11 Questions to Ask Your Wedding Photographer
Advice 08.04.2021
Once you find your wedding venue, the next step is booking the right suppliers. And that means finding the perfect wedding photographer.
Chances are your photographer will be with you the entire day, so it needs to be someone you and your partner can trust to get on with the job, and someone who will make your guests feel at ease. And, of course, they have to be able to take the most amazing photographs.
Not sure where to start? Here’s our list of all the questions you need to ask a wedding photographer before you book them.
How would you describe your photography style?
Some wedding photographers prefer a reportage or documentary style where they blend into the background and capture unplanned, relaxed moments throughout the day. Others opt for a fashion editorial style where each image is carefully choreographed. While others favour a more traditional style with group shots and posed pictures. Think about what kind of images you want of your big day and make sure the wedding photographer you choose is comfortable and experienced with that particular style.
Have you ever photographed a wedding at our venue before?
If they haven’t been to your venue before, ask them if they’d be happy to meet you and your partner at the location before the big day. This gives you a good opportunity to get to know your photographer if you haven’t met them already and take a walk through the venue with them.
If they’re already familiar with the venue, so much the better, as they’ll already know the best backdrops and locations for the most stunning pictures. Ask to see a compete album of photos taken at your venue, as this will give you a good idea as to what your own day might look like.
Can we request certain photographs are taken?
You may want a particular group shot of you and your family, or you and your bridesmaids all together, or perhaps a confetti shot, or you and your partner on the beach at dusk. Let your wedding photographer know well in advance if there are some must-have shots, and they’ll almost certainly do their best to accommodate you. Avoid giving them a long list of every picture you want though. Let your photographer use all their years of experience and creative flare to create some memorable and unique images for you.
How will you send the photographs?
Will your wedding photographer print out your best photographs and create a printed album? Or send you a link to an online gallery and let you log in, browse all the photographs taken on the day and download your favourites? Some photographers ask you to come to their studio for a big reveal. While others will give you a mix of physical prints and smaller digital files that are perfect for sharing on social.
How long will you be with us on the day?
Check how many hours are included for a full day’s photography. If you want photos of you and your friends partying the night away, or you want your photographer to capture all the excitement of the bridesmaids getting their make-up done first thing in the morning, you may need to book your wedding photographer for longer.
Do you have insurance?
Any professional wedding photographer worth their salt will have public liability insurance and professional indemnity insurance for £2-5 million. Public liability insurance means they’re covered if a guest has an accident tripping over a tripod, or your photographer causes damage to the venue. While professional indemnity means they’re covered if they do a terrible job of your wedding photos and you sue. Hopefully, it will never come to that.
Can we have a reference?
Ask your wedding photographer if they can put you in touch with other couples who have used their services, especially those that got married at the same venue. Or if you see wedding photographs on social media that you particularly love, don’t hesitate to contact the couple directly and ask them the name of their wedding photographer.
How much is the deposit and when is final payment due?
Sought-after wedding photographers are booked up months in advance, sometimes years. So as soon as you know this person is the photographer for you, book them for your date and pay a deposit. You should also sign a contract too. Ask when the balance needs to be paid. This can vary between a few weeks or a few months before your big day.
What happens if you’re ill or there’s a last-minute emergency?
Ask your photographer what their back-up plan is in the event they feel unwell. Chances are they’ll have a list of other wedding photographers in the area they call upon last minute in the event of an emergency. However unlikely this is, it’s worth knowing what the plan is should the worst happen.
Would you like us to cater for you?
It’s courtesy to offer your wedding photographer a meal or two during the day. After all they’re going to be on their feet all day. Some photographers will bring their own food or snacks with them. But others will really appreciate a place at the table during the wedding breakfast. Remember to ask if they have any allergies or particular dietary requirements.
How long after the wedding can we expect our photographs?
Smartphone snaps taken by friends and family are all well and good. But nothing beats seeing the actual professional photographs of the big day. The question is – how long will you have to wait?
Your photographer will probably start editing your images the week after your wedding. This will include colour correction, cropping and deleting those images that don’t make the grade. Ask your photographer what the average wait time is for photos. It's usually 2- 8 weeks although it can be longer during high wedding season. Too excited to wait? Ask them if they can give you a sneaky peak of half a dozen or so photographs in advance.