What to Ask Your Wedding Photographer

WHAT TO ASK YOUR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER:



So, you’ve found a photographer you might want to hire to shoot your event. What important things should you ask at your meeting? What should you expect?


Often, similar guides will advise to ask what the photographer’s style is. This is pretty easily assessed when you look at their work. A more interesting and telling question is to ask “What is your favorite style of picture to shoot?” Most photographers can and will shoot both posed shots with candid ones. If your photographer tells you they prefer taking posed family pictures and you were really excited about getting all the candid action shots of your reception, then you have a problem, because it may not be that photographer’s strength.


Make sure that the person you are meeting is the one who will be taking your pictures. This is quite possibly the most important piece of information and is pretty simple, You must like your photographer. That’s really it. You are spending all day with him or her. For me, I really want to like my client as well. In fact, the more fun and personable my client is, the more I can do to make them look good. After all, I’m not a dentist. I don’t want to pull any teeth to get a smile.
Find out whether or not you will get discs of your images, or whether you will purchase prints from the photographer directly. If cost is a factor, the second option can end up costing more over the long run. Ask what the average turnaround is for getting your pictures. Some brides wait months to get their shots! Opt to pay more for a better photographer than to pay for more prints/books/etc. Quality over quantity.


Ask, on average, how many pictures the photographer will shoot. Remember that not every picture will be a keeper, but with a good photographer, you should have a lot to choose from (often too many!). Ask to see multiple pictures from the same wedding, instead of the photographer’s single best shots. Look at how the photographer tells the story of the wedding he or she is shooting from beginning to end. Do they notice the details you’ve spent time planning? Do they capture all your guests? Do they catch great candid moments? Are they able to get great results in multiple locations (ceremony and reception, indoor and out)?


Ask the photographer if they’ve shot weddings in your venue before. If so, they will have a great advantage of knowing the lighting and set up, and even specific rules of the venue. You can also ask to see weddings they’ve shot in those locations or similar ones. Also ask how they shoot in different lighting conditions. How do they handle backlit situations, hard light, dark rooms. When you look at the photos, look for the detail in background to see if you can see it! In Photoshop, you can bring the levels up, but if the image doesn’t have the detail in the first place, it will look faint. Look for detail in the prints and don’t get fooled by heavily Photoshopped images.


Make sure your photographer is a professional. Union or Association memberships and insurance will tell you that your photographer takes his or her business seriously and is current on trends and equipment. If you can find a photographer in the International Cinematographer’s Guild, then you’ll be working with one of the best in town. Ask where their work has been published and if they have won any awards.


If you have certain shots you would like, ask your photographer if you can give them a list prior to your event. Make sure that you can get your ‘must’ shots. Also, send your photographer shots that you like. Tear them out of magazines. The more info you can provide, the better.


Ask your photographer about what kind of equipment they plan to use. Will there be any wires or cables for lighting that guests may trip on? Any tripods that might get in the way of décor? Ask about his or her cameras equipment to get an idea of their level of knowledge.


Ask what your photographer does in case of an emergency. Will the photographer find someone suitable if they are ill? Does your photographer have extra equipment if something goes wrong on the day of your wedding? These are valid questions.


Make sure to ask your photographer how much they charge for overtime if your wedding is running late. You don’t want any surprises on your day.


Look at the photographs in the photographer’s albums or website. Do you like them? Does the photographer show a knowledge of lighting (images aren’t too bright or too dark)? Does the photographer take interesting pictures? Do people in the photos look happy and natural? Does the photographer use light to get flattering and beautiful shots? Ask to see what other work they do besides shooting weddings. What do they shoot for fun. This will give you an even better idea of what kind of eye they have.


Make sure you ask for clarification on anything that isn’t clear on the contract. The photographer should be able to explain every clause to you.


Hopefully these tips will help you find a photographer that you like!