Tips for booking your Ohio wedding photographer

Hey Ohio brides! I’m the photographer at Sheldon James Photography and I want to spread some awareness about how you should be vetting photographers to hire for your wedding day. This list can mean the difference between professional, reliable coverage for your wedding vs being ghosted/ losing your most important images. Since Covid, the photography community has seen its share of scammers and I want to help you avoid that at all cost! We are also the ones spending the most time with you on this day (sometimes more than your bridal party. Be sure to meet up with them in person during a consult to see if you click!

Ask your prospective photographer these questions

• Is your business registered with the state? (Look their business name up on the Ohio sec. State business search. Red flag if it doesn’t show up.) Moreover any certificates, awards, and BBB accreditation, this is how all business register with the state of Ohio for tax and good lawful standing.

•do you offer a complimentary 30 minute engagement session with your wedding packages? ( this really helps you get acquainted with your photographer! I’m so glad I chose to offer this to my clients. It really helps break the ice)

•Do you have a contract?

•Does your contract cover my wedding with another photographer if you end up not being able to attend and are you the main photographer that represents your business? There are some companies that have many photographers under one umbrella so what in turn happens is, you book a photography company and the person you initially spoke with is not the photographer who shows up to shoot your wedding on your wedding day

•if I want to add on time to my package, how much does an extra hour cost?

•what are your travel fees? All weddings booked with us do not require travel fees unless there is 1+ hour of travel time.

•do I receive all finalized (based on their discretion) digital images with each package?

•what is your payment method? (Invoicing service should be an option)

•what is your contractual turn around time vs your actual turn around time

•how many weddings have you done before

•are you experienced in flash photography

•does your contract require a seat at a table and a plate of food?( ALWAYS feed your vendors especially your photogs. We run around more than anyone else! )

•be sure they offer in person consults for weddings

•a second photographer isn’t as important a many think it is, it just makes the photographers job a bit easier. If they offer a second shooter, that means they will be trusting them with specific moments to capture while they’re capturing something else, so, be sure to ask how experienced that photographer is. If they’re trusted with a special moment and they don’t understand how their camera/flash works you might have just lost that moment forever. If they DONT offer a second shooter that is their professional decision and only effects the photographer.

•always ask to see full galleries of past weddings so you can see their work in all light conditions

•how the images are delivered (digital files on an online gallery is the norm, most offer prints and album’s for extra costs!)

•ask how many pictures per hour they average. (50-100 per hour is generally what you’ll find!)

Dayton Ohio wedding photographer Sheldon James photography

Happy Halloween 🧛

Happy Halloween from @Jordayrae97. She is a multi- published model in who shoots primarily in Ohio. Her sessions are often about women empowerment and creates new work with Cincinnati, Dayton, and Columbus photographers. Jordan works often in studio, and on location. This vampire project was inspired by the spooky holiday!

Follow her on instagram @jordyrae97
Tiktok: @urfave_fitmom

Canyon Run Ranch

“Experience the romance of the woods” This venue is Earth-friendly, sustainable, Wild and Handcrafted beauty

Champaign toast from the bride and her bridesmaids

Canyon Run Ranch Ohio’s Outdoor wooded wedding venue and historic barn is Quietly nestled in the heart of the Stillwater River Valley near Troy, Ohio, Canyon Run Ranch is a sustainable outdoor destination wedding venue for those who value the natural beauty of Ohio’s wooded hills and sparkling waterways.
Outdoor lovers experience magical weddings in the shady forest on the ridge, get photos beside the creek above the waterfalls, and celebrate with their guests in the warmth of the authentic, historic bank barn under 1,000’s of twinkle lights, all powered by solar energy. The perfect setting for your eco-friendly, green wedding celebration.
Secluded and private, Canyon Run Ranch is a gorgeous setting to celebrate a woodland wedding with an authentic American barn, lush botanical gardens, beautiful stone home, pristine woodlands, and acres of native wildflowers.

Wedding ceremony location within the woods 395 N. Rangeline Rd. Pleasant Hill, OH 45359
/ pampas grass/ lost and found event rug rentals /1121 E 2nd St, Dayton, OH 45403

The Higgins

Wedding captured 10/22/2022 @ The GEM by Christopher’s located at 3425 Valley St, Dayton, OH 45424

THE GEM by Christopher's is a full service venue for weddings, receptions, parties, business meetings and much more. Rentals or Turn Key solutions. Amazing food and service from the Christopher's staff. THE GEM, where one call does it all. the layout of each event is unique, most events comfortably serve up to 150 guests for full facility rentals. They are able to divide the space for smaller events with their “Green Room” holding up to 60-75 guests and our “Main Hall” holding up to 100-125 guests. Layout is the key which is why we always encourage a tour and walk-through to envision possible layouts to accommodate your event.

What does the Gem cost? The event budgets have many factors, like season, day of week, time, partial/full facility, and your special needs. They like to keep things simple with a clear minimum rate, which includes many food options from their catering menu and is affordable and easy to reach.

Congratulatory hug to the newlywed

Do they offer Catering Services? Absolutely, that’s their bread and butter. They have been catering for over 25 years and The Gem gives them another location to show off our food. You can explore their catering menu online via their website to see the variety of options available, including dishes for vegans, vegetarians, and gluten-free guests. Let them know if you had something different or special in mind and their catering chef is happy to try to work with you to make it a reality!

The brides final walk as a fiancé

Alcoholic Beverages ? We have a D5 Liquor License (which includes beer, wine, and spirits) and have many bar service packages available. No outside alcohol is allowed on-site.

Handicap accessible ? Yes, there is dedicated, on-site parking at The Gem with preferred spots available for VIP / Special Guests. And we are proud that our facility is fully handicap accessible, including two wheelchair ramps to enter/exit the facility and ADA-compliant restrooms.

For more information, check them out at https://www.christophers.biz/event-venue