Cincinnati wedding photographer affordable economical contemporary modern artistic photojournalism quality Cincinnati wedding photography

Frequently Asked Questions

Table of Contents

        Wedding Photography questions

  1. Are you available on my date?
  2. Will you hold my date?
  3. Will you let me know if another bride contacts you about my date?
  4. Will Jeff Schaefer photograph the wedding himself?
  5. Will there be 2 photographers?
  6. How many photographs will you take?
  7. How much time will we need to spend taking photographs?
  8. When will you start, and how long will you stay?
  9. What is your style or philosophy for weddings?
  10. What is the digital originals disc?
  11. Is an engagement or bridal portrait session included in the wedding package?
  12. What wedding albums can I get?
  13. What equipment do you use?
  14. Will you have backup equipment?
  15. Will you pressure us to see each other before the wedding?
  16. When will my pictures be ready?
  17. How many weddings have you done?
  18. Do we provide a meal for you and your assistant?
  19. Will having a videographer affect my pictures?
  20. Will you book more than one wedding on the same day?
  21. What if you’re sick and can’t make it on my wedding day?
  22. Where are you located?
  23. How far will you travel?

        Portrait Questions

  1. Can we have our portrait taken outside?
  2. How long does a portrait session last?
  3. How many poses do I get?
  4. How many clothing changes do I get?
  5. When will I get my proofs?
  6. Do you do senior portraits?
  7. What should we wear?

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY QUESTIONS


Are you available on my date?

Please check my availability on your wedding date HERE.

If you are inquiring about another type of appointment, please call 513-702-0911.

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Will you hold my date?

Dates are held with a retainer payment. I do not offer first refusals, so your date can not be taken from you.

Your retainer is refundable up to 4 months before your wedding date. If circumstances come up and you need to cancel, no problem... you can have your retainer back with no hassle. If it's within 4 months of your wedding, your retainer may be applied to another date, service, or product such as family portraits. 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?

Assuming we've met and you haven't reserved your date, I can try to let you know, but...

Many clients retain me over the phone with no advance notification. Many are former bridesmaids, family, or guests that know they want me, and don't want to miss out. They call, and they book.

And, there is a limit to the number of weddings I'll do in a given period. So, your date can become unavailable even if I don't book a wedding that day. I can't keep track of every possible combination to let you know that if X and Y retain me, then I'll need your day off. I usually reach my quota during the wedding season.

My advice is to retain me quickly; preferably while we meet. It breaks my heart when I have to tell a bride that waited too long to make a decision that her date has already been taken.

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Will Jeff Schaefer photograph the wedding himself?

Yes, I will photograph your wedding myself with a 2nd photographer / assistant.

I won't send a different, less capable photographer to your wedding after showing you photographs taken by myself when we met. (A common practice at larger studios.)

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Will there be 2 photographers?

Yes. The second photographer provides more photojournalistic coverage and is able to capture moments at a different angle than myself, the primary photographer. It is especially nice during the ceremony.

The second photographer also assists me with portraits and lighting, and enables me to work quickly and get awesome lighting effects.

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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 down, you'll receive on average 100 photographs per hour.

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How much time will we need to spend taking photographs?

Typically, we spend 30 minutes with bride, her family, and bridesmaids; 30 minutes with the groom, his family, and groomsmen; 20 minutes with the wedding party; 15 minutes with the families; then anywhere from 20 to 60 minutes with the bride and groom.

If the B&G are not seeing each other before the ceremony, we usually photograph the bride, her family, bridesmaids, then the groom, his family, and guys, 90 minutes before the ceremony. After the ceremony, the rest of the formals last around 60 minutes.

If the B&G are seeing each other before the ceremony for photographs, we usually start 2.5 to 3 hours prior, and are finished before guests arrive. Of course, we can go straight to the reception after the ceremony.

However, every wedding is different, and how long the formals take really depends on how many photographs you want, the wedding party size, number of small children, your family sizes, locations, and travel times.  So, the amount of time we spend doing photography 'sessions' is ultimately up to you.  I will work with you to construct a schedule for the day so that we get all the photographs you want at a comfortable pace.

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When will you start, and how long will you stay?

This varies with the collection we put together for you, but I usually arrive 1/2 hour 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. I won't cut out early once you've cut the cake.  Driving to and fro does not count towards the time.

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What is your style or philosophy for weddings?

I strive to make the portraits appear comfortable and natural. We'll do a few traditional photographs, then move on to more romantic moments where you focus on each other, not the camera. These photographs are very candid and realistic looking... and MUCH more romantic and fun.

I also use strong compositions and dramatic angles, that stand out from the stiff, boring, 'hands-folded' group shots.

When we're not doing group photographs, I remain inconspicuous and capture candid moments as they happen. I don't stop your formal dances for a photograph or re-create moments. I capture everything as it happens and get the shot the first time.

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What is the digital originals disc?

The digital originals disc contains high resolution, JPG files which can easily be printed at home or any lab. They make excellent quality prints up to 8x10.

There are NO COPYRIGHT NOTICES on the files and NO WATERMARKS.

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, make a back-up copy of the CD and put it in your safe deposit box.

The digital originals disc contains your unprocessed wedding originals, or digital 'negatives'... as they came, straight out of the camera. Just like film negatives, they are not retouched or enhanced.


Can the originals be retouched?

I'm afraid that it's not possible to brighten eyes, whiten teeth, smooth skin, remove blemishes and shine, fix stray hairs, remove eyeglass glare, fill shadows, dodge highlights, remove exit signs, vignette, add artistic effects, and more... on ALL 1000 photographs in any kind of timely manor. I'd need a month between each wedding.

I do retouch and enhance every photograph that you receive as a print or in your album. There is a big difference between the originals and the retouched photographs. I recommend you plan to order your prints from Jeff Schaefer Photography for your best possible appearance and artistic quality. Then, consider the digital originals disc as a copy for safekeeping.

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Is an engagement or bridal portrait session included in the wedding package?

An engagement or bridal portrait session is optional but, included with some packages. The photo session may be done either at my residential studio, or any other location of your choice.

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 with a fancy camera instead of stranger on your wedding day.
2. Couples are more relaxed about being in front of the camera on their wedding day once they've done the engagement session. That results in better wedding photographs!
3. You'll LOVE your photographs.
4. Create save the date cards and Christmas cards.
5. The photographs make a nice addition to the album.

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What wedding albums can I get?

I provide Willowbook Sequoia flush-mount albums and Flora brand matted albums See the albums page.

I have many samples in the studio to show you.

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What equipment do you use?

I photography with Canon 1D Mark II digital cameras and Canon professional lenses. These cameras are the top-of-the-line in digital image quality.

In addition to the cameras, I use a multiple flash (strobe) system. One flash is mounted on the camera, and additional flashes held by my assistant, or on light stands are triggered via remote control to provide 'studio' quality lighting, illuminate backgrounds, and/or provide artistic or dramatic lighting.

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Will you have backup equipment?

I bring a back-up of every piece of equipment. Not counting the second photographer's equipment, I bring 3 camera bodies, 8 lenses, 7 flashes, many batteries, back-up cards, etc... basically several complete outfits.

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Will you pressure us to see each other before the wedding?

It depends - and only a little. :) I will tell you the benefit of photographing yourselves together before the wedding if I think it's in your best interest. But, I won’t pressure you. Once you give me your answer... that’s it. I understand that it's your wedding day, not mine, and you've been envisioning it for a long time.

I recommend photographing the bride and groom together before the wedding if...

  • you want photographs taken at a location other than the church or reception site, like a park.
  • you want photographs taken outdoors, but it gets dark early (Spring and Fall).
  • you want to get to the reception quickly.
  • you want more photographs than the basics.
  • your ceremony is at 6:30, and will last an hour, and you want your dinner before 9:30pm.

There is one prevailing 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, kiss each other, and speed down the aisle. It’s the pinnacle of your relationship up to this point. You want to kiss each other, hug everyone, rejoice, and celebrate. I suggest you do that. It’s a shame to deny yourself of that once-in-a-lifetime experience and instead, stand on the altar for the next hour when you really won't want to be there.

Taking photographs for the next hour while you’re hungry, your feet hurt, your bouquet weighs a ton, the groomsmen won’t cooperate, we have to hunt for your brother-in-law, and beg to get the flower girl to look this way... is a mood killer. When we are finished, you will enter the reception in a vastly different frame of mind than after your ceremony.

Rejoice in that blissful moment instead. Do your formal photographs before the ceremony, so that afterwards you can celebrate with your families and friends. It’s the only time you will get to experience it in your lives.

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When will my pictures be ready?

Please allow up to two weeks from your wedding date for the online image gallery. Allow four months for albums. Allow 2 weeks for ordered prints.

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How many weddings have you done?

I began photographing weddings in June of 2001. I have photographed 20 to 30 weddings a year since.

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Do we provide a meal for you and your assistant?

No. a lot of photographers expect to be fed, but I don’t like to lounge around and eat your food while I can be getting great photographs. The dinner hour is a good time to photograph decorations, flowers, rings, cake, etc. I just eat a packed sandwich in the car on the way to the reception and I’m good to go.

(I might be tempted by a piece of cake.)

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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 images 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… a gorgeous couple, willing to pay for their most expensive package. Or, a larger studio had a few photographers quit.

There is no way I would do something so unscrupulous to anyone! 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. And, I wouldn’t do anything to tarnish my reputation, which I stake my livelihood on.

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 – I’ve never even been late.  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.

Now, to answer the actual question. In the unlikely event that something absolutely beyond my control prevents me from attending your wedding, I would do everything possible to find the very best substitute available. I would make every attempt to exceed your expectations given that unlikely scenario. I am connected with many competent area photographers that I can call upon. If I could not find a replacement for you, you would 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.

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How far will you travel?

I am based in Fairfield, Ohio, a northern suburb of Cincinnati. I will travel anywhere within the area of Columbus, Dayton, Indianapolis, Louisville, and Lexington for wedding photography. A charge applies for travel outside this region.

Locally, Jeff Schaefer Photography serves the following areas...

Ohio: Hamilton, Ohio, Warren, Ohio, Butler, Ohio, Clermont, Ohio, Cincinnati, Ohio, Dayton, Ohio, Columbus, Ohio, Oxford, Ohio, Miamitown, Ohio, Franklin, Ohio, New Haven, Ohio, Ross, Ohio, Fairfield, Ohio, Springdale, Ohio, Sharonville, Ohio, Mason, Ohio, Montgomery, Ohio, Delhi, Ohio, Bridgetown, Ohio, Cheviot, Ohio, Cleves, Ohio, Westwood, Ohio, Harrison, Ohio, West Chester, Ohio, Kings Mills, Ohio, Loveland, Ohio, Lebanon, Ohio, Morrow, Ohio, Wards Corner, Ohio, Symmes, Ohio, Madera, Ohio, Milford, Ohio, Beechmont, Ohio, Goshen, Ohio, Batavia, Ohio, Williamsburg, Ohio, Owensville, Ohio, Bethel, Ohio, New Richmond, Ohio.

Kentucky: Louisville, Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, Northern Kentucky, Boone, Kentucky, Campbell, Kentucky, Kenton, Kentucky, Covington, Kentucky, Newport, Kentucky, Florence, Kentucky, Erlanger, Kentucky, Hebron, Kentucky, Belleview, Kentucky, Burlington, Kentucky, Elsmere, Kentucky, Edgewood, Kentucky, Union, Kentucky, Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky, Independence, Kentucky, Crescent Springs, Kentucky, Alexandria, Kentucky, Turfway, Kentucky, Forest Hills, Kentucky, Southgate, Kentucky, Fort Thomas, Kentucky, Highland Heights, Kentucky, Cold Spring, Kentucky, Silver Grove, Kentucky, Gallatin, Kentucky, Grant, Kentucky, Pendleton, Kentucky.

Indiana: Indianapolis, Indiana, Dearborn, Indiana, Indiana, Lawrenceburg, Indiana, Aurora, Indiana, Rising Sun, Indiana, Bright, Indiana, West Harrison, Indiana, Saint Leon, Indiana, Brookville, Indiana, Bright, Indiana.

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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.

A baby session can last hours as we wait for the baby to be in the right mood (fed, dry, rested, and happy.)

A 'couples' outdoor portrait session may last 90 minutes.

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How many poses do I get?

You get as many 'poses' as we can do, as we flow from one to another to create incredible images that capture your spirit and personality.

Of course there are also the playful fun photographs which are not posed at all.

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How many clothing changes do I get?

As many outfits as you can bring.

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When will I get my proofs?

The following week, I'll project the photographs for you nice and big so you can see every detail to make your selections. It also enables us to talk about what custom retouching and enhancement you'd like.

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Do you do senior portraits?

I sure do. Please give me a call.

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What should we wear?

Families, and couples whose clothing blends harmoniously create a visually pleasing photograph where the viewer's eye goes directly to the faces. While we don't want everyone to be so matched that it looks like a "Best Buy" company photograph, we don't want visual chaos or, any one member to pop out.

Here's my portrait clothing advice:


COORDINATING

The couple or group's outfits should be the same style... dressy, business, or casual.

Everyone should choose simple garments within the same tonal ranges. Light and dark tones mixed together create visual confusion, as one subject comes forward and the other recedes.

Choose clothing in the same tonal ranges so that no single member stands out because the clothing is too light or bright as compared to the rest of the group.


STYLE

Slacks, skirt, or a dress are all fine as long as the outfit is simple.

The style should fit each other and the location... Dressy or business in urban settings, and casual in woodsy park settings.


COLORS

Medium to dark colors are more flattering and slimming.

Avoid bright colors and pastels.

Colors that approximate skin tones, like peach, pink, and coral are distracting.

With other colors like red, blue, and green, just consider the shade...
     Brick red and rust work well, while bright red is overpowering.
     Navy blue works well, while cobalt blue is overpowering.

Solids are best... Avoid bold stripes, plaids, and prints.

Footwear (even socks) will be visible in some photographs.
     For guys, socks should match the pants.

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Jeff Schaefer Photography
513.702.0911

Jeff,
Our pictures are beautiful! We appreciate that you worked with whatever we wanted and were so flexible. Thank you so much.
Jessica and Dan

All images © Jeff Schaefer Photography