Frequently Asked Questions

Why Windy City Production? 

We are a company unlike any other that has and continues to raise the industry standards.  We strive to continually add new value, overdeliver, and tackle what’s thought to be impossible.  We simply offer an unmatched experience & product at a fraction of the price.  Sound too good to be true?  Our resume includes:

Windy City Production Principles?

If I had to sum up our success in just three principles, they would be:

  • Shoot like your life depends on it
  • Relentlessly grow and refine your skillset
  • Be the best at adding value

These aren’t just catchy phrases—they’re the core of our company’s DNA. It’s these very principles that have driven us to create this completely transparent FAQ page, with the hope of adding value to your search for the perfect wedding photographer or videographer.

Why Not Windy City Production?

The truth is, no single company is perfect for every couple. Over the years, we’ve identified a few key reasons why Windy City Production might not be the right fit for some. With determination and hard work, we’ve grown into an internationally ranked and awarded husband-and-wife team. While we’re no longer as affordable as we were in our humble beginnings, we’ve never been more valuable to our clients.

Simply put, if you’re solely shopping for the lowest initial price, Windy City Production might not be the best fit. Katie and I know what it’s like to plan a wedding on a shoestring budget—we were broke college kids when we planned our own! We’re not against budgeting, but there’s a difference between shopping purely on price versus seeking value. We believe in delivering exceptional value through experience, dependability, credibility, transparency, variety, and quality.

Trust is the foundation of everything we do, and it’s something our clients highly value. If you’re not able to trust us to guide, capture, and deliver uniquely stunning wedding photos and videos, we’re probably not the right fit. Our approach to wedding day guidance is one-of-a-kind and requires trust to create unforgettable moments. Our style is natural and comfortable—you won’t be left wondering what to do with your hands. We craft moments that highlight the emotions of love, joy, and happiness. Picture your husband whispering what he loves most about your dress, capturing your natural blush from a distance, or your mother sharing her admiration as she helps with the final touches. This guided artistry results in imagery and memories you’ll never forget, as long as you trust us.

Please don’t base your decision to hire Windy City Production on expectations of instant communication or our raw, unedited video footage. Hire us for our commitment to delivering stunning wedding photos and cinematic films. We provide clients with the freedom and responsibility to review our FAQ page for guidance and expectations, and the flexibility to schedule consultations, meetings, and payments at their convenience. Couples who aren’t comfortable with this level of responsibility and freedom may find a better fit elsewhere.

Over the years, we’ve encountered a few rare couples who sought to take advantage of our generosity. While we’re lighthearted, humble, and always striving to overdeliver, we will not tolerate disrespect, sexual harassment, or being bullied into offering free services, products, or reducing our transparent pricing. We are guided by our principles, but ultimately, we can only capture the wedding that unfolds. Factors like weather, location, schedules, and the cooperation of subjects all impact the final quality of photos and videos.

How & When Should We Book Windy City Production?

The next step is to request your contract through our quick automated system. You’ll choose a contract delivery time and answer a few simple questions so we can prepare everything accurately. Unfortunately, we can only accommodate open dates on a 1st come 1st serve basis.  

Why the automation?

In full transparency, Sam has a long track record of occasionally wandering off on adventures — whether that’s an Ironman race, an ultra run or swim, biking across America, or disappearing into the woods or ocean somewhere with a camera. 

​We realized a simple automated system is the best way to make sure every contract request is handled quickly and nothing ever slips through the cracks.

At your scheduled time, we’ll send over your contract for review and e-signature. Once the contract is signed and the retainer is secured, your date will be officially reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. 

​Ready to Move Forward CLICK HERE or visit: https://calendly.com/windycityproduction/wcp-contract-request

Website Updates, Price Increases, Package Updates, Consultations & Availability?

Our Website, pricing, packages, phone and/or instudio consultations, and availability are continuously changing due to our never ending commitment to add more value.  ONLY a duly signed contract locks in the date, price, and the contracts stated package terms.  

Scheduling Consultations?

We would love to connect with you to learn a bit more about your vision, style, & Wedding Day details.  Rest assured we would not ask you to make any decisions or ask for any commitments. It is simply an opportunity for us to fully understand your specific needs!

Please feel free to​ schedule, at your convenience, a Phone Call by CLICKING HERE or even better schedule an In-Studio Consultation by CLICKING HERE.

Looking forward to connecting with you and if you prefer to chat now feel free to shoot me a call 708-663-0637.

PRODUCT QUESTIONS!

What is the Final Photo Product? 

With all of our Photo Packages you will receive a personal online gallery that depicts your Wedding Day in stunning detail.  With all of our Photo Packages you retain the full release to download, print, post and/or share your Wedding Day photos as you see fit.  I highly recommend checking out our FULL Online Galleries for quality, variety, and story telling comparison by clicking here.  Our online galleries allow you to download the photos easily, create favorites lists, share the gallery and/or favorites lists, seamlessly and securely purchase prints all with a few clicks of the mouse.  

How Many Photos?

Our goal is to capture your Wedding Day in stunning detail for you and your loved ones to relive over and over.  With our Jr. Associate photo packages we have been on average delivering 500 to 800 edited high resolution images.  With a Katie or Sam photo package we have been on average delivering 900 to 1,400 edited high resolution images.  Our goal is not to hit a number but rather capture as much variety all while maintaining the highest quality.  Ultimately, we can only capture the wedding that happens; weather, location, schedule complications, time restraints and subject’s ability to cooperate, are all factors in the quality and number of photos.

What is the Final Video Product?

With all of our Video Packages you will receive a Hollywood worthy Cinema retelling your Wedding Day Love Story.  Our Jr. Associate Cinemas range from 4-6 minutes in length and our Sam or Katie Cinemas range from 8-12 minutes in length.  In addition to your Cinema you will receive an approximately 1-2 minute Teaser, all of the Raw Footage including the Full Ceremony & Toasts in a Raw Footage form (Unpolished & Un-Edited) delivered via an SSD external Hard Drive. Understandably our Unpolished & Un-Edited Raw footage is a benefit to our clients but please, please, please don’t base your hiring decision on our Raw footage.  Rather hire us for our stunning Wedding Cinemas.  We strive to deliver the best Wedding Cinemas -vs- the best Raw footage.  

Unfortunately, given our crazy busy editing, shooting, & meeting schedules we can NOT commit to shipping any externals.  Many clients who are unable to personally commit to an instudio pickup have asked friends and family members to personally pickup the external hard drives (instudio pickup by CLICKING HERE).

We highly recommend viewing the following video as to why we prefer to shoot in LOG

Editing?

Truthfully, Sam and I have personally edited every single wedding for the past five years, regardless of who captured it—including weddings filmed or photographed by our Associate team.

Every photo and cinema is edited with care and intention to highlight the details, emotion, and atmosphere of the day. This hands-on approach ensures that each Wedding Day Love Story is cohesive, refined, and aligned with the Windy City Production style we have personally developed over the past 14 years.

Authenticity First

We are deeply committed to preserving the real moments and natural beauty of your wedding day. Our editing approach emphasizes:

  • True-to-life color and natural skin tones

  • Balanced light and realistic contrast

  • Consistency and cohesion across the full gallery or film

We intentionally avoid:

  • Over-retouching or “plastic” skin effects

  • Altering body shapes or changing subject composition

  • Removing natural, real-world details that were present on the day

  • AI-generated backgrounds or fabricated visual elements

Your images should feel timeless, honest, and emotionally authentic—not overly manipulated or trend-driven.

Real Moments, Real Conditions

Ultimately, we can only capture the wedding that truly happens. Elements such as weather, lighting conditions, venue limitations, timeline flow, unexpected changes, and a subject’s comfort in front of the camera naturally influence both the quantity and style of images delivered.

We view these elements not as imperfections to be “fixed,” but as part of the genuine story of your day—captured thoughtfully, artistically, and truthfully.

Why We Personally Edit

While many companies promote the cost-saving benefits of outsourcing edits, Sam and I firmly believe that doing so often leads to inconsistencies in quality and storytelling. For us, outsourcing would compromise the standard we hold ourselves to.

By handling the editing personally, we ensure that every final image and film meets our exact artistic expectations. When you choose Windy City Production, you’re receiving more than photos or videos—you’re receiving a personal commitment to quality, consistency, and care.

Your wedding day is one of the most meaningful days of your life. By personally editing your Wedding Day Love Story, we can confidently stand behind every image and every frame delivered.

Do you offer FREE Re-edits?

In short — no. We do not offer complimentary re-editing once final edits have been delivered.

We want to be transparent about why this policy exists, as it is rooted in respect for the creative process and fairness to our team.

Why Re-Edits Are Not Complimentary

Every photo gallery and film we deliver is the result of a thoughtful, time-intensive creative process. From culling and color grading to audio mixing, pacing, and storytelling, each decision is made intentionally and reflects the Windy City Production style showcased throughout our website, blog, and full wedding galleries.

Re-editing — even seemingly small changes — often requires reopening archived projects, re-exporting large files, and revisiting creative decisions that can take several hours or more to complete. Over time, these requests add up quickly and represent significant additional labor beyond what is included in your contracted service.

For this reason, complimentary re-editing is not something we can sustainably offer while still maintaining the level of quality, turnaround time, and attention we promise to every couple.

Additional Context on Video Re-Edits

With video in particular, it’s important to understand that what may appear to be a small or simple change — such as removing a clip, shortening a moment, or adjusting timing — can unintentionally disrupt the natural, audio-led storytelling of the entire film. Our films are carefully built around real dialogue, vows, speeches, and ambient sound, all woven together to create emotional continuity.

A helpful way to think about this process is like a skeleton watch. In a skeleton watch, every visible gear, spring, and movement must be precisely aligned and working in harmony for the watch to function properly. If even one small component is shifted, adjusted, or removed, the entire mechanism can fall out of sync — and the watch may no longer run as intended.

Our films function in much the same way. Each moment, visual beat, and audio cue is intentionally placed to support the overall narrative. When one moment is changed, it can require rebalancing audio, rebuilding transitions, re-timing scenes, and in some cases reworking the structure of the film as a whole to ensure everything remains aligned and the story continues to flow naturally.

Because of this, re-editing — even when the request seems minor — often involves far more work than meets the eye and is therefore treated as additional custom work, quoted based on scope and time required.

Creative Control & Style Consistency

When booking Windy City Production, clients agree that:

  • The final work will reflect a similar style and caliber to what is showcased on our website and blog
  • Our photographers and videographers maintain full creative control during both the wedding day and post-production
  • Final images and films are delivered as completed works, not drafts

This creative control is essential to producing cohesive, emotionally driven storytelling — and it’s the very reason couples seek us out.

Feeling Unsure?

We completely understand that trusting someone to capture and retell your Wedding Day Love Story is a big decision. That’s why we strongly encourage couples to thoroughly review:

  • Full wedding galleries (not just highlights)
  • Complete wedding films
  • Hundreds of verified, long-standing reviews
  • The Windy City Production principles

With over 14 years in business, we’re proud to say we have:

  • Never missed a single wedding
  • Never received a legitimate wedding review questioning the quality of our edits

Your trust means everything to us, and our track record reflects that commitment.

Requesting Changes

If you do request re-editing after final delivery, we’re always happy to help when possible. Any re-editing is treated as optional custom work and is quoted based on the scope, complexity, and time required.

In full transparency, this is an option we were initially hesitant to offer at all. We would never want to be perceived as a company that pressures or “nickel-and-dimes” couples after their wedding day. However, over time, we recognized that some clients genuinely want thoughtful adjustments — and when that happens, the fairest approach is to treat re-editing as clearly scoped, optional custom work rather than something hidden, rushed, or inconsistently handled.

Our goal is not to be inflexible — it is to remain fair, transparent, and consistent while continuing to deliver work we are proud to stand behind.

If you have questions before booking, we strongly encourage reaching out. Clear expectations on the front end lead to the best experience on the back end — for everyone involved 🤍

Printing, Posting, & Sharing?

With all of our Photo and/or video Packages you retain the full release to download, print, post and/or share your Wedding Day Love Story as you see fit.

Video Music Selections & Licensing?

Yes, your favorite songs have never been more affordable via iTunes or easily accessible via Spotify, but unfortunately we can not use them without the proper licensing, which can be extremely expensive.   

We’ve made the investment in providing our clients with multiple music licensing options keeping both you and Windy City Production legally safe.  We can gladly accommodate any personal selections from Soundstripe.com, Artlist.io, and/or Musicbed.com with no additional fees with our paid for memberships. 

If you prefer to use a top 40 track Songfreedom.com offers some affordable options but unfortunately we would have to pass along their discounted licensing fees of approximately $35 per track with our paid for Songfreedom membership. 

Delivery Time?

Sam or Katie Services are delivered within 14 days after final payment is received.

Associate Services are delivered on a best-effort basis and typically require an estimated 4–12 weeks for completion. This timeframe is not a guaranteed deadline. Final edited files (including any applicable teaser(s)) are released once editing is complete and final payment has been received. When provided, teaser(s) are delivered alongside the full edits, allowing clients to share them with family and friends at their discretion.

Please note that Wedding Album(s) and/or Print(s) delivery timelines cannot be guaranteed, as all such products are fulfilled by third-party professional printers and are subject to their production schedules.

Yes! We understand how precious your wedding photos and/or videos are, so we maintain multiple backups for several months after your wedding. We highly recommend downloading and saving your photos and/or videos immediately after receiving them to ensure you always have a copy.

Water Marks?

We refuse to watermark our clients photos. We believe a watermark would detract from the quality of the photo.

Windy City Production Shooting Style?

Our style has been defined by powerful, emotional images and moments that are full of feeling.  We’re committed to providing you with photographs and cinemas that you will fall in love with, and our candid, documentary story-telling approach leaves you free to enjoy your day while we preserve your memories.

Custom Album Orders?

A Personally Customized Wedding Album is NOT included in any of our photography packages but can be added on as an A la carte option.  We charge a $500 design fee and simply pass along, Floricolor, our printer of choices cost to print.  Our pricing model allows you to get 3 Layflat hand crafted albums for the typical cost of 1 Wedding album from other photographers.

I’ve included a price break down to Floricolor’s Touch Collection below in case you were interested in comparing the costs. 

 

16″ X 12″ Touch Collection Layflat = $280 Per Album (20 spreads) https://www.floricolor.pt/en/touch-collection.html

                                                                 +$500 Design Fee

                                                                   $780 for 1 Album -vs- $1,340 for 3 Albums with 20 spreads

Print Orders?

We have been able to partner together with one of the country’s best Professional Photo Labs.  Taking it a step further every couples online gallery integrates with the Photo Lab for ease of ordering prints. However, every couple has a full release to print, post, and/or share as they see fit.

SERVICE QUESTIONS!

What if the Team is Sick?

Great question!  We have not been immune to sickness or tragedy over the years shooting through them all to the best of our ability.  There was the time Katie shot with twenty stitches in her elbows, knees, and chin.  Or the time I took a surf board to the face, requiring stitches, and was behind the camera hours later for the Wedding.  I will never forget the time I finished shooting with my body slipping into septic shock.  Yes we have backups in place and on site including the two previous examples but our motto is we don’t miss Weddings.  I guess Katie and I are just hard headed and unwilling to toss the towel in even when the backups are present.  Long story short we have backups in place to ensure no Wedding is missed.        

Associates vs Katie or Sam?

We have been growing our talented team of associate photographers and videographers over the past five years. Currently, our newest associate, Natalie, has just completed her fourth wedding season with WCP. Sam and I have worked alongside each associate, and each of them has shot no fewer than 40 weddings with us. Additionally, we have personally edited every wedding our associates have captured over the past five years.

In short, we are blessed with a passionate team that has been part of the WCP family for quite some time.

As a team, we cross-train in both photography and videography to ensure a deeper understanding of guiding, directing, and reacting to the wedding day. Our goal is to capture the wedding day artistically, dependably, and in great detail, allowing our clients to relive their special moments forever.

We are incredibly proud of our amazing team.

Katie ​and/or​ I​ would be honored to play a part personally in your Wedding day.  It does indeed require a larger investment but truly are all ​investments​ the same?  Let me explain​ and I will use cars as an example​! You wouldn’t expect the same quality​ & experience​ from a Ford Focus vs a Lamborghini ​Aventador​.  Absolutely not!  Nor would you expect the same​ quality from a Cadillac ​Escalade​ vs a Lamborghini ​Aventador!  Wedding Photography & Videography are no different when it comes to quality​ & experience​.  Luckily each and every client can compare & contrast the pricing, quality, final product, and delivery time. ​​    

Strictly Associate Photo Galleries?

https://windycityproduction.pixieset.com/monicaandsebastian/

https://windycityproduction.pixieset.com/nicoleandjordan/

https://windycityproduction.pixieset.com/jennanicholas/

https://windycityproduction.pixieset.com/abigailanthony/

https://windycityproduction.pixieset.com/elizabethjoseph/

Strictly Associate Cinema Galleries?

2nd Shooters?

We believe it’s not the number of shooters but rather the quality of shooter that makes the biggest difference.  How is it that we can shoot alongside a separate company with three photographers and still individually pull off an incredible day of video edit plus snag a few international award winning pics as the sole videographer, while the 3 photographers have nothing to show?  Okay completely different services that shouldn’t be compared but we find it inspiring. 

Unfortunately, our industry tries to scare couples into adding a 2nd shooter.  Honestly, we can count on one hand the true value adding 2nd shooters we have seen in action over the past 10 years.  A true value adding 2nd shooter should not be standing directly next to the lead shooter capturing the identical shot all day long but that is what we consistently see.  If you have a true value adding 2nd shooter they are indeed a fantastic blessing but certainly not a requirement.  We specialize as individual shooters and I’d challenge any naysayers to point out any moments and/or angles that were missed.  Please don’t take our confidence as arrogance but rather let our work speak for itself.     

Associate Assistant?

In some instances we may incorporate the help of an Associate Assistant(s).  Please do NOT confuse them for a 2nd Shooter(s) (Please re-review our 2nd shooter stance above).  An Associate Assistant(s) may be shadowing, helping with carry gear, gather details, or assisting in any way the lead shooter sees fit.  The Associate Assistant(s) coverage varies from 1-4 hrs but ultimately depends on the lead shooters personal preference.

Please, please, please don’t base your hiring WCP decision on an expectation of a 2nd shooting Associate Assistant.  Rather hire us for our commitment to stunning Wedding Photos & Cinemas.  We have fully liberated our clients giving them the responsibility to review our FAQ’s page for detailed guidance and expectations when working with WCP.  

Gear Used?

Katie & I prefer to use Sony’s A9 and/or Sony’s A1 while shooting photo and use a mixture of Panasonic’s GH5s & Sony’s FX3 & A7SIII cameras while shooting video.  What’s not to love about Sony’s incredible focusing capabilities?  Katie & I have strictly shot in 4K 8bit & 10bit coloring over the past two years and will be implementing the higher standard with our Associate team as we move forward.  

Drone Coverage?

We are HUGE drone fans and prefer to utilize them when possible.  However, it is the responsibility of the client to secure any required permission of the venues and/or locations to photograph and or videograph the event via use of a drone.  Additionally, weather, location restrictions, schedule complications, time restraints and subject’s ability to cooperate, are all factors on the possibility to utilize any drones.

Is Dinner Required?

Sam respectfully prefers to pass on dinner being he is generally busy trying to pull off a day of edit teaser.  A meal is certainly not required with Katie and our Associates but greatly appreciated.  We just ask that you let your team members know at the final meeting so they can plan accordingly.     

Travel?

Unfortunately, we have to assess a $3 per mile Travel Charge to any event exceeding our Free 50-mile studio radius.  Also we may have to pass along any vendor parking fees.

Additional Coverage?

We have the entire day blocked out for you and will gladly accommodate any additional coverage.  Any Katie or Sam services additional coverage is $200 per hour per service.  Our Associate services additional coverage is $200 per hour per service.

Holiday Pricing?

Unfortunately, we can not apply any associated Friday/Sunday discount(s) on any of the following Holidays New Years Eve, Memorial Day Weekend, 4th of July, & yes all of Labor Day Weekend.  New Years Eve, Memorial Day Weekend, 4th of July, & yes all of Labor Day Weekend would be priced at the full Saturday rate.  NYE & Labor Day Sunday have been the two busiest days over the past 6 years.

Discounted Shortened Coverage?

Unfortunately, we can’t discount shortened coverage inquires.  A shortened Wedding, less than 8 hours of coverage, would still require any company and/or shooter to commit to the entire day, being they wouldn’t be able to jump to a new Wedding mid-way through the day.  

Pricing?

After personally saying “I Do” Fourteen years ago I discovered how most vendors never listed their pricing so we made it our mission to be as transparent as possible. You can view our detailed pricing lists by Clicking Here!

  • FRIDAY & SUNDAY PRICING ***Excluding Possible 6% Prepayment Discount***

Jr Associate Photo Package:                                         $2,500 -or- $2,327 (Via 5% Cash Discount + $50 Referral Discount)

Jr Associate Cinema Package:                                      $2,500 -or- $2,327 (Via 5% Cash Discount + $50 Referral Discount)

Discounts?

We gladly offer a $50 referral discount OR a $50 military/first responder discount, which unfortunately can’t be combined.  There is also a 5% cash discount and a maximum 6% pre-payment discount, which CAN indeed be combined.  Please, please, please refer to the available discount video above or CLICK HERE for in depth details.  Please refer to the pre-payment discount table below:

Months Out Discount Rate
1 0.5%
2 1%
3 1.5%
4 2%
5 2.5%
6 3%
7 3.5%
8 4%
9 4.5%
10 5%
11 5.5%
>12 6%

 

Payment Schedule?

A signed contract along with a non-refundable retainer locks in the date.  The final payment isn’t due until AFTER the Wedding at which point you will receive your Wedding Day Photos and/or Video.  

References?

You are in luck we have hundreds of reviews adding unprecedented insight into WCP. 

WeddingWire Reviews

TheKnot Reviews

Facebook Recommendations & Reviews

Engagement Shoots?

We do indeed offer engagement as an ala carte option.  I’ve included our most recent insane engagement session offer below along with a bunch of our past engagement galleries.

$200 Sam or Katie Mini Engagement Session:

– 20 to 30 Minute Session

– 20 Personally Selected Images Fully Edited

– Delivered via Digital Gallery

– Locations limited to Aurora **Please See Aurora Galleries Below**

$500 Sam or Katie Engagement Session:

– 60 to 90 Minutes Session

– ALL Photos Fully Edited

– Delivered via Digital Gallery

**Bonus Instagram Engagement Teaser Video**

Teaser Video Example – https://windycityproduction.pixieset.com/cassandraandpedro/

$600 Associate Engagement Session:

– 60 to 90 Minutes Session

– ALL Photos Fully Edited

– Delivered via Digital Gallery

 

We highly recommend selecting an Engagement Photo location that is unique to you and/or one that you absolutely love the vibe and feel.  If you are in need of some location recommendations a few of our favorites include The Morton Arboretum & Cantigny (both of which we have an annual pass Kiss those permit fees goodbye), Downtown Chicago (ex. Olive Park, the Wriggly Building, The River Walk, the Chicago Theatre, & Lincoln Park), and yes our very own Downtown Aurora (Neither require a permit).  Both Downtown Chicago & Downtown Aurora allow for us to maximize multiple locations.  If you are really feeling adventures you may want to consider Matthiessen State Park. 

 

You can schedule your engagement session at your convenience by Clicking Here or visiting https://calendly.com/windycityproduction/engagement-shoot but please remember to include a location. 

I’ve included a few recent galleries to showcase the quality and variety with our engagement sessions.  Enjoy!

https://windycityproduction.pixieset.com/jillianandalansengagementphotos/ – Location (The Morton Arboretum)

https://windycityproduction.pixieset.com/anthonyandjennifer/ – Location (Chicago)

https://windycityproduction.pixieset.com/brittanyjake-1/ – Location (Aurora)

https://windycityproduction.pixieset.com/sarahlucas/ – – Location (Chicago)

https://windycityproduction.pixieset.com/kasiajoe/ – – Location (Chicago)

https://windycityproduction.pixieset.com/laurendave/

https://windycityproduction.pixieset.com/carissajake/ – Location (Aurora)

https://windycityproduction.pixieset.com/kaileybrad/

https://windycityproduction.pixieset.com/colleenpatrick/ – Location (Aurora)

Shot Lists?

We highly encourage you to share your general vision & style along with the immediate family portrait shot list conveniently provided.  As an artist we strive to create the best Wedding Day depiction we can with the photos and/or video footage, portraying the day professionally, dependably, and artistically in great detail.  This is only possible when our clients entrust us with complete creative control during the event and in post-processing.  Unfortunately any other shot sheets would limit our creativity, our ability to capture the moments that are naturally unfolding, and most importantly depict your Wedding Day in a completely different style.      

Insurance?

Please feel free to download and or print our current liability insurance policy (CLICK HERE FOR PROOF OF INSURANCE).

Hold on Date?

To be completely fair to everyone a signed contract and non-refundable deposit are required to hold the date.  

Deposit Refund?

Our 2023 Weddings and beyond retainers are non-refundable to ensure that we hold the date exclusively for you.  Your wedding day is a one time, one shot moment and you Deserve the Best Wedding Team to ensure not moment is missed!  With 73,341 annual Chicago & surrounding Suburbs Weddings you better believe the best wedding photographers and videographers book fast & far ahead.  Our industry leading low retainer, final payment after the Wedding, and Sam or Katie Package 14 day delivery guarantee has us filling our remaining 2026 dates at the fastest pace in our 14 year history.  Unfortunately, we can only accommodate open dates on a 1st come 1st serve basis.

TIMELINE QUESTIONS!

Associates Assigned?

We highly encourage you to let us know your personal style preferences but overall we try to pair the best photographer/videographer with each couple. Sharing your style preferences would certainly help us link you up with the right team members.  We assign out the team 6 weeks before the Wedding day and actually require you to personally meet with them before the Wedding as a safeguard.  Should the client and/or Associate not feel comfortable we would reassign the Wedding to ensure the best pairing.  However, we have yet to have a single client and/or Associate ever make any such request.  Katie & I have and continue to personally develop our Associates.  We wholeheartedly believe we have one of, if not the best Associate teams.  Long story short we gladly welcome your vision but we take the responsibility to pair up and assign the team out.

Scheduling Your Final Meeting?

Please schedule at your at your convenience a final meeting ​3-6 week​ before the big day.  The ​Google Calendar Invite has a 4 week ​notification built in ​as a friendly reminder.​ However, we will need you to complete our Wedding Day Questionnaire (Click​ing​ Here) before your scheduled final meeting.​ 

Final Phone Meeting (Clicking Here) or even better an In-Studio Final Meeting (Clicking Here).​

Fellow Vendors & The BEST way to address any Vendor related questions or concerns?

We truly want the absolute best Wedding Day and experience for the couple.​  To help ensure we are all on the same page we highly recommend each and every couple tie their vendor team into their Wedding Day Google Calendar Invite.  Within the Wedding Day Google Calendar Invite you will find the Windy City Production Photo and/or Video package specifics.  We also welcome any fellow vendors to the clients WCP Photo and/or Video final meeting, which is scheduled at the couples convenience.  Finally, the best way to address any Vendor related questions or concerns is by scheduling a call by CLICKING HERE. 

Scheduling Your Retainer or Final Payment?

A Sam or Katie Service​ guarantees that those photos and/or videos are fully edited and ready within 14 days and awaiting your final payment. Your payment(s) can be made via Chase Quickpay to​ ​Katie@windycityproduction.com​, or via Venmo to @Windycityproduction, via check made out to “Windy City Production”​​ and in person via physical cash for a 5% discount.  If you prefer to take advantage of the 5% cash discount please feel free to schedule, at your convenience, an In-Studio payment by CLICKING HERE. 

Can You Ship My External Hard Drives?

We totally understand the challenge for a few of our clients who reside out of state.  However, we have had multiple External Hard Drives lost, stolen, damaged, and delivered to the wrong addresses.  To ensure the External Hard Drive is delivered as we used it (in a working state) we have made the tough decision REQUIRING ALL External Hard drives to be personally picked up.  In the event your proximity doesn’t allow for such a pickup we encourage you to ask a family member or friend you trust to pickup the External Hard Drive.  We refuse to risk another clients External Hard Drive to the risk of loss, theft, and/or damage associated with shipping.  Please feel free to schedule, at your convenience, an In-Studio payment by CLICKING HERE. 

Taking Advantage of being a WCP Alumni?

We wanted to take a moment to sincerely thank all of the amazing couples that entrusted us to capture their Wedding Day Love Story over the past 10 years!  We are always looking for ways to continue to add value to our past clients including our FREE Mini Sessions, FREE Mini Maternity Sessions, FREE Head Shots, & Free Annual Christmas Shoot just to name a few. We would love to stay connected and please keep your eyes open for all of the future value adding perks.

$250 Value Adding Challenge!

We are honored you have considered us for the big day & you have to be asking yourself what makes WCP so special?  I believe we have and continue to add more value than any other Wedding Photographer and/or Videographer. 

However, if you are the 1st to find any other Wedding Photographer or Videographer who has and continues to offer more value I will gladly personally send you $250.  No strings attached!  Our 10 year reputation is on the line and we’ve NEVER not honored an offer.  By the end of the video you could be $250 richer or, even better yet, found the best value adding Wedding Photographer and/or Videographer.  Cheers to your win-win!  We stand 100% behind our challenge CLICK HERE to learn more.