5 questions to ask a wedding photographer BEFORE you book!

There are SO many choices when it comes to photographers and the thought of narrowing them down can be overwhelming. The key to finding wedding vendors you love? Interviewing them before you sign the contract. This is especially true with a photographer. You’ll be spending almost the entire day with the photographer you choose, so in addition to loving their style, having an in-person or phone interview is a great way to make sure you’ll be happy with your choice. Not sure where to start when it comes to interviewing your wedding photographer of choice? Here are 5 questions to insure expectations are met and that your images will be protected!

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#1: How Many images will I receive?

Okay, this is not typically one that people think of but it is important! Will all of the images be available? Will I have to pay for additional images? Are the images separate from the wedding photography fee? Believe it or not people vary on these questions! My rule of thumb is simple….if I edit an image, you receive the image via an online gallery. It is available for you to download at no charge and you can share with all the friends and family! The images you will receive is usually based on how many hours your photographer will be there ( typically I account for around 75+ images per hour).

Some photographers charge separately for your images and you may just be paying for your wedding photographer and their time in the package price so it is worth asking about!

#2: What is the backup process?

VERY IMPORTANT! These are your WEDDING pictures and one of the most important days of your life. I can not stress this enough…make sure your images are protected. At the end of the day, its technology and technology can fail from time to time. You want them to have two cards in their camera ( one as a main card and the other card for BACKUP). Also, how do they back up after the wedding? You want them to back your images up on MULTIPLE locations. I personally back up all of my images on 3 different locations and sometime I wonder if thats enough! It would be a top priority to the photographer you choose.

#3: How long does it take to get my images back?

Depending on who you choose, It can take up to anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months to receive all of your wedding photos and you don’t want to rush your photographer. However, it IS important to know what your photographers timeline will be for your gallery delivery to manage your expectations. Some photographers offer “sneak peeks” soon after the wedding to give you a few images to share with friends/family or post that updated profile picture. For my business, I offer a preview gallery that is sent 24 hours after the wedding and the full gallery is sent between 4-6 weeks after the wedding.

Be sure to ask your photographer if you have rights to the images and how long they’ll be accessible online too!

#4: Can I see full wedding galleries that are recent?

One of the best ways to get a feel for what your own wedding pictures will look like is looking at another clients full gallery!

Unlike a highlight gallery or portfolio images, a full gallery will give you a better sense of your photographer’s editing and posing style, as well as his or her attention to detail. It is also important to make sure they are recent.

Ask if they have ever shot and your venue before. This is not a negative if they have not shot at your venue however, if the photographer showed you a gallery from the venue it would be a bonus!

This leads me to another important topic when a photographer is new to a venue,

If possible, your photographer should visit the venue in advance to scout locations, familiarize him- or herself with the layout and lighting, and determine any restrictions from the venue (like a church that does not allow flash photography). I always try to go with my couple when they are visiting and meeting with the venue/planner to get an idea of how the day will be.

#5: How many weddings do you book over one weekend?

This seems like a silly question huh.. but hear me out on this one!

There are seasons where wedding photography gets a little crazy ( typically in the spring and fall). Photographers stay very busy and booked all weekend which is not necessarily a bad thing but something to be mindful of. It is important for me to set aside one wedding per weekend and not overbook myself. Weddings are LONG days and I personally want the mind space to be equal with each couple and do the best work that I possibly can! It should not a deal breaker if they book a “double header” wedding weekend but it is nice to know ahead of time!

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One of the biggest considerations isn’t even a question: PERSONALITY! When you start to interview a photographer, you will learn a little bit about their personality. Again… this person will be by your side all day so you need to like them!

Getting answers to these 5 questions will not only help you narrow it down when choosing the perfect photographer BUT will provide PEACE and CONFIDENCE in your wedding photographer on your big day!