Frequently Asked Questions
I've put together a list of responses to frequently asked questions. If you have any questions that are not listed below, feel free to email me at brittanyschnell@midco.net.
General Questions
Q: Do you deliver every image you shoot?
No, I do not. I eliminate duplicated images, out of focus images, photos with poor facial expressions, test shots and anything else that would dilute the overall quality of my clients personalized gallery. My explanation: because I shoot with a wide-open aperture to achieve beautiful bokeh, I often must take a few extra shots to make sure the focus is perfect. I don’t expect my clients to go through their own gallery to cull out these photos. I spend hours selecting the best images, so my clients don’t have to. Another explanation: I absolutely love those candid shots of candid laughs and tears of joy. Regrettably, they can also yield unflattering facial expressions. I might grab a few extra of these shots and take out the unappealing ones. For my clients, I choose quality over quantity. I strive to deliver great photos that spring emotion form the viewer.
Q: Does your studio provide videography services?
Kind of! I’ve been experimenting with videography. Let me know what you need and maybe we can work something out!
Q: Have you shot at my venue before?
I have shot at so many venues, it would be difficult to write them all down. There is a good chance that I have shot there before. If I have not, I make sure to arrive early and walk through the venue to find the best places to take photos. I also do extensive online research prior to the wedding day!
Q: Do you do destination weddings? What additional fees are associated with destination weddings?
While Brittanyography is based in Lemmon, SD; I have traveled across the upper Midwest for events. Destination Wedding packages include the cost of travel and reasonable accommodations. I do have a current passport, so let’s go somewhere! Email me at photo@brittanyography.com for more information.
Q: Do you provide partial day coverage?
This question has two answers, for the busy wedding season (April-October) I do not provide partial day coverage on Saturdays where I only accept couples that require a 8-hour wedding day. However, I am happy to accommodate shorter days any other day of the week, including Sunday. However, during the off season (November-March) I am happy to accommodate partial day needs.
Q: Does your studio do headshots, individual portraits, family portraits, newborn shoots, commercial photography, or other types of photography?
Yes, I have experience with pageant and professional headshots, portraits, and family portraits. I am happy to branch out to newborn photography, however there is a strong lack of newborn babies in my life, so I have very little experience in this field. Commercial photography is very similar to venue photos that I take every weekend at weddings, however I have also had little need for commercial photography in the past.
Q: Do you shoot Quinceaneras, Debutants, Bah Mitzvahs, or Corporate Events?
Yes. All these celebrations are considered ‘event photography.’ I have chosen to concentrate and excel at wedding & event photography. I would be honored capture your celebration.
Q: What if our ceremony is in a different language?
A picture speaks a thousand words, however I don’t necessarily speak every language. I am selfishly fluent in a singular language (English) however, I speak broken Spanish, Russian/Ukrainian, a bit of German and ASL. I am happy to capture all different heritages and cultures. I approach different cultures and traditions with through research. Speaking different languages may be a challenge, however the creativity, artistry, and approach at story telling through photos are universal concepts that I will portray in every gallery.
Style and Quality Questions
Q: What is your photography style?
I strongly dislike this question because my photography style adapts to each situation and client need. However, I’m particularly crazy about candid photos of people expressing emotion. Overwhelming emotion captured in a photo will incite emotion every time that photo is viewed. I know how to set up a perfect, traditional photo- and do it often. In conclusion, I have a mix of Lifestyle and Traditional photography styles.
Q: Can I see a full event from start to finish?
Yes. I pride myself in the consistency of my work. I understand that it is difficult to assess whether an entire gallery will hold the same quality of images that I post online. I’m happy to ease my client’s mind and aid them in determining my capability to provide them with a well-rounded gallery. I encourage my clients to view full events from all photographers they may be considering to see how they will preform throughout an entire day.
Q: My venue is very dark. How do you handle these situations, and can I see samples?
I have shot in some very dark places and walked away with terrific images. During wedding ceremonies, I choose not to use flash because it can be very distracting. I do not want to distract form this special moment. I am happy to break this rule upon request. My cameras and lenses have excellent low light capabilities, so there is no need to worry. For formal photos and receptions, I use off-camera lighting equipment. These lights sync with my camera and only flash when I need them to. I diffuse the light, so it is soft and more natural. To see examples, email me at photo@brittanyography.com
Post Production Questions
Q: Do you touch up all the images in our gallery?
Yes, I do. Every image I produce is edited with my unique approach at post-production. My post production process includes color correction, exposure adjustment, clarity adjustment and other corrections. My galleries have a consistent artistic flow.
Q: What is advanced post production, and why are there additional costs?
Advanced post production includes touch-ups such as blemish removal, removing bags under eyes, fly away hairs, or evening skin texture and so on. This is done by request only starting at $5 per image.
Q: What is custom post production?
Custom post production requires extensive work, such as removing entire objects from photos, changing the size and shape of body parts or other objects in the scene, adding objects to the scene and other custom work. I charge Hourly for custom post production as the time required changes from photo to photo based on the complexity of the project. Custom photos are done at request only at $40 per hour. Time estimates can be given based on photo and desired effects.
Q: Do you shoot in JPEG or RAW?
I shoot in 12-bit RAW format only. Since I am a SONY shooter, the file extension is .ARW
Wedding Day Questions
Q: How many hours do you suggest we set aside for wedding day photos?
Check out my Ideal Wedding Photography Timeline under the resources tab for a section by section breakdown of a wedding day.
Q: What happens if we go over the contracted time?
I understand that Wedding Days not always go as planned. While I don’t ever leave before my contracted time has come. I like to keep your day on time, so everything is in by the contracted end time, but in some cases, there is little to be done about going over time. In those cases, I just ask you if you would like to go over for the rate specified in your contract. If you have selected me through complete weddings and events, the rate is specified through Complete.
Q: When can we expect to see our photos from our wedding?
Wedding albums are available four to six weeks after your wedding date. I do my best to get your gallery to you as soon as possible, however I believe in delivering high quality images in each of my wedding galleries. I would rather have you wait a short time than receive a poorly edited gallery.
Q: Why do I need to pay for extra time?
While I am happy to accommodate your every need on your wedding day, I do have limits and do not care to work for free. I’m happy to stay longer, but my time is valuable, thus it costs. Since I am there longer, you will have more photos in your gallery. The additional photos take time to edit and cull, also part of the reason there is additional cost for over-time.
Q: Can I get all the RAW (.ARW) images from my wedding day?
I do not offer all RAW images in my wedding package. If you are determined to purchase all your RAW images, they can be purchased for the price stated in your contract.
Q: How many images will my wedding gallery have?
Wedding galleries are 600-900 photos for a 9 hour wedding day. If you are booking me through Complete Weddings and events, your gallery will be between 500-700 photos for a eight hour day. For every additional hour, estimate 75-125 extra photos. Remember the extra cost for over time is for shooting, culling and editing your photos.
Engagement Session Questions
Q: When can we expect to see our photos from our engagement session?
Engagement albums are available three to five weeks after your session date. I do my best to get your gallery to you as soon as possible, however I believe in delivering high quality images in each of my galleries.
Q: Can we schedule our engagement session for the weekend?
Because most weddings occur on the weekends (approximately April-November), I typically only shoot weddings on Saturdays during that time. However, in the off season (approximately December-March) I am happy to do an engagement session on the weekend. I also prefer to shoot on weekdays because locations are far less crowded. This is true in any place with a sizeable population.
Q: How many images do you typically deliver from an Engagement session?
An engagement session typically has between 80-120 images for a two-hour session. Every hour after the first two are about 30-50 images per hour.
Q: I’d like you to design our Save the Dates. Is that included in the Wedding/Engagement package?
Custom save-the-date images are priced at $75 per image and can be added to any package.
Q: We need our engagement session pictures fast, how soon can you get them to me?
If you need your photos quicker than three to five weeks, a rush edit fee can be added to your package for an additional $150.00
Image Download Questions and Legal Questions
Q: What size can we print our photos up to without our full resolution image download?
In most cases, photos can be printed up to 20 inches x 30 inches without any quality loss. If you would like to print photos larger than this an additional post-production cost will be required.
Q: What rights do I have to the digital prints?
You have the right to print and reprint your images as much as you would like. However, you may not sell or publish your images without the written consent of Brittanyography.
Q: How do I receive my gallery?
Your gallery will be available to you in a password protected gallery. This gallery will be emailed to you. Galleries are available for six months past your delivery date. There is a $100 charge for additional downloads after the event has been archived.
Equipment Questions
Q: What type of camera/equipment do you use?
Check out my current equipment under the About tab. Or click https://www.brittanyography.com/photo-equipment/
Meeting Policy Questions
Q: We don’t live in Lemmon, SD. Is it possible for us to meet closer to us?
I’d love to meet you in person, but it doesn’t always happen. Ask my about it. If I’m going to be traveling to your area, I’ll let you know, and we can set up a time to meet. If we can’t find a time, let’s skype or facetime so we can get to know each other and be the most prepared we can be.
Q: We’re very busy and won’t be able to meet. Are there any other options?
I would love to meet with you before your session, but if a meeting cannot be accommodated- that’s fine. We can handle everything remotely. Let’s set up a time for a phone call or skype/facetime appointment.
Payment and tax questions
Q: How do I reserve my date?
Your date is reserved once we have a signed contract and deposit.
Q: What if we exceed our contracted time for our engagement shoot and/or wedding day coverage?
We are happy to stay longer and keep creating incredible photographs with you, but there is an overtime fee as stated in your contract.
Q: Can I pay with a credit card?
Of course, you can! However, there is a standard, 3% fee for the charged amount.
Q: If we cancel the wedding, will we receive our deposit fee back?
Deposits are non-refundable. They are used to reserve your date. Once your date is reserved, other clients cannot be booked.
Q: Are there travel fees?
Not in North or South Dakota
Q: What taxes are charged?
Taxes are calculated based on the location the photos will be received. For example: a couple from Mott, North Dakota marries in Lemmon, South Dakota. Because the couple will be receiving their images at home, sales tax is paid to Mott & North Dakota.
Disclaimer: This list of questions is on the internet in many different websites. While many of these questions have been modified to fit Brittanyography’s clients, a majority of them are not an original piece of literature. Because many photographers use this list, I have had difficulty finding its origins.