Stephanie Fay Photography

Anna - hey stephanie! i'm a huge fan of your work and I just LOVE your style! i'm a young photographer, and hope to get a new Canon soon, so do you have any recommendations for me? i would need something a bit more simple than what you use, but not too simple. if that makes sense. :) thank you so much! -anna Nov 21, 2011, 12:51PM

Sonya - Hi Stephanie, I am wondering if you still shoot with Canon 5D mark ii or if you have switched to another model? I love your photos! They are so sharp and full of life and beauty! Oct 19, 2010, 11:57PM

Brittany Cain - Hey Stephanie, I just looked through your photos and may I say they are amazing. I want to become a photographer. I am 19 years old and I look at other photographer's blogs and websites to get ideas, but I need a camera first. So what would you recommend? And how should I get started? Thank you so much in advance. Britt :) Mar 11, 2010, 2:49PM

Mike Carreiro - Hi Stephanie, I just saw your work on GreenWeddingShoes blog, and think that it is really great. Obviously I made it to your blog, and think that it's awesome that you put God first, family second, and your biz third. That is probably why you and your husband are being so successful. I'm a photographer based in Long Beach, CA, currently assisting and shooting for a commercial studio, but would love to get into weddings. I have shoot two so far as favors and feel in love with the process. I would love to second shoot, assist, tag along etc. to gain more experience. How did you get your start and build momentum in your business? Any pointers for starting out? Thanks Stephanie. Nov 19, 2009, 5:35PM

Jill Greene - Hi Stephanie, I know you are still on your Honeymoon, but Love the video and the website, I check almost every day to see if something new is posted... I am a photographer in Tehachapi California, and would love to know which actions you use and what your workflow is after each wedding. I am getting to the end of the season here, but would love to keep in Touch!! Thanks so much for being available for everyone, You are awesome and I admire your style and insight! God Bless, Jill Oct 28, 2009, 3:08PM

Heather Corporan - What a GREAT idea. I follow several blogs, and I've never seen anybody do this! I love that you share your knowledge with us newbies. Your wisdom in the field is truly priceless! I myself will not start out with the 5D. I'm a stay at home mom, 2 pre-schoolers and another on the way! I've decided on the Rebel just for starting purposes. But my question is, should I still go with the more expensive lenes, or would that be a bad idea with a lower quality body? Thanks for taking the time Stephanie! Aug 31, 2009, 7:49AM

Ryan Ehlert - Great video!! I wish I had the courage to start something up like this. Maybe someday. I love the depth of field that the 5d Mark II has in the video. Great job Stephanie!! Aug 31, 2009, 6:30AM

Mich Bilyeu - This is such a great idea! The video is such great quality...I wish I could afford the 5d Mark II but I'm in college and that is pretty pricey! Anyway, my question is, do you have any helpful tips to start out as an aspiring photographer? How should I get people to take me seriously as a photographer instead of just a girl with a nice camera? Thanks! Aug 26, 2009, 7:21PM

tiana - hi! stephanie. i really admire you and praise God for you that you have done this. this is really kind and considerate of you, especially during this busy time. my favorite thing about your photographs is the sharpness of them. i can tell you are using a 5D. but what other tools are you using in your post processing? how do i attain that sharpness. i have the 5D. i would love to know your camera settings and what you are shooting on. do you shoot manually? thank you for your time Aug 25, 2009, 6:38PM

Ashley Nicole - Hey Stephanie! Great Idea! I didn't read through all the previous comments so hopefully nobody asked this already but anyway, what would you suggest to help me widen out and network with other photographers like myself? I'm not from a big big city but I'd love to connect with other photographers who have experience and wisdom to share with me and others! Aug 24, 2009, 8:07PM

marissa moss - i thought i was going to add my own question here but as i read through everyone else's i'm just excited to hear theirs answered! most notably, the topic of how you achieve your sharp photos while keeping the beautiful creamy skin. ... love this idea!! can't wait to watch each week. :) Aug 24, 2009, 6:59PM

Kathleen - Rock on Stephanie! This is a great idea. I do not have a question at the moment, but something will certainly crop up over time. Have fun with the wedding palns! Aug 24, 2009, 7:10AM

LindsayO - On SHOES- www.FootCandyShoes.com. I bought my Manolo wedding shoes from here- they sell all the top designer shoes here, have awesome sales sometimes, and were so easy to work with. Good luck, can't wait to hear what you get! Love your work, as usual! ;o) Aug 23, 2009, 10:06AM

Syreena B - I soOOO need to know how you are getting that yummy glare off of your reception lighting? I know you are shooting straight into the light but with what... a certain lens... a certain f-stop?? Thanks soo much for doing this! Aug 23, 2009, 7:33AM

Mapuana - This is such a great idea. I LOVE that you are doing this. I'd like to know if you will be holding any workshops in the future? I'd LOVE to take a workshop and learn from you. Also how do you edit your photos....they look so crisp, clear...and creamy! Love all of them. Aug 21, 2009, 11:32PM

Ashley - I was wondering how you make your images so sharp but yet so creamy and smooth? I feel like mine are lacking something. Is there a certain action that I could add to the photo? Thanks so much in advance! Aug 21, 2009, 1:42PM

Marissa Rodriguez - This is so awesome! LOVE that you're doing this! Awesome idea! I'd like to know how you booked your first wedding that you actually charged for? I feel that that getting that first one booked is taking forever! lol! Aug 21, 2009, 11:40AM

ashleigh taylor - Stephanie this is sooo cool of you! Thanks for doing this! Now seeing this video makes me wish I could affordthe 5DMii even more! sigh/lol. Anyways, I have a lot of questions but I guess my first is-- when you were just starting out, how did you prioritize where to spend your money? Everything is so expensive and I'm torn between buying gear (and which lens to buy first, second, etc) and the doing workshops, paying for web design, etc... What is the best thing to focus on first?? I also second the people asking you to talk about your post-prod workflow! I love your editing!! What actions do you use? Aug 20, 2009, 10:09PM

Jenny Bishop - Love the video Stephanie!! Great idea!! I've been in the photography business for almost a year (part-time) and would love some suggestions on how to grow my business more...tips on marketing, finding the "right" clients, booking clients, etc. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!! Aug 19, 2009, 8:41PM

Jenni - I love your blog and LOVE your photos! I can't wait to see more video. I've noticed that you take most of your pictures at f 1.2. How do you get everything so in focus at that stop? You even get multiple faces in the same shot, all in focus. That is a mystery to me!! I love how crisp all your photos are! Aug 19, 2009, 8:19PM

Melissa Schollaert - Stephanie- Shoe shots are my absolute favorite too!!! Here are a few suggestions: http://jamesciccotti.com/ http://katespade.com/ http://gracefootwear.com/ http://www.pedrogarcia.com/ Aug 19, 2009, 7:44PM

Stephanie - Way cute video, it's fun to see someones personality come out, loved it. I would love to hear the steps you take in Photoshop when you start a new batch of photos, your photos are so crisp, I love them. Also do you do mentoring sessions??? Aug 19, 2009, 5:27PM

Dawn Regan - Hi Stephanie. I'm so, so, so, so glad to see you're doing this video FAQ post. I could not be more excited! I am just starting out, and I really need to set up a blog but am unsure of how to go about that. I've looked at so many different places to get/start/host a blog, but the ones I really like are extremely expensive. I kind of feel like something like blogger is not professional enough. If you could please talk about blogging and how to start up with that, I would really appreciate it. P.S. It is so great to see you in action (video) to hear the voice and all to put with just the still pictures of you. You're adorable! Aug 19, 2009, 2:17PM

Christine N - Wow, I really like the video capabilities of the 5D Mk II. It really looks nice. And what a great way to network and answer all the questions us readers have. I sent this to you in an email but I thought I would post it here. Could you walk us through your workflow after a wedding and what you do for editing? (ie. actions, etc) Thanks!! Aug 19, 2009, 11:42AM

Leah Mullett - Yay! I finally get to put a voice with a face! This is an awesome idea Stephanie! You are such an inspiration to me and obviously many others! My question is ... I would love to know how you "manage" your time/day when you don't have shoots. Like how do you balance your personal life with your work life ... so on and so forth. I'm always struggling with that!!! Thanks Steph! Ur the best! Aug 19, 2009, 9:49AM

Denise Saucedo - Love how you are keeping up with the times. Great idea!! Can't wait to read or shall I say see more about it! :) Nice cameo from Margo. Hilare!!! Love your images by the way!!! Fantabulous. Aug 18, 2009, 11:49PM

ajira - Loved the video Stephanie! It's a nice change to actually see you talking instead of just hearing you in my head while I read your posts. There's so much to learn, and I am so excited about connecting with other photographers! It's great to know there are others out there who are interested in the same! Aug 18, 2009, 10:31PM

Tracy Anne - You may have already posted about it, but I'm curious to know what's in your bag. Secondly, how did you go about upgrading/purchasing new equipment? Did you take out a loan, buy as you go, rent? Thanks! Aug 18, 2009, 8:12PM

Nicki Siebert - Great Post...the video was a great idea. I just got married July 4th...try modelbride.com and perfectdetails.com Alittle pricey, but check out the sales...I got mine from perfect details at 65% off!! Best of luck! Aug 18, 2009, 5:29PM

Meg Fish - Hi! Love your blog like crazy :) I am a Nikon shooter, but i appreciate the 5d... check out DIANI shoes www.dianiboutique.com for some classy european dreams.... Aug 18, 2009, 5:05PM

Bridget Sharp - I love your site! Would you please give some post processing hints...anything would be great. Your images are so sharp and crisp. Your color is gorgeous. Thanks for any info. Bridget Aug 18, 2009, 2:34PM

Kayla - Hey, Stephanie! Love the video! It looks great! Can't wait to get my own 5D Mark II! Have you tried Zappos.com for shoes? They have tons to look at in different price ranges. I'd love to know some of your post processing secrets! Your images are so sharp, clean and crisp and I'd love to know your steps! Love your work! Thanks! Aug 18, 2009, 2:21PM

Janelle Zeller - Stephanie - Fab idea!! I can't wait to hear the responses to all the questions! Can I just say that I LOVED that Margo snuck in and debuted herself on the video!! Hee hee!! Aug 18, 2009, 2:15PM

Melissa Copeland - WOW!! That video is amazing... SO CLEAR & CRISP!! LOVE IT! I'm a Nikon user myself but I definately would like to play around with this camera... hehe OH, and I saw some cute little guys running thru the background..who was that? :o) Okay..on to the question. I am just starting my business I'm about 6 months into it and am loving this job more and more each day. My question to you is "What do you do during a wedding consult?" What do I need to talk about? What do I need to make sure to mention? etc?? Thanks so much!! Melissa Aug 18, 2009, 1:41PM

Nicole Monique Photography - LOVE LOVE LOVE this idea!!! Its such a great way for us(the blog readers/stalkers ;-) jk) to feel more of a connection to you. I think, often times, we can only picture other photographers as the entity that is their blog and not as a real person, so this is a totally rad way of putting yourself out there! I have only been in the business for a year and a half now and my question is How did you market yourself to gain more clientele? I feel like I've hit a wall and don't know how to get my name out there to the newly engaged brides. I am doing all the networking with other industry professionals but they can only refer so many brides to each photographer. Thank you Steph for being so open to connecting with your readers! Aug 18, 2009, 1:00PM

Lori Boynton - What a great idea, love it!! My question would be.......marketing!! It's not my strong point. I guess I just don't want people to think I am always promoting myself. I want my work to promote itself so I am working hard to improve it but it can't really promote itself if no one knows about it:) So how did you get your name out there? I should also add that I've only lived in Tampa for about a year so my social network is still relatively small (but growing). We moved here for hubby's job and are now here to stay!! Sorry for the rambling!! Thanks in advance for sharing so much!! Lori Aug 18, 2009, 12:53PM

Regina - Okay so this video is awesome. I can't wait to come back each week to see what you have to say. Love your work. No matter what it is. I don't do a ton of weddings but just lovin to hold a camera and capture memories is the best. Thank for including us into your home and outlook on life and photography. Nice camera by the way.... Aug 18, 2009, 11:08AM

Tira J - You are seriously, way too cute! First, we need more Margo! You are doing so great in this industry and have already flourished so much. Would love for you to do a video post on your post production and talk about whether you shoot RAW or JPEG, etc. Aug 18, 2009, 11:06AM

Assaf - Crystal clear video!!! gotta love the 5dmk2. I especially love the part when Margo walked by. I demand more Margo in the next video. Especially since I have two pugs myself :) Aug 18, 2009, 10:34AM

bertha - one of my questions is how you get people to feel comfortable while you are taking their pictures. i want my clients to feel at ease and be themselves while I'm taking their pictures, but I'm not sure how. I really like the video idea! Thanks! Aug 18, 2009, 10:25AM

Christine Owens - Wow, I know absolutely nothing about cameras but that is pretty crazy clear. One thing I do know....you look hot :-) Can't wait to have you take baby bump pictures though I still have some time, you will be a Motte then, crazy! Aug 18, 2009, 9:55AM

Kisha of Sahara Blue - wow, the video quality on the Mark II is fantastic! it even adds bokeh to the background lol?!?!?! awesome. okay. question. let's see....how'd you get over your initial fear of just 'doing it' (it being starting your own biz). & how did you build your portfolio? did you shoot friends/family or did you know a photographer and do 2nd shooting for them? Aug 18, 2009, 9:25AM

Celesa Felix - Hi Stephanie... I think this is such a great idea! Sometimes you can get a better picture when you can hear and see someone. You are so beautiful and I think it is awesome to see such a young photographer doing what you love best! I really hope that I can meet with you sometime. I know we tried to get together and I think both are weeks didn't work together, but I would really love to talk with you since you inspire me so much. I am just getting involved and want to learn so much more. Again great idea. Aug 18, 2009, 9:13AM

gina amin - Hey Stephanie! What an innovative idea. I love this! - So I also want to know how you deal with family and friends. I always do family for free but we have so many family and close friends that it gets impossible to please everyone. Thanks :) Aug 18, 2009, 8:25AM

Amber Ramsey - what a great idea! thanks for being so willing to share! so, my question(s) would be...what advice would you give someone just starting out in the photography business? (besides practice, practice, practice) is there any one thing that you wish you had known when you were first getting started. is there a certain class you took, book you read, piece of equipment you purchased, that just made everything click for you? Aug 18, 2009, 7:38AM

Jessica Fike - Hi Stephanie! The video posts are such a great idea! So unique and so different. :) Here's a question for you: In your business, how do you "lay your foot down" when friends and family members want discounts or special deals for your services? I'm having a hard time drawing the line. Aug 18, 2009, 7:32AM

Whitney Clark - Love the idea of a video post rather than reading a blog! My question...what do you use for LIGHTING during the wedding ceremony and receptions? And..if you don't shoot in manual mode, what do you shoot in? Aug 18, 2009, 6:53AM

Nicole Haley - Hi Stephanie. :D I love the idea of a video FAQ post! I always like to hear how different photographers keep portraits relaxed and fun (thus getting the awesome smiles and laughter on camera). Any tricks or techniques you use? Hope all is well! Aug 18, 2009, 5:23AM