FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have a satisfaction guarantee?
Yes! Blackfern Media has a Photo Guarantee! We will make every effort to ensure the final images are of high quality and represent your property to the best of its ability. If however, you feel these images do not meet those expectations, Blackfern Media will work closely with you to correct the issue and adjust your pictures or videos. A reasonable amount of re-editing will be performed at no additional cost. If, however, a return trip is requested due to issues in the photos regarding decluttering, or the property’s appearance, additional photos not specifically requested prior to shoot, or other aspects that are not directly the responsibility of Blackfern Media, there will be a charge. A minimum reshoot fee of $65 plus applicable travel fees will be charged unless it was the direct responsibility of the photographer where then there will not be a charge (ie. missing specific shot requested prior to shoot)
Do you edit the photos for free?
All photo packages come with image correction and enhancements to make them look their best. We have a rigorous quality control process for all real estate and corporate photos. All photos are:
- white balanced on site
- color corrected/enhanced in post-production
- perspective correction for straight and level lines
Can I have multiple re-edits to my photos or videos?
We want you to be 100% satisfied with your content and will grant 2 re-edits if necessary to make that happen. Beyond 2 re-edits, there will be an additional cost for extra editing time.
How do I receive my content?
All real estate customers will receive a beautiful property website for each property our services are hired for, to allow you to download your purchased content and show off your content to your prospective customers.
Why do I have to create an account to order?
All real estate customers will create a customer account when they order for the first time through Blackfern Media. Future additional orders will be started through this account using the same logins so that you may manage all your Blackfern Media orders and contracts in one convenient spot.
How long will a shoot take?
Basic video and photo shoots generally take between 1-2 hours depending on the size of the property and complexity of the package purchased. Luxury shoots generally take anywhere from 2-5 hours depending on the features of the property.
Whats the turn around time from ordering to receiving my content?
For most real estate shoots only including still images, the turnaround is twenty four (24) hours unless otherwise specified. Photoshoots that include videography will require at least a forty eight (48) hour turnaround or more. Larger properties or with extensive editing/special requests, such as luxury, virtual twilight, object removal, virtual grass and virtual staging may take up to forty eight (48) hours or more as a minimum.
Do I have to be present?
It is preferrable to have a representative for the property available to unlock all doors/areas and to point out aspects to focus on but not required as long as the photographer has access to the property with a prior given or hidden key or code.
What’s your Cancellation Policy?
By booking Blackfern Media and scheduling a time and date, you affirm that the property is “ready” to be photographed (Please see our Client Prep Checklist below). If the shoot is canceled or rescheduled for any reason prior to 48 hours before the scheduled shoot, there will be no fees or penalties.
- 48 Hour Cancellation Fee: If for any reason, you cancel or reschedule within 48 hours of the scheduled shoot, you will be charged a thirty five dollar ($35) Cancellation/rescheduling Fee.
- 2 Hour Cancellation Fee: If for any reason, you cancel or reschedule within 2 hours of the scheduled shoot, You will be charged fifty (50) percent of the total of the services purchased, plus the full amount of applicable Travel Fees. This 2 Hour Cancellation Fee also applies if the photographer arrives at the property but is not able to shoot it for any reason including no access to property, wrong lock box code, and unsafe property conditions. Blackfern Media will not enter any Properties that have unsafe flooring or ceilings, trip hazards, obvious insect or rodent infestations, black mold, or has been condemned. The remaining fifty (50) percent of the order total will be refunded to you.
What's your Weather Policy?
Blackfern Media retains the right to cancel any shoot based on bad weather, for the safety of the equipment and our photographers. Shoots will be held in most weather except for heavy rain, or if there is a County or State Travel Ban. If rain is present, or if Blackfern Media decides weather conditions do not allow for a safe shoot, you will be given the option to reschedule at no additional charge during any open appointment slots within thirty (30) days. Every effort will be made by Blackfern Media to reschedule and re-shoot within seventy two (72) hours of the original shoot. However, if Blackfern Media does not deem it necessary to cancel the shoot due to inclement weather but you decide to cancel within forty eight (48) hours of the shoot due to inclement weather, you will be subject to the normal cancellation policy and fees. You should evaluate weather leading up to the shoot and contact Blackfern Media prior to the forty eight (48) hours-before-the-shoot cutoff to avoid cancellation or rescheduling fees if optimal weather is wanted.
Can you remove objects?
Yes, for an additional fee we can remove objects from a photo, depending on complexity, such as blemishes on the carpet, walls and counters or even unwanted items in a room. Please see our pricing section for our most current object removal prices.
What's the farthest you service?
Properties outside a 20 mile radius from our base office located at 15 Charles Street, Binghamton, New York,13905, are subject to a travel fee of two (2) dollars per mile. Any properties sixty (60) miles from our Binghamton office address cannot be scheduled online and must be scheduled with us manually over the phone, through message or email so that we can adequately pad our schedule for travel time. A larger travel surcharge may be applied for properties significantly out of range, and may include extra fees for board and travel.
Are your services tax deductible?
"YES!" The government allows you to deduct marketing expenses used to generate or keep customers. Advertising and marketing expenses qualify as an ordinary, reasonable, and necessary tax deduction.
Will the photographer clean or prep the property?
No! it will be up to you to make sure that the property is clean and ready to be photographed. Our photographers will not touch your belongings, or clean or pick up garbage. Please make sure that garbage cans are hidden if possible and the property is as presentable as you would like.
When do I pay for services?
All Sessions are booked and paid for before work is completed. Work will not be started and Delivery Materials will not be sent to Client until payment is received. Blackfern Media reserves the right to cancel, postpone, or refuse to schedule subsequent photo shoots or services to be completed until account is made current, if for any reason there is a past due.
Will I own the full rights to the photos and videos?
Blackfern Media owns all photos and videos and the worldwide rights relating to them, including copyright and ownership rights in the media. As a real estate customer, Blackfern Media grants you a license with the lifetime limited right to perpetually reproduce, publicly display, and distribute electronic or printed forms of the Delivery Materials only for promotional or advertising purposes directly related to the sale of The Property or advertising of your own real estate business connected to the property in question.
Do you have a satisfaction guarantee?
Yes! Blackfern Media has a Photo Guarantee! We will make every effort to ensure the final images are of high quality and represent your property to the best of its ability. If however, you feel these images do not meet those expectations, Blackfern Media will work closely with you to correct the issue and adjust your pictures or videos. A reasonable amount of re-editing will be performed at no additional cost. If, however, a return trip is requested due to issues in the photos regarding decluttering, or the property’s or product’s appearance, additional photos not specifically requested prior to shoot, or other aspects that are not directly the responsibility of Blackfern Media, there will be a charge. A minimum reshoot fee of $65 plus applicable travel fees will be charged unless it was the direct responsibility of the photographer where then there will not be a charge (ie. missing specific shot requested prior to shoot.)
Do you edit the Social Content photos for free?
All photo packages come with image correction and enhancements to make them look their best. We have a rigorous quality control process for all corporate photos.
All photos are:
- white balanced on site
- color corrected/enhanced in post-production
- perspective correction for straight and level lines
Can I have multiple re-edits to my photos or videos?
We want you to be 100% satisfied with your content and will grant 2 re-edits if necessary to make that happen. Beyond 2 re-edits, there will be an additional cost for extra editing time.
How do I receive my content?
All corporate customers will receive a beautiful Customer Content Page where you will be able to view and download your purchased content as well as your invoices, contracts, pre-shoot instructions and upcoming scheduled shoots.
How long will a shoot take?
Kickstart and Grow Package shoots generally take between 1-2 hours depending on the complexity. Accelerate Package shoots generally take around 2-3 hours.
Do I have to be present?
It is preferrable to have a representative for the business available to unlock all doors/areas and to point out aspects to focus on but not required as long as the photographer has access to the property with a prior given or hidden key or code.
What’s your Cancellation Policy?
By booking Blackfern Media you affirm that the business or product will be “ready” to be photographed on the agreed upon shoot dates (Please see our Corporate Client Prep Checklist below). If the shoot is canceled or rescheduled for any reason prior to 48 hours before the scheduled shoot, there will be no fees or penalties.
- 48 Hour Cancellation Fee: If for any reason, you cancel or reschedule within 48 hours of the scheduled shoot, you will be charged a thirty five dollar ($35) Cancellation/rescheduling Fee.
- 2 Hour Cancellation Fee: If for any reason, you cancel or reschedule within 2 hours of the scheduled shoot, You will be charged a $65 reshoot fee to come out another day. If not on a monthly plan, and you do not wish to reschedule the shoot, you will be charged fifty (50) percent of the total of the services purchased, plus the full amount of applicable Travel Fees. If on a discounted monthly plan and you don’t want to reschedule that month, no fees or refunds are issued.This 2 Hour Cancellation Fee also applies if the photographer arrives at the property but is not able to shoot it for any reason including no access to property, wrong lock box code, and unsafe property conditions. Blackfern Media will not enter any Properties that have unsafe flooring or ceilings, trip hazards, obvious insect or rodent infestations, black mold, or has been condemned. The remaining fifty (50) percent of the order total will be refunded to you.
What’s your Weather Policy?
Blackfern Media retains the right to cancel any shoot based on bad weather, for the safety of the equipment and the photographer. Shoots will be held in most weather except for heavy rain, or if there is a County or State Travel Ban. If rain is present, or if Blackfern Media decides weather conditions do not allow for a safe shoot, you will be given the option to reschedule at no additional charge during any open appointment slots within thirty (30) days. Every effort will be made by Blackfern Media to reschedule and re-shoot within seventy two (72) hours of the original shoot. However, if Blackfern Media does not deem it necessary to cancel the shoot due to inclement weather but you decide to cancel within forty eight (48) hours of the shoot due to inclement weather, you will be subject to the normal cancellation policy and fees. The you should evaluate weather leading up to the shoot and contact Blackfern Media prior to the forty eight (48) hours-before-the-shoot cutoff to avoid cancellation or rescheduling fees if optimal weather is wanted.
Can you remove objects?
Yes, for an additional fee we can remove objects from a photo, depending on complexity, such as blemishes on the carpet, walls and counters or even unwanted items, cars, or people. Please see our pricing section for our most current object removal prices.
What’s the farthest we service?
Shooting locations outside a 20 mile radius from our base office located at 15 Charles Street, Binghamton, New York,13905, are subject to a travel fee of two (2) dollars per mile. Any properties sixty (60) miles from our Binghamton office address cannot be scheduled online and must be scheduled with us manually over the phone, through message or email so that we can adequately pad our schedule for travel time. A larger travel surcharge may be applied for properties significantly out of range, and may include extra fees for board and travel.
Are your services tax deductible?
"YES!" The government allows you to deduct marketing expenses used to generate or keep customers. Advertising and marketing expenses qualify as an ordinary, reasonable, and necessary tax deduction.
Will I own the full rights to the photos and videos?
Blackfern Media owns all photos and videos and the worldwide rights relating to them, including copyright and ownership rights in the media. As a corporate customer, Blackfern Media grants you a license with the lifetime limited right to perpetually reproduce, publicly display, and distribute electronic or printed forms of the Delivery Materials only for promotional or advertising purposes directly related to your business and advertising your business.
How much does it cost to build a website?
The overall cost of your website will depend on the number of pages you need, the type of functionality you want, and the general size of the project. Therefore, you can expect to pay anywhere between $1,195 to $3,495 for your website.
How much does it cost to maintain a website?
There are different ongoing costs to consider when running a website that we can help you with. For example, you’ll need to pay for a domain name, hosting, and ongoing maintenance ($50-$150 per month). You can take care of these aspects yourself or take advantage of Blackfern Media’s competitive rates for building and maintaining your website and let us take care of some or all of that tedious setup and maintenance process so you can focus on running your business.
How long will it take to get a new website?
On average, projects have a four to eight week turnaround, but the pace of any project is set by each client. How much input you can provide during the initial stages, your availability with feedback, how soon the content is ready – all this affects the speed of completion. The functionality needs may also play a role – more complex sites will take more time to develop. If you have all your content ready we can turnaround projects within two weeks.
How much input do I have in the process?
Its up to you! But your input and feedback is crucial to this process if you have an idea of what you want and want us to make it as personal and tailored to your business as possible. We’ll start with a lot of questions about your needs, your likes, your wants and work with you to develop just the right look and functionality.
Who writes the content and provides the photography for the site?
Usually you are the one that writes the copy. You are the expert on your business, so it’s usually best if the writing comes from you. If you need help, we can write original copy for you at an additional cost or refer you to professional copywriters. We also have a professional team of photographers if you need additional photography or videography. We also offer professional social media packages and custom commercials.
Will I be able to update the site myself when it’s finished?
Yes! We love it when our clients take control of their website and learn to manage it on their own. That’s why all our websites come with a CMS frontend for you to easily update your content without needing to code. We can also provide you with helpful tutorials and if you need any help, we’re just an e-mail away. Want to just focus on running your business and want us to just update and maintain it for you? We can do that too starting at only $55/month!
Will you maintain my site for me?
We can! We provide on-going support options for $150-500+/month depending on your needs.
When do I pay?
For most projects, equal payments are made at the start and the end of the project, but we can work with you to set up a schedule that meets your needs. We understand that this is a big investment and want to help you budget for the expense in whatever way possible so we also offer 0% A.P.R. payment installation plans.
What platform do you use?
We are platform agnostic, but usually recommend Wordpress Divi as it provides the most advanced functionality options while still being easily maintainable. We also have experience with Wix, Squarespace, and other site builders. If you already have a site that was built within a different technology stack or service, we can work within whatever existing environment and languages you’re utilizing, or convert it over to something more user friendly.
Are your services tax deductible?
"YES!" The government allows you to deduct marketing expenses used to generate or keep customers. Advertising and marketing expenses qualify as an ordinary, reasonable, and necessary tax deduction.
Glossary
What is a Wireframe in Web Design?
A wireframe is like a blueprint for a web page you’re about to create. Also known as a page schematic or screen blueprint, a wireframe is used to help you arrange elements – such as buttons, banners, and navigation bars – in a way that would help those elements best achieve their purpose, before you actually build them.
What is a Mockup in Web Design?
A mockup is a simulation of how your website will look once it’s published. The mockup combines the wireframe (the digital blueprint) with the images, graphics, and basic navigation functions that the final product will display. By viewing your site from a visitor’s point of view, you can test its user-friendliness and tweak the information architecture (content structure) if you feel the need.
What Does SEO Stand for in Web Design?
SEO stands for search engine optimization, and refers to the process of optimizing your website to give it the best chance of appearing high up on search engine results pages (SERPs). Using organic methods (i.e. not paying money to the search engine), you can improve the position of your website on search engine results pages and, as a result, increase the number of clicks and visitors to your website.
What is Responsive Web Design?
Also known as mobile-ready design, this type of web design ensures that your website reformats its content when viewed on a mobile device, resulting in a seamless user experience. When browsing a responsive website on a smartphone, you won’t need to zoom, scroll, or squint because the content has adapted to the smaller screen.
What is CMS in Web Design?
A content management system (CMS), such as WordPress, is an online platform designed to help you create, upload, and maintain digital content without having to use any code. CMSs are user-friendly, providing you with a intuitive interface to maintain your website.
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