You said yes, you set your date, you picked your venue... now what?
Congratulations on your engagement and making it to this point in your planning process! Now you're digging into selecting who you trust to capture your big day, but have no clue what to ask to ensure they match your needs? SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACE!
I've compiled the following list of the top 35 questions you should ALWAYS ask your potential wedding photographer before hiring them!
Stick around until the end and you may just find a bonus.
THE 10 STANDARD QUESTIONS TO START WITH...
- Are you available for my wedding day?
- What is included in your current packages?
- How many hours are included in each package? How much do extra hours cost?
- Do you include engagement photos in your packages? What about pre-wedding events like rehearsal dinners?
- How many photos will we receive?
- Are albums or prints included in your packages? How many pages or prints are included, and what is the turnaround time?
- Can we order prints or albums directly from you?
- Will the images be accessible online? For how long?
- Will we have digital and print rights to those images?
- Do you charge a travel fee? For what distance? What does that cover?
THE PHOTOGRAPHER'S EXPERIENCE
- How long have you been shooting weddings? How many weddings have you photographed?
- Do you often shoot weddings that have a similar size and style to the one we are planning?
- Have you ever shot at my venue(s) before?
- Can we see the full galleries of a few of your recent weddings?
- How long after our wedding will we receive the images? How will they be delivered?
THE PHOTOGRAPHER'S BUSINESS STATUS
- Are you licensed business?
- Do you have liability insurance? Does it cover your assistants, as well?
- Are you a full-time photographer or do you have another job as well?
THE PHOTOGRAPHER'S BACK UP PLAN
- What is the backup plan if you are unable to shoot my wedding for an unexpected reason?
- Do you carry backup equipment?
MONEY & PAYMENTS
- When will we receive the contract?
- How much of a deposit do you require? When is it due?
- Do you accept payments in installations?
- What is your refund or cancellation policy?
- Will taxes be included in your pricing?
ON THE WEDDING DAY
- Will you have a second shooter or assistant with you?
- Will you be my actual photographer, or will it be one of your associates?
- Will you require a meal and assigned seating?
THE PHOTOGRAPHER'S STYLE
- How would you describe your photography style?
- Will you follow a shot list? Or do you prefer to have free reign to capture the festivities how you see fit?
- Will you be posting about our wedding on your website and social media? Will you be submitting our photos to magazines or blogs?
HELP PLANNING THE WEDDING
- Do you have Vendor recommendations?
- How many meetings will we have before the big day?
- If we do not have a wedding planner, will you help with day of order of events and timing?
- Do you have a standard family portrait shot list to share with us?
BONUS QUESTION
Thank you for sticking with me this long! This last one is a question for you and your fiancé to ask and answer yourselves...
Do you both vibe with this Photographer?
It is incredibly important that you both feel comfortable with them, and that you have trust in them and their skills to accurately capture your special day. I know it may seem silly if they check all the other boxes, then why does it matter if I you could see them being a friend after your wedding has come and passed? It matters because it will reflect in how you feel and come across in front of the lens. If you do not feel comfortable with your photographer, then you will be more likely to tense up as they are prompting you and moving you into poses.
No one wants that, trust me as your photographer I want you to feel comfortable and have the time of your life! I want you to have a moment where you forget I am even there and we capture those raw moments of bliss on your wedding day!
