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1) How do I book Indianapolis wedding photographer Stuart Meyer for a wedding or all-day event, and what are the payment terms? Contact Stuart Meyer at 317.946.8004 or email him at stuartmmeyer@yahoo.com to set up an appointment. Then, sign a contract and pay a deposit. A check (or cash) for one third of the total amount (including 7% Indiana state tax) is due at contract signing, one third is due two months before the event, and the final third is due one month before the event. You will be invoiced, showing the amount paid, amount due, and due dates for each payment. 2) How do I book Indianapolis photographer Stuart Meyer for non-wedding photography, such as a portrait, commercial, or a high school senior session, and what are the payment terms? Contact Stuart Meyer at 317.946.8004 or email him at stuartmmeyer@yahoo.com to set up an in-studio or on-location photography session. Then, the photography session goes as follows: Before the session: 3) What should I wear to a portrait session? In general, coordinated long sleeves and long pants with solid colors and subdued patterns work best. Limit the number of colors to three, maybe four. It's fine to mix it up between family members and to not be too coordinated, but pick a common theme that ties everyone together. One example is for the parents to wear a solid color on top with the children tied in with the same color in their outfits, and everyone wearing a similar tone of bottoms. An example of what not to do is for one person to wear white while everyone else wears black - this will draw attention away from the group as a whole. A popular look is black on black, where the entire group wears solid black tops and bottoms set against a dark or white backdrop. Dark has the added advantage of making people look thin. Another popular look is white tops with blue denims or khakis. Avoid clothing with large logos, pictures, and words unless the entire family is doing a theme such as an alma mater or sports team. Avoid stripes and polka dots, or any loud pattern that might draw attention away from the face. One exception is accessories, where anything goes. Avoid baggy clothes because they make us look larger than we are. Keep in mind that tops with sleeves hide the arms, and tops with no sleeves show the arms. Wear your hair comfortably and avoid covering the eyes. Girls should keep their makeup natural and guys should shave or keep their facial hair neatly trimmed. For high school seniors, bring props and accessories that show who you are. These can be hats, scarves, fur coats, sports memorabilia, your car (for an outdoor session), musical instruments, sports jerseys, cell phones, and ipods. If you're athletic, incorporate some element of your sport into the photography session. For children, accessories such as oversized hats, scarves, flowers in the hair, and toy cars are just plain cute. 4) When I have an appointment with Stuart Meyer for wedding photography, what will be discussed? Your wedding photography needs, album samples, print samples, contracts, pricing, packages, details of the event, and any questions you may have. 5) What is in the wedding photography contract? Your contact information, Stuart Meyer Photography's contact information, what you are getting for your money, payment schedule, where to send payment, cancellation policy, model release, a place for you to sign, and legal jargon in fine print. 6) Why is sales tax applied to the entire amount of the wedding package, labor and all, and not just the product portion? One potential client asked why I collected sales tax on the entire wedding package, both labor and product. After all, labor is not taxed in Indiana. The answer was that wedding photography is considered by the Indiana Department of Revenue to be a taxable service because the labor that goes into the product cannot be separated from that product, even if the product is priced separately. Thus, sales tax must be applied to the entire wedding photography package whether it is just the CD of images, or whether albums and prints are included. The wedding photographer collects sales tax and remits all of it to the state by requirement, not by choice. To verify, I made several calls to the Indiana Department of Revenue and to several larger studios in town, one that had recently been audited. The audited studio had been in business for over 15 years and does a high volume of weddings. Even with a good accountant, this studio owed hefty penalties and back taxes for uncollected sales taxes related to this issue. More details: There is an April 4, 1983 bulletin on the IN.gov website called Sales Tax Application to Photography. It states that the labor and product can be billed separately for photography. But, the Indiana Department of Revenue only applies this to portrait photography and treats wedding photography differently. For portrait photography the sitting fee is exempt from tax as long as it is priced separately from the product, whereas in wedding photography there is no sitting fee - the service and product are lumped together for sales tax purposes by the Indiana Department of Revenue. Basically, wedding photographers are required to collect sales tax on the entire package, and those who don't either aren't aware of the different rules for wedding and portrait photography, or they haven't obtained a Registered Retail Merchant Certificate to operate their business - they're flying under the radar. Regardless, they are 100% liable for previous years taxes and penalties if audited. 7) What is a typical wedding day schedule and how does the photography fit into this schedule? To see how wedding photography might fit into your day, visit my sample Indianapolis Wedding Photography Itinerary. To arrange the wedding day schedule for the best lighting, visit this page - Best Light for Wedding Photography. 8) I can't find a package in the pricing section that fits my needs. Can I customize a package? Yes. Just contact Stuart Meyer and he will be happy to customize a package to deliver the highest quality photography coverage at the best price. 9) When will I see the images from my wedding, event, or portrait session? One to four weeks after the event, with online proofing. 10) How many images do I expect to see from my wedding, event, or portrait session? For a wedding or event, 200 to 800, depending on the package and amount of time given. For a portrait session, 10 to 80, depending on the package. 11) When do I expect to see the album layout? Three to six weeks after the event. To see what a typical album might look like, visit my wedding albums section. 12) When do I get the album? Approximately a week and a half for the coffee table album, and four and a half weeks for the Kingston Album; both ordered after customer approval of the album design. 13) Who selects the images for my album? First, Stuart Meyer selects the images for the album and designs the album in a collage style. Then, the customer makes as many changes as desired, resulting in the best possible product. 14) How many images go into the album? Two per page, on average. Some might have more, and some less. 15) Who will photograph my wedding? Stuart Meyer photographs his weddings with an associate. All associates are highly qualified professional photographers who photograph their own weddings in the greater Indianapolis, Indiana area. 16) Does Stuart Meyer Photography use digital or film? Digital. 17) How many photographers will photograph my wedding or event? Two photographers for a wedding. The number will vary for portrait sessions, commercial jobs and events, depending on the needs. 18) Can I order more products at a later date? Will prices change? Products may be ordered indefinitely. Print prices are subject to change without notice, but increases would be gradual. Album prices will only increase by the cost increase from the album company (without markup) for one year after the wedding date. After one year, albums may be purchased at the regular prices in the pricing section. 19) If I purchase the CD of images, do I get a copyright release? Yes, in writing and as a signed PDF document within the CD. 20) How far does Stuart Meyer Photography travel? Our wedding photographers travel within a 100 mile radius of Indianapolis, Indiana. Some of the areas we serve include Greenwood, Center Grove, Southport, Plainfield, Franklin, Carmel, Zionsville, Fishers, Noblesville, Columbus, Seymour, Nashville, Bloomington, Avon, Muncie, Anderson, Lafayette, Mooresville, Westfield, Greenfield, Greensburg, Greencastle, Danville, Brownsburg, and Lebanon. If you need wedding photography services further than 100 miles from Indianapolis, we might be able to serve your needs, depending on our availability and the type of package chosen. 21) What else can I do to prepare myself for the best wedding pictures? Visit my Wedding Photography Tips, which includes Bridal Beauty Tips, Groom Grooming Tips, Best Light for Wedding Photography, and a sample Indianapolis Wedding Photography Itinerary. CONTACT INFORMATION |
