Stephanie Fay Photography

stephanie fay - Hi Leah! I suggest upgrading your camera first and if possible, find a lens that really fits your style. Then I would gradually start building your collection of equipment :) hope this helps! Jul 23, 2012, 11:45AM

Jenny Smith - Hi Stephanie, Just wondering if you could give more specifics about your settings on your camera, flash, and external light that you use during receptions. I am struggling with getting it to fire consistently. Thanks! Jul 19, 2012, 11:38AM

Yeni - Hi, Steph! You are so sweet! This is the third instalment and you have answered every question of mine! And, at this time I´m looking forward your response to Lori´s question, I am also wondering if you use reflectors. Thousand thanks! :) Jul 18, 2012, 4:46PM

Leah - Hi Stephanie! I was wondering what the first step to getting more serious with photography would be if all I have now is a Canon Rebel t1i, a 50mm 1.4 and a 70-300mm. Would you reccommend I update my camera, buy more lenses or buy editing software since I don't have any. Or something else that I'm not thinking of! Thank you so much! I love your photography and I appreciate your input! :) Jul 18, 2012, 3:54PM

Stephanie Fay - Hi Cassandra! I prefer blogs... I think everything is online right now.. Pinterest, blogs etc.. Eveything leads to your website which can't get any better for your business! :) Jul 17, 2012, 12:14PM

Brittany Janelle - Hi Stephanie! Love the concept of your "Ask Anything" :) I admire your work so much! I was curious as to what you do for white balance? Some of my images have been turning out a little more red in coloring & I am wondering if it's a wb issue. Also, If you had to choose only 3 lenses to shoot an entire wedding with what would they be & why!? Jul 15, 2012, 7:46PM

cassandra-m - Hey Stephanie...for photogs trying to get published, do you have a preference on whether to submit the photos to magazines or online blogs? Thanks! Xoxo from Savannah... Jul 15, 2012, 12:37AM

Bonnie - Hi Stephie! :) I have two lenses for my cannon. I know you have told me this before, but I forget. :) What lens do you recommend for food photography? I really enjoy the stele where I can get close in on a specific area and keep that part in focus while the rest is blurred in the background. P.S. I love you! Jul 13, 2012, 5:51PM

Lea P - haha another question.... Whats the most popular wedding month in AZ for you? and is there a time of year in which you book a lot of your weddings? Jul 13, 2012, 12:58PM

Stephanie Fay - Hi lea! I did the bridal expo the first two years of business and it didn't really help me much. I found when I raised my prices everyone that goes the to expo is always looking for a deal and those weren't my ideal clients but it was a good way to get started. It's just expensive.... Jul 13, 2012, 1:03AM

Stephanie Fay - Andria! Hi! When summer rolls around it definitely is hard to do family's as the best lighting because the kiddos are usually headed to bed soon but I definitely do tell them the absolute best time and I hope my clients are willing to be flexible.. Most the time they are and they are happy they were in the end. I would tell them the BEST time and tell them it will produce the best images. Most paying clients will go with your suggestions regardless because they want the best :) but if it's too late maybe just compromise and start a little earlier. Hope this helps! Jul 13, 2012, 1:02AM

Lea P - 4 weeks?!?!?! oh my goodness! congrats! What do you think of the BRidal Fashion Debut Expo in Phoenix? Have you had a booth there? know of anyone that has? Im just looking for some insight or opinions on it as Im moving to AZ and need some exposure. Thankyou! Jul 12, 2012, 11:13PM

Andria - I've been doing shoots around sunset to get the nice sideways light...but it seems like in the Summer when clients want more pictures, the sunset just keeps getting later and later. Do you tell clients what time to meet and why it's so late (if it is)? I feel like I should tell them why I want to meet later but then feel annoying talking about lighting like they should know what I'm talking about. If that makes sense. It's more of an issue with children and family shoots than couples. Thanks, love these Q&A sessions Jul 12, 2012, 7:01PM

Lori - Do you use reflectors when you shoot? If so, which ones do you tend to use? The lighting on your clients' faces is always SO perfect! Congrats on the new baby! Becoming a parent is the most rewarding thing you will ever do! Jul 12, 2012, 4:40PM

Stephanie Fay - Marissa! Our maternity leave is only the time we have in between weddings and the birth date. :) so it will probably be around 5 weeks or so. Not long enough but we will be super excited to get back to work with our awesome fall couples. I think its hard for most people to "plan" the perfect time for a baby but if you can... you should! We luckily didn't have to cancel any weddings! We do have one wedding two weeks before my due date and we DO have a backup team "just in case" :) but if I can be there, im going to be 100 percent ready to go. I just find being pregnant, you can't push your body to its limits.. you just have to shoot and sit when you feel you need to- Stephen is my biggest help- It hasnt hindered us from any shots or doing the same quality as we typically do I just drink more water and sit a few more times than usual :) Jul 12, 2012, 3:49PM

Arie - Thanks for answering... I didn't suspect flash in your current images but the way you control light still blows me away at times :) Thanks again and goodLuck with the birth, remember to sneeze, its said to speedup the process, seriously ;) Jul 12, 2012, 3:36PM

Stephanie Fay - Hi Arie! I actually dont shoot with flash outside. ONLY at receptions.... but that photo was taken while I had a flash on my camera because I didn't have a lot of hands to hold the flash so I simply put the flash on my camera for later. hope this helps! :) Jul 12, 2012, 2:56PM

Stephanie Fay - Hi Evie! I think the best way to attract your idea client is to post your "ideal" clients all over your website. The people that can relate to your "idea" client will be able to relate to the photos seen on your website and they can envision themselves in the bride and groom shoes- so they can see themselves in your photographs :) I wouldn't say we ALWAYS work with our "idea" client but we feel blessed to even have clients... so sometimes business is business and when we get out idea client, its something we can showcase more. :) Hope this helps! Jul 12, 2012, 2:54PM

Stephanie Fay - Judie,- Ewwww... thats a tough one. Do you have your own business or are you just a second shooter? If you have your own business.. Its ok to respond to take the job but I would be careful not to cut ties with your friend who you shoot with. I would maybe chat with her first before responding. Make sure this is ok with her- No matter what happens, your friend will probably not feel the best about the situation. If you are only a second shooter, I would say you need to definitely chat with the main photographer about what to do. Hope this helps! thats a SUPER sticky situation. Jul 12, 2012, 2:50PM

marissa - congratulations!! how long are you planning to take for maternity leave? and how did you plan your weddings around your due date... or did you have to cancel any weddings that were already booked? Jul 12, 2012, 2:29PM

Arie - Hi Stephanie, Congratulations once again to you, Stephen and BabyHenry :) Love the way you control and capture light... I definitely long to do that as well as you do. I recall I had noticed you with an on camera flash while shooting a beach wedding with turtles... Its been a while and I'm sure you've evolved since but do you use flash now while shooting an engagement or day wedding? Thanks again for this AskAnything post. Sincerely, ~Arie Jul 12, 2012, 2:20PM

Evie Perez - Hello Stephanie! I can't wait to see baby Henry, as I am sure you feel the same way. We are also expecting our first baby boy in 9 weeks!! Can't believe how fast it's going. Ok on to my question...how do you attract your clients? Not just any clients but your ideal clients? Thanks! Jul 12, 2012, 2:16PM

Judie - Hi Stephanie! Again, I love your Ask Anything series!! My question is coming from a 2nd shooter perspective. How would you recommend a second shooter respond to an email from a bride requesting her availability and price for her sisters wedding? I felt conflicted because I didn't want to step over any toes so I wanted to let the primary photographer know that her past bride contacted me about work. What are you thought on this? Jul 12, 2012, 2:07PM

Stephanie Fay - Hi Vanessa! I think most challenging part was figuring out what works for our business. What to include in our collections, what people want the most etc. trial and error :) I think it was also challenging to trust my gut. I think its so important that we as photographers trust our gut during weddings and I was always afraid of making mistakes but thats how you learn. Jul 12, 2012, 1:41PM

Stephanie Fay - Hi Jason! We will be hosting a workshop soon! We are not quite sure on a date but possibly sometime in the fall or winter- Check back for more info later this year. :) Jul 12, 2012, 1:14PM