Without a doubt, researching wedding photographers online first before setting up any actual appointments can save time. Any reputable photographer should have a fairly comprehensive website that includes a portfolio of their work, services and photography packages offered, as well as some background on who they are and what their artistic approach is.
Once you narrow down your list and begin to contact various photographers, either for phone or in-person interviews, the following list of 10 questions to ask wedding photographers will help guide you.
Pro Tip: Once you’ve selected your top photographer choices, be sure to meet with each of these photographers in person, before signing any contracts. Just because a photographer has an impressive website, an in-person meeting will help you confirm any doubts you may have about his or her legitimacy, as well as make sure that you both “click” together. If you and your photographer share the same vision and have a great working relationship, it’ll show in your photos.
1. How may weddings have you photographed?
Ask how many weddings the photographer has done previously. Are weddings his or her main specialty? If not, what unique skills or approaches might they bring to your wedding? Can they provide a list of past clients, and is it okay to reach out to them?
2. Have you photographed at my wedding venue(s) before?
Find out whether he or she has photographed at your wedding venue(s) before. Familiarity with the space ahead of time will allow for more efficiency on the part of the photographer, and he or she will be able to plan for different shots and situations unique to that venue.
3. Will you personally be photographing my event?
This may sound like an obvious one, but make sure that the photographer you choose will be the one who will actually be photographing your wedding. If you’re dealing with a large company who has several photographers available, they may send whomever is available on your wedding date. Be sure to get this in writing, as part of your contract with the photography company.
4. What is your payment and deposit procedure?
The last thing you need to worry about is payment issues in the weeks or months leading up to your wedding. Make sure to confirm deposit requirements and amounts, and when the final balance is due to the photographer. As it gets closer to the big day, you should also confirm how many meals to reserve for the photographer and any assistants as is customary for vendors working throughout the wedding reception.
5. What is your cancellation policy?
This one is self-explanatory, but essential. If for any reason you need or decide to cancel, you need to know what the photographer’s policy is regarding payments, and this should be in writing.
As a related question, ask photographers what the policy is for the rare situation in which you need to change your wedding date just in case.
6. What is your policy and cost for overtime, should my wedding run longer than scheduled?
This should also be in writing in the contract and it’s an important one since sometimes you can’t always count on things running exactly on schedule. Knowing that you have some flexibility, even if there is an extra cost, is assuring.
7. Do you have a standard list of photos/poses that I can choose from?
Most photographers will have such a list of standard poses, for example Bride and Father Dancing, Exchange of Rings at Ceremony, Cake Cutting at Reception, etc. Even if you prefer a more candid approach to your wedding photography, you photographer will make sure to capture these key moments–and feel free to add requests that may be less common. For example, perhaps there’s a particular older member of your family who you’d like to have photographed with you and your new spouse.
8. How soon after the wedding will I be able to review the proofs?
Waiting is so hard, especially when it comes to your treasured final wedding photos! 🙂 Make sure it’s clear what the photographer’s timeframe is for any retouching and turnaround, just so that there are no surprises or disappointments in long wait times. You can ask specifically about timing for proofs, and then timeframe for prints and any wedding albums, if you have ordered them.
9. Do you have a website where our family and guests can order additional prints?
Most photographers will be equipped with a website where you or other family members can order extra prints from the big day, but this is a good thing to ask about in advance as it’s nice to know ahead of time.
10. What types of wedding photography packages do you offer?
As budget is a concern for most couples these days, be sure to talk with your potential photographer about the various wedding packages that he or she offers. Typical services include:
- Engagement Portraits
- Wedding Proofs
- Wedding Albums
- Parents’ Albums
- Extra Prints
- Negatives
Pro Tip: Most experienced wedding photographers will charge quite a bit extra for selling you the original negatives. Many professional photographers won’t sell the negatives at all. Find out up front what these costs are, and what your photographer’s policy on obtaining negatives is.
The cost for each of these services varies greatly from photographer to photographer, and the types of packages combining these elements also varies. It’s a good idea to think about what you need (or don’t need) before conducting interviews so that you have an idea of what the total cost or photography will look like.
Hopefully these ten questions to ask your wedding photographer have been helpful. Happy interviewing! 🙂