Photography can be arguably one of the most important aspects of your wedding day. After all, these are the images that you will have the rest of your life to remember this momentous day. As Wedding Planners, we never suggest skimping on this vendor because in short, you typically get what you pay for. Sure you can do some wedding décor “DIY”, sure you can have smaller centerpieces to cut costs, but the images you receive from your photographer you will have forever!
We’ve compiled a list of the 10 best questions to ask wedding photographers before you book with them to ensure you are getting exactly what you want and how you want it.
1) How many weddings have you shot/can you see examples of past weddings?
Going back to the above, you will have these images for the rest of your lives, therefore you want to make sure the person you are hiring to photograph your wedding has prior experience shooting weddings (specifically). It’s also ok to ask for some examples of other weddings they have done to know if you like their style of photography.
2) What is your style of photography?
Dark and contrasty, bright and white, find the photography style that you are drawn to.
There are so many styles of photography out there. From the bright white whimsical feel, to the dramatic dark hues and deep contrast. Classic film which will probably take longer (and be more costly) for the photographer to develop & process the photos, to digital images where the photographer has more flexibility with lighting and location. Find out what that photographer specializes in and make a choice if that’s the right look for you.
3) What is included in your photography packages?
Do you receive all raw files and edited photos? Does your photographer include an engagement shoot in the package? Do they provide a wedding album? An 8x10 canvas? Find out what’s included at the price point you are aiming for too see how much “bang” you are getting for your “buck”.
4) Have you shot at my venue before?
Is your photographer familiar with your venue? Do they know the best spots to shoot?
Why? Because if they have, they should have a good grasp on what locations around your venue make for awesome shots. If they haven’t, then make it a point to have them do a walk-thru (with or without you there, your preference); as each venue has their pros and cons, their good lighting vs bad lighting, and various angles that make for better shots than others. You want to feel confident that your photographer can handle it all that day.
5) Will you be the photographer shooting my wedding on the day-of?
Believe it or not, this is a thing. Larger photography companies may have 2 or 3 weddings the same day as your own and have a team that they send out to the various weddings. If you hired your photographer based on examples of their work, you want to be certain that they are the one that’s there on your wedding day. It’s always a good idea to ask if they can put that into your contract as well just as back-up that your photographer is the one photographing your wedding day.
6) Can I provide you a shot list?
Make sure you discuss this with your photographer! If you want specific shots, let them know.
Getting every shot you want (especially if you have a larger family) can be somewhat daunting without a shot list to go off of. Keep in mind that your photographer doesn’t know your family. They don’t know that you want some photos with Aunt Mary…and they won’t know unless you tell them. Many photographers will ask you for this in the weeks leading up to your big day, but in the case that they don’t, ask them if they are comfortable with you providing one for them BEFORE you hire them so you know for certain, on the day-of, it won’t be an issue.
7) About how long does it take to receive my photos back after the wedding?
This is a perfectly reasonable question to ask. Find out their turnaround time before you go to contract with them. It’s OK to want to know how long the process takes.
8) How will I receive my photos?
Do you receive the files digitally? Will they be mailed to you via flash drive? Do you receive both of those as options? Are they raw files or are they touched up? All things you want to know. Asking the format you will receive your wedding photos in can help prepare you for how you want to preserve these memories.