Frequently asked questions | JZStudio Photography

JZ STUDIO WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. How long have you been photographing weddings?

I've been photographing weddings per year since 2016. And it's the BEST. JOB. EVER.

2. Should we do an engagement session?

YES! An engagement session is a couple's portrait session. It's a good way to get familiar with how I shoot/work/prompt/edit. It's also perfect for getting comfortable in front of the camera! We can schedule it immediately after booking or wait a little longer depending on what season you'd like it to be. If you're using these photos for your Save-the-Dates, I recommend the session to take place at least 6 months before the wedding.

3. Can we swap out the engagement session?

No, it is complimentary. You can choose not to schedule an engagement session but it cannot be swapped out for a discount, more hourly coverage, or anything else.

4. How long will it take to get my photos?

For photos, it takes 4-6 weeks after the event. The video takes 6-8 weeks after the client delivers the music for the video overlay.

5. What happens if you get sick or injured and can’t photograph me?

JZ Studio does not book more than one event in a day and has a backup resource to cover in case of an emergency.

6. Do I get the copyright to my photos?

All our photos and video come with full copyright to the client for personal use.

7. What if I need to reschedule?

We will accommodate the new date. In case we can’t, we will refund the deposit.

8. How many photos will I get?

Each moment tells a story. Each wedding is unique. we capture memories your way. There is no limit. I normally deliver between 75-100 professionally edited, high-resolution images per hour of coverage. It varies based on the wedding.

9. “Do you instruct for posing? I’m kind of awkward/unphotogenic.”

Of course. My approach is informal and professional. I’ve shot hundreds of weddings done every which way, and I wholeheartedly believe there are a million ways to do a wedding right; The best way is the way that is authentic to you and all the little quirks that make your relationship unique. There’s nothing I love more than genuine moments with life and energy and laughter! Capturing the joy of the day and making sure you have a blast while we work together are the most important things to me.

10. Am I allowed to print the photos that you deliver to me?

100% yes, with no size or print restrictions either, no watermarks, no hassle

11. How much retouching do you do?

Every image you receive is individually edited for color, contrast, exposure, and style. Some images occasionally require a little more finessing for temporary things like blemishes and pimples, but things like heavy facial retouching, wrinkle removal, or body reshaping are not included in my standard wedding packages and are available for an additional fee.

12. Are you able to shoot at night or at dark situations?

Absolutely. If you look through my portfolio, you’ll find a wide variety of images shot in darkness or unusual lighting situations. Shooting in the dark opens up a litany of options for introducing my own lighting and getting to play around! On the flip side, using off-camera lights in dark situations definitely requires a little bit of extra time to set up compared to shooting in beautiful natural light. I’d love to go into more depth about this conversation in person if you’re interested!

13. Do I own the copyright to my photos once you deliver them to me?

As the content creator, under US copyright law I am the copyright owner of the images. However, you have the freedom to share, print, scrapbook, and use your images for personal use however you see fit. I do not watermark my images.

14. How do I get my photos after?

Your photos will be delivered to you in an online gallery on my website, from the gallery you can print, view, and download high-resolution files to your heart’s content. You have the option to password restrict your gallery or keep it openly viewable to make it easier for friends and family to view. If you purchase the optional flash drive, you will get all photos in a flash drive.

15. Are you insured?

Yes, I am fully insured with both equipment insurance and liability insurance

16. Do you have backup equipment?

Yes, my regular setup is with 2 cameras and 2 lenses on my camera harness so I can switch cameras and lenses at a moment’s notice. I also own 4 additional backup cameras and many pro lenses that cover a wide variety of focal lengths. For flash, we use Profoto brand flashes and strobes. The camera we use Nikon full-frame cameras such as Z9, D5, D850, Z7II, etc. For video-shoot, we use Canon pro cameras C70, R5, DJI Drone, and more in that line.

17. What is your backup policy for photos?

I only shoot with cameras that have dual memory card slots, so the moment I take a photo it is instantly written to 2 memory cards. In the event of a memory card failure, I have a full backup, so no images are lost. Once images are brought back to my studio, they are downloaded to my computer, and immediately backed up to my on-site backup hard drive as well as the online cloud. That way I have an offsite backup in the event of a fire or theft.

18. Will you block my guests’ views on the wedding day?

I do my utmost at every wedding to be a photo-ninja and create as little disruption and distraction as possible for your guests. I’m never in the same spot for very long, which allows me to provide a wide variety of angles and perspectives and ensures that even if I happen to block a guest’s view for 30 seconds, I will not block or impede their experience for any extended period of time. I always check in with my couples to find out their preferences and priorities; Some couples want me to be an invisible fly on the wall, and some want me to get as close as possible for important moments. It’s up to you!

19. What do you charge for travel?

Because I love traveling and shooting in new places, I aim to make bringing me to wherever you’re going as accessible as possible. This means I don’t charge you for my travel time, just my direct travel expenses like gas, food, airfare, accommodations etc. if the location is more than 50 miles from zip code 60060. Every location is different and travel expenses can vary throughout the year, so contact me for more details.

20. What forms of payment do you accept?

I try to make it easy, so I can accept cash, cheques, and Zelle (preferred).

21. What's your payment structure?

A 10% deposit (or the amount mentioned in the quote) is due at the time of booking. The remaining balance from your package is due two days before the wedding date. If the payment structure is the only barrier between you and incredible photos, drop me a line and we may be able to work out a payment structure that works for you.

22. What do you wear to a wedding?

My aim at every wedding is to blend in as if I were a wedding guest. This typically means dress pants, leather shoes, and a collared shirt - never jeans or a t-shirt. I check in with every couple to see how formal their wedding attire expectation is and make sure to match that while still wearing practical enough clothing that it doesn’t impede me from doing my job.

23. Do you shoot formal and family photos too?

Definitely. If you take a look through my full client galleries you will see family photos at every wedding. While these don’t tend to be the most creative or unique images that typically fill a wedding portfolio, they’re a central and important part of a wedding day and I make sure to photograph every grouping that is important to you. For some couples, this means a half dozen groupings, for others it could mean 50, whatever the number is for you I’ll be sure to accommodate that when we schedule your day together.

24. Are your packages taxed?

In the state of Illinois, digital items delivered electronically do not require sales tax; however, since we provide a USB drive and album on all wedding packages, the tax laws apply, and the deliverables are now considered tangible. Taxes are not included in the price of the package and will be applied at the time of invoicing.

Services are not taxable unless the service produces physical goods, such as albums, prints, and any digital media (USB, CD, etc.) Illinois law requires sales tax on 10% of the service’s total price and must be applied.

25. What is your cancellation policy?

Cancellations are a tough situation that nobody wants to encounter. If cancellation or rescheduling is because of covid-19, we will refund the deposit 100%. For other reasons, the deposit will not be refunded.

26. Do you deliver black and white photos?

A small portion of the images I deliver (typically less than 5%) are black and white which I feel it better suits the image, but the vast majority of images I deliver will be in color.

27. Do I need a second photographer for my wedding?

Sometimes. I'm very comfortable photographing weddings alone but a second photographer is usually needed if you are getting ready in separate locations and want that covered or you have a 200+ guest count. We do not split a schedule, we work the same hours.

28. What is the event day continuity plan?

Photographer(s) and videographer(s) travel to the client site in separate cars as a backup plan.

29. How do we capture clear audio at your wedding?

Clean, crisp audio is equally important as video when filming. we capture the audio in one or more of the following ways depending on the situation.

(a) The groom and officiant are mic'd up.

(b) We grab an audio feed from the DJ's mixer and loudspeaker.

(d) We record with the mic inside our camera.

30. What is your shooting style?

My style is what you see here. I love capturing people’s connections and moments; telling stories and sharing emotion through photography. I use natural light to capture the look and feel of the moment. I love the little moments and big ones, the tears and the laughs, and everything in between! I typically show bold colors, and vibrant tones, and love showing things as they appear. Think natural looking - just enhanced.

31. Will you look at my Pinterest board and replicate that?

I’d love to chat about what you’re looking for, and what you like about my images, and make note of any special moments you want to be captured. While Pinterest is great for wedding inspiration, I avoid entirely replicating Pinterest boards because it’s unoriginal. If there’s a style or vibe you like - let me know! However, I want your photos to be unique, capturing your love, your story, and your emotion.

32. What can we expect when we work with you?

You can definitely expect a fun, stress-free, enjoyable time. I shoot to share your story through your images, so the main goal is just to be yourself! I love capturing the small moments and the big scenes alike, making sure you’re enjoying every second of your special time. If you don’t like being in front of the camera don’t worry - I’ll make sure you’re comfortable. You don’t have to even think about the memories being captured - just be present, I’ll take care of the rest!

33. Do you shoot Quinceañeras, baptisms, ceremonies, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, or Corporate Events?

Yes. These are all considered ‘event photography.’ We have chosen to focus and excel at wedding and event photography, and we would love to cover your celebration.

34. What are the Drone use limitations?

Applicable drone videography can be limited by weather and FAA restrictions if the location is near an airport or other no-fly zone. Drone coverage may be limited or restricted by inclement weather (high wind, cold, or precipitation).

Please contact me with any additional questions you may have.