Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have a photography studio?
As a wedding & engagement photojournalist, I have an
18-acre Outdoor Studio available for engagement and portrait sessions, featuring a variety of scenic and natural settings, including wooded, rocked, flowered, and grassy areas, rustic barn doors, and a lake. We also have a canoe available and will do in-water shots on request. The outdoor studio looks best and is recommended for use May through November.
I am also happy to travel to any location of your choice for engagement or portrait sessions any time of year, such as Harmon Park, Hastings College, Stolley Park, UNK's campus, downtown areas, or the GI Vet's Home.
Where are you located?
Cairo, Nebraska is 15 miles northwest of Grand Island. Our home office and outdoor studio is located just north of Cairo in the beautiful rolling sandhills along Hwy 11.
Will you travel?
If so, what are the additional costs for traveling?
Yes, I will travel! A travel fee of $.75 per mile each way is additional for any locations outside a 20-mile radius of Cairo, Nebr. Please request a quote for out-of-state, international or destination weddings.
Do you offer Albums?
Hardback coffee table books are available.
What types of photography do you do?
I specialize in weddings, engagement sessions, and also photograph seniors.
Do you work with film or digital photography?
I work exclusively with digital photography and use professional Canon products with backups for each piece of equipment.
Can we get our pictures on a CD?
Absolutely! All of our wedding day packages include all your images on CD.
Can we print the pictures from the CD?
Do we get a copyright release with our CD?
Yes, your photos are printable from the CD. I give you a photographer's release so that you may make prints of your photos, and we share the copyright. Your images will come as large JPG files and are not marked by any watermarks or studio name.
Can we order our prints through you?
Absolutely! I work with a professional lab who is very timely in creating the prints you order, color-corrected and on professional, archival Kodak Endura paper in a matte finish.
Can we order our prints online, or can you post them online so we can buy them and share with friends and family?
Yes, we will post your photos to our online proofing and purchasing site at your request.
What styles of photography do you offer?
I generally try to capture a good mix of both formal and photojournalistic styles, but, I am happy to do more of one or the other if that is your preference.
Formal: These traditional, posed photographs are completely arranged by the photographer, selecting the setting, lighting, positioning and expression of the subject, and are often captured in color.
Photojournalistic: This candid style generally shows true reactions and real emotions that cannot be captured in formal portraits alone. They often result from the photographer anticipating and recording a happening, without the subjects' knowledge, or, they may be artistically and creatively refined, or, uniquely posed by the photographer. These may be captured in color, black and white, or both.
I like the photojournalistic style, but will you also do our posed group formals?
Absolutely! I understand that posed formals are likely a very important part of capturing your day. We are happy to include both formal and photojournalistic styles in your day's photos. We will also take additional wedding photos at a local park, lake, or other outdoor location, at your request.
Can you hold our date for us while we decide about our photography needs?
Due to the limited number of prime wedding dates each year, I cannot hold your date for you without a deposit and signed contract. My bookings are operated on a first-signed, first-served basis for both wedding dates and engagement sessions, with a deposit and signed contract securing your date. My services are available to a limited number of discerning clients each year.
Who will be the photographer at our wedding?
I will be the photographer for your wedding. You will have direct contact with me from your first inquiry all the way through your wedding day and beyond.
How soon will we get our proofs?
Please allow up to 4 weeks for wedding or engagement session images. This is just an estimate; it may be shorter or longer depending on the circumstances and season. Your CD will be mailed to you via US Mail for your convenience.
Is there a limit on the amount of pictures you take? How many pictures will you take?
There is no limit on the amount of photographs taken during your selected coverage. I will take as many photographs as necessary to tell the story of your day. About 75 to 150 final images per hour of photography coverage is a good estimate.
Is there a minimum purchase of prints on top of our Package?
No.
How much time do you spend photographing our wedding day?
Coverage is available in packages of varying hours, depending on your needs and wishes for photography coverage of your day.
Should we do pictures before or after the wedding?
It is your wedding day, so of course this is really up to you. However, please know that I do not accept bookings for weddings where the bride and groom plan to wait until after the wedding for the majority of photos or will not see each other before the wedding. Through experience we have found that waiting to take photos until after the wedding tends to create a 'rushed' feeling and results in fewer photos, rushed wedding party members, hurried family members, and anxious guests. It also takes away from the amount of time and the calm atmosphere I need to give you the creative photos that are a part of my style. If you are concerned about the bride and groom having to see each other before the wedding, we can create a "Special Reveal" moment for the two of you in the church sanctuary. We'll clear it out, have the groom up front with his back turned, and have the bride walk down the aisle. The groom will turn around for the 'reveal' and the two of you will see each other for the first time all dressed up on your wedding day. We can take photos of this moment for you, or not, whatever you prefer. Taking photos and having a special moment for the two of you beforehand, in our experience, just seems to make photos go more smoothly and allow everyone to be more relaxed.
There will be smoking at our reception. Is that a problem?
Unfortunately, due to a severe smoke allergy, I cannot accept bookings for weddings where there will be smoking indoors in my presence at any time during your day.
What kinds of special effects do you offer?
While editing your images, I digitally enhance each image to best portray the moments captured. Enhancements may include black and white, sepia tone, vignettes, spot color, dream effects, or color saturation, among others.
Do you retouch our photos?
Minimal facial retouching, if necessary, is included in the editing of your images. This may include touch-up of blemishes, stray hairs, or other small skin markings. Any additional retouching is available only by request and at an additional per-image lab fee.
Do you bring backdrops?
I prefer to capture the atmosphere of your day creatively and on-location by including scenes from the setting of your special day as a part of your photographs.
Will we need to provide a photo checklist for our wedding?
I have a good idea of what should generally be photographed - my focus is ultimately to capture images from your wedding day as it unfolds! But - I'm open to your suggestions!
Will you give us suggestions on what to wear for our engagement photo session?
Yes, I provide a suggestion list for what to wear (and what not to wear) for engagement photo sessions.
When should we take our engagement photos?
This is, of course, really up to you, depending on how soon you need your engagement photos and what you plan to do with them. Please note, however, that our sessions are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis, and availability is limited. Because we shoot our engagement sessions outdoors, we recommend taking your engagement photos with us between May and October for the most favorable and pleasant backdrops and temperatures, but we do shoot year-round on location. Sessions are most generally available on Sundays or weeknight evenings.
How do you dress for weddings?
I wear something that is appropriate yet comfortable to work in, usually black slacks with a black top. I try to 'blend in' with your guests and not attract attention.
What is a consultation meeting?
A consultation is our initial meeting made by appointment after you have shown an interest in my services, where we will meet so that you may view my work, talk about pricing and packages, and discuss your wedding plans in detail. Any questions you may have will be answered, and we require that either the bride or groom (or both) attend the consultation, and parents or family/bridal party are welcome as well. There is no obligation to book, it is just an opportunity for us to meet and get to know one another. If both parties are in mutual agreement of interest, a contract will be presented and gone over in detail at this time as well.
Once you have booked our services, I offer a pre-wedding consultation as well, so that we may go over final details as your wedding date is near. If time or distance prevent us from meeting in person, I am happy to discuss details via phone or email, too.
BOOKING DETAILS
HIRING STEPHANIE
Please fill out our Request More Info/Check Availability Form to inquire about hiring Stephanie.
CONSULTATIONS
Consultation meetings are scheduled by appointment only. This ensures I am able to give you my full attention and provide you with prompt, courteous service. Consultation appointments are generally available on weekday evenings and weekends. Remember, company policy is first-signed, first-served for both wedding dates and engagement sessions and availability is limited. Our company reserves the right to refuse service without reason.
DEPOSITS & RESERVING YOUR DATE
To reserve your wedding date, a non-refundable deposit of $500.00 is due within two weeks of the date a contract is offered, in order to hold your date. Your deposit is applied to your total balance. When the deposit has been paid and the bride/groom and photographer have all signed the contract, your wedding date will be reserved!
WEDDING DATES OVER 1 YEAR AWAY
Please note our policy that weddings booked more than 1 year in advance of the date are only eligible for our Diamond level packages.
PAYMENT
The remaining balance will need to be paid by 30 days prior to your wedding. Payments toward this balance are accepted and welcome at any time.
PAYMENT OPTIONS
Cash or check is accepted for all services and products. Please inquire if you prefer to use a credit card.
SALES TAX
In accordance with Nebraska tax law, 5.5% sales tax applies to all products and services. Tax has already been included in all pricing.
OUT-OF-TOWN WEDDINGS
Locations more than 20 miles away from Cairo, Nebraska are subject to a travel fee of $0.75 per roundtrip mile.
HOLIDAY WEDDINGS
Weddings that fall on a holiday or holiday weekend are subject to a $150 holiday surcharge.
TURNAROUND TIME
Allow up to 4 weeks for wedding/engagement session images and print orders. These are only estimates and can take shorter or longer depending on the circumstances and season.
Have additional questions? Let us know!
Click here to contact Stephanie!
