20 Questions to Ask Your Potential Wedding Photographer

Choosing a wedding photographer for your big day is a huge decision. Not many things from the day of your wedding last past the wedding day, except your photos. Planning a wedding can lead to having to make A LOT of decisions.. Having so many options can be overwhelming sometimes but the good thing about having so many options is just that. You have options. There are quite a few things to consider when choosing a wedding photographer. It is okay and encouraged to ask questions when talking to your potential wedding photographer. The more questions you ask, the more you will know if you will make the perfect team together. If you aren’t sure what questions you should be asking, here are some ideas for you.

1. Are they available on your date?
   If they are not personally available, do they have a team or associates who are?
2. Ask if you can see a couple recent full wedding galleries from previous weddings they’ve shot.
   (Here you’ll also get to see how they deliver galleries and what you can expect yours would look like from them.)
3. What to expect? How involved do they get? Do they plan a photo timeline, have a shot list?
4. What packages do they offer and what do they include?
5. How much is the retainer to book?
6. Have they ever shot at your venue?
7. Do they work well with videographers, wedding planners, coordinators, etc.?
   If so, do they have any they recommend?
8. Do they have backup cameras or equipment? Heaven forbid something were to happen, but if it did, would they be prepared?
9. Do they charge travel?
10. Can you print your photos where you like or do you order prints through them/your gallery?
11. How long after the wedding will your receive your images?
12. Do they have insurance? (some venues require that the photographer has insurance to shoot at their location!)
13. Do they include or recommend a second photographer on the day of the wedding?
    If so, who do they use for a second photographer?
14. Can we request specific shots or poses?
15. How do they take photos? Do they use poses or prompts? Is it more candid or directed?
16. Do they have a backup plan? Someone that can shoot the day if the original photographer is unable? Obviously we don’t want to think of all the worst case scenarios but we want to make sure everyone is prepared incase something were to happen!
17. Can you read the contract?
18. What is their favorite part of a wedding day? What is their favorite thing to capture?
19. How much do you edit or retouch photos?
20. Are they comfortable directing large groups of people? (Or whatever is relevant to your wedding. Are they comfortable hiking for an elopement or being in a more intimate setting, trying to get your family of 40+ people to pose in a group photo, etc.)
    
    

Never be afraid of asking too many questions, that’s not a thing. This is your wedding day, one of the most important days of your life and you want to make sure it’s captured exactly as you envision it. Make sure to set up a consult call or meeting with your potential photographer before booking to get to know them better and make sure you guys make a great team. Don’t blind book! Make sure you read that contract and are fully comfortable so your vision for your day truly comes to life.