Rochester NY Wedding Photographer ⋆ John Schlia Photography

I want you to hire me as your wedding photographer, if you’re looking for someone less like a vendor and more like a guest who takes sweet, sweet photos.

“His personal touch ensures that the story he tells is about you, not just your wedding.” – Noelle and Rich

Working with Me as Your Wedding Photographer

Throughout the wedding planning process I invest a lot in my couples. I want to get to know what makes you tick and why you made the choices you did. Then come the wedding day, I can instinctively watch for your college roommate to do an air guitar solo to AC/DC.

I treat every wedding uniquely. To start, I would like to chat on the phone or meet with you and hear all your plans, ideas and motivations. This is a time when you can ask me any questions you like. That way, we can all be sure that I’m the right photographer for you. Over the months, or weeks, leading up to your wedding we will chat some more and I’ll find out about every wedding detail and every family secret. Then on the wedding day, I am just a cool wedding guest with a lot of camera equipment.

Your wedding is bigger than all of the stuff at the wedding. Yeah it looks pretty and I’ll document it, but the people are what makes your wedding special. You want photos that are about you and the people that you love. I’m not going to make you do a weird pose or use a muted photo filter. I am going to give you timeless, quality wedding portraits and candid photos that you will look at hanging on your wall in 40 years and still be proud of, because classic doesn’t fade.

So if you are looking for wedding photos that are clean, classic, bold and – most importantly – about you then let me know!

John Schlia sitting with a happy wedding couple. — My wedding couple are always the happiest.

John Schlia photographing a couple eating ice cream. — My wedding couple are always the happiest.

Rochester, NY Wedding Photography Prices

Every wedding is different. Your wedding needs are different than your friend’s needs. For that reason, I’d like to custom tailor a package for you.

Want to know more? Click to jump to the Wedding FAQ.

Amanda and her bridesmaides laugh at her Rochester wedding.

A rochester wedding photography portrait infront of a colorful sculpture.

What You Can Expect from Me

I know a thing or two about weddings. I’ve photographed near 200 weddings during my career! With all this under my belt, there are two things I can assure you about weddings.

First, no two weddings are the same. They are all different and individual. I do offer packages for my couples but honestly, everybody needs something different and I enjoy building on my experience to help you create something that is just right for you.

Second, during your wedding day everything might not run as smoothly as you want. You’ve planned so long and so hard for this day, and it can be really difficult when things seem to be running behind schedule. However, I make it a point of honor to help you through the day with my humor and expertise.

So, I’ll dance on the dance floor and sit with your guests at dinner. It helps me melt into the background and keeps your guests from feeling as if they are “on” camera. That’s when I can capture the real moments of your wedding day.

Your wedding day is going to fly by. It’ll start out slow, but then you’ve had 3 mimosas and BAM! You’re walking down the aisle and then the night is over. But don’t worry. That happens to everyone. And that is what I enjoy most about wedding photography (other than cake). I am your eyes for the wedding. You and I build a relationship before the big day so that I can see for you. Then a few weeks after the wedding you get to relive and revisit those memories. Then it starts coming back you to and you’re suddenly back at your wedding. And you’re going to be taken back to those crazy moments for years and years and years as you turn the pages of your wedding album.

“John has an uncanny ability to photograph everything you want, without you even telling him. He makes everyone feel beautiful and at ease.” – Kayleigh and Josh

Let’s plan your wedding

Please enter your details below or reach out to me directly:

info@johnschlia.com

585-738-2026

Hi, what’s your name? (required)

I'll send you some info. What is your email? (required)

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What Can I Do For You?

What is your role?

When is this happy union happening? (required)

How Did You Hear About Me?

How Important is photography to you on your wedding day? (1 meaning: not very, 10 meaning: it's more important than air)

How Excited Are You to Work with John? (1 meaning: meh!, 10 meaning: He's like Elvis, I have to have him!)

Now the fun stuff! Tell me all about your wedding – the overall vibes, details, and dreams for your big day. The more information the better! (required)

Now, budget. We have to talk about it at some point, so let’s just bite the bullet. Tell me about what you want to have after the wedding and where your budget is at so we can work something out.

Wedding FAQ

How long after the wedding do we get to see the photos?

I’ll trickle out a few teasers the week after. During my peak wedding season it will take no longer than 60 days for them all to be in your hands.

Do we get all of the photos you take?

You’ll get a lot, but not all of them. You don’t need all the blurry, blinky test shots. Part of the reason you’re hiring me is for my curating skills. The final amount does depend on the amount of time that I am with you.

We are on a budget, can we have a discount?

I want to be fair to you and I want to be fair to my family, so I have to charge accordingly. It is also important to me to work with super awesome couples, so sometimes I can bend my own rules – but don’t tell my wife. If you have a budget that can’t budge, then maybe we could talk about shorter coverage (especially if it is off season December-April).

Can we meet?

Yes please. It’s important to know if we will jive. If you can’t make it to my office, let’s pick up the phone or see each other on Skype.

Do you offer payment plans?

Yep, we can discuss whatever is easiest for you. And it can change when you need it to.

How can we save our date?

Let me know your intentions, I’ll make up a wedding agreement with your specifics to sign, then a $700 retainer holds the date.

We are getting married in space, will you travel?

Well, duh! I love to travel and I’ll go anywhere. I do have special rates for traveling, so reach out and ask.

Are the images that we receive edited?

Absolutely. Every image you get will be edited. The type of editing that I do includes color correction, exposure adjustment, and my secret ingredient that gives your images that “JSP” fanciness!

Do we own the copyright?

No. John Schlia Photography will always be the owner of the copyright of the images. However, with your package you are given the rights to print and post your image.

Can we edit our own images?

No thank you. I pour my heart and soul into creating your images, and that includes editing. You liked what you saw when you booked me, so I’ll do the work for you.

Can we post our image on Social Media?

Heck yes! Go for it. I’m proud of my work and would love you to share it. I only ask that you kindly link to me so that your friends and family know how great I am.

Can we print our own images?

Yup, you sure can. Just be aware that consumer places to print your images typically are not calibrated as strictly to match the true colors or for achivalness. In order to get accurate colors and photos that won’t fade or fall apart over time, we recommend printing your images through our professional printing lab. I make the process super easy for you and I stand by all of my products, so that your grandchildren will still be able to enjoy your photos.

What happens in an emergency if you can’t be there?

I am a part of one of the most amazing networks of talented photographers in the area. If I was unable to attend your wedding due to an emergency, I would replace myself with someone equally as talented (or better!). But rest assured, that your wedding is just as important to me as it is to you. I simply don’t take “sick days”

What kind of equipment do you use, and what happens if it breaks?

Pencil and paper. JK, I have a ton of professional equipment. I’m a Canon guy and have plenty of back ups in case something happens.

Are there any hidden costs?

The only costs that you will incur after the initial cost of your package would be things that you would choose to add to your package and extensive revisions for an album. Examples of that would be, additional pages in your album, extra travel costs outside of the agreed upon mileage, parking fees, food/lodging if your wedding is considered a destination wedding, extra albums/canvases, prints, or special editing requests.

Are we able to customize our package?

Yes. Let’s talk about what makes sense for you.

How long is the engagement session?

A typical engagement session lasts about 2 hrs.

Can we shoot our engagement session on the weekend?

Yes and no. If you want to shoot your session on a weekend it would have to be during my off-season (December through April). During wedding season (May through November) weekends are reserved for scheduled weddings and my family, so all sessions during that time are shot on weeknights. If you absolutely must pull me away from my family, there is a $200 “sorry kids” fee.

Is this your full time job?

Yes, I love it. I am a small business owner, not just a photographer. I’m legit. I pay business taxes, insurance, rent and I continually re-invest in my business through workshops and other training to always be my best self.

What do we do if it rains on our wedding day?

We get wet! I’ll be able to make awesome photos for you no matter where we are. If you’re adventurous we can be outside for a bit. But there is always an indoor spot at the ceremony or reception venue. I’ll make it look great.

What happens if the weather is bad for our engagement session?

I’ll keep an eye on the forecast a few days in advance. If there is a good chance of rain, we will reschedule for the next available date that we can both make work. No fees are charged for rescheduling engagement sessions.

What is your photography style?

The majority of my wedding coverage could be called documentary, or photojournalistic if you must. The main point is that I am going to stay out of your way and let the day unfold. I’ll give direction when it is needed, like for family portraits or whenever you give me the deer in the headlights look. If you are looking for more direction, I can also do that. As we go through the wedding planning process together I’ll learn about what you are looking for and tailor your day to you.

Do you back-up my images?

Yes.You’re probably happy with 4 times, but I’m happy with 5. So they get backed up 5 times. Some are local to my office, some are in the cloud. You can never be too safe.

We could not have asked for a better photographer to share our wedding day and party with! John is creative, collaborative, and a joy to work with all around. He made us and our guests feel at ease, which you can absolutely see in our pictures. He made sure to get to know me and my wife and checked in often to ensure we were all on the same page. We had a similarly wonderful experience taking family pictures with him, he picked out a beautiful location and made even the most awkward of our family members comfortable. Truly a wonderful photographer and human being, we cannot recommend him enough!
Mariana Frantz
12/19/2018
I enjoyed working with John. I especially liked that he took the lead in directing the shots and offering suggestions on various poses. He had a clear vision of how the shots would turn out and it showed in the final results.
André
7/21/2020
We hired John for our wedding on July 7, 2018 in Rochester, NY. We couldn't be more happy with his service! From the very first interaction, he was accommodating; none of the packages on his website were exactly what we wanted, but he was flexible and made us a custom package that was perfect for us and for a great price! Leading up to the wedding he kept in touch and made sure he knew the whole schedule and everything. On our wedding day, John just took the lead and made sure he got every shot we could want. We didn't have to worry about anything! e.g. when it was time for sunset pictures, he came and got us! He didn't miss a single moment!
Eric Ressel
1/01/2019
My husband and I got married in August of 2018. John was such a pleasure to work with right from the start! He is extremely easy to work with and makes sure that every detail is perfect and just the way that you want it. Aside from just taking our wedding photos John was extremely helpful in providing us with information about other vendors – many of whom we used for our wedding because of his recommendations. Our family and friends have used John for many occasions including weddings and have never been disappointed. John is very approachable and extremely helpful in making sure that your needs and wants are met. Because we have worked with John in the past, using him for our wedding photography was a no-brainer! His personality, professionalism, skill, and customization far exceeded our expectations! We will continue to use John Schlia Photography exclusively for all of our photography needs in the future.
Kerry Venanzi
12/09/2018
John did a great job with my headshots and even came up with some great creative ideas for how to make them stand out. Highly recommended!
Robert Mostyn
3/06/2020
We hired John for our wedding on July 7, 2018 in Rochester, NY. We couldn't be more happy with his service! From the very first interaction, he was accommodating; none of the packages on his website were exactly what we wanted, but he was flexible and made us a custom package that was perfect for us and for a great price! Leading up to the wedding he kept in touch and made sure he knew the whole schedule and everything. On our wedding day, John just took the lead and made sure he got every shot we could want. We didn't have to worry about anything! e.g. when it was time for sunset pictures, he came and got us! He didn't miss a single moment!
Eric Ressel
1/02/2019
John photographed our wedding and we were completely delighted with the photos. Not only were the photos beautiful, John was so fun to work with. I never even noticed him at work during the ceremony, but then was completely delighted with beautiful ceremony shots and candids of all my friends and family. We had only booked him for a limited amount of time, but he used the time well and got excellent shots. We would highly recommend him as a photographer!
Kate Recard
12/23/2018
When I got my picture back I was amazed with the nice quality. It was the best picture experience I have ever had.
Michael Grosodonia
12/12/2019
John is an incredible professional who goes above and beyond to get all the best images of the day. His photos are always beautiful and his customer service is excellent! Whether for a corporate event or wedding/family photos John really delivers. Not to mention his pricing is very reasonable, especially for such high-quality images!
dabrams107
12/07/2018
As a wedding planner, I love recommending John to my couples! We have worked on many events and projects together and he always delivers excellence. He is a talented photographer and works to build a genuine relationship with all of his clients. He has a postive attitude, even through the most challenging events. Not only will John capture beautiful photos, but he will also deliver professionalism with a side of fun!
Pauleen Vacca
11/28/2018

Rochester Wedding Photographer