JS & COvid-19
frequently asked questions
COVID-19 has likely caused you to have some conversations during your wedding planning. We can’t imagine how hard this all must be for you and we want you to know that we’re here for you! Below are some frequently asked questions to give you information about how we can move forward together! If you have additional questions, please don’t hesitate to email us at jenny@jennysmithandco.com
What are you doing for couples currently planning their wedding amidst the pandemic?
Great question! Because COVID-19 is now ongoing, it is no longer considered a Force Majeure. Which is why we’ve had our legal team draft a special COVID-19 section for our contract to address commonly occurring decisions and protocols! Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!
Would we be able to apply our Retainer Fee to the new date?
Absolutely! We want to make this as painless as possible. We also want to make the transition as smooth as we can. So your Retainer Fee (and balance if you are paid in full) can all be transferred to a new date!
What fees, if any, would be associated with rescheduling?
If you read our contract, you will see that normally there is a $1000 fee to postpone your wedding. But nobody knows what is going to happen, if we’re going to get stay-at-home orders again, when events will be allowed to happen, etc. Guys, these are crazy times. So we are waiving that fee for all 2021 couples that need to postpone due to COVID-19.
What happens if our photographer is sick? What happens if we are sick?
Obviously your wedding day is one of THE most important days of your life. But your health and our health are ultimately what we need to prioritize. We will self-quarantine (and are now), be honest about our health, and send someone in our place if we are sick. And we ask that you let us know immediately if you are sick so we can best help you!
How soon should we make a decision?
We’re sad to say we can’t answer that for sure. However, if you are thinking of postponing, we’d love to hear from you as soon as possible and be a part of the conversation about new dates to ensure we are available!
What if our lead photographer isn't available for our new date?
We want to make every effort to ensure the relationship that you’ve already established with your photographers remains! This is why we request that you send us several dates and refrain from solidifying a date until we can communicate about availability. However, if you decide on a date that your lead photographer is not available, we are happy to offer another shooter in her stead. We cannot offer any refunds.
how far into the future should OUR NEW DATE BE?
While we cannot predict when this will all be back to normal, we can say that weddings were some of the first things to go as gatherings of 100, 50, and then 10 people were banned. So we are assuming these will be some of the last ordinances to be lifted as well.
And while your wedding, your loved ones, and your wellbeing should all be your first priority, we will say that anything you can do to help all the small businesses you’ve hired is much appreciated. If you can, consider choosing a new date on a Friday, Sunday, or even a weekday – it helps all of out tremendously. Every Saturday we can keep open throughout 2021 and 2022 is another opportunity to book a new couple, and therefore start to rebuild our industry.
what if we want to do a small ceremony on our original date and a larger party later?
Yes, please! We’d love that! We’ve already done that once and would love to do it again! Basically you have two options:
1. We can have one photographer there to shoot your intimate gathering or elopement for a few hours at a discounted rate.
2. Or you can use your existing hours towards it. So if you have an eight-hour package and we shoot a three-hour small wedding, you’ll have five hours of coverage for your larger party later!
And for either option, you can always add more time as needed! Before these small gatherings we’d love to have a conversation with you about safety for you and your loved ones as well as for us!
if we are postponing, what should we do first?
You’ll need to start with your venue, just like you did when you started planning the first time around. Get a few dates from your venue and contact your vendors. Offering vendors like us who are not replicable (your dj and planner for example) a few dates to consider gives you the best chance for your whole team to be available for your new wedding date.
once we finalize a new date, what's next?
Please send us a confirmation email with your new wedding date. We’ll take care of changing your date in our system and updating your balance due date. We’ll also send you a Date Change Addendum and Liability Release to sign to make it all official!
what if we decide to cancel altogether? can we get a refund?
First, we want to encourage you to postpone rather than cancel because your Retainer Fee is non-refundable. Plus, even if your day looks different or happens at a later time, we still want you to celebrate your marriage (and we want to be there to shoot it!).
WHAT ABOUT OUR ENGAGEMENT SESSION?
Check with us about when we are shooting engagement sessions! We are limiting these sessions to outdoors only, considering the current mandates and climate. And since weddings are not currently happening, we have plenty of availability! Contact the studio to schedule your engagement session!
Can we talk about a new payment plan?
We know this can be a tough time for some people. The economy is obviously suffering and many are without jobs. If you’re worried about how this could affect your photography, let’s talk and come up with a solution together. Your wellbeing is our priority and we still want to be your wedding photographers.
What safety measures will be taken at future weddings?
We will be following all guidelines for social distancing, wearing masks, using long lenses, and keeping appropriate distances. We’ll also be changing our coverage of dancing or other points in the day with large group gatherings for safety measures by shooting from a distance with long lenses. For more information and tips from the CDC regarding weddings specifically, click here.
WHAT IF WE HAVE TO RESCHEDULE AGAIN?
Good gravy, we hope no one has to know the answer to this question. But if you do, we are here for you. We will reschedule over and over and over again until you are finally able to get married. Because we want to be there to document it no matter what.
THINKING ABOUT AN ELOPEMENT?
We think this is a great idea and would love to be a part of your day to document your marriage! Whether it’s just the two of you on an epic mountaintop or a few of your friends and family in your backyard, we’ll be there!
Email us for a list of location ideas!
before
YOU GO
We aren’t gonna lie. As a small business, this pandemic has us a bit rattled. But one thing we do know is that we’ll get through this, we’ll beat this, and life will eventually be normal again.
Your love is not cancelled, humanity is not cancelled, and our client/photographer relationship is not cancelled. Rather, this can show just how strong we all can be. We cannot wait to document your love and your story soon!
SAY HEY!
meet: at our studio in the san fernando valley
los angeles, california
(by appointment only)
write: jenny@jennysmithandco.com
