weddings

"Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!"  There aren't words to describe what you did for us.  The pictures made us cry and we felt like we were back to our wedding day again (we want to go back :).  It's amazing how you can put all of the emotion we were experiencing into the pictures.  That is talent!  We now will always be able to see and feel our whole day unfold again - how special and amazing." 

-Amber and Vince

Soul. Story. Style.  After shooting over 115 weddings in 3 years, these are the words that resonate most with my shooting philosophy.  Soul | Great photography always reveals Soul.  Personality.  Character.  Story | It's one of the most powerful forces in human existence.  Story gives us meaning, inspiration, hope, and shapes our greatest treasure: relationships.  The primary purpose of photography is to remember Story. Style | A look and feel that's consistently distinctive with a focus on light. 

I love creating great, amazing, dramatic pictures, sure.  And I hope to in every shoot.  But to me, the images you'll truly treasure forever are the relaxed portraits that reveal who you are and tell your Story.  So, I point my lens at details, moments, emotion, and relationships.  

Frequently Asked Questions:

Style: 

What type of photography do you do? 

Seems like every photographer will answer this question with "journalistic" or "un-staged" or "creative."  I say to just trust your eyes.  To be completely honest, I don't think photography should be limited by a "genre." And in fact, I'd love to master a high end commercial 5 light setup as much as I would an available light black and white editorial (and everything in between).  What's always consistent is the way in which I go about the capture.  I want to be as unobtrusive and hands off as possible.  I want to appear as if I'm an old friend with a really nice camera.  Sure, there's a time and place for gorgeous, casually posed images of the bride and groom together. So while I won't stop you and make you pose while cutting the cake, I would like about an hour (or more!) alone with you both (if possible) sometime during the day to create some images of you without your wedding party or guests looking on. And since you've spent a great deal of time and money on all those details, they will be captured.  Cakes, shoes, flowers, they all add flavor to the story.  My images of the guests at the wedding are almost 100% journalistic .  I won't stop entire tables at the reception and make them pose for "table shots", preferring instead to capture them laughing, smiling, dancing, drinking, and having a great time. 

Do you still take posed family images? 

Absolutely. These family images record your most treasured relationships at one of the most momentous times of your life. A few weeks before your wedding our studio will send you a questionnaire covering the details of the day and among the other questions is a list of posed images - these are the family groupings that I traditionally photograph at each wedding.  You'll have space to write in your own additional groupings. PLEASE bear in mind that the hallmark of my coverage is journalistic and real-time, so a very long list of posed images will hinder my ability to cover the event in a documentary manner.  In general, I encourage clients to stick to immediate family (parents, siblings with spouses/kids) and grandparents. These groupings are quick, easy, and largely informal and I try to make them pleasant and enjoyable for everyone involved! 

Can we give you a shot list of photographs we want you to take? 

Other than the family groupings, I prefer not. It is very helpful to know what important relatives and friends are coming to your day, and if any events bear special significance, but repeated requests for posed images and having me work "from a checklist" is counterproductive to the work you've seen here on my website and to the nature of both journalism as well as looking for great light. "Shot lists" provided by many major bridal magazines are a great idea, but please understand that I generally will capture those images without prompting.

Coverage and Products: 

Where's your studio?  Do you travel?

Shultz Photography lives in Springfield, IL ... but yes, I'll travel anywhere nice :). I've shot weddings in the US Virgin Islands, the Dominican Republic, and throughout the midwest.  I'm glad to orchestrate my own travel plans if needed.  In this case, all travel costs are covered in the package and no additional billing will occur after the wedding.  In some cases, such as at all inclusive resorts with group rates, it's easier for the bride to make travel arrangements such as air-fare and lodging.  In such cases, I'll offer back half of these travel expenses in the form of a print credit to the Shultz Photography studio and keep all other packaging/pricing as if I were shooting it in town.

Is Kyle the only photographer? 

Yes. I (Kyle) am the sole primary photographer with Shultz Photography | Weddings. 

Does he have an assistant? Another photographer? 

Yes. The assistant photographer focuses on lighting assistance and bridal assistance primarily, though second shoots as needed during the ceremony, reception, etc.

How long does it take to get our products and images? 

Online galleries are posted within six weeks of the wedding date. Printed proofs and/or digital media is available within eight weeks of the event. Upon final approval of album designs most albums are ready for delivery within eight weeks. 

How many pictures will we get? 

The number of photographs taken depends on many things - the number of guests, hours of coverage, types of events, etc. our bare minimum is 500 images, but often it's much, much higher. 

Do we get to keep the negatives? 

Some packages include digital media, though you can always add it a-la-carte to any package.  My primary reason for offering professionally printed proofs is quality control.  If all I do is burn the images to a disk and put them up online, there's a good chance our work will look bad on someone's janky 1992 monitor.  Monitors need calibrated weekly by professional hardware to produce correct color, brightness, and contrast.  Since most people don't do this, professionally printed 4x6's are what we offer.  Quality.  And yes, these prints (all 500-1000 of them) are yours to keep forever.  No watermarks, loose in a box, ready to give away or frame.  In instances in which you do purchase digital files, we do retain the copyright to the images and the right to use them for promotional purposes, competition, professional review, and so on. you will get a written release that will allow you to make unlimited personal reproductions and copies for your friends and families. 

What's the difference between your mid rez dvd and high rez dvd?

As simply as I can state it, the dvd with mid rez image files are sized to print 4x6's and 5x7's.  The files on the high rez dvd are full rez and can print big wall prints.  The reason our high rez dvd costs so much more?  Well, I don't want you going to Wal Mart, printing a 24x36, having it look nasty, then put it up on your wall telling everyone I took it.  Call me crazy.  If it's up on the wall (wall portrait sized), I want to give it TLC and make sure it's printed exceptionally.  For me to give up that control...will cost ya!

Do you come to the rehearsal? 

Not usually (very rarely actually).  Rehearsal dinner coverage is available if you'd like to add it to your package.  Otherwise I do not attend rehearsals as I'm up to speed through a series of questionnaires completed before the wedding.

How does the album design process work? 

If you want to choose the images for the book, we'll give you 1 month to do so.  If you don't select your images within that time frame, Kendahl (the Shultz Photo Graphic Design Guru) will make a first draft design for you. You do get to preview your album design and make one round of changes to it before a change-fee is assessed. Once you approve the layout Kendahl will help you choose your album cover style, color, imprinting, and other small details. Then you'll sign off on the book and it will go to print. All of this process can be completed online simply and easily. Once you choose your images it takes about four weeks to produce your first draft and each round of changes generally takes two business weeks to complete. 

What will my album look like? 

Well, incredible :)  We've partnered with an exceptional book maker in Texas.  Pages are true photographic prints, mounted to a 2mm substrate that opens up completely flat with no splitt binding nor gutter.  Covers come in a vast selection of leather, metal, photographic, fabric, or combination.  

What is the online gallery? 

The online gallery is a private, password protected section on our website where all of your wedding photographs will be placed online for you and your family and friends to view. It is also a secure shopping cart - which allows you (and your family and friends) to order prints and cards and select album prints online. All you have to do is provide the password to anyone who you want to be able to view the images.  By default, the password is the bride's maiden name, in all lowercase.

Business and Details: 

Do you have insurance? 

Yes. 

What kind of equipment do you use? 

Top of the line professional Canon equipment, lenses, and extensive backups (3 bodies,  7 lenses).  I also us state of the art Elinchrom lights as well as speedlights, depending on what's needed, not to mention over 20 modifiers to shape light (both ambient and flash).

How long have you been in business? How many weddings have you photographed? 

I started free lancing in 2005, assisting and dabbling.  I 'experimented' with a few commissioned jobs in 2006 and by Jan 1, 2007, was full time (meaning I gave up the day job, which I happened to love).  I think I photographed around 15 weddings in 2006 In 2007-2009 I photographed over 110 weddings.

Can you hold the date for me? 

I'm sorry, but we can't hold the date or pencil you in. To be fair to everyone we can't "hold" a date without a retainer and a signed contract. We accept bookings on a first come/first served basis.  Seems to be the only fair way I know how to operate.  And please note, unlike some studios, I do NOT double (and triple) book weddings and farm them out.  If you've booked me, you get me, and then my studio is unavailable for that date, period.

What is your payment schedule like? 

A booking fee/retainer of $500 is due to reserve your date. 50% of your balance is due 90 days before your event with the final amount due the week of the wedding. If booking under thirty days before the wedding the entire contract amount is due at the time of signing.  If your wedding is over 18 months away, the deposit is $1000.

I have to cancel my wedding. can i have my retainer back? 

Sorry. The retainer fee and all monies paid are non-refundable. The retainer guarantees that we will hold the date exclusively for you and once you've signed the contract we do turn down all other commissions for that date.  Thus, cancelled weddings can cause a substantial loss to the studio.

What if you, like, die? 

If Kyle dies we can guarantee he will NOT be at your wedding. However, we will still supply you with coverage from our contracted assistant or second shooter (based on your contract). Kyle is also a member of many national and local organizations and networking groups upon which we could call to find you a replacement photographer. 

If we decide to commission Kyle for our wedding, when should we book? 

ASAP. Since we cannot "hold" dates or "pencil you in", dates are booked when...well, when they're booked. Most of my commissions contract me within 8-12 months of the wedding, though sometimes much longer or shorter.  

Also, I DO limit the number of weddings I shoot every year (2010 and beyond).  I have two kids now as well as a growing portrait studio.  Gone are the days of single handedly photographing 45 weddings in a year.  I limit my weddings to 25 per year and am usually completely booked by December for the subsequent calendar year.

Do you offer discounts for off-season or non-saturday events? 

Occasionally discounts are available but are based on time of year, my portriat schedule, and availability. If you have concerns about your budgetary needs, please contact the studio and let us know. 

Do we need to feed you at the reception? 

It would be really lovely if you did. It doesn't have to be the same as your sit-down meal (many caterers offer "vendor meals" as an add-on option) but food in general ensures that I remain cheerful, mobile, and that I don't turn into the Incredible Hulk. We prefer to be fed when YOU are fed, not afterwards, because when you are eating you're not at your most photogenic. And when you're done, we want to be done as well to continue your coverage. 

Can our family and friends take pictures with their cameras? Will that bother you? 

Of course they can and it doesn't bother me in the least bit! I only request they not swarm the family photographs right away because I'd prefer all eyes facing me in your images, but I don't mind at all if they snap away from the background. I do, however, strongly prefer that family or friends not come along for the bridal images or the images of you two alone for privacy purposes.  And because, frankly, other people can be distracting! I welcome other cameras during dancing, cake cutting, and other events.