FAQ

Can we meet up and chat?

For weddings - of course! We love coffee, and enjoy getting out of the studio to meet up at a Starbucks near you! As we have several amazingly talented photographers that are located in different areas of the GTA, it's also possible to arrange a meeting that works best for everyone - so just let us know where you are, and we'll do our best to make it as convenient as possible! Just drop us a line, and we'll bring some samples of our work. We generally do phone consulations or chat by email for photo shoots!

How do I book you for a shoot?

Just send us an email, or complete the contact form on our website, to request a shoot or check our availability for your wedding or event. We'll get back to you right away, and make arrangements for times and places, and all that other fun stuff!

I've just booked you for our wedding...now what?

Once your contract has been signed and deposit received, your wedding is officially booked with us! Hooray! We use a nifty little online booking system that we'll have all your info in, including your contract and questionnaires. We will send you a digital questionnaire to fill out (take your time, it's lengthy!) and then we'll talk about when you'd like to schedule your engagement session. In the meantime we'll brainstorm with you about what your engagement story will be about, and start talking details about your big day!

• WEDDING COVERAGE

Can we have both the bride AND groom covered while they're getting ready?

Of course! This is one of the many reasons we always have TWO PHOTOGRAPHERS on your wedding day! We are pros at making sure every moment of your day is documented, so it's important to us that we get the whole story, including both the bride and groom getting ready. We work independently for the first part of the day, until we meet up at the church or ceremony venue, where we work as a team for the remainder of the day.

I don't want all-day coverage. Do you have another package?

We do offer a smaller package that includes 8 hours of continuous coverage.

What do you mean by 'all-day' photography?

Just what it says! We arrive when you need us, and leave when you don't! We'll start in the morning while you're getting ready, and stay until the festivities or important moments are all wrapped up at your reception. All-day coverage ends at midnight.

Where can I see more of specific photographer's work?

Just click on CATEGORIES in the top menu of this blog, then go to OUR PHOTOGRAPHERS and choose an individual to view their work! You can also read their bios on our official website at http://www.RenaissanceStudios.ca. We blog every shoot and wedding, however it can often take a few months before items are posted here - so feel free to contact us to see more work by a specific shooter, since we likely have a lot more available that hasn't "made the blog" quite yet!

Who will be photographing my wedding?

Renaissance Studios Photography is owned by Clint Russell and Shawn Van Daele, photographers. Clint and Shawn both offer wedding coverage - but unfortunately can only be in one place (each) at a time! We have sourced the BEST group of professional photographers in the area, with VERY similar styles, exerience, ethics and creativity - in the event that we are already booked for your date. Your photos will still look like everything you see on our website and blog since we are sticklers for quality - and hand edit and correct every single image in our Milton based studio to ensure your photos are consistent with the style of Renaissance Studios Photography, regardless of photographer. You will always meet with the photographer who will be covering your wedding before you book with us.

Who will be the second shooter for my wedding?

All of our second photographers are equally professional, highly skilled and creative, and are often actual lead photographers whose bios and work are available on our website and blog. Second shooters are chosen in advance of your wedding, but not assigned until closer to the actual date. Shooters are assigned based on availability and locale, as well as preference of your lead photographer. The second shooter is responsible for a lot of the documentary coverage (candids) as well as the groom's preparation, whereas the lead photographer is responsible for the bride's coverage (prep) as well as the formal/fun groupings. Unfortunately we cannot accept specific requests for who your second photographer will be.

• ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS

Can I substitute something else for our engagement session?

Yes, we offer the alternative of choosing a boudoir session instead of an engagement session, however we always recommend keeping your engagement session (it's great practice and a lot of fun!). You can also completely remove the session from your package to reduce your costs by $150.

How long does an engagement session last?

Engagement sessions (e-sessions) usually last 2 to 3 hours, and are LOTS OF FUN! E-Sessions are so important to your wedding day, since it gives us all a chance to work together as photographer and couple, so your wedding day isn't the first time we've been behind a camera with you! E-Sessions are one of our favourite things to do...check out our blog for tons of ideas for your e-session with us. It's all about choosing a theme and telling a story, and getting comfortable with each other before your big day.

• TRAVEL & DISTANCE

Do you charge for travel?

Not within 2 hours of our studio in Milton, Ontario. Travel is charged at $.75/km beyond the 200km radius of our studio. It's easiest to just send us an email and we can confirm that travel IS included for the location of your event or shoot, or what the travel fees would be for your wedding or shoot!

We're planning a destination wedding, or a wedding outside of Ontario. Can you cover it?

Unfortunately, we are no longer offering destination photography services. We service Ontario, Canada, with the exception of some European destinations.

• PAYMENT OPTIONS

Can we save the tax if we pay cash?

No, sorry. We like to stay on the very good side of the CRA so we reputably charge the proper taxes on all our transactions. 13% HST is applied to all our transactions.

Can we set up a payment plan for our wedding?

Yes! Just request this from us and we'll help you out! All wedding balances are due 2 days before your wedding though, so we usually arrange monthly payments to span the period from when you book, until 2 days prior to your wedding day.

How can I pay you?

We accept cash, email money transfer (preferred), PayPal (all major credit cards), and cheque. You can also phone in a credit card payment to our studio at 519-856-0300.

What happens to our deposit if we cancel or change our wedding date?

Unfortunately, all deposits are non-refundable, as noted in your wedding contract. However, we DO honour your deposit if you are changing your date (pending our availability).

When do I pay you?

Portrait sessions are due at your shoot. Weddings require a 20% deposit, and the final balance paid at least 2 days prior to your wedding day.

Can I get all my RAW images, that you didn't edit?

Unfortunately, no. We only release the edited, final photos, the same way that a musician doesn't put the tracks that didn't make the cut on their CD!

How do we get to see our final images?

We post all your final edited images in a private online gallery. From there you can view, share, order, or download (if included in your package) the images at high-res (or any size you'd like). You can share your gallery password with anyone and they'll be able to check out your photos too, including ordering prints, enlargements, or more.

How do you "finish" my photos?

We use our artistic intuition to choose which photos look best finished in certain styles. This means your final gallery of photos will have the best images, finished in a manner we've chosen best shows them off. A wedding gallery will generally have 10-20% black and whites, 15-20% artistic finishes, and the rest finished in a clean and crisp colour correction. We always polish skin tones, remove blemishes and other things in photos like exit signs or distracting elements.

How long does it take to edit my photos?

Portrait sessions are usually complete within 5-6 weeks, and wedding packages take about 12-14 weeks. We hand-correct and edit EVERY SINGLE PHOTO in your package, so this can take, well...a LOT of time! It's worth it though :)

What if I want different finishes on certain photos once I've received my gallery?

If you have a preference for how you'd like your images finished, please let us know BEFORE your photo shoot or wedding. Editing takes a very long time as we hand correct and edit every single photo in your gallery. So, though we'd love to, we are unable to "re-edit" your images once they've been edited and supplied to you. If there's just a few select images you'd like in a different finish, that's no problem! Just let us know and we'll help you out - however we are unable to re-edit large quantities of images - so please let us know ahead of time if you absolutely LOVE black and whites, HATE artistic finishes, or want EVERYTHING vintage looking!

• CDs, DVDs, ALBUMS & MORE

How many photos are on my Hi-Res CD/DVD I get with my wedding or portrait package?

You receive ALL your hi-res, retouched images on your CD. Portrait sessions include a minimum of 30 hi-res edited photos, that are print-ready. Wedding discs include a minimum of 500 (or, whatever is included in YOUR package) hi-res, edited photos, that are print-ready.

How many prints are included in our package?

We don't included prints in your packages, but we do include 2 gorgeous hardcover coffee table books instead! Our print prices are incredible, considering we use on of the best pro-labs available (BayPhoto), who hand-inspect every photo before it's printed on the best Kodak Lustre paper in the industry. You are free to order prints through your private online gallery, or use the CD/DVD of high-res images included in your package to print your photos wherever you'd like. Our online prints start at $1.99 for a 4x6.

If a disc isn't included in my package, how much does it cost?

Portrait session CDs are $100+tax, and Wedding discs are $300+tax.

• MISCELLANEOUS

How much are smiles?

Smiles are FREE of course! Partybooths though are $975+tax. You can learn more about these awesome self-serve photo booths for your wedding at www.PartyBooth.ca

What about photography permits?

If you choose a location for your wedding photos or photo shoot that requires a permit, you are responsible for acquiring and paying for the permit. It's recommended to always check ahead of time with your desired locations to see if a permit is required. Permits range in price from $50 to $500 or more - so it's always good to shop around for similar venues that may not cost as much. Please make sure to have your printed permits on hand the day of your shoot!