontaneous, and romantic
/ sentimental moments where you focus on each other, not the camera. These
photographs are very candid and natural feeling...
and MUCH more romantic and fun.
I also use strong compositions and dramatic angles and lighting, that stand out from
other photographer's stiff, boring, 'hands-folded' images.
When we're not doing group photographs, I remain inconspicuous and capture candid moments as they happen.
I don't stop the action for a photograph, nor do I need to re-create moments
because I capture everything as it happens.
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Do we get a disc and can we make our own prints?
Yes, and yes.
The photographs are not stamped or watermarked in any way.
You'll receive a signed copyright print release, so you are free to make
your own prints, share them with family and friends, print out your own
photo thank you cards, make your own wedding scrap book, add wedding images
to your blog or facebook, and make a back-up copies of your disc for safe
keeping.
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Is an engagement or bridal portrait session included in the wedding package?
I have packages that both include and don't include engagement sessions. I don't make it a requirement like some photographers
do.
Benefits of the engagement portrait session:
1. The session is a great opportunity for us to get comfortable with each
other. After spending an evening with you, we will feel more like I'm a
friend instead of stranger on your wedding day.
2. You'll be more relaxed about being in front of the camera on your wedding day. That results in better wedding photographs!
3. You'll LOVE your photographs.
4. You can create save the date cards and Christmas cards.
5. We can create a custom engagement signature book.
6. The photographs make a nice addition to the album.
But, if you're only interested the wedding photographs, that's fine. I
completely understand, and have packages for you.
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What wedding albums can I get?
I provide several types of albums for both the couple and families.
See the albums page.
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What equipment do you use?
I use multiple Canon professional cameras and lenses.
In addition to the cameras I use a multiple lighting system that few
photographs do. My lighting system provides 100% assurance that you'll get
bright and beautiful photographs no matter how dark the light is.
With the flick of a few switches I quickly go from bold, dramatic images to
a soft, warm, and intimate.
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Will you have backup equipment?
I will have a back-up of every piece of equipment.
Not counting the second photographer's equipment,
I bring 3 camera bodies, 8 lenses, 7 flashes, extra batteries, back-up cards,
cords, etc...
basically several complete outfits. You do not need to worry about an equipment failure.
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How many weddings have you done?
I began photographing weddings in 2001 and have photographed 20
to 40 weddings every year since. It is my full-time occupation.
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Do we provide a meal for you and your assistant?
No. We bring light snacks so we can keep moving quickly. A big meal just
slows us down and makes it hard to get moving again. Plus, the dinner hour
is the best time to photograph decorations, flowers, rings, cake, etc.
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Will having a videographer affect my pictures?
Most videographers are professional and unobtrusive. Some like to stand
very close to the couple throughout the ceremony and the first dance which
ultimately results in photographs with the videographer in them.
A word with them beforehand will usually suffice.
I have some videographers that I have worked with and recommend on my
Recommended Vendors page.
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Will you book more than one wedding on the same day?
No. Neither of us need that kind of stress.
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What if you’re sick and can’t make it on my wedding day?
Unfortunately, I've heard many stories about photographers canceling right before the wedding.
In nearly all of these cases the photographer canceled for a non-health or
non-emergency reason. Usually, it’s because a better deal came along on their
date. Or, a
larger studio had a few photographers quit. It happens all the time.
There is no way I would do something so unscrupulous to you!
Once you have me booked... I’m there, and I won’t double book... Period.
I know how important your wedding photographs are to you. I stake my livelihood on my reputation and I wouldn’t do anything to tarnish it.
However, there are no absolute guarantees in life. Anything can happen to me or
any of your vendors. But, you should know that since I started photographing
weddings in 2001, I have had the good fortune of good health and have never
missed an event. It would take a catastrophic event
or serious hospitalization to cause me to miss a wedding. No matter what my
circumstances are, I would make every attempt to photograph the wedding.
In the unlikely event that something
absolutely beyond my control prevents me from attending your wedding, I will do
everything possible to find the very best substitute available. I will
make every attempt to exceed your expectations given that unlikely scenario.
I am connected with many excellent photographers that would fill in as principal photographer in an emergency.
My assistant photographers would be there with them also.
If I can not find a suitable replacement, you will receive a full refund.
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Where are you located?
Jeff Schaefer Photography studio is located in Fairfield Ohio,
very close to I-275.
6361 Kings Arms Way Fairfield, OH 45014
Click here for directions.
30 minutes from downtown Cincinnati.
40 minutes from Florence.
50 minutes from Dayton.
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How far will you travel?
Cincinnati, Dayton, and Northern Kentucky weddings
- There is no travel charge and no minimum package requirement for travel
within a one hour drive of Cincinnati. That includes all of Dayton,
and Northern Kentucky.
Columbus, Indianapolis, Louisville, and Lexington weddings
- Areas that are a 2 hour drive from Cincinnati
require a minimum booking, but no travel charge.
Destinations
- Areas greater than a 3 hour drive require a minimum booking,
and a reasonable travel charge to cover expenses.
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PORTRAIT QUESTIONS
Can we have our portrait taken outside?
Absolutely! It's my specialty.
By doing the portraits at your home or your favorite park, the settings are casual,
not intimidating, and fun for the kids and adults.
We can spend hours with you to create a masterpiece, instead of rushing you through
like the strip-mall studios.
We create both traditional portraits along with candid, natural and interactive
photographs that are fun and show everyone’s personality.
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How long does a portrait session last?
I can spend as much time as we need to get some great photographs.
The actual duration really depends on the group size and how much variety you'd like.
