Questions to ask a photographer before hiring them
Choosing the right wedding photographer is a crucial decision in the wedding planning process. Why? Because after the wedding, the only thing you’ll have left from that day is photographs. For that reason we put together a list of some important questions to ask potential wedding photographers before:
Availability and pricing:
Is my wedding date available?
What are your price packages and what is included (number of hours, prints, album, engagement photos, rehearsal dinner?)
Can I customize a package?
If included, what type of album do you offer? (Ask for samples)
What is the cost of extra hours?
Do you have liability insurance?
Do you charge for travel time?
Do you retouch photos? Is that included in the price?
If not included in the package, can we order prints or albums?
How much do I need to pay to book the date?
When is the final payment due?
What is your refund/ cancellation policy?
Do you offer payment plans?
Style:
How do you define your style?
What kind of editing do you do to the photos?
If you have a candid style, do we still get posed portraits? (And vice versa)
The Day of:
At what time do you arrive at the site?
Will you be the one shooting the wedding or an associate?
How many photographers are included?
Will you bring an assistant?
Will you photograph another wedding that weekend?
What happens if you have an emergency and you can’t cover our wedding?
How do you normally dress for shooting weddings?
Can we request a list of photos we want?
Can you put together slideshows to be shown during reception?
Can guests take photos while you’re taking photos?
What happens if the camera breaks during the wedding? Do you have backup equipment?
What is your policy in case you or your equipment cause an accident involving the venue or guests?
After the wedding:
When will we receive the photos?
Do you give sneak peaks? When?
Do you deliver RAW files or JPG?
How long will you keep the files?
Who keeps the copyright of the images?
Will we have printing rights to the images?
Will the images be accessible online? For how long?
Will you post our photos online or in magazines or blogs?
How many images should we expect to receive?
Do we choose the photos for the album?
Can we use filters or edit the photos for Social Media?
About the photographer:
How many weddings have you photographed?
Can you show a couple of full galleries of your recent weddings?
Have you photographed at our wedding venue?
Are your photos from real weddings or from staged shoots?
Do you work well in low light conditions?
Do you work well with wedding planners and videographers?
Can you provide references from past clients?
What do you love the most about photographing weddings?
What would you advice give us to choose our wedding photographer?
What is your biggest tip for couples to get the best wedding photos?
How would you describe your approach on a wedding day?
What sets you apart from other wedding photographers?
Why should we choose you and not someone else?
Talking about all these questions will give you a very clear idea if the photographer and you are a good fit. And remember, make sure you hire someone that you trust and love his/her photography style.
