Frequently Asked Questions

Who is going to be our photographer?

Jeremy Howard Photography is a husband/wife team. We work together on each event and portrait session. Jeremy is the main photographer. No matter what package you purchase or when your session or event is scheduled with us, he will be your photographer. Rebekah assists during portrait sessions and acts as an assistant photographer at weddings and large events. She also manages our business and makes sure emails and phone calls are answered.

In the unlikely event that we get sick, we will refund the payments you have made and attempt to find you an equivalent replacement. Luckily for everyone, both of us are very healthy! We have not missed a wedding, event, or portrait session yet!

Do you specialize in wedding photography?

We specialize in wedding and portrait photography. Our portrait photography experience includes headshots, couple and engagement, bridal, formal “wedding portraits” (we don’t photograph the wedding, but we take some formal shots of the bride and groom after the fact), and senior-style sessions. We also enjoy and have experience with environmental, landscape, and travel photography, as well as professional business conferences and university sports and events.

What is your photographic style?

In general, we’re fun! We like to experiment with new backdrops, poses, and lighting. We get pure joy out of taking pictures, and it shows in our work. We get excited about new ideas, different and challenging locations. The best way to describe our style in “Bridal Magazine” terms is straight-forward and traditional, but with a “photojournalistic” twist. We capture your personality and emotions, and we want to display you at your very best without making you look fake, plastic, or like somebody else. When people look at your pictures, they’ll know it is you.

In all of our work, we stay true to reality. We don’t add elements that were not there or use any special effects to fabricate scenery or events in our images. The extent of our editing and artwork goes to selectively coloring some images, retouching, and color correcting for the best final prints possible.

When photographing weddings we are detail-oriented. One of our main focuses is catching the details of a wedding that you don’t want to forget or may not have even noticed in the hustle and bustle of the day! We want to capture the things you spent many hours dreaming of and planning. Some would say that we are photojournalists, but we believe that is a misnomer. We try to catch events as they happen without you being aware of being photographed. We do our best to plan ahead and schedule the shots you want most, not leaving everything up to chance like a true photojournalist. If you look through our galleries or preview albums for our previous clients, you will see that most of our shots are candid. We pose only those that need to be posed (for example, family and group pictures). If you have made a “must-have shot list,” we would love to have that as a list to work from during your wedding day. Even with a shot list, you will find that we still throw in plenty of surprises. Our goal is to exceed your expectations and create truly priceless images of your wedding!

In summary, we strive to provide you with fresh, honest, exquisite images that will still look beautiful when your great-grandchildren go through your wedding album 60 plus years from now.

I didn't see an address on your website. Where are you located?

We are located in Nashville, TN, in the neighborhood of Green Hills. We do not operate a studio, so we do not post a physical address. If you need our mailing address, it is:
Jeremy Howard Photography
PO Box 159204
Nashville, TN 37215-9204

What if I'm not from Nashville? Are you willing to travel to an out-of-town location?

Sure! Our price list shows our current price per-mile, which is the IRS standard per-mile rate. We include up to 50 miles of travel in each of our portrait sessions and wedding packages. If we will be traveling more than 50 miles for your session or event, the extra travel will be estimated and included in the written estimate you receive for our services. If more than 200 miles of travel (round trip) will be necessary, a lodging and travel expenses charge will be added to cover our accommodations and food.

If your wedding or event is being held in St. Louis, Missouri, the lodging and travel expenses charge will be waived. We have family in the St. Louis area, so we will not require a hotel. Travel per mile will be charged. It is 658 miles, round trip, from our door to where we stay in St. Louis. The IRS’ current standard rate per mile is 50.5 cents, so the extra travel charge for a wedding or event in St. Louis would be approximately $332.

If you are planning a destination wedding, be sure to add in air travel for the photographer and his assistant photographer, accommodations for us two (we’re married, so one room is all that will be necessary), and any other travel expenses to your photography budget if you will be “shipping” a photographer to your ceremony site. We have not yet photographed a destination wedding but are up for the adventure. We are experienced world travelers and are confident we are up for the challenge of photographing in an unfamiliar location. Between the two of us, we have been four times to Australia, twice to Jamaica, once to Costa Rica, once to Scotland, and once to France.

What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept cash or check. Checks are to be made out to “Jeremy Howard Photography.” If you would prefer to pay by credit card, we only accept credit card payments through PayPal.

Do we get to meet you in person? How many meetings? How much do they cost?

Meetings with us are free or are part of a wedding or portrait package you have purchased.

If you just want information about who we are, we will plan an Informative Meeting during which we will get to know each other in a relaxed environment like Starbucks or Panera, go over our portfolio, what services you are inquiring about, etc. If you’ve decided that you want to put down a deposit to plan a portrait session, wedding, or event with us and sign a contract, we will schedule a Contract Meeting. At this meeting we will go over the specifics of the services you are requesting and our price estimate for those services.

For portrait sessions, no other meeting is normally required between the Contract Meeting and the Session date, but if you would like to schedule an additional meeting, that is fine with us.

For weddings, we normally have at least 1 more meeting between the Contract Meeting and wedding date called a Final Meeting. This is scheduled 1 to 2 weeks away from the wedding date to make sure that we have all the photography properly planned. This is when the balance of the wedding account will be due. We also plan to attend your wedding rehearsal at no extra charge. We find that this helps everyone get comfortable with the location and how everything will flow on the big day as well as what special considerations will need to be made with regards to photographing your ceremony.

After your portrait session or wedding, we’ll have a Previews, Prints, and Albums Meeting to go over your previews and give you the login information for your online preview album, the reprint sizes and styles available, and Basic Albums. We feel strongly that as the bride and groom you should be the first to see your wedding photos, so all online wedding preview albums will be posted after this meeting.

If you wish to purchase a custom album, storybook, or coffee table book, we schedule an Album Consultation. During this meeting we’ll go over the plethora of album design options available.

Most of what we do in these meetings could be done over the phone or through email. We prefer to meet with you as much as possible because we’ve found that the more time we spend with you before the session or event, the more comfortable we all are when it comes time to take your picture. That comfort adds greatly to the quality of the final product we are able to provide for you.

What are "proofs" or "previews"? What's the difference?

Proofs and previews are a collection of images from your session or event - the best of the best - from which you chose your reprints. They are watermarked to prevent copying, but the image is still completely visible. A proof is typically not color-corrected, retouched, or edited in anyway. A preview is typically a better representation of what your final print will look like. We do not do a whole lot of editing to our images, so we say we give you “previews” rather than proofs. After seeing your previews and choosing which images you would like to have reprinted, we will retouch your photos if you desire. We do not charge extra for basic retouching (removal of a stray hair, skin blemishes, minor tan lines, etc.), but if more extensive work is needed, or a large quantity of pictures need to be retouched, there is a fee that applies. Because it is near impossible to set a charge for this kind of work, we assess extensive retouching on a case-by-case basis. If you need a “ballpark” figure, please email Rebekah with your questions.

How will I view my previews? What's included in my preview album, and when do I need to return it?

We offer two previewing methods with each package: a 4x6 album of preview prints and an online preview album for easy viewing and ordering.

The 4x6 preview albums that we provide with our wedding and portrait sessions are yours to keep forever. You do not need to return them to us.

Both preview albums include the “best-of-the-best” from your session or wedding. We try to give you the biggest variety of poses and shots possible. If your wedding package includes 200 previews and we have 250 excellent shots from your wedding, we’ll include all 250. That’s why we say there will be an “approximate” number of previews available for each package.

We base this estimate on our preview estimate on previous experience and our knowledge of how we work. Please understand that it’s impossible for us to give you every single picture we take in your session or at your wedding. Some are test shots, some have focus issues, some have color or brightness issues (most of the time these are test shots to check lighting levels), and some are just plain not flattering. When you take between 100 and 1,000 pictures in a matter of a few hours, flawed shots are bound to happen. We like to keep the less-than-perfect ones to ourselves, and give you what you have paid for – the best photography we can provide!

Please note, though, that we do have a sense of humor! If we catch someone making a funny face or horrible expression, we’re going to include it with your previews. It adds personality and enhances your wedding story, not to mention, always gets a great laugh!

What's the deal with the really expensive CD of pictures, and why would I want one?

All of our packages come with a pre-set number of previews. If you are thinking about making a large order of reprints for friends and family, we recommend the purchase of a CD or DVD of ALL the images included in the preview set from your wedding or portrait session as a way to lower your costs. The images we give you are full resolution in JPEG format, meaning you can reprint any of the images at any size you desire! With the CD or DVD, you are purchasing the right to reprint the pictures on the disk we give you. If you were to reprint, scan, copy, etc. any of the pictures we take for you without the official right to reprint from us, you would be violating federal copyright law. With the document we provide, you can use any lab of your choice to make your reprints. If you are looking for recommendations for labs that provide economically priced, quality prints, we would be happy to recommend labs in your area.

Hours of shooting or coverage? What does that mean?

"Hours of coverage" refers to how long you need us at your event. The number of hours in a package is based on an hourly rate; extra hours can be added to any package for a small fee. We're pretty easygoing with regard to time, but we do ask that you plan ahead for the time of your event. If your event or portrait session does go over the amount of time you have purchased, we will not leave unless you decide we are done. Before we release your previews, we will send you an invoice for the extra time. If you have questions about how much coverage you think you would need, contact Rebekah at rebekah@jeremyhoward.com, and she will be happy to assist you.

What kind of equipment do you use?

We use Canon professional cameras, lenses, and flashes. Because of possible equipment malfunction, we always carry backup equipment.

What will you wear to our wedding?

When planning wedding photography, we try to get a feel for how formal your wedding will be. If you are having a formal evening ceremony, we will wear nice, clean, dark-colored suits and dress shoes. If you would rather Jeremy or both Jeremy and Rebekah wear tuxedos, you will be responsible for the tux rental fee. If your wedding is in the morning or afternoon, we will wear khakis or dress pants and our “Jeremy Howard Photography” button-down dress shirts. As a rule, we try to dress a little more formally than the guests to remain professional, but not more extravagantly the bride and groom’s families. You will never see us wrinkled or disheveled looking – that is a guarantee. If you would like us to dress in a specific manner, please let us know.

What are all of these options for albums and prints?

Some of the options for print sizes and album types may seem confusing. The albums are listed based on the size print they hold (the actual album is about a half inch larger on each side, depending on the style). All of our albums are professional grade, acid free, and are considered “archival quality.” Our Basic Albums are designed and assembled individually by us. The rest of the albums we offer are designed by us, and then sent to a professional photofinisher and binder to be assembled. These albums have genuine or premium leather covers and are more of a “storybook” or coffee table book style. We have samples of most of the albums we offer, so if you’re interested in seeing one with your own eyes, set up an Album Consultation with us. Because of the personalized nature of these custom albums, we don’t feel comfortable giving you an order form, then leaving on your own to decipher everything. We like to explain the different albums and their features so that when your album arrives, you get exactly what you want.

For any of the albums we offer, you decide what pictures are featured. If you have a specific layout in mind, we’d be happy to work with you on the design. Otherwise, we take care of the layout and design work. Before your album goes to the printer, you get to preview it! That way you have an idea of what your finished album will look like before it is set in stone. We offer a variety of print sizes, mounting options, and coating and texture options. We have samples of each of our paper styles and coatings for you to view. If there’s a particular “look” or “style” you’re looking for, let us know! We’d love to help you create a beautiful work of art for display in your home or office.

A word about our canvas prints: The canvas prints we provide are different from most that are available right now. All of our canvas prints are regular prints bonded to canvas, instead of the popular “inkjet canvas.” We find that the photos bonded to canvas give you the beauty and endurance of a traditional art canvas print, plus richer, more vibrant color in the photograph. We have small samples of both the inkjet canvas and the canvas bonded photos if you would like to do a side-by-side comparison for yourself. The bonded canvas photographs are a little more expensive than the inkjet canvas, but we feel the higher quality of the final image bonded to canvas is priceless. If you have any specific questions about prints, feel free to contact us and ask!

How long do I have to wait for my pictures?

This depends on what kind of pictures we are talking about. For portrait sessions, you can expect to get your previews within 2 to 3 weeks of your session. We will place one bulk order for prints 30 days from your session date. This gives you a month to ask family and friends which ones they like, and determine your needs as well. It also gives us time to do special retouching if any is needed. Once the order is submitted, you may pick up your reprints in 1 to 2 weeks.

For weddings, you can expect to receive your previews within 3 to 4 weeks of your wedding. We will place one bulk order for prints 90 days from your wedding date, to give family and friends more time to choose their favorite photos. Any print orders made after the 90 day period will be subject to a $75 retrieval fee. If you think you can organize your orders in a smaller amount of time, we’d be happy to move the window down to 60 days from your wedding date; just bear in mind that the $75 retrieval fee applies after the 60 days are up. After the orders are placed, you can pick up your pictures in 1 to 2 weeks.

If you’re not from the Nashville area, we’ll be happy to ship your pictures to you. Chose what carrier you would like to use and at what rate, and we’ll send it. The shipping charges are due before the order is shipped. We’ll be happy to supply you with copies of our receipts for your shipments.

How long will you keep our digital negatives on file?

For individual and couple portrait sessions, we keep them on file for 2 years. For bridal sessions and weddings, we keep them on file for 10 years, even if our business moves or closes. We also keep backup copies of all of our work in multiple places and in multiple file formats. If you need to get more reprints or would like to purchase a CD of the images at any point during the listed period, all you have to do is call or email!

If we ever move, we’ll contact you with our new vital information in case you need to contact us in the future.

What is the deposit required to reserve a date, and when is it due?

A 50% deposit and a signed contract are required to reserve any portrait session date with us. The deposit is due on the day the contract is signed, and the amount is then applied to reduce the total balance due. The balance of the account is due on the day of the session.

A 40% deposit and a signed contract are required to reserve any wedding date with us. The deposit is due on the day the contract is signed, and the amount is applied to reduce the total balance due. The balance of the account is due at least 7 days before the wedding.

What is your cancellation policy?

All deposits are non-refundable. We understand things happen and plans change, but when we reserve a date for you, we have to tell other potential clients “no.” We may not be able to book another event in your event’s place. If we can reschedule your portrait session or are available for your new wedding date, everything will proceed as normal, but if a session or wedding needs to be cancelled with us completely, all deposits, payments, and fees paid to date are non-refundable.

Do you book multiple events on the same day?

At most, we will book 3 portrait sessions on one day. This all depends on the locations of the portraits, how long the sessions are, and other factors. Most often, we will have one portrait shoot on a particular day, though we do have multiple sessions on some days. For example, in spring and early summer, we book portrait sessions to start at either 9:30 am or 3:30 pm. This is because we want to avoid photographing you in the harshest light of the day, and we want to make sure we aren’t rushing through your session to get to another.

Weddings are a different story. We only book ONE wedding on any given day. This is out of respect for our brides and grooms. We want to be able to completely focus on you on your big day. You are paying for nothing less than our full attention, right? We would not be able to live with ourselves if two weddings ended up overlapping by accident. We also want to make sure that if you need extra coverage at the last minute, we are available to provide you with what you need. With years of experience with weddings, we understand that they can be some of the most unpredictable events ever planned. For that reason, we do not tempt fate. We only schedule one wedding per day.