Weddings 101: Booking a Wedding Photographer

40 Essential Questions to Ask BEFORE You Book

The key to finding the perfect wedding vendors? Interviewing them before you book. I believe this is vital for every wedding vendor you hire, but especially for your photographer! I tell my brides this all the time – you will spend more time with your photographer than you will with your spouse on your wedding day. Because of that, making sure your photographer is the right fit is SO important. Having a phone conversation or better yet, an in person meeting, before you sign the contract is a great way to find out if you’re a good fit. Here are some questions you should be asking when booking a wedding photographer:

Availability

• Are you available on my wedding date?
• How many other weddings are you shooting that weekend?
• Will you have any assistants with you on the wedding day?

Experience

• How long have you been shooting weddings? How many weddings have you photographed?
• How many weddings do you shoot in a year?
• Have you photographed a wedding of similar size or style to the one we are planning?
• Can we see full galleries of any recent weddings you have shot?
• Have you ever shot a wedding at our venue? If not, do you plan to check out the venue in advance?
• Have you ever worked with our other vendors? (Planner, videographer, florist, etc).

Style

• How would you describe your photography style?
• How would you describe your editing style?
• How would you describe your shooting style? Do you shoot more candid images or posed portraits?
• What is like to work with you on the wedding day?
• Do you shoot digitally or with film?
• Can we request a specific list of shots we would like?

Pricing and Packages

• What is included in your standard package? What add-ons do you offer?
• Can I customize packages to fit my needs?
• Do you include engagement photos in your packages? What about pre-wedding events like rehearsal dinners?
• How many hours are included in your packages? How much do extra hours cost?
• If our wedding lasts longer than expected, will you stay later? How much would that cost?
• Do you offer retouching, color adjustment, or other corrective services? Are those included or an additional charge?
• Do you charge a travel fee? For what distance? What does that cover?

Logistics

• What information do you need from us before the wedding day?
• When will we receive the contract?
• How much of a deposit do you require? When is it due?
• Do you have payment plan options?
• When is the final payment due?
• What is your refund or cancellation policy?
• How will you be communicating with us leading up to the wedding? How often?
• What kind of equipment do you use? Do you carry backup equipment?
• What is the backup plan if you are unable to shoot my wedding for an unexpected reason?
• How will you and your assistants be dressed?
• Do you have insurance?

Delivery, Prints, and Sharing

• What is your delivery time? How long after the wedding will we see our gallery?
• How is the gallery delivered? If digital, how long are the images available online?
• Can I order prints and/or albums directly from your gallery? If that is an option, can I print photos anywhere or do I have to print them from you?
• Are albums or prints included in your packages or are they at a separate cost?
• Will we have the rights to the images?
• Will you be sharing our wedding on social media? On your webiste?
• Will you be submitting our wedding to any blogs or publications?

Reflect Before Booking a Wedding Photographer

After you have asked all of the questions you want answers to, it’s important to ask a few questions to yourself before you embark on actually booking a wedding photographer:

• Do you get good vibes from the photographer? Do you like their demeanor/style of language/etc?
• Do you trust them to take quality photos and deliver quality service?
• Will you feel comfortable with this photographer all day? Will your family, bridal party, and wedding guests?
• Is the price and the level of service what you expect?

If your answer to these questions is yes, then it’s likely you have found your wedding photographer! Sign the contract, submit the deposit, and relax knowing that you hired the best photographer for you! If not, then maybe keep looking? Your wedding photos are something you will cherish for years to come so make sure you are 100% confident in the photographer you choose to capture your special day!

This Louisville Wedding Photographer is sending you all the good vibes as you work through the process of booking a wedding photographer. It can be daunting but I know you’ve got this!