Dan Schumacher

Photography & Design®

Frequently Asked Questions

Process and Timeline

 
Q: Can I get a consultation?

A: Absolutely! A free personal photography consultation is the best way to learn about our approach to wedding & event photography and to view our portfolio. Please call us at 773-914-9181 or complete an appointment form, and we'll be in touch within one business day.

 
Q: OK, I've reserved my event with you! What are the next steps?

A: We know that preparing for your wedding or event can be stressful. Our goal is to provide you with a reliable timeline, so that you can be confident that your photography is taken care of.

About Our Photography and Printing

Q: Why do you shoot exclusively in digital? A: The answer is simple: Digital photography offers equal quality and faster turnaround vs. 35mm film — all at a lower cost.

Here are just a few reasons why digital photography is our method of choice:

1. High quality photographs

Digital photography provides crisp, vibrant images, and gives the photographer a higher level of control during the development and printing process compared to 35mm film.

2. Unlimited photography

Digital wedding & event photographers use high-capacity digital storage media that requires much less frequent reloading than film. This allows your photographer to capture every moment of your wedding day in true photojournalistic style , without missing a beat.

3. Digital negatives give you total control

Digital proofs are ready quickly in a secure online gallery, where they can be easily viewed by you, your family and friends. All of our packages include your digital negatives on DVD, so you have ownership of your wedding & event photos for personal use.

4. Affordable quality

With digital, there's no additional cost to taking each photograph, so our photographers are free to take as many pictures as it requires to tell your story. That means you have a greater selection of images to choose from when it's time to assemble your album and order prints for yourself, your family and friends.

Q.How far in advance do I need to secure my date?
A.
The sooner the better! Really, it’s not uncommon for me to book dates months before an event.

Q. What if I need more time on my wedding day-will you stay?

If I see we are running out of time for photographic coverage, I will quietly approach you to let you know. You will then have the option of continuing your coverage at the overtime rate of $150 per hour with a 1 hour minimum.


Q. Do you take engagement sessions?

Yes, I do. The Engagement Session may include a Guest Signature Album (for your wedding guests to sign.



Q. What kind of albums to you offer?
Flush-Mount Album

A flush-mount album is a contemporary alternative to a traditional matted wedding album. Each page of the album is a borderless or bordered photographic print that can include multiple images and backgrounds. All of our flush-mount albums, also known as magazine-style albums, are hand crafted with the highest quality materials. We offer flush-mount album options in two of our album collections: Our Classic Collection and Modern Italian Collection.

Mini Albums

Mini albums are a scaled-down version of your wedding album. They offer an attractive and affordable way to share lasting memories of your special day with family and close friends.

Parent Books and Gift Albums 

Parent books and gift albums are a scaled-down version of your wedding album. They can be clones of your primary book or they can be unique. They offer an attractive and affordable way to share lasting memories of your special day with family and friends.  Parent Books are hardbound books with flush-mount pages. Albums have leather or simulated leather covers. They can have flush-mount or matted pages.
 

 
Q: Will my wedding and event photographer bring an assistant photographer?

A: Many of our packages include the option to have a second photographer at your wedding. This is option is valuable, because it means there will be another photojournalist at your event to capture more of those special moments.


Post-Production and Other Services

Q: Can I have a color photo printed black and white?

A: Yes - any color photograph can be printed in black and white. Our album designers have a great eye and can help make suggestions about which pictures look good in black and white. Ultimately, you have total control over the printing style of your wedding photos.

 
Q: Can I have my prints cropped?

A: Our standard print prices are for full-frame prints. Minor cropping can be done for an additional charge.

 
Q: What custom options do I have for my prints?

A: With our access to highly trained digital artists and several high-quality photo labs, you have an incredible range of services at your disposal. If you have something specific in mind, please ask. One of the more popular custom options for wedding photos is pastel effects, sometimes called colorization - this consists of a black and white photo featuring a specific object, such as a bouquet, rendered in color.

 
Q: Can you digitally retouch my photos?

Absolutely. We want you to be thrilled with every part of your story - that's why we offer digital retouching as an important part of our photography services. Our professional retouchers focus on creating your perfect wedding photos. Whether it's helping you look your best or creating a style for your photos that's as unique as you are, we're always working to create wedding photos you love.

All retouching is done to a copy of your photograph, so your originals will always remain unaltered. Once the retouching work is complete, you can have as many prints as you want, and your digital negatives will include copies of both the original and retouched photos. Retouching is included with some packages.

The most popular type of retouching services. If you've ever picked up a fashion magazine or admired photos of celebrities or models, you've already seen some of the possibilities of digital retouching. Most every photo published in non-news publications is modified in some way. Under some lighting conditions, the camera can be very unforgiving and reveal imperfections and blemishes that aren't even noticeable to the eye.

Possibilities:

  • Teeth whitening
  • Blemish removal
  • Aging reduction
  • Stray hair correction
  • Eyeglass glare removal
  • Skin shine reduction
  • Eye color change


Costs


Blemish removal and teeth whitening
We will perform minor blemish removal and basic teeth whitening free of charge on up to 5 photos from a single wedding, upon request. Additional photos are $50 each.


Advanced cosmetic retouching
These services are performed on a special quotation basis. Average cost is $75 - $100 per typical photograph.


 
Q: How will I order prints from my wedding?

A: Within about a month of your wedding, your photos will be posted to a password-protected area on our web site. Your guests, family and friends will be able to view your pictures and order prints instantly via our easy-to-use online ordering system.

All of the selected prints will appear in your shopping cart and will reflect the discounted pricing included in your package. Friends and family also enjoy the same pricing. When you are ready to place your order, simply proceed to checkout.

 
Q: Can I get digital files of the photos from my wedding so I can print them myself or have them printed elsewhere?

All of our packages include a DVD of the original high-resolution digital negatives of your photos.

All photos are provided in an industry-standard file format, without color correction, scaling or cropping. These files provide a great degree of control over the final print output and maximum compatibility with a wide range of digital printing systems. In this format, the files are viewable and printable, but not necessarily "ready-to-print" - they may require some manipulation to get the best results. Most digital-ready photo labs can provide this service, but may assess an additional charge. If you plan to print the photos with your home computer, you will need an image-editing application such as Adobe Photoshop or Photoshop Elements to alter or edit the pictures.

 

Q: What if I want to add albums or reprints later?

A: If you purchase the digital negatives from your wedding on DVD, you can make reprints at anytime. If you want to order albums or reprints through us, you are welcome to do so.

 
Q: How long will my enlargements last before fading?

A: All prints are made on quality photographic paper using an archival process. As long as you take reasonable precautions in caring for your prints, they will last 100 years or more without any noticeable loss of quality. If you do wish to hang framed prints where they will be exposed to sunlight, UV protection glass is recommended. This type of glass is available as an option from any quality framing shop.


How Payment Works

Q. What is your retainer fee to hold my date?

A. I usually schedule only one wedding / event per day and I cannot hold a date for you without a signed Wedding Agreement and Reservation Fee. This requires a non-refundable payment to secure your date which is 20% of the coverage price. Bookings are on a first come-first served basis only.


Q: When is my payment due, and is my retainer fee refundable?

A: We offer a straightforward payment schedule. Here's how it works:

  • 20% of your Retainer Fee is due at the time of booking, and is non refundable. 
  • The full balance is due 14 days before your wedding / event date.