Questions to Ask A Wedding Photographer
This post is a list of questions to ask a wedding photographer before you book. If you are planning a wedding you know how important photography is! Chances are that you are worried about finding the perfect fit. Or maybe you have heard a horror story about a wedding photographer and want to avoid the same fate. Each section below has all of the questions you should use during your initial consultation, (which is basically a fancy way to say "job interview"). I've broken the list down into key categories so you can quickly skim the list and find the best questions to ask. The questions to ask a wedding photographer included:
- Availability
- Style
- Delivery
- Worst-case scenarios
- Next steps
Additionally, the video below highlights the best questions in each category that you must ask to narrow down your options. Of course, you can always ask more personalized questions if you feel the need, but armed with this list you are sure to find exactly what you are looking for!
Availability:
- Are you available on my date?
- Do you book other sessions on the same date?
- Are you the photographer for my event or is someone else sent?
- If you are not available can you refer me to someone who has a similar style and budget?
When to Ask about Availability
This is a pre-qualifying question. You should be asking about your wedding photographer's availability in your initial contact. If you don't have a wedding date yet it's best to just research who you want to contact and then inquire once your date is official. For more information about when to book your photographer, Zola has a great article you must read titled "How Early Do you Need to Book your Wedding Photographer."
Pricing:
- What are your packages?
- Can I customize a package?
- Do you have a minimum number of hours? Maximum?
- What is the procedure if we go over the number of contracted hours? Fees?
- What if I don’t need one of the items listed in a package?
- Do your packages include a second photographer? Albums? Digital files?
Why do Wedding Photographers Cost so Much?
Your wedding day is only part of the package price. Please remember that on average 40+ hours of work is going to go into editing your images, creating custom products for you, and marketing so you can find them. While it might feel like a wedding photographer "costs an arm and a leg" you are paying for their time, talent, and experience.
You can also visit NerdWallet's Wedding Budget Calculator for some insider info on how much weddings cost on average and tips for what to spend where.
Style:
- What would you consider your artistic style?
- How would you describe your working style on the wedding day?
- Do you work with other photographers and or videographers?
- What kind of images do you like creating most?
- What is your editing style?
What wedding photography style is right for you?
Prior to meeting with any photographer, you should review their portfolio. Make sure you are looking at a good variety of photographers and identifying what you like/dislike. If you need help understanding the terminology surrounding wedding photography styles check out this post from the Knot on "The 6 Wedding Photography Styles you Need to Know."
Delivery:
- When can we expect our photos?
- How will the photos be delivered?
- What is the resolution of the digital files provided?
- If we would like to purchase prints and albums later can we still do that?
- Do we get a sneak peek? If yes, when?
What are RAW files and should I get those too?
Check out this guide "What is RAW in Photography" to help you understand what your photographer is doing with your images and why you shouldn't worry about RAW files and instead let your photographer edit your images for you.
Worst-case Scenarios:
- What do you do in case of emergency and you can’t make it to our wedding?
- What happens if digital files are corrupted?
- What if we don’t like our photos?
- What if we need to reschedule?
Do I need wedding insurance?
While you are thinking about all that could possibly go wrong with your big day, don't forget to consider purchasing wedding insurance. This post gives you the inside scoop on "The 5 Best Wedding Insurance Companies" so you will know where to start.
Next Steps:
- What is required for booking?
- How much is your deposit?
- When is the final payment due?
You are ready!
Now that you know what to ask, get out there and start searching for your photographer. Please take a look at my portfolio while you are here, maybe you just found your perfect photographer!
