Jennifer Heffner Photography

FAQs

• How did you get started doing this type of work?

  I knew by the age of nine that I wanted to be a photojournalist. Really, I did! You can check out my diary from when I was that age. I love the creativity that being a photographer allows. I am always amazed at how different and unique photography can be. For over 20 years, I have been using photography as my art medium. I have established a career as an award-winning photojournalist and photo editor. I started my first job as a photographer at my small hometown newspaper and worked my way up to working for some of the best newspapers in the country. When I left the newspaper industry, I went to work in the photo office at The White House for the Executive Office of the President as a photo editor. I have worked for many other companies such as National Geographic, AOL, USA Today and K12 Inc.

• What types of customers have you worked with?

  Clients/Publications: Gate Group / AOL / Washington Post / Kia/ The White House Historical Association / Barrel Oak Winery / The Davis Group / Diner en Blanc / Washingtonian Magazine / University of Michigan / AAA World / Washington Life Magazine / Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington / People.Power.Media / Momenta Creative / Leadership Fairfax / Eurasia Foundation / Vet Street / Brivo / Goorin Brothers / Inspired Review / Nutanix / Hotel Sago / Hyatt / Repair.com / K12 / Steady Stand / Sass Magazine / Arts Council of Fairfax County

• What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?

  There are many factors to take into consideration before booking your Photographer. For example, in addition to having a wonderful online portfolio, you will want to make sure your photographer is a great business person, too! Professional photography businesses that adhere to the below examples of best business practices will not only deliver great images and creativity, but fantastic service, too! Here are the top ten questions you should be asking any professional photographer: 1.) Do you have liability insurance? Many venues will require a certificate of insurance from a photographer before allowing them to shoot on the premises. Professional liability insurance not only covers the photographer in case of an accident due to their actions or equipment, but it helps reduce your’s and the venue’s liability as well! Ask to see a certificate of coverage, if you feel the need. Your photographer should be able to provide this. 2.) Are you right with the tax man? A true professional will be registered with state, regional, and local governments as required by law. They will collect sales tax as required, have the necessary business licenses and permits, and operate in a legal manner. They will file their income with the IRS. A professional simply isn’t going to operate in an “under the table” manner. Ask to see their state tax license or provide a Federal TaxID number. You want to make sure your photographer will still be in business when it comes time to photograph your wedding or family portraits. 3.) Do you have a written contract? Every detail should be mentioned: the name of the photographers who will be covering your wedding; the location, date, and time of wedding or portraits the time when the photographers will arrive and leave; the description of your package; a list of guaranteed prices, including enlargements and additional charges, such as taxes and travel fees; a cancellation/refund policy; what happens if your photographer doesn’t show up; and the deposit amount and the final balance, including when it is due. Make sure you are satisfied with the contract before signing it. 4.) Do you have samples of your work I can see? Take a very careful look at the samples’ quality. This will give you a better idea of what you will get from your photographer. Ask the question...is this sample from the actual photographer who will be at my wedding/portrait session or someone else’s work? Professional photographers will be happy to show you lots of examples of the products they provide. 5.) What steps do you take to protect my photographs? Your photographer should know and practice the standards of Digital Asset Management (DAM). Photographers should be archiving both the RAW and JPG images from your shoot in multiple locations besides their desktop computer – ideally both onsite and offsite. They should have a workflow that protects your investment. Ask how long they archive your digital files. Can you come back in five or ten years and get more photographs or replace the album if something happens to it? 6). How much professional photography experience do you have? Photographers have to be able to adapt to any type of situation during a wedding or other photography session and they have to react both instantly and with confidence. More often than not, there is no second chance to capture a moment. Surprise situations happen all the time. An experienced photographer will capture these moments because they are used to anticipating key situations and know their equipment inside and out. Also, the variety of photographic challenges at a weddings and some venues are enormous. Some venues are dark, some are lit with fluorescent lights, and some outdoor weddings have constantly changing light and/or weather conditions. An experienced photographer should be able to tell you how many events they have photographed and describe some difficult situations they have had to overcome. 7.) Is the chemistry right between us? You want to make sure you really like who is going to be photographing you. Make sure you feel a personal connection with your photographer. You want someone that is compassionate, kind, fun to be around, but that can also take charge during portrait time to get the pictures done quickly and effectively! 8.) Are there any hidden fees? A lot of photographers will list everything but the kitchen sink in their packages. But, what are they really giving you? Do they charge extra for black and white prints? Do they charge for changes in the album design? Are the images on the DVD toned and retouched or do they charge extra for that? A professional photographer will be upfront from the beginning about their product pricing and will not hit you with hidden costs after the wedding. If it sounds too good to be true, there might be hidden costs or the photographer could be working under the table. 9.) What are your backup plans? A professional photographer always has a backup plan. In fact, they usually have a Plan A, Plan B, Plan C, all the way up to an emergency Plan Z! What are your backup plans in the event you’re called away by an emergency? What happens if there’s an equipment failure or some other unforeseen issue? Do you carry extra batteries, digital cards, and umbrellas? Feel free to ask as many questions as you need about backup plans. Once we even had a guest ask if we had a Band-Aid during wedding and you know what…we did! 10.) Last...make sure your photographer is truly a professional photographer. They should have a great website, be found on google and be able to answer any question you have.