Getting married soon? As you hunt for your wedding photographer, you will find several sites offering you “questions to ask” which can be great as a foundation but I find there are a lot of questions that aren’t that important when hunting for a photographer. Questions such as “what camera/gear do you shoot with?” or “can you describe your style?” can seem like good questions to ask but does it really matter? If you look at a photographers portfolio and like their photos and the work they do, does knowing if they shoot with Canon or Sony change your decision? It shouldn’t.
I strongly believe you should choose your photographer based on whether or not you like their previous work, and if you click well together. You can hire a great photographer but if you can’t connect with them you won’t ever feel as comfortable in front of the camera and that can come across in the photos.
Here are some of the most frequent questions I get as a photographer and some that I think are important to ask before booking a photographer.
THE BASICS
Are you available on our date?
A simple questions, but it’s a great place to start. There is no point going any further if the photographer isn’t even available on the day of you wedding.
What packages do you offer?
Most of this information can be found on the photographers website but it is great to ask to figure out if the photographer is even in your budget. Most photographers offer a few different packages based on time and the type of service you require. You can see some examples here of the packages I offer to get an idea.
Do you offer an engagement shoot in any of your packages?
It depends on the photographer but some photographers offer a free engagement photoshoot in some of their packages. This is usually done before the wedding. It’s a great way to meet your photographer, get to know them more, and feel more comfortable in front of the camera on your wedding day.
Do your packages include travel fees?
Great questions to ask, if it’s not mentioned in their packages/contract, it is very important to ask if the package price includes the travel costs if the photographer is not local.
How much is the deposit and when do you need it by?
Any wedding vendor will need a deposit to be put down to secure their services on your wedding day. Again, if it doesn’t mention it on their pricing page (if they have one) then it is important to know how much of a down payment is due and when.
Do you offer printing/albums?
If you’re looking to get an album made or to get your photos printed it doesn’t hurt to ask the photographer if they offer this service. Obviously if they do this would be an added fee but it can save you a lot of hassle and usually you can trust they will know where and how to get the best prints.
How do we book you?
Simple questions, but it’s good to know the process, what the next steps are, when payments are due, will the photographer sit down with you to discuss your wedding, what they need to know about your wedding, etc…
THE DAY
Will you be the primary photographer?
This seems like an odd question to ask but I have seen instances where photographers or agencies will contract out some weddings to other photographers or second shooters to open their calendar up to book more weddings. The photographer, who’s work you love, might not be your photographer on your wedding day. Best practice to make sure you know who you are hiring.
Can we pay an extra fee if we require you to stay longer?
Most photographers will have set packages based on a set number of hours and they will know best which package will be best suited for your wedding, but make sure you know if there will be an option to get them to stay longer on the day of the wedding and how much that will cost. Professional photographers usually have an hourly rate which they will charge out if you need them to stay longer. For me personally, I’m good at suggesting the best package for my couples weddings but unexpected things come up and the last thing you want is to have your photographer taking off before the ceremony because their time is up!
What is your posing process?
If you feel uncomfortable in front of the camera (as most of us do!) then it will be good to know your photographers posing process. Some photographers prefer to micro-pose couples and place in specific poses, while others let the day flow naturally and capture more candid photos. I love the look of candid photos over posed images but it does require couples to be a bit more comfortable in front of the camera. Veteran photographers know what looks good and how to capture you to make sure you look your best.
CONCLUSION
Booking weddings can be stressful and confusing especially during a pandemic. I put together these questions to hopefully make choosing a photographer easier. If you have any other questions feel free to reach out to me, even if you just want chat about photography or want me to give you some advise on choosing the right photographer.
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