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 Lifetime Images FAQ



memories are priceless

What makes Lifetime Images different than other studios?

If you've spent any time looking around at web sites  of other wedding photography studios you've probably notice a lot of similarity.  Perhaps a bit too much similarity.  Too many similar images from website to website, almost like déjà vu all over again! Lot's of talk about passion for photography, lots of stories of personal minutia, lot of self promoting, grand standing and bragging.  Unfortunately very little in the way of unique substance.   The problem in a nutshell is that people have gotten so efficient at stealing ideas from each other that their work and their ideas are more or less ordinary and nothing stands out anymore. For example, how many times have you seen a "trash the dress" photo session on a  website?  It once was edgy, but now it's too common.

 

We offer something different.  We've been doing wedding photography for nearly  15 years.  We're far along the learning curve and have crossed the bridges that many newer photographers simply haven't gotten to yet.  We've established our style.   Our style is based on album oriented wedding photography.  Our albums are laid out by hand with emphasis on albums designed around images that tell a story. We don't use hot and trendy tools and techniques because they will make you album look outdated quickly.   What initially is positioned  as  "creativity" will ultimately be tomorrow's polyester leisure suits.  Our belief that good, clean images will stand the test of time. 

 

We cater toward working bridal couples who are too busy to micro manage their photography.   They want to turn it over to someone they trust that can produce results,  not excuses.  They want the job done right the first time and a completed album as close to their wedding date as possible.    They also want help in making the wedding photography sessions as short as possible so that they can actually enjoy their wedding day.    They want a streamline process that will produce outstanding results and provide the largest bang for their wedding photography budget.

 

How long has the company been around?

Lifetime Images was established in 1997 by Steve Schlesinger.   Steve photographed his first wedding in 1986 as a freshman in college.  In total it’s estimated that Lifetime Images has done more than 700 weddings, with exceptional track record of quality, innovation, and customer service.

 


What locations do you cover?

We cover  most of metropolitan Southern California.  Our primary focus is on Orange County, Los Angeles, San Diego, and the Inland Empire regions.


Do you travel?

We’ve been to Maui, Mexico, and Las Vegas  to cover weddings.   We are open to work in the United States within 500 miles of Orange County.


How many images do you take?

It varies from wedding to wedding, the range is between 1000 to 3000 images. 


What is your style of photography?

 We call it the perfect blend of elegant portraiture and photojournalism.   We know how to take charge in order to get those important family portraits done quickly, yet we are very fun, and laid back when it comes to the rest of the day.  We don’t stress you out with too many requests or too much time away from guests.  We have enough experience to know how to be in the right place at the right time.   We are very against corny, overdone cliché images, and we discovered a long time ago the best way to make sure you look like you’re having a good time at your wedding is to make sure we do everything possible to make sure you have a good time at your wedding.


How do your packages work?

 

All of our packages come with albums and the high resolution images.   Our least expensive package is $1395 and come with six hours coverage and a 30 side album along with all the high resolution images.  We've heard of photographers  with no wedding photography experience charging this much for images on a DVD only.   As the packages get more expensive the coverage gets longer and other options such as engagement portrait sessions  and parent albums come into play.     We  work hard to match up wedding album packages to the coverage needed  and the desired options.   For example if someone is having a small backyard wedding with less than 100 guests , small families and small bridal parties it's hard to convince people that need a 100 side bridal album.   Then again , if someone is having a huge gala wedding , a small book with 30 sides won't do the day justice.    Many of our bridal couples need parent albums, while others simply would like one very nice album.   Therefore our packages aren't set in stone.  You can think of them  as a starting point.  There are so many great features that are offered and we are fortunate to have demo albums of many of these neat futures.   Your bridal album is very much custom made and thus it can be built to best fit your  taste and style.

 

We now feature the JET album design process  which takes the work out of having to pick out all the images by yourself.  We work with you to find the best images that tell your story, and best of all, we are able to save you a ton of time and hassles.   It's our goal to have the bridal album in our client's hands within 90 days of their wedding.

 


 What are your prices?

Our lowest priced package is $1395 .   Most of the packages we sell are under $2000 and the more elaborate packages are around $2500. 


Do we get high resolution images with the packages?

 YES!   All of our packages we offer include the high resolution images with the package.  Our clients get these images when their album package is paid in full. 

 



Where are you located?

Twenty miles east of Fantasy Land! We are right outside of Yorba Linda in a south western corner of Chino Hills.   

 


How do your payments work?

 

We take   cash, check, money orders, PayPal and Monopoly money.  Okay, not  Monopoly money, but all that other  stuff is fine. When you sign up with us there is a $500 non-refundable retainer that is applied to the balance on your package.  There is another $500 payment due two weeks before your wedding.   So, that's it, $1000 prior to your wedding. 

Since money is often a sticking point for many people, let's clarify how things work. 

 

The contract

 

When you meet with us we realize that you may have a few people to  coordinate with.  We don't put pressure on you to sign up on the spot.   What we will do is hold your wedding date for two weeks.   That should be ample time to read your contract, ask questions, and get approval from all interested parties.  Sorry we can only accommodate holding dates  for 14 days.   If they get it in past this time they run the risk of losing their date.  Only with a signed contract and appropriate retainer is the date secured.

 

There is another $500 retainer due two weeks before the wedding.  If this isn't paid we'll still come to the wedding and photograph it.  However the client won't see a single image from their wedding  until this is paid.   This includes the initial album layouts.

 

When the total $1000 is paid the client gets to see their initial layout.    When the remainder of the balance of the package is paid we'll send our clients the high resolution  images from their wedding along with written  release to allow for making prints.   

 

Paypal

We used to take credit cards but found that people weren't using them as much after 2008 as they used to.  So we switched to PayPal.  The good news is that PayPal takes the usual credit cards as well as Discover and American Express.   The bad news is that there is a 3% transaction fee that PayPal collects on each transaction that we don't cover.  Thus  the initial $500 deposit  actually costs you  $515. So, you may want to think twice before reaching for the credit cards.

 

Sales Tax

 

People sometimes ask if they pay us cash  can we eliminate sales tax?    The unfortunately is no.   We declare all our sales and we pay sales tax.   We keep none of the money paid toward taxes, thus we cannot negotiate taxes. 

 

 


How do we start the process?

We advise coming in to meet with us as soon as possible.  If you live out of town/state  and you aren’t going to be in town for a while we do have some other options available to you, please call to discuss them.   Now, when you meet with us, we won’t breath down your neck to sign you up.  When you decide to sign up, all you will need is a signed contract, and the a $500 retainer.  Two weeks before your wedding we have another $500 payment.