The Top 6 Questions you should ask a Wedding Photographer Before Booking
The beauty of your relationship is found in how you complement each other. His recommending a stop at Anthropologie before you even asked. Your pouring him a glass of milk because you see him eating oreos. You just get each other and you’ve got each other’s back.
Your relationship with your wedding photographer is like that too. Often times it starts out with a curious attraction. In this case, you appreciate a certain photographer’s work. Next, you meet up with them to talk more about wedding photography and you soon notice they seem pretty great. Is that good enough?
Your wedding day photographer is the one wedding creative who is with you your whole wedding day. They are the ones you hire to tell your whole story. You want to know that you trust them completely and know that they will see your wedding day as you envisioned it. These questions are designed to help you understand if the photographer you’re talking is a good fit for YOU.
Why do you choose to photograph weddings?
Why ask this? Each photographer is going to have their own unique reason for what motivates their work. This reason gives you insight into what it’s like working with them throughout the process.
2. How many weddings do you shoot per year?
Why ask this? This gives you insight into what the studio experience is going to be like. Some photographers intentionally limit their bookings so they can provide a more custom, boutique experience to clients and focus on the relationship. This often leads to you feeling seen as a client, so you to feel more at ease in front of their camera, which has a positive impact on your images and the overall experience.
3. Do we get digital images and usage rights included in our package?
Why ask this? It may seems like a “no-brainer” that you would get your images. After all, you paid for the photography, right? But photography coverage and access to view and download all of your images may be separate line items in your photographer’s packages. You don’t want any unhappy surprises down the line, so best to get clarity up-front.
4. How quickly do you deliver our images?
Why ask this? In today’s world of next day prime delivery, it can be hard to wait for things we’re really excited about. Because wedding photographers are often very busy during the “wedding season,” image delivery times can vary. It’s important to know how long you should expect to wait so you’re not frustrated if it takes a few weeks to receive your online wedding gallery.
Enjoy Your Wedding Day, I'll Handle The Images.
5. How will you handle lighting on my wedding day?
Why ask this? As you have probably seen, in ideal conditions with just the phones we all carry around in our pockets, it’s not hard to take a beautiful photo. But your whole wedding day doesn’t happen in perfect lighting conditions.
Make sure to share more detail about your own vision for your wedding and make sure you feel good about how they respond to those “trickier” scenarios like indoor getting ready photos, after dark reception photos, bright midday sun, cloudy conditions, etc.
6. How do you direct your clients to highlight authentic connection in the photos?
Why ask this? Being in a beautiful setting doesn’t automatically mean you’re instantly going to feel comfortable in front of the camera. Many people feel nervous on their wedding day alone, not to mention the added aspect of posing for someone you don’t know well.
How you feel while you’re being photographed will 100% come through in your photos. Will you feel at ease and comfortable if your photographer’s direction consists of telling you to “smile big?”
You want to understand if your photographer will help you get to a place where you are comfortable and authentically connecting with those around you during the photographic process, or if you can expect more stagnant direction. If your photographer knows how to do the work to help you move through the process of being in front of the camera in an enjoyable way that empowers you to connect with those around you, you will love and cherish the images you receive because you can feel exactly what you felt in that moment.
About Stephen
If the thought of posing for 8 hours straight on your wedding day gives you the ick, we should talk!
I love providing a stress-free experience for my clients where they can feel swept up in the beauty of their wedding day. Over the last 12 years + 100+ weddings, I’ve learned how to keep your experience at the center of my work, allowing you to connect with those around you rather than endlessly posing for the camera—no thanks!
The end result is both beautiful and authentic, providing memories you will cherish for years to come.