The most important decision of your wedding is choosing the right photographer. Your wedding photos are some of the last things you’ll ever make together as a couple, so you have to ensure that every aspect is perfection. This means finding a photographer who can really capture every moment and detail in ways that bring back memories for years to come—and that’s not easy! So how do you find someone who’s right for you? We’ve put together 15 questions to ask your wedding photographers before booking so that you don’t get stuck with someone whose style doesn’t match yours or whose price tag isn’t within your budget (or both!).
Are you available on the day of the wedding?
While it’s important to know that your photographer is available on your wedding day, they’re also going to be busy on the day of. They might have a backup plan in case of emergencies, but they will likely not be able to answer questions or discuss other plans with you. Instead, you should ask them how they’ll make themselves available on the day of your wedding if something comes up or what their backup plan is for being in touch with them if needed.
What’s your style and how do you work?
You want to make sure the photographer you hire will be able to meet your needs and style. Be open-minded when it comes to your wedding photography, however; some may prefer a more traditional style, while others are known for their unique approach.
A good way of gauging this is by looking at their portfolio and asking about their process in detail. You should also ask if they have any second shooters—this could be helpful in capturing moments without being in the way or distracting from the main photographer’s shots (although it does cost extra). If you see that different photographers work together on weddings regularly, that can be another sign of a great team!
Have you shot a wedding at my venue before?
This is one of the most important questions to ask and definitely one of the more difficult for many photographers to answer. After all, your wedding day is going to be like no other! If a photographer has never done something similar, they may have little insight into what should or shouldn’t happen during that time and place. Plus, they won’t know how your venue needs to be set up or how best to capture every moment without getting in the way of what’s happening around them.
For example: A photographer who hasn’t shot a wedding at your venue might not realize that there are certain things (or people) that will need to stay out of their frame during certain times throughout the day because they’ll distract from what’s supposed to look natural (aka nothing). They also won’t know if it’s safe for them or their equipment if there isn’t enough light (or if lighting would even help). Also see- what to ask wedding photographer.
What’s your second shooter situation?
If you have a big wedding party and/or lots of family members, it’s important to make sure that your photographers are prepared to capture all of the important people in your life. This is especially important if you’ve hired a single photographer and expect them to be shooting with just one camera. You might want to ask if they’ll be bringing an assistant or second shooter, or at least ask what their second shooter situation will be like.
Will you travel to my destination wedding?
No matter where you’re getting married, a wedding photographer should be able to help you capture the moment. But if your destination wedding is a long way from home, it’s important to make sure that everything will go smoothly—and that includes travel arrangements.
- How much does travel cost?
- What kind of experience do you have traveling as far away as my location?
- How much time will it take to get there?
The more questions you can ask and answer before booking your photographer, the better equipped they’ll be with all the tools they need for an efficient and seamless photography process on your big day.
What’s your policy if something prevents you from showing up on time or at all?
Your photographer should be able to answer this question without hesitation. If they can’t, you should probably move on to another photographer.
Here are some examples of acceptable answers:
- “I will always be on time unless there is an extreme emergency.”
- “I will never miss a wedding unless there is an extreme emergency.”
- “If something happens that prevents me from showing up at your wedding or photographing it, I will make sure that you have images shot by other people so you don’t go without a photographer.”
How many hours of coverage do I need to book?
This is a question that can be asked of your photographer, but the more information you have, the better. When planning your wedding day timeline and budget, it’s important to know how many hours of coverage you’ll need so that you can make sure to have enough time for all of those important portraits and moments you’ve been dreaming about.
- Do I need a lot of photos? If so, then it’s probably best to book at least 6-10 hours of coverage or more. This will give your photographer plenty of time to capture all the candid moments and posed photos as well as set up some beautiful portraits in different locations throughout the day.
- What kind of formalities are involved with my ceremony (reception)? Most weddings include an exchange between bride and groom before walking down the aisle together followed by speeches by family members or friends who are attending this special event on behalf of both families involved in this union between two individuals who love each other very much! Depending on how long these parts take place during your reception could affect how many hours needed because nothing should ever interfere with dancing time!
Do you charge extra for travel, overtime or destination shoots?
Travel fees, overtime and destination shoots are often included in your photographer’s package. If you would like to know if they have these fees included, ask them! Most photographers will be able to tell you whether or not the travel costs are part of their package or not.
If you need a travel fee added to your package, make sure ahead of time so that there are no surprises at the end of your wedding day.
Are digital photos included in your packages and what kind of format do they come in?
In order to make sure your wedding photos are delivered in the best possible format, ask your photographer about their digital photo policies. When you receive a package of digital photographs, they should be delivered in a format that allows you to do whatever you want with them—whether that’s uploading them onto social media or printing them out on every single picture frame in the house.
How will the proofs be delivered to me and will I have full rights to them?
Most photographers will deliver the photos in a digital format. It’s important to ask the photographer how they plan to do this, and what kind of file types they’ll be delivered in. Some photographers may prefer to deliver proofs on hard drives or CDs, while others may want them sent directly to your computer via email.
Some photographers will send proofs through post mail as well as email; these are generally seen as being safer than sending them solely over email (because they can’t be accidentally deleted). If you’re getting married abroad and want your proofs sent back home while you’re still abroad, this might be something worth considering.
When and how will I receive my finished photos after the wedding?
When and how will I receive my finished photos after the wedding?
As an artist, I take pride in creating beautiful works of art that are meant to be enjoyed by the client. The delivery of those images is an equally important part of that process. Your final package should be delivered within 3-4 weeks after your wedding day. This is particularly important for weddings held outside of the United States, where different countries have different customs regarding shipping and importation of goods (such as media products).
The delivery options for your final product vary depending on which package you choose:
- Digital Delivery – You will receive a link to download all edited images from our photo library server in high resolution for printing purposes or sharing online via social media platforms like Instagram & Facebook (and other sites coming soon!). These files can also be used for other things such as making prints at home using your own printer or using them with other professional print labs such as Shutterfly or Snapfish if they offer this service at lower prices than what we charge here at MWCPP!
- Prints/Products – If you’ve chosen one of our packages where we provide physical prints/products like albums & canvases then we’ll ship these out directly through USPS Priority Mail within 5 business days from receiving payment confirmation from PayPal because sometimes there’s just no time like present time!
How will I receive and return prints/albums/etc.?
- Will you be delivering my prints? If so, how long will it take to get them? Do you ship or does someone come by to pick up the photos? If so, is there a fee for this service?
- Are your finished products available for pickup or do you have to mail them out to me (or vice versa)? If so, do you offer a pickup service at all of your locations around the city/state/country where we live?
- What happens if I don’t like my final products after receiving them from you (or vice versa) and want to purchase another set of prints instead?
Who will edit the final images? Do you outsource it to another company or person?
When you choose a wedding photographer, make sure to ask them about their editing process. Editing is one of the most important parts of creating stunning images, and it’s something that can make or break your album.
The best photographers will have an in-house team or editor who works directly with them during the entire process. This way, they are able to tweak the images as needed and make sure that every single image looks its best before it gets sent out to clients. If your photographer outsources editing to another company or person outside of their own studio then this probably means that they aren’t as invested in making sure each photo is perfect as they could be—and that doesn’t bode well for anyone looking for quality work!
Will there be any extra fees for additional prints or products beyond what’s in my package (i.e., retouching, albums, canvases, prints to share online, rights to reproduce images)?
You may be surprised to learn that the initial cost of your photography package is only the beginning of a long list of potential costs related to the images you’re getting.
The following are some things you should know about extra fees:
- If you want prints beyond what’s in your package (i.e., retouching, albums, canvases, or prints for sharing online), expect to pay extra for those services as well.
- If digital albums are part of your package deal and printed albums aren’t included in it—and if you don’t already have one picked out—you’ll likely be paying for that as well.
- Many photographers offer rights-managed images at an additional cost; this means that once purchased, these photos can be reproduced on products such as mugs or calendars for sale elsewhere without needing further permission from their creator(s).
Do you have a list of references that I can call as part of my research process?
It’s important to ask your photographer for references, and then make sure you follow through with the calls. It’s not just because it’s polite—it will give you an idea of what kind of service they offer their clients. You should also speak with their previous clients about the photographer’s work, professionalism and overall experience working with them. The more thorough your research is, the better equipped you’ll be when making a decision!
Here are some questions that may come in handy when speaking with these references:
- Have they worked with this photographer before? How was their experience? Would they recommend this photographer to other people?
- Was there anything about their service or professionalism that stood out? Did they go above and beyond? Did something happen during the photo shoots that would make them hesitate recommending the photographer again for future events (e.g., missing a key shot)?
Having a great wedding photographer is key to capturing your best memories.
Having a great wedding photographer is key to capturing your best memories. You want your photos to be beautiful and have meaning, so it’s important that you choose the right person for the job. Here are some other questions you should ask your photographer before booking them. what to ask wedding photographer.
If you’re not sure where to start, don’t worry. Just ask the questions above and get a feel for what each photographer’s style is like. It doesn’t hurt to do a little research on their website or social media pages either! Once you’ve narrowed down your options, schedule a meeting with them in person so you can get an idea of how well they’ll fit into your wedding day plans.