Brown Stones Photography

make sure I address the positive experience I had with this wedding and then address the feedback that Cassidy gave. I had a great time shooting their engagement session as well as the wedding, the day was great, the wedding party was fun and cooperative. We got some great shots and I enjoyed it. Cassidy is definitely a type A personality, she wanted lots of contact, lots of meetings to go over things. I don't have a problem with that at all, but they weren't my only client. She did have a coordinator who was very nice. I met her on the day of the wedding. She was a friend of the bride, she loved the pictures so well she asked me if she could use them for her portfolio. I don't believe she reached out or I had any contact with her prior to the wedding day. I looked back at our emails and we never had to move their engagement session, we shot on the day that was planned with a back up rain date. I had asked to move them to our back up date and Cassidy said Ben took off work and she really wanted them done on the original day so I made it work. Not a problem and was happy to do it, but I want to make sure that it's clear from the review that wasn't actually the case. The engagement session went great, we created beautiful images and both Cassidy and Ben left happy and excited to see the final project. When it came to the wedding day, I had a zoom meeting with Cassidy in April to create the timeline, I met them the week of the wedding (July) at the venue to walk it and make sure the places I thought to shoot were what they wanted. I had shot in this venue several times so I was familiar with the venue, the options of where to shoot, lighting etc. I was mainly going for Cassidy's benefit to do a walk through. I came to the venue on wedding day prepared and ready to work. The package did not include an assistant, no where in the package description, contract, or invoice addresses an assistant at all. There was no charge to the couple in any way for the assistant and I was clear he wasn't a 2nd shooter, he was there to support me. My assistant for that day was my son, however he isn't a teenager, he's a college student who was 21 years old at the time of the wedding. It really doesn't matter if it were my son or another college student, I believe my son is more dependable than another person that can call and cancel last minute. My son has been on many weddings with me and he does a great job at what I pay him to do, which is assist me. His duties were to carry my equipment, and help me, he wasn't there to find family members or create groupings. I take full responsibility for creating the groupings, however I do have a place on the questionnaires asking for a family member from both the Bride's side as well as the Groom's to help locate family members, I do this, because I don't know who they are. There was also the wedding planner there, and in my experience, they help gather family especially for large groups. Regardless, that was in no way my assistants responsibility. As Cassidy said in the review we accomplished all of the groupings and completed her shot list. To be honest from what I am gathering Cassidy expected from reading the review, she really needed the 2 shooter and probably an extra hour or 2 of coverage, I do remember asking her if she wanted a second shooter after looking at the shot list she provided and she said it wasn't in the budget. So I worked really hard to accomplish all she asked. When she reached out and asked about the images around the 6 week mark, I did say it was running 6-8 weeks and that I go in order of shooting and that I was definitely working on them. At 8 weeks she emailed her I told her they would be done by the end of that week and I would update her. I emailed her when they were loading and I sent the link. I thanked her for her patience, and told her I put a $100 print credit on their gallery, she ordered a canvas. I got it in, and met her at the Studio to pick it up. She never expressed any issues, or vented any of the issues to me that she has stated in the review, she took the Canvas and said thank you. I take a lot of pride in my work, I work extremely hard to please my clients. I hand edit every images, I don't batch edit or rush through them, sometimes it takes a little bit more time. I think the main issue with our interaction was very different personality styles, and there is nothing wrong with that. I Also encourage reviews like this to see where I can do better. However, I don't accept a label of being unprofessional or less than organized, I believe there was a lack of flexibility on her part, and on my part I should have been more concrete on expectations. Totally fixable and will make sure I do that in the future. I have extended my turnaround time for images in my contract to manage expectations, and that is helpful feedback. The industry standard for turn around varies from 8-12 weeks for photography. I thought the gift of $100 print credit was my way of making the wrong a right, however I don't believe she received it that way. So to sum up from Cassidy's review They got along with me great, the wedding went smooth and I got all the shots that were on her list. The Shots were edited and delivered beautifully, from the engagement session as well as the wedding. I made them feel comfortable in front of the camera and the wedding party felt comfortable as well. The Cons- Turnaround time She assumed the assistant was a part of her package, it wasn't She would have liked more candids I take this as all positive and will work hard to improve the things I can:) Reviews are important as most of this industry is word of mouth and referrals. I want to make sure I address the positive experience I had with this wedding and then address the feedback that Cassidy gave. I had a great time shooting their engagement session as well as the wedding, the day was great, the wedding party was fun and cooperative. We got some great shots and I enjoyed it. Cassidy is definitely a type A personality, she wanted lots of contact, lots of meetings to go over things. I don't have a problem with that at all, but they weren't my only client. She did have a coordinator who was very nice. I met her on the day of the wedding. She was a friend of the bride, she loved the pictures so well she asked me if she could use them for her portfolio. I don't believe she reached out or I had any contact with her prior to the wedding day. I looked back at our emails and we never had to move their engagement session, we shot on the day that was planned with a back up rain date. I had asked to move them to our back up date and Cassidy said Ben took off work and she really wanted them done on the original day so I made it work. Not a problem and was happy to do it, but I want to make sure that it's clear from the review that wasn't actually the case. The engagement session went great, we created beautiful images and both Cassidy and Ben left happy and excited to see the final project. When it came to the wedding day, I had a zoom meeting with Cassidy in April to create the timeline, I met them the week of the wedding (July) at the venue to walk it and make sure the places I thought to shoot were what they wanted. I had shot in this venue several times so I was familiar with the venue, the options of where to shoot, lighting etc. I was mainly going for Cassidy's benefit to do a walk through. I came to the venue on wedding day prepared and ready to work. The package did not include an assistant, no where in the package description, contract, or invoice addresses an assistant at all. There was no charge to the couple in any way for the assistant and I was clear he wasn't a 2nd shooter, he was there to support me. My assistant for that day was my son, however he isn't a teenager, he's a college student who was 21 years old at the time of the wedding. It really doesn't matter if it were my son or another college student, I believe my son is more dependable than another person that can call and cancel last minute. My son has been on many weddings with me and he does a great job at what I pay him to do, which is assist me. His duties were to carry my equipment, and help me, he wasn't there to find family members or create groupings. I take full responsibility for creating the groupings, however I do have a place on the questionnaires asking for a family member from both the Bride's side as well as the Groom's to help locate family members, I do this, because I don't know who they are. There was also the wedding planner there, and in my experience, they help gather family especially for large groups. Regardless, that was in no way my assistants responsibility. As Cassidy said in the review we accomplished all of the groupings and completed her shot list. To be honest from what I am gathering Cassidy expected from reading the review, she really needed the 2 shooter and probably an extra hour or 2 of coverage, I do remember asking her if she wanted a second shooter after looking at the shot list she provided and she said it wasn't in the budget. So I worked really hard to accomplish all she asked. When she reached out and asked about the images around the 6 week mark, I did say it was running 6-8 weeks and that I go in order of shooting and that I was definitely working on them. At 8 weeks she emailed her I told her they would be done by the end of that week and I would update her. I emailed her when they were loading and I sent the link. I thanked her for her patience, and told her I put a $100 print credit on their gallery, she ordered a canvas. I got it in, and met her at the Studio to pick it up. She never expressed any issues, or vented any of the issues to me that she has stated in the review, she took the Canvas and said thank you. I take a lot of pride in my work, I work extremely hard to please my clients. I hand edit every images, I don't batch edit or rush through them, sometimes it takes a little bit more time. I think the main issue with our interaction was very different personality styles, and there is nothing wrong with that. I Also encourage reviews like this to see where I can do better. However, I don't accept a label of being unprofessional or less than organized, I believe there was a lack of flexibility on her part, and on my part I should have been more concrete on expectations. Totally fixable and will make sure I do that in the future. I have extended my turnaround time for images in my contract to manage expectations, and that is helpful feedback. The industry standard for turn around varies from 8-12 weeks for photography. I thought the gift of $100 print credit was my way of making the wrong a right, however I don't believe she received it that way. So to sum up from Cassidy's review They got along with me great, the wedding went smooth and I got all the shots that were on her list. The Shots were edited and delivered beautifully, from the engagement session as well as the wedding. I made them feel comfortable in front of the camera and the wedding party felt comfortable as well. The Cons- Turnaround time She assumed the assistant was a part of her package, it wasn't She would have liked more candids I take this as all positive and will work hard to improve the things I can:)

ago, and Sam had reached out to me and said he was renting a cabin in Brown county, (Nashville, Indiana) and that he was going to propose and he wanted to surprise Jess with an engagement shoot while they were here. So Sam and I were in contact quite a bit and here comes the big weekend and it's raining! Like off and on and Indiana in the fall is unpredictable, but Sam and I are determined and we get it done! So happy with the result, there were kind of moody and romantic and I just loved the finished product. Sam and Jess did too and they hired me to come up the next July to lake Michigan to shoot their wedding and it was AWESOME! I came up on friday, we did some fun family shoots at the beach, then the wedding was the next day. I seriously love these Wedding pics, wedding party was super fun, family was awesome, and of course I loved seeing Jess and Sam again and spending time with them! I get to shoot their maternity session in March and I love that they think of me for their big moments! They are doing a Baby Moon in Brown County! How cute is that?!?! Sam and Jess thank you so much and I know we will have so much fun in March! xoxo Keely

or you! You 2 are just the cutest! I loved the emotion you both expressed through out the process and I teared up a little during the wedding! I'm so grateful you chose me to capture your memories! xoxo Keely

family coming together and I truly loved the Images we were able to create with all the beautiful details you chose for your big day!! xoxo Keely