Frequently asked questions
I’m Jeffrey Lewis Bennett.
I started photographing weddings in 2003 and eventually left my day job as a designer to do photography full-time. In addition to photos, I create a few animated gifs from every session and share an IG teaser REEL the next day. My style is influenced by design principles, architecture, Edward Hopper paintings, plus films by Stanley Kubrick & Denis Villeneuve. While composing I put as much attention into the scene and lighting as the subjects. I prefer to cover events solo and do my own editing. I’m based in the Detroit area & I travel.
Extra credit: After reading through this FAQ, checkout the MORE section to learn about my creative process.
My Style
My Approach
My Compositions
Can we hire you?
I’m always excited to work with couples who connect with my style and trust my artistic approach. While I won't recreate other photographers’ work or Pinterest boards, I welcome your ideas. I just prefer them verbalized. This keeps the focus on creating, not copying.
Why wedding photography?
I get to make art people cherish! I love this job and I’m very excited to share my portfolio. I believe my style is atypical, colorful, bold, dramatic, fun, romantic, and diverse. I’m so incredibly grateful towards every couple who has trusted me to capture them.
Did you really take all these photos & gifs?
Yes, I took all these with real cameras. Everything you’ll find on this website, and anywhere else associated with my brand, are real images captured with actual clients. I don’t create fake photos with generative a.i., and nothing is from a styled shoot with models.
We like all your “city photos” but how will your style translate to our non-city wedding?
No need to fear. I have done so many amazing weddings all over the country. I’ve done weddings in forests, on beaches, in boats, on farms, at waterfalls, on mountaintops and everything in between. Message me about wanting to see work that might be more like your day and I’ll send applicable samples… or you could explore all the teaser REELS I post to Instagram.
What might get us the best results?
#1 Your attention and time. I highly recommend dedicating some time where it’s just you two off making photos, without rushing.
#2 Attire. If your suit or gown is too tight it will become the limiting factor to your photos and enjoyment. Consider a gown (and veil) you can move freely in without help. Test fit your bra/spanx so nothing shows. Couples who can run, twirl and play together have more fun and better photos. Have a comfy pair of shoes as backup.
No Phones. Seriously, take one day off from your device.
Drugs/Alcohol. Too much can make it hard to get good photos of you. I recommend waiting till later at the reception to indulge.
Wedding party size. Huge wedding parties often slow the creative photos to a crawl and someone is always missing. I always get wedding party, friends, and family group shots. Just consider having a smaller party, no party, or doing part of your photos privately.
Make a plan and be on time. If you want more creative photos and gifs make time for them. Don’t be the couple planning their wedding on the day of and don’t let hair & makeup ruin your timeline.
We love your dark, moody, artistic work but can we also get photos that are genuinely fun, happy, and even silly?
This website is heavy on the more artistic work because I want to attract clients who appreciate it. It’s my fav. Yet, I offer so much beyond the serious tone.
Who you really are will shine through when you work with me. I never suppress my subject’s nature, I lean into it. If you two are fun, your pictures will be. Also, check reviews and you’ll see previous clients often referencing just how fun it was to work with me.
I want there to be a balance of / real / romance / joy / drama / when I cover every wedding. I can prove it, just ask to see a full wedding gallery.
Have you been published or won any awards?
My work is regularly featured in the local wedding-magazines. I’ve also been featured a few times in the Huffington Post, PopSugar, Buzzfeed, StyleMePretty, 100LayerCake, Refinery29, NYpost, ABCnews, Essence, Fstoppers, Tumblr, PetaPixel, Brit.co, Ambassador, WeddingChannel, Brides UK, Nearly Wed, and I even made the front page of Reddit once. I’ve also been granted “Best of Weddings” from TheKnot a bunch of times.
When & where will we see the photos?
Teaser images & gifs are on Instagram the next day (or in your email if you are anti social media). The rest will be available in an online gallery within 2 weeks. You, your family, and friends can order professional quality prints, albums, etc via this online gallery. You’ll also receive a USB drive and some surprises in the mail.
What is your rescheduling policy?
When you book a photographer you are paying to reserve a specific date/dates. Rescheduling is subject to the photographer’s availability and requires the signing of a new contract for a package of equal or greater value. A rescheduling fee of $1500, will be added to the new contract and due at the time of signing. Communicable disease related rescheduling will not be exempt from the rescheduling fee. Not signing a new contract for a new date at the time of releasing the original date is a cancellation. All payments will be lost upon cancellation. Payments are Non-Refundable.
Do you work alone?
I’ve found that working solo lets me capture all moments the way I envision them. With hundreds of weddings under my belt, I’ve perfected the art of being in the right place at the right time, all without anyone extra in the way. My clients are consistently thrilled with the results, and I’m happy to share full wedding galleries with you.
I took all the following ceremony shots. For the overhead view I used a remote camera in the balcony, triggered by me, at the perfect moment.
Should we hire tons of pros or DIY?
Depends on who you are. If you are going the DIY route you have to successfully delegate everything to competent persons before the day of the wedding. If you are still handling any aspect of wedding planning on the day of your own wedding you have failed. You’ll not be as present, have as good of a time, and your photos may suffer.
How do you cover prep without a 2nd shooter?
Simple. Have me cover one group, then the other.
Plenty of couples these days do not have me cover getting ready. We can start with a first look or you could even get ready together without a crowd. This is your day, how do you want it to go?
Who is the client?
The couple getting married are the only clients. Although I’m friendly & courteous to everyone I only take direction from the couple, not from parents, friends, dj, band, videographers, hall manager, planner, florist, or coordinator, regardless of who paid for the photography services.
Do you provide focused or balanced coverage?
This is up to you. Many couples hire me to focus on them but I try to cover as much of the day as possible: venue, details, wedding party, family, and a little bit of guests. If you would like me to spend less time focused on you and more time on your guests please let me know. If having me cover cocktail hour is important to you we’ll need to plan for that. If there are specific people or groups that need to be photographed, list them. I won’t be bugging each table of guests during dinner.
Want me to get stylized portraits of your guests? I can do that.
How do we get our photos to look __________?
So much of how your photos will turn out isn’t up to your photographer at all. You’re going to get out of your day what you put into it. Your locations, attire, decor, season, weather, time of day, and mood are all going to have dramatic impacts on your photos. Most likely a winter wedding in Michigan is going to be dark & moody not light & airy. Fun wedding party photos will require a fun wedding party. Epic golden-hour romantic shots will require a good sunset, access to it, perfect timing, plus the whole romance thing.
“You can’t capture what isn’t there.” - Rosy
Are you skilled at capturing diverse skin tones?
Yes! Humans come in a variety of shades and I feel so fortunate to have gotten to photograph so many.
How much time should be allocated for creative photos?
This is really up to you. If you are super into getting all the best photos in all the locations we can spend hours… It’s also ok to want good photos but not want your day to be just about photography.
If you are into the idea of getting creative photographer-directed images (and gifs) I recommend 1-2 hours set aside. This could be one block or broken up into smaller parts with different locations/lighting throughout the day.
Will you plan our wedding?
I help all my clients set a timeline and prioritize locations on google docs. That help is part of what you get hiring a photographer with so many years of experience. If you find yourself with daily questions, or complicated logistics, you might need a full-service planner or day-of coordinator.
Have you worked with LGBTQ clients?
Yes! Many times. I’m a proud supporter of equality and happy to cover anyone.
How much time do we need you for?
7-10 hours of coverage works for almost every wedding, probably yours too. I do cap coverage at 12 hours. Hire me and receive expert timeline assistance.
Should we hire a lighting company?
It’s rarely a necessity but it could enhance the ambiance. You really will need them if you are planning something special like an outdoor ceremony at night. Also, know that if you have purple uplighting throughout your reception you will have purple-tinted photos.
Are you a dependable professional?
There’s something about the event industry, particularly photography, that attracts people looking to create a side hustle. Be very carful of who you hire to be a part of your wedding. Many have very little experience, aren’t insured, or don’t own the gear. I have over 2 decades of experience, I’m insured, and own all the gear. I retain cloud and offline backups of current & past work. I bring 3 cameras, a dozen lenses, and lighting to handle any situation..
How many pictures do you take at a wedding?
I take somewhere between 2000-4000 images in 8 hours of coverage. I then deliver ~400-600 (x4 color processes).
Can we have the images you don’t select?
Sorry. I delete all the images that do not meet my quality/technical/artistic standards.
Do you use film? Offer color and black & white?
100% digital, no film. I shoot RAW and do all the editing. Prints are made offsite at a professional color lab.
How do you get the photos to look like they do?
It’s the camera. Just kidding… The “look” results from knowledge, experience, creativity, and unique processing. Check out my unique color processing.
Do you offer albums?
Yes. A variety of albums, hardcover books, magazines, prints, framed art, canvases, cards and more are available from inside your event’s online gallery. It’s easy to turn your favorite images into a keepsake.
Do you take family formals and group shots?
While this website features mainly shots of couples I absolutely always take those. Click left or right through the little gallery below this.
Should we bring props?
I use subjects and available environments to create interesting visuals. Nothing else is really needed. I capture my subjects on the move so don’t bring a bag etc.
Can we meet you and hang out?
I can Zoom, Skype or FaceTime with you. I actually quit taking face-to-face meetings years ago. It’s all about efficiency really. I was already doing video calls with all of my clients out of state and they worked very well. I’m also committed to a very fast turnaround time and that’s possible in part to this policy.
Will you come scout our locations?
Unfortunately, my schedule of shooting & editing just doesn’t allow it. But you can and send me phone pics. I’m very accessible via phone, email, google docs, etc.
Can our guests and families take photos too?
Of course, they can… Just know it can sometimes be necessary for me to ask family, guests or vendors to relocate or stop taking pictures. This is rare.
Can we break up the time included in a package?
All packages include a consecutive length of photographic coverage. This time may not be paused or split up.
What if something happens to you?
I’m responsible for getting a capable professional photographer to cover your event if there’s a terrible emergency that would keep me from being there personally. This has yet to happen.
What do you mean by “Every image edited by the photographer”?
I don’t farm it out or use A.I. for culling. I personally go through all the photos, making selections and adjusting the color and contrast of every image selected. I may also remove some skin blemishes, wrinkles, or something distracting from the background. You still need to hire professionals to do your hair & makeup. I’m not removing tan lines so avoid getting them. Special requests for changes, edits, effects, etc are evaluated on a case by case basis and I reserve the right to charge extra or just say no. I will not photoshop anyone to appear thinner, reshape body parts, trim flesh, fix what happens at the top of an ill-fitting dress, add in someone/something that wasn’t there, or make a B&W image with spot color.
Will we love how we look in our photos?
Maybe, maybe not. Unfortunately, body image issues seem to be more common these days. Do you generally not like photos of yourself? Do you regularly use beauty filters on yourself in apps? If so working with me might leave you feeling that you don’t look like your idea of yourself.
I don’t do a lot of heavy retouching so make an effort on hair, makeup, and attire (without trying something wildly new).
While I work to capture everyone at their best I believe addressing one’s self-esteem will go further than any makeup, pose, or photoshop. You are beautiful, Love yourself.
Who owns the copyright to the photos?
The Photographer shall own the copyright in all images created and all photographic materials. The Photographer has the right to use the images, without compensation or notification to the client, in any of the following ways: reproductions for the clients and both client’s families and friends, for the Photographer’s portfolio, samples, self-promotions, entry in photographic contests, art exhibitions, editorial use, advertisements promoting the photographer or partnering vendor, photographer’s website, any partnering website, for display within or on the outside of the Photographer’s studio, on a blog, in a magazine, book, app, social network, or any media not yet invented.
What if we don’t want you to use our images?
No Worries. If you want to approve each use the images or have them all kept private… let me know your concerns and we’ll sort it out.
What about the clients’ use of the images?
An exclusive personal use license is granted to the Client to reproduce, print, modify and/or display the images for non-commercial purposes. The client will receive high-resolution, non-watermarked, digital files (not the RAW images). You shall not sell said images or falsely represent the authorship of the images. You also agree to include some kind of credit/tag with any photo or set of photos published publicly: on the internet, social media, blog, newspaper, magazine, etc.
Can we have the RAW images?
You get beautiful, high-res, touched-up, and color-corrected JPEGs just not the RAWs. A “RAW” image is the file right out of the camera. These RAW files don’t look anything like the finished product.
Are there places you won’t go?
I’m not available for events in Canada or Central America. Short boat rides are ok but I’ve gotten seasick covering receptions on yachts. I have to follow venue rules so I can continue to have good relationships with them. An example: Many of the hip hotels have rules against doing professional photos outside of your hotel room. Some venues want you to have your wedding there for access to their cool spaces.
Can we extend coverage during the reception?
Receptions have a few things that need to happen in a timely fashion like speeches, formal dances, cake cutting, etc. I’ll nudge you to stay on schedule but I can’t make you stick to it. My time might run out before all those things happen. Adding time has to be discussed during planning. No time extensions day-of.
Should we hire a Videographer?
I seem to attract clients who are more interested in photos/GIFs. If you do want a video put together a team that works well together. There are a lot of videographers who could slow me down and frustrate me all day.
Videographers I mesh with are more “In the background”, ok with the photographer leading Art Direction.
FYI some videographers take a very long time. Make sure yours will contractually agree to a delivery schedule.
Are there other vendors you recommend?
Planners / Coordinators:
lgeventdesign.net
laurenjacksevents.com
21janeevents.com
beautifuldayplanning.com
vowsandveilsweddings.com
bunnyandjuneevents.com
Florists:
stemeventdesign.com
grahamstantonco.com
jenhousedesign.biz
niloorosidesign.com
Cake / Desserts:
bellaedolcecakes.com
sweetheatheranne.com
petitesweetsdetroit.com
Lighting, Live Music, and DJ services… This is the BIGGEST upgrade you could do to your party:
elysiumexp.com
DJs:
lufru.com
maprodj.com
cldjservice.com
Bands:
e3detroit.com
c6band.com
jerryrossband.com
Vintage Rides:
motorcityvintagerentals.com
Will you party with us?
I love my job and will likely have a great time with you, your family, and your friends but I won’t be drinking or getting high, etc. Please understand I’m working, want to stay focused.
What’s next?
I like to meet every couple on a zoom video call before making it official. I consider it a red flag if both partners aren’t on the zoom or if it’s obvious one of them didn’t bother to look at the work or read the pricing & faq.
What’s required to reserve your services?
Reserving a date requires signing a contract and paying the first 1/3 of the desired package total. I accept payments online via credit card & bank transfer. privacy, payment, shipping, refunds
What if we have more questions?
I’d love to answer them and add to this page.
Thanks for reading all this. Contact me.