LoveYourStory

Every couple has a story. Let us tell yours.

This day I will marry my Friend. The one I Laugh with, Live for, Dream with, and Love

WeddingYour

Story-Anonymous

Congratulations! Your relationship didn’t happen overnight. Each relationship has its own unique story. We know it took days, months, and years of building trust, sharing moments, and loving each other to get to the point where you’re at today. You’ve got inside jokes that make you laugh so hard you cry. You’ve had moments of weakness and moments of strength.

Weddings are about two families coming together as one. They are full of joy, love, laughter and merriment. They are full of drinks and delicious food. They are full of games, music and dancing. How do you preserve that? How do you preserve this feeling and that amazing joy?

The day goes by very quickly. For a lot of couples, the day feels like a whirlwind. Once the cake is cut, the food is gone, and the bouquet’s been tossed there isn’t much left beyond your wedding rings and your memories.

That’s where we come in. We’re not here to take a bunch of pictures of you forcing smiles with your groomsmen, or doing cheesy poses with your bridesmaids. We’re here to capture the joy and excitement you felt that day. We’re here to capture one of the happiest days of your lives. We preserve that memory and create an heirloom for the future.

This is where the rest of your love story begins. Enjoy it. Live it. Love it. Leave the rest to us.

Hillside Studio w 3208 W. Lily Creek Rd. w Freeport, IL 61032 w 815-232-4552

The Engagement SessionIs an Engagement Session offered? Yes, absolutely! But you might wonder, is an engagement session necessary? After all, your wedding pictures share the beginning of your life together, right? Engagement sessions are important for several reasons. They help us teach you posing basics that will be very valuable on your wedding day. The time allows you to get comfortable with how we work with you. It also helps us figure out what you’re comfortable doing together. In other words, how you fit together, how comfortable you are hugging and kissing in public. There’s another reason to do an engagement session. Many couples use engagement poses to create wedding sign-in books or boards or save the date and thank you cards for shower gifts. Best of all, this is a special time just between the two of you. Meaningful now but even more so as you grow old together.

Where will the session take place? Many couples choose to come to our studio for their engagement session. We have a complete indoor camera room and a few acres of outdoor locations right outside the door. You can get a mix of indoor and outdoor images depending on the weather. Another idea is to have an on location session, maybe a location where they love to spend time together or where they became engaged. There’s a small additional charge for on location sessions but we love to do them, so let’s do some planning.

What shall we wear? You’ll want one or two outfits. They don’t need to match but instead it’s better to coordinate the outfits. Using Pinterest for ideas and color combinations is helpful. You’ll want two or three colors that go well together. Some choose clothing for the hardest or pickiest person and then coordinate the other. Layering and mixing textures and scale of prints will create more interesting results. Choose comfortable clothing for both standing and sitting poses. Dark colors and long sleeves are more slimming. Shorts are not always the best choice. They chop you visually and things can squish out when you sit. Short tight skirts or dresses look great standing, but limit what you can do if you’re sitting together. If you wear glasses, it might be best to borrow an empty pair of glasses. This is particulary important if you wear glasses that get dark when you go outside. If so, it will look like you have sunglasses in the pictures. Shoes are sometimes part of your outfit. They complete

the look. If they do not, then wear darker toned shoes or boots AND dark socks. This way, your shoes will disappear. One last thing is to match the style of your shoes to the location of your session. Heels out in the grass look out of place but in an urban area, they might be perfect.

How long will the session last? Engagement sessions are around ninety minutes. We like to schedule them on an evening or morning because the lighting is better.

Booking Bonuse Couples booking their wedding with Hillside Studio receive a complementary Engagement Session with two outfits, at the studio, in Freeport, IL. e Choose 40 favorite poses from your session and we’ll post them on social media for you and make you a Phone App of those favorites for your phones and tablets AND it’s shareable with your friends and family.e Receive 25% off Save the Date or Thank You Cardse Additional outfits 35e On Location Sessions within 30 miles 75Session fee if not booking your wedding with Hillside Studio 14 9

It’s overwhelming, how do we choose a photographer?There’s such a variety of photographers and offerings. It’s hard to compare apples to apples. How do you choose? The photographer you choose is probably the most important vendor you will hire. The second and third most important in my opinion, will be your DJ and the venue for the reception. My best advice is to find someone with a personality you trust, someone you like and someone that has tons of experience. Think about your own profession. Did you know everything when you first started? Did you ever get into some “scary situations and “wing it”? On your wedding day, you don’t want someone “learning on your dime”. You want someone “that could do it in their sleep”. Well not really, but you get the point. That means someone full time, not a part timer doing photography on the side. Having a good camera doesn’t make a person a good photographer either, any more than if someone has good pots and pans, they become a good cook. Natural talent is necessary, but even an artist with natural abilities must learn how to use their talents for consistent good results. How? With practice and experience. Anyone can have one or two good shots, so view an entire wedding portfolio. Be sure the photos are what you’re looking for. Are the exposures good? Are they clear with good color? Are they cropped correctly? These are all important considerations. Look for membership in national associations such as Professional Photographers of America (PPA). This membership indicates they have an indemnity policy. What’s that? It’s a legal malpractice trust fund. It protects photographers when allegations of photographer’s negligence arise. How does that help you? If the photographer you hire does mess up, this association will help get issues resolved. They represent the industry and don’t want bad things to happen between photographers and their clients. You can reasearch it more at www.ppa.com. Or call them in Atlanta. They’re really nice people. Is your photographer certified? Certification is the most widely recognized consumer credential for professional photographers. It means your photographer has been nationally tested by PPA and has the knowledge to do the job you’re hiring them for. They’ve passed written and oral exams and submitted a portfolio for review. In addition, a Certified Professional Photographer submits approved continuing education points to stay current.

Could we learn a little about your background? I’ve been a certified, fulltime professional photographer since 1999. My business, Hillside Studio, is my fulltime career. It’s how I pay my bills, my mortgage, taxes and my employees. All adding up to something very important; I care about my reputation. I’ve been a member of PPA since 1999. I’m also a member of local and state affliations. I became a Certified Photographer in 2003 and remain certified to date, resubmitting a portfolio and education merits every three years. Previous to being a photographer, I worked 20 years in Labor and Delivery at a large local hospital, as a Registered Nurse. That twenty years laid the groundwork to be your wedding photographer. I learned how to stay organized, direct calmly, anticipate everything and anything, run equipment and help people through life changing events. These are all important skills to have at a wedding. . . but I always remember at least at a wedding, “no one is going to die”. With that background, I have one goal going forward. Do whatever it takes to give you a beautiful collection of images from your wedding day dreams from start to finish! Will you be the one photographing my wedding? Yes, I will be your photographer. I also work exclusively with my daughter Tara, as my second photographer. Sometimes, we even have her husband Karl, as our assistant. These two are the most calm, “get the work done”, “whatever it takes”,”you’re in charge and “we’re here to give you what you need to stay creative” personalities I know. They know exactly what I need without any drama, eyes rolling or are-you-kidding attitudes. They show up and help me get my work done and I LOVE working with them as a team. If you book a wedding with only one photographer, then it will be me, and Tara will most likely attend as my assistant.Are you photographing other events on the same day as ours? Typically no, certainly not, unless you’re hiring me for only a few hours of coverage. My focus on your wedding day is solely on you.What kind of equipment do you use and do you bring backup equipment? I use top of the line Canon professional DSLR cameras, lenses and professional quality lighting equipment. On the day of your wedding I bring several lenses, camera bodies, flashes, and equipment with me. Trust me, the van is packed, every time, in exactly the same way. Tara and I take several hours the night before going over equipment, counting and formatting memory cards, checking our notes, ready to “hit the road” running. I’ve learned, if you want the best images, it takes lots of different equipment at different times. Also, super important to know, our cameras, lenses and lighting are “serviced” regularly, like your car, to keep

them in tiptop shape. It’s an important step professionals take with the equipment they earn their living from.Are you insured? Absolutely, I have liability insurance for when I work on location and at the studio. I have insurance on my employees and insurance on my equipment. It would be scary for me to not have good insurance to protect you, my employees and me.Will you do our destination wedding? Yes, certainly, I love to. Remember though that some destinations require you to use their photographers, so check and choose wisely. We do travel within an hour and a half of Freeport, IL at no charge. If your wedding is further, you might incur some extra charges to cover our costs. Please contact me for a quote.What is your photography style? Wow, great question and hard to answer meaningfully but I will give it a try. Tara and I have a combination of styles throughout your wedding day. Part of the day, we’re truly photojournalistic. We are recording what’s happening, staying ahead of events as they unfold, and being in the right place at the right time. Your ceremony is a perfect example. It’s a sacred part of your day and we should never do anything to draw attention away from you during that time. We do not use flash if we are in a church. We will just artistically record what’s happening during this part of the day. At other times, during the day, we’ll be photographing in a commercial style. You spent months on preparation, deciding on your dress, your shoes, what colors, and all of the reception decor. Recording all these details requires unique views with great lighting, arranging, editing, and perspective. Each shot could be in a magazine advertising layout. That’s our goal, from the littlest detail to the beautiful reception room. Then, there’s the posed photos. We know they’re boring, but they’re also portraits recording your family together at this happy time. I promise to do them quickly, efficiently, with beautiful lighting and posing. A general rule, plan five minutes per grouping. Some will take less and some more, but that usually is a good place to start. The last style of photography we call creative editorial. Working with the bride and groom and maybe the wedding party, I’ll use my artistic eye and good locations and then let your emotions carry the moment to make you something really special and unique, just for you.

Tell us about Hillside Studio and Jody Coss

• Be sure to have a hair and makeup trial at least a month before your wedding. This will give you peace of mind to know exactly how you will look and give you the opportunity to change things in advance if necessary. Make sure to bring all jewelry to the trial to see how makeup shades work with the pieces.

• Allowing 50% more time for hair and makeup than you originally anticipated alleviates the number one reason wedding schedules end up running late. This will assure you have plenty of time for all the portraits you want to take before the wedding.

• Typically the first photos taken are of the details including flowers, jewelry, shoes, rings, dress, bridesmaid dresses, etc. Be sure to have them all in one place, ready to go, with the tags cut off.

• Because we need to photograph all your great details like the dress and flowers ahead of time, be sure the florist knows to deliver the flowers extra early to the agreed place. Sometimes this will be the church, but sometimes it’s the hotel.

• Find out what the rules for photographs are at the ceremony location. All venues are different. Some restrict where the photographer can be during the ceremony. Many consider the time you rent the facility, the only hours you can be there, including getting ready, all pictures before and after, the ceremony, receiving lines, etc, so be sure you have reserved enough time.

• Plan food to be delivered to your getting ready location. It may be hectic, but take the time to have a bite before the wedding since it will be a while before you have the opportunity to nourish yourself during the reception.

• Prepare an emergency bridal kit with clear nail polish, mints, Tide pen, a sewing kit, stain remover, Visine, safety pins, bobby pins, pain reliever and mini deodorant. Bug spray, oil blotting tissues, baby powder, sunscreen are a few more worthy items.

• Make sure you discuss a “rain plan” with your venue, the photographer and your wedding party just in case Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate. Have umbrellas ready, just in case.

• Look up what time the sun sets on the day of your wedding. Realize some “sunset shots” are blocked by clouds, buildings, trees or need to happen at a bad time that will pull you away from your reception. Talk ahead of time about how badly you want that shot, even if it interferes with events at your reception?

• Decide who you want to help you get dressed. It’s usually your mom or maid of honor. They will need to be dressed in their wedding attire before they help you with yours. Same with the person helping the guys with their boutonnieres. Who will that be and will they want to be fully dressed for the pictures taken then?

• Relax. I know it’s easier said than done, but when you’re relaxed and happy, that makes for some gorgeous photographs.

• Be mindful of your posture. When I’m posing you for your formals, I have no problem reminding people to sit or stand up straight. However, I can’t interrupt the ceremony should I notice slouching!

• Don’t be afraid to laugh or show emotion. This is your wedding day! Emotion is good. Have FUN. This is why you’ve done so much planning, so the day of your wedding, you can just have FUN!!

• Does the bride, groom, wedding party or anyone in your family wear glasses that get dark when exposed to outside lighting? If so, they should borrow a pair of empty frames from their optician for the formal pictures or it will look like you have sunglasses on.

Tips for a PERFECT Wedding Day

The benefits of a “First Look”:- You get to privately connect with each other before the craziness of the day takes over. It might possibly be the only quiet time the two of you get together all day.- Your stress and anxiety are dispersed before the ceremony.- You can plan your wedding near sunset.- You get to the reception and the party starts without any significant delay.- You get more pictures of the two of you and get to party at a third location with your wedding party.- Any kids involved in pictures are usually less tired.

The discussion of whether to see each other before the ceremony is one of the most controversial and often hardest to make. Don’t worry, I will not make you do one or the other. I only consider it my job to give you all the facts, so you can make your own educated decision. The dream of not seeing each other until the start of the ceremony is very real. It’s how many brides and grooms have always thought it would happen. The problem comes when you try to fit all the pictures you want in the narrowest of timeslots, between the ceremony and the reception. Many couples mistakenly think they can save time by doing some of the pictures before the wedding. They’re certain they’re doing something extraordinary by getting pictures of the girls and the guys and some of the family done before the wedding. Typically though, this isn’t anything unusual. Photographers usually photograph the bridesmaids and the bride and the groomsmen and the groom and maybe some poses with the immediate families before the ceremony. Some couples forget to add up their timeline accurately when they’re making their decision. Be sure to add in the 30 to 45 minute before the ceremony when formal photography is stopped and guests are arriving. After the wedding, the processionals, the receiving line and the time to regather your family again, needs to be included. Planning to go to a park in between? Be sure to add all the time to drive your entire wedding party, including travel times to the park and then to the reception facility. If your ceremony is several hours before the time of the reception and you don’t have to be out of the church at any certain time then you have more time in between. Catholic ceremonies typically have a ceremony at 1pm and the reception at 5 or 6 pm, so there’s plenty of time in between for pictures A first glance or first look can be a good alternative. It’s

a special time set aside for the bride and groom together before the ceremony. . . . before the start of the wedding excitement. The perfect place is scouted ahead of time. Then just the two of you can have a few moments alone and we capture your first smile, first tear, the first laugh and the first kiss without an audience. After the ceremony and receiving line, if you have all your ceremony pictures done, then we’re off, usually to a park with the wedding party to have FUN. Guests experience less waiting time at the reception also, which is a definite plus. Our experience with first looks is the walk down the aisle is still a thrill, but the nervousness and expectations are relieved. Many couples love the experience. The extra event added to their day. From a photographer’s perspective, to get all the best photos of the day, takes time. Couples having a first look get more images to choose from later. Anyone can promise anything to get a job, but in the end you either are honest with your couples about the time you need, you make them late and beg forgiveness or you make compromises together.

Should we see each other before the ceremony or not?

A typical portrait schedule if you don’t see each other before the ceremony:2 hours before the ceremony: Getting ready and details1 1/2 hours before the ceremony: Portraits of the Groom with Groomsmen1 hour before the ceremony: Portraits of the Bride with the Bridesmaids1/2 hour before the ceremony: Formals done, prepare for ceremony, guests arriveImmediately after ceremony: Receiving Line to greet your guests30 to 60 min. after end of your ceremony: Portraits of the Families with the Bride and Groom60 to 90 min. after the end of the ceremony: Portraits of the Wedding Party90 to 120 min. after the end of the ceremony: Portraits of the Bride and Groom2 hours after the end of the ceremony: Completely done with formal portraits

A typical portrait schedule if you see each other before the ceremony:2 - 3 hours before the ceremony: Bride and Groom First Glance and portraits together90 to 120 min before the ceremony: Portraits with Bridal Party60 to 90 min before the ceremony: Portraits with Families30 min. before the ceremony: Completely done with portraits, Prepare for ceremony

Time to Start: Time to drive to the park:

Time for pictures at park location:

Time to drive to reception:

Time to arrive at reception and assemble for Grand Entrance:

Stop Time:30 - 45 min before

Grand Entrance:

Ceremony: Decide order: speeches, dinner, cake to determine time you will eat.

Receiving Line:

What time is sunset?

Add 30 - 60 minutes for large families, complicated families, small children present, more than four wedding attendants each, or for guest counts over 200. Add an extra 15 minutes to stop before the ceremony if you don’t want anyone to see you or for some outdoor locations that require lots of moving around.

After the ceremony and the receiving line, we are off for a few fun pictures while guests transition to the reception. By the time they have their seats and first drink, you are being introduced and the party can begin.Time is adjusted before the ceremony for large families, complicated families, small children, large wedding parties or guest counts. These are approximate times. Each wedding will have its own variables.

Why do I need or want two photographers? Logistically one photographer just can’t be in two places at the same time. With two photographers, you won’t miss any of those special and fun moments. Having two photographers is also helpful at your reception. They can go to the reception ahead of time to get those beautiful “room detail images” before your guests arrive, while you’re off having fun at the park. While one photographer is concentrating on formal photos, the other one can walk around getting candid shots. These images are usually very fun and lively, and are great for your wedding album. Two photographers can photograph the ceremony from different perspectives, giving you a wider variety of images to enjoy later. For example, you may want some close-ups of the ceremony, but you thnk it would be neat to have photos taken from above in the balcony too. What about your first kiss from two angles!

What if our wedding is canceled or moved to a new date after we have a contract with you? If your wedding is canceled for any reason, unfortunately your retainer is non-refundable. If your wedding is moved to a new date and I’m open for that new date, I will make every attempt to move your booking. There will be an additional $200 rescheduling fee charged.

How long does it take to get our photos back? Two weeks after your wedding, your proof collection will be posted in a password protected site. We hope you will share your email list with us, so we can notify all your guests with a link.

What happens after our Album Preview? We like you to make an appointment in person at the studio or via Skype very soon after your proof collection is posted. We will start identifying your favorites and start working on your album after that. If you’ve purchased a set of boxed printed proofs, they will be available to take home from this appointment.

How long does it take to get our album? Once you approve your album, we’ll complete the final retouching and place your order. You’ll have your album about six to twelve weeks after that approval.

Questions About My Wedding Day

Can you help us with our wedding day timeline? You’re essentially hosting an event with often several hundred guests and there are so many decisions you need to make. The more things you think through, discuss and understand, the happier you’ll be on your wedding day. So, think of us as your wedding coordinators. We’ll help you with decisions you didn’t even know you needed to make. Throughout our fifteen years of experience, we’ve been involved with many different scenarios and outcomes. We can offer our insights and help you plan your day seamlessly. The last thing you want is chaos and wasted time on this precious day.

What happens if there’s an emergency and you’re not able to be at our wedding? First, my second photographer is my daughter, and she’s been my second photographer for over six years. She’s very capable should an emergency occur. She knows my system and what needs to be done. She has photographed a few weddings by herself before. We also have a network of photographers we can reach out to, in an emergency situation, that would be of similar quality and style. Of course if you do not want to accept a substitution offer, you may elect instead to terminate our agreement and receive a full refund.

Is it possible to go to different locations for photos throughout the day? I do not put a limit on locations. Traveling, expecially with a large party can take up some time but if you want to, I’ll be right there with you. It’s a fun time, less posed and can be with or without your wedding party. Just remember, to move around with a large group of your friends and family, is a bit like “herding cats” so add extra time to avoid frustration.

How many photos do you take during a typical wedding? With a full day of coverage, you’ll have between 1000 to 1400 proofs in your proof collection. What’s even more important though, is how I decide which images to give to you. At a wedding, we never delete a photo during the course of the day. Even when we know it’s bad. That’s the way we count our “clicks” and is a vital part of our workflow. It assures we have ALL your images loaded from our flashdrives onto our computers when your wedding is over. Because of this practice we know there are some images we’ve taken that will not be valuable to anyone. To decide if I show you the image, I ask myself “Would I want this image if it was my daughter’s wedding?” If the answer is yes, then it’s included. Erring on the side of including most images, even if they are not masterpieces, assures you’ll have a complete memory of your day.

Should I make you a Shot List? No, not usually. If you’re hiring me for an all day coverage, I pretty much know what I need to do. Everything and all combinations possible. The only time I require a shot list is if you have ten hours worth of work but you’re only booking me for six. All day coverage starting with getting ready and ending with reception dances, is typically eight to ten hours. If you’re hiring me for a shorter time, I need to be sure what you’re expecting is realistic. A written shot list is how we do that. The other time I might request a shot list is when your family dynamics are “complicated”. I find most people that this description fits, know ahead of time they are a little more complicated. So, not a problem, but if Aunt Sue raised you and parents can’t be in the same room together, etc, etc, let me know. We’ll write it all down, bring the list with us and go from there.

Collections: A Perfect Place to Get Started!

Platinum CollectionAll day, unlimited coverageTwo photographers & One assistant$500 print credit to complete your package10x10 Integrity Album40 pages / Photo Cover75 digital negativesPassword protected online gallery

Gold CollectionUp to 8 hours of coverageTwo photographers & One assistant$400 print credit to complete your package10x10 / Classic Book40 pages / Photo Cover50 digital negatives Password protected online gallery

Silver CollectionUp to 6 hours of coverageOne photographer & One assistant$300 print credit to complete your package8x8 / Classic Book 30 pages / Linen Cover25 digital negatives Password protected online gallery

3650

2850

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We love your work! How do we hire you? Wonderful, you’ll find I’m very low pressure. I require a $500 retainer to reserve your date and a signed contract on file to complete a booking. You then have 60 days to decide what coverage and package you’d like to select. Your retainer payment is fully applied towards the cost of your wedding coverage.How do you accept payment? Do you offer payment plans? Payments can be made via cash, check, money transfer, or charge. We accept Visa, MC or Discover but not American Express. I do offer a 2% discount for cash or check payments OR if there’s a product, such as longer coverage or more album pages, etc. you might like, we can negotiate that instead. In order to take advantage of these discounts the check or cash must reach the studio before or by the deadline.When are payments due? After the initial retainer is paid, you will have 60 days to decide which coverage you want. After your retainer is paid, the balance due is split into two payments, one payment four months before the wedding and the final balance is due seven days (one week) before your wedding. If you make all of your payments one week earlier than they are due, you receive a free bonus 11x14 Wall Portrait.

All about the money. . .

Step One: Pay your retainer and sign the contractsStep Two: Decide which coverage plan within 60 days after paying the retainerStep Three: Four months before your wedding, pay half the balance dueStep Four: One week before pay remaining balance (BONUS: pay two weeks early for a FREE 11x14)

The Integrity Album Covers can be leather bound, acry l ic , meta l , canvas or photographic and they’re hand made with a masonite core , so they’ l l never warp. Pages are s turdy and made on luster, meta l l ic , s i lk or ar t paper. 62 pages or 30 spreads maximum.

30 page, Leather or Photo Cover, 10x10 1800Add 5 spreads / 10 pages +35012x12 +250Canvas, Acrylic or Metal Cover +100Metallic pages +150Fine Art pages +400Storage Box or Bag +75

The Classic Book Covers can be c loth bound or photographic and they’re hand made with a masonite core , so they’ l l never warp. Matte or g loss laminate ava i lable for your cover. Non photo s tandard covers are ava i lable in matte b lack, b lack, brown, espresso , p ink, white , b lack croc , b lack l inen, and pewter. High image qual i ty on press pr inted paper with g loss or pear l f in i sh. Maximum of 42 pages or 20 spreads .

30 page, Photo Cover, 8x8 500Add 5 spreads / 10 pages +20010x10 +125Pearl finish pages +100

Albums and Books

Smaller replicas of your main book for your parents, wedding party and your own easy to carry brag books are available.

Hard Cover, large - 10x10 +450 Hard Cover, medium - 8x8 +350 Hard cover, small - 5x5 set of 2 +400 Lay-flat style / Hard cover +100 Soft Cover, large - 8x8 +250 Soft Cover, medium - 7x7 +150

Premium Ala Carte Products

Wall Portraits - Single poseCompletely retouched, beautifully mounted, and UV Coated Small 139 Medium 199 Large 269 Extra Large 389

Wall Portraits - CollagesCombination of poses, hand designed, completely retouched, beautifully mounted, and UV Coated Small 219 Medium 289 Large 349 Extra Large 489wDeduct 30% for identical duplicate collages.wStandard mounting is double weight mountboard. Add 5% for better styrene mounting. Styrene eliminates all moisture related warping!wPrints do not include frames. A complete frame selection is available at Hillside Studio and we offer a 30% discount for any frames instock.wAdd 50% for wrapped canvas, wood or metal.

Size +5 prints 5 prints 3 prints 1 print

4x6 9 ea 5/65 3/45 19

5x7 19 ea 5/135 3/93 39

8x10 29 ea 5/235 3/123 59

Gift PortraitsCompletely retouched, printed and UV Coated

Small Sizes: 11x14, 12x12, 10x20, 12x18Medium: 16x20, 16x16, 12x24, 16x24Large: 20x24, 20x20, 15x30, 20x30Extra Large: 24x30, 24x24, 18x36, 24x36

Collections

Cards & MagnetsPhoto Style One sided, 5x8 size/envelopes 69/25 Additional 5x8 cards 2/eaFlat Style Two sided, 5x7 size/envelopes 89/25 Additional packs of 25 69/25 Pearl or Linen finish 6/25Shaped Style Two sided, 5x7 size/envelopes 109/25 Additional packs of 25 79/25 Pearl or Linen finish 6/25Magnets 4x6 size with envelopes 139/25 Additional packs of 25 89/25

Will you help us decide how to incorporate all the images into our home, so we can enjoy them forever and get the most from our investment? Images have great power to fill you with happiness, help you remember the fun, the love and all those great emotions you’ll have on your wedding day.

We are a full service photo studio. That means what we’re here to help you every step of the way, from beautiful editing, retouching, printing and presentation. We want you to have beautiful products you can see, touch and admire, not digital files sitting in a drawer. Our first question to you, “What do you want to end up with for your home?” or “How do you imagine incorportating the images we’re taking, into your life?”

In today’s world, there are so many options to choose from. However, we can help you decide which images are the best, what cropping and sizes would be best and what products are good quality and worth the money to purchase.

A special option we have here at the studio is the ability to show you your ideas right on your very own walls. If you send us pictures of your walls, we can size it correctly to help you make your decisions with assurance.

The studio also has a complete collection of frames, all styles and prices. We’ve even been known to come to your home and hang your prints for you!

The question of how to display your wall portraits is an important one. Collages have all your favorite images together on one portrait. Collections are various sized image grouped together on your walls. Both are really good options. Collages keep everything in place, neatly arranged but collections can be broken up later and put into other areas of your home. Whichever direction you decide to go, we can help you make

the right decision for you. We want your wall portaits and albums to be investments that remind you daily of the love you have for each other.

Proof Collections30 - 4x6 images / Chromalux Box & Display Frame 29940 - 5x7 images with Metal Display Box 229Easel Set - 18 - 4x6 double sided prints 319Set of proofs - 4x6 size 299/1000 proofs or 29 cents eaSoft bound Proof Book 299Hard bound Proof Book 399

ExtrasAcrylic Squares: 5 tiles /275, 9 tiles /495, 12 tiles/ 659Skinney Collage: 5x30 179Wallet size, one pose 50/79, 100/119, 150/169 200/19915x21 Metal Shaped “Benelux” print 239Image Folio 8x10 149Wall Calendar 149Photo Cube 149(3) Accordion Flip Books, 3 x 3.75, same design 99(3) Accordion Flip Books, shaped acrylic covers 159Custom Flash Drives for your Digital Images. There’s quite an assortment of them, from really fancy to simple. Please ask for a quote if you’re interested.Travel statewide 300 plus lodging x 2 nightsSecond wedding day photographer 600Extra wedding hour coverage 400/hourAdd Boudour Session - 675 includes 15 fully retouched images (5x7) with Metal Storage Box

Collages

Do I get the copyright to the photos? All of our packages contain some files or digital images. When you receive digital images and the printing rights, it does NOT mean you have the copyright to those images. It means you have the printing rights, typically for your personal use only. If you want to use the images for your business, then you would need to relicense them through the studio.

How long do you keep our files and are they backed up? I have a workflow I strictly follow to ensure your images arrive back to the studio. There they are safely stored and backed up. I use both on and off site storage during the “active” time of your wedding. I have a minimum of two copies of your files. Until your proofs go live, I have three, keeping the original memory cards set aside, until I’m certain there are no “issues”. It’s a bit redundant but we like that. It’s best to purchase all desired prints, files and albums during this “active” time of making your albums and delivering prints to you. Afterwards, your wedding is archived to a single hard drive. While we make every attempt to purchase the best hard drives, there is no guarantee we’ll have access to all of your files indefinitely.

Should I back up the hi-res files I get? Yes, yes, yes! Both the files you obtain from us and the ones you get from your friends need to be backed up. Put them in multiple, organized places, on several computers and maybe an online cloud service. DVD’s and flashdrives

can get broken and hard drives WILL fail. Technology changes. Think about if something happend to your home, would you be able to recover your files. If you had picture files on floppy disks, it’s such old technology and things are changing so fast, you wouldn’t even be able to access them now. So have a plan!

What are “hi-res” files and how are they edited? Hi-res files are large uncropped, color digital files supplied in JPG format. They come either burned on a DVD or on a flashdrive or prepared so you can download them. The images are full color and uncropped to allow you the most versatility. They will be corrected for color, exposure and contrast to the following standard: if they were sent to our professional lab, they would print with good color, skin tone and density without needing further adjustments. Every printer prints your files differently. Part of a professional photographer’s job is to know what happens to a file when it goes to a particular printer and “tweak” it accordingly. There’s been a huge proliferation of online companies that will print your files for you. They are cheaper because there’s often no real people involved in the printing process. What you send is what you’re going to get. Some people view a photographer’s job as “just the photographing part”. In the past, editing, cropping, retouching, artwork and printing were all part of a professional photographer’s job. This is the exact reason Hillside Studio is a “full service studio”. Our focus is to give you beautiful prints, collections and books that you will treasure for a lifetime and proudly pass on to the next generation. My best advice, if you’re having something printed and are not concerned with the quality, then by all means use a good online company. We can recommend a few. If you’re making an heirloom piece for your future generations, bring the files back to us and have it handled and printed professionally.

When are the digital files ready for us to pick up? When we initially put your proof collection online they are considered print ready. Any images ordered from us or used in your album, we will be edited and retouched further to be sure they’re perfect. Most clients wait and pick up their digital files after all orders have been placed. If you can’t wait for the retouched files, then you can pick them up if you let us know.

Let’s Talk about those Digital Files. . .

What if we want the staff at Hillside Studio to retouch, and or print our licensed hi-res files? No problem. We would be happy to print your files to our specifications. You’re assured to have perfect color and high quality materials. It’ll be less expensive than our normal print prices but a little more than you might pay online. Less work for you also!

Prices for printing from your licensed files:Retouching & Artwork 100/hr, 15 min minimum4x6 - 7 ea 5x7 - 9 ea 8x10 - 18 eaSmall Wall Portrait - Mounted on Artboard 39Styrene Add 15 Medium Wall Portrait - Mounted on Artboard 79Styrene Add 25Large Wall Portrait - Mounted on Styrene 159Extra Large Wall Portrait 199Canvas or Metal Prints available also.Digital Files with Personal Use License Agreement 20 Negs 499 60 Negs 849 40 Negs 699 100 Negs 999

Small sizes - 11x14, 12x12, 10x20, 12x18Medium sizes - 16x20, 16x16, 12x24, 16x24Large sizes - 20x24, 20x20, 15x30, 20x30Extra Large sizes - 24x30, 24x24, 18x36, 24x30

Sit Back, Relax, & Let Us Take Care of the Rest.

The biggest day of your life doesn’t have to be as stressful aseveryone makes it out to be.

As your photographers, we will hold your hands, wipe away your tears of joy, and make you feel as

comfortable and beautiful as possible so youcan focus on living in the moment.

The best pictures are the onesthat are the most natural -

the ones that are captured in between poses.These are the memories we will create for you

to cherish for years to come.

Just relax, enjoy the day, and be the beautiful, confidentYOU that you both are!

Hillside Studio w 3208 W. Lily Creek Rd. w Freeport, IL 61032 w 815-232-4552

Notes & Questions

Kind words

Jody and her team were awesome to work with and our pictures turned out wonderful! There were so many good images, Jody’s help designing our album and wall portraits was very helpful. She helped at every step and we highly recommend Hillside Studio to all our friends. You won’t be disappointed! Annie & Doug Hike

My biggest fear was not having pictures I liked after it was all done. I have had a few friends who recently got married and they both were very unhappy with their photographers. No, it did not come true. I ended up with wonderful pictures for the day and from our engagement session. Jody is a wonderful photographer and takes amazing pictures. She also is very helpful with assisting with the details of the day and making sure nothing gets forgotten. The staff at Hillside is very helpful and they do such a great job. I could not have asked for a better wedding photographer experience. Becky & Ben Miller

Dear Jody, We cannot thank you enough for capturing our big day in such beautiful photos! We had a wonderful experience working with you and we LOVE our album and admire it often! Thank you. We love your work.Love, Ryan and Angie Snodgrass

Jody, Thanks so much for the beautiful pictures! We will enjoy these for many years to come! It was wonderful working with you and your staff. Thank you again. Ashley & Jameson Burkholder

Jody and staff, I wanted to write you a quick note to let you know you how happy we are with the photographs you took on our wedding day. We love our images, they are so amazing. We will enjoy them the rest of our lives!Thank you, Cathy & Mike Flentge

Thank you so much Jody! The pictures are all so incredible. You really captured the day perfectly and we couldn’t stop smiling while looking through all of them! I know every time we look at them throughout the years to come we will remember exactly how we were feeling that day. Alyssa & Thomas Laye