Choosing a wedding photographer is a pretty big decision; you have to trust them not only to successfully capture all the moments from your day but to deal well with your family and friends; to put you at ease oh and also take amazing photos that will last a lifetime.
It’s essential you meet with your photographer to see just how well they will fit that bill. And it’s wise to meet with more than one, perhaps three would be a good amount as you don’t want to be overwhelmed.
When you meet, trust your gut and listen to it. Does this person make you feel comfortable or ill at ease? Remember they’ll likely be with you from your preparation in the morning right through to the evening reception.
It’s good to ask them some questions too.
Here are what I think should be the top 10 questions to ask your photographer. They should give you an idea of how professional they are and how competently they will handle your wedding.
Oh and watch out for pushy sales tactics this should be an instant red flag.
ONE
How long have you been shooting weddings?
It’s important to see just how much experience your photographer has in shooting weddings. They may well have been a product or sports photographer before and have only just made the transition. They can legitimately say they’ve “been a photographer for years” so it’s vital to find out how long they’ve been a Wedding Photographer. Weddings are so different to other forms of photography, needing very quick reactions, excellent people skills, composure under pressure and lots more that most other disciplines don’t require. If they are new it doesn’t necessarily mean you should rule them out but make sure you have a very good look at their work and that they answer the following questions very well.
TWO
Do you carry back up equipment?
There are a lot of new startups out there. They get a camera and a lens or two and it all looks fine, but if a camera completely breaks down, or if they drop it for instance ( it’s happened to me ) are they ready with a full backup kit to cover all bases? And as a supplementary question.
Do their cameras write to two cards?
If they don’t and a card becomes corrupted all the photos from the day could be lost. I choose only cameras that have two memory card slots this means that as soon as the first photo is taken there’s already a backup safely waiting.
THREE
Is it you who will shoot my wedding?
It may seem like a daft question but I’ve personally been called in to cover another photographer when he’d double booked because he couldn’t face turning down the work and needed to get me to cover his day. So pin your photographer down on this else you might be looking through beautiful pictures taken by a person who won’t actually be at your wedding.
FOUR
What happens if you’re sick or can’t make it?
This is vital! What happens if the worst happens? Photographers are often booked years in advance and things change. They can get pregnant, they can fall ill so in those circumstances what’s the protocol? If there’s enough notice, say your photographer is now expecting and their due date is your wedding day chances are all parties will want to swap things around so they should be giving you the option of a full refund and for you to book with someone else. If it’s a last minute thing however, a car crash on the day for instance their priority should be to find you cover for that day. Ideally from someone they trust and who has a similar style of shooting. Sorting out compensation should come later. Photos first.
I have a go to photographer whom I trust if a situation like this ever occurred. It’s the last option though and fortunately in all the 15 years I’ve been shooting weddings I’ve never had to make the call.
FIVE
May we see some full weddings?
I can’t stress this enough, make sure you see full weddings from your photographer. Photographers will often have best of albums to show you, their Instagram and Facebook feed will likely be full of fantastic shots but is it consistent? The truth is, that if you give a camera to anyone with an interest in photography, and a day at a wedding then they’ll get a couple of good shots. But can they consistently get brilliant photo after photo?
So see a full wedding or three to make sure they’re a pro and not just getting lucky.
I have a full wedding to view here, Becky and Jason’s.
SIX
What coverage do you offer?
Many photographers give you an eight hour shoot time for your wedding. Personally I’ve never liked this and have never had time limits on full day packages as I’m there to capture the whole day.
My day is devoted to it and it shouldn’t be viewed as a 9-5. Also if you are booking a package with a time specified are you going to get a bill if you run over by 30 minutes or an hour? You might find that the bargain you’re considering isn’t that great after all. So find out the specifics so you can relax on the day.
SEVEN
How long does it take to get the photos?
I hear horror stories about couples waiting for months and on two occasions, years for their photos! There will likely be a wait if your photographer is editing your photos but you should be aware of how long you are expected to wait. I aim for six weeks with my edits, in peak season this can run on a bit to around eight weeks although I let my clients know and also send them the edits I’ve done so far which is usually the lion’s share so that they have something to show friends and family. It’s important to find out though and your photographer should have an answer ready.
EIGHT
What’s the price plan?
Wedding photographers tend to have a number of different packages for clients to choose from. Some have straight up packages, you pay this… you get that… whereas other have prices “starting from…” a certain amount. The sky’s the limit here so find out early what you will be expected to pay and don’t feel pressured into booking if it’s over your budget. Also photographers should have the specifics written into the contract as to when certain amounts are due. For instance I have two options for my couples. They can pay monthly and split the cost evenly or they can pay a 25% deposit, 50% six weeks before the wedding and the last 25% six weeks after.
NINE
Are there hidden costs?
This should be a straight up “No.” so if there’s any “umming” and “ahing” find out why. Please note hidden costs are different to extra costs. If you’re asking your photographer to travel 300 miles for your wedding they’ll likely be a travel fee added on although this should be discussed before any contracts are written up. But you should ensure that your photographer won’t add on another couple of hundred pounds because your wedding is two years away. Or if they go VAT registered that they’re not going to land you with a bill for another 20%
TEN
What’s the booking process?
Wedding Photographers aren’t cheap ( good ones aren’t anyway ) so when you book, it should be more official than a handshake and a wad of cash. For my clients I don’t take a deposit until contracts have been signed by all parties. The contracts are pretty straight forward with no small print but it does tie in both the photographer and the client. Which gives you peace of mind and something to refer back to.
There are of course lots of other questions you may wish to ask, How will you dress on the day? Are you insured? Do you have a second shooter? etc. But these top 10 should give you a very good starting point, and a feel for your photographer. You’re not being impertinent when you ask these you’re being prudent. Have fun it’s a wedding!
If you like to see answers to these questions and more see the FAQs section on my site.
