Every one of the vendors you hire for your wedding is important to the overall experience you are going to have. From finding the perfect wedding venue to set the scene and a great caterer to prepare a feast, to a florist who can transform a space and a DJ or band that will keep everyone on the dance floor. Perhaps you’re putting the importance of the hiring process together. But one of the challenges of planning a wedding is the fact that you are thrust into this new world. One where the people you are interviewing seem to “know it all” while you are trying to figure things out. This can make you feel unprepared for consultations. I don’t want you to feel that way when it comes to hiring your wedding photographer! So, in an effort to be as helpful as possible, I wanted to share the questions to ask your wedding photographer (before you sign a contract).
The foundational questions to ask your photographer
While each wedding photographer is different from the next, there are questions you should be asking everyone you interview. Think of these as “general housekeeping” as well as a way to make sure you fully understand what you are going to get.
- Are you free on our wedding date?
- Will you be the photographer shooting our wedding?
- Will you be working with an assistant or second shooter?
- Have you ever shot a wedding at our wedding venue?
- What is included in your service package?
- How will we receive our images?
I could go on building out this list of questions to ask your wedding photographer and it would include more about contracts, logistics, their background, pricing, deliverables, albums, and more. For now, I’d like to spend focusing on just a few. Because, from my experience, these are some of the questions that can really help you get to know your wedding photographer. Trust me, you’re going to spend a lot of time with them on your wedding day, and months after as well.
Questions to ask your wedding photographer
How many weddings do you typically take on?
It is important for you to understand how many weddings per month and/or weekends a photographer takes on. This can provide insight into or set expectations around things like their turnaround time. It can also insight into how hands-on their experience leading up to and after your wedding might be.
What is your photography style?
In addition to knowing whether they shoot on film or with a digital camera, you should ask them to describe their photography style. Not sure what words to use here? You can ask whether their style is more candid or posed. Are they more moody or fine art, and what type of light do they prefer to shoot in.
A bit of advice: If a wedding photographer tells you they work best with natural light but your wedding venue is indoors, be sure to ask them how they would handle working in an indoor environment—natural light is very different from staged light.
Can you customize your wedding collections?
Even if a photographer lists what looks like very specific collections, it’s okay to ask if they can customize one to suit your needs. Whether you need a few more or less hours, want to add an album or second shooter, the answer is “no” if you don’t ask. I’ll always provide a customized collection for my client because no one wedding is the same as another.
Can I order wedding prints and albums through you?
Your wedding photos are an heirloom. They deserve to be treated as such! Regardless of whether your photographer is capturing your wedding on film or digitally, ask them about their print studios and album options. Even if you’re unsure, knowing about their products will give you a better idea of what they can offer.
Most importantly? Ask them questions that will help you get to know them! As I mentioned, you spend so much time with your photographer on your wedding day. You’re hiring them to capture a once-in-a-lifetime event. I encourage you to ask what you need to get to know and trust them—a solid relationship will always result in beautiful photos!
Interested in learning more about my wedding collections? You can reach me HERE.
