HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN SHOOTING WEDDINGS?

This is super important to ask in order to know the experience and level of the photographer. be sure to ask shooting weddings, not just shooting! it is key that your photographer feels comfortable with all aspects of the wedding day and experience one of the best ways people start to gain comfort!! weddings are a whole different ball park for photographers and if you are going to invest a huge amount of money into a photographer it is important that they know what they are doing. with that being said, there is nothing wrong with hiring a brand new photographer, it is just important that you have correct expectations of the final product you will receive at the end.

CAN I SEE A FULL GALLERY?

We all see the curated, perfect images on websites, instagrams, and facebook pages but wedding coverage tend to last for at least 6 hours, so it is important that you see a full gallery so you can envision what your photos will look like on the day of. pay attention to how the photographer shoots indoors, with flash, in direct light, as well as at sunset!

CAN I SEE RECENT REVIEWS?

Most photographers will have this readily available either on their website or just by googling them, but if not, be sure to see what their past clients are saying about them. this will help you gage if they would be a good fit for you and your fiancé.

DO YOU HAVE A CONTRACT?

Please make sure they have a contract. contracts protect both you and them and it is so important that if you are going to invest in someone, that you are protected. on top of that, contracts establish expectations! you should be able to know what will happen if you have to reschedule, cancel, when the photos will be delivered, and what will happen if the photographer gets sick or for some reason cannot make your day.

DO YOU HAVE ANY HIDDEN FEES?

Every photographer does payment different. some charge 3% if you use a credit card, some add sales tax, others have you pay for the images after the day. be sure to know exactly what the proposal will look like and what the final total will be before committing.

WHAT IS YOUR SHOOTING/WORKING STYLE ON THE WEDDING DAY?

It is so important that you know how the photographer works on the day of. i for example love to capture the experience. my goal is to capture how my couples are feelings and experiencing the day. for the most part, during the getting ready, the ceremony, cocktail hour time, etc. i pose during family portraits and i facilitate during couples portraits meaning that i give them prompts of little things to do so that they can still be themselves but not feel awkward that someone is taking their photo. for me, capturing the couple as they are is super important. but, if you are wanting someone to pose each hand movement or place you in exact positions, i would not be the photographer for you. it is so important that you know how the photographer works so that you can feel at ease with their process.

WHAT GEAR DO YOU USE?

I know this question can seem scary if you don’t know too much about photography but here i will give you a quick little lesson. make sure that the photographer has a backup camera in case something happens on the day of, they can still shoot. ask about what kinds of lenses they have. a easy way to understand what the lens number means is the smaller the number, the wider the lens.

So a 24 mm lens will give you wide shots of the full location while an 85mm lens will be zoomed in. i shoot most weddings on a 35 and 85 lens that way i can get zoomed in as well as little bit wider shots. this means that during the ceremony i do not have to stand up close to get closer shots, i can get those close up moments, without taking away from the experience of the guests.

On top of that, ask if they record the images to multiple cards using a dual card slot. this means that every picture they take is recorded to a sd and cf card so that if one of the cards corrupts, the photos are still safe on the other. ask them what their storage/backup gear looks like. how many hard drives do they have and how will they keep your photos safe after the wedding? asking these questions will help you know if the photographer is prepared to keep your memories safe.

2 canon 5d mark iii cameras (with a dual card slot)

canon 35mm 1.4 lens
2 canon 600 speedlite flash
canon 24-70mm 2.8 lens
video light
canon 85mm 1.4 lens
holdfast dual camera harness
2 lacie hard drives for backup ( i back up the images on 2 hard drives + keep the 2 copies of sd + cf cards until the gallery is delivered)

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WHAT IS YOUR PROCESS FROM START TO FINISH?

Ask your photographer what the entire process of working with you looks like. know when payments are due, if phone calls or meet ups are necessary, how they will prepare for your wedding, and what the after wedding process looks like. again, set those expectations so that you know exactly what to expect.

MY PROCESS LOOKS LIKE:

initial phone call or email discussions
proposal with contract and invoice
1st payment due one week after contract is sent to secure date
i am 100% available for anything you need along the way
1 month before the wedding i send out a questionnaire that will give me all the details i need to run your day perfectly.
on the day of, i am your cheerleader, by your side, and capture all those moments just how they happen.
i send a preview slideshow/gallery within 1 week of the wedding with about 50 images.
final delivery is in 6-8 weeks following your wedding
all images are delivered via an online gallery where you can just download and enjoy! the link can be downloaded unlimited amounts and can be shared with family/friends.

HOW DO YOU RUN FAMILY/COUPLES PORTRAITS?

This is so important! it is so important that your photographer is organized and ready to pump out the family portraits in a time effective manner. i send my couples a questionnaire where they give me list of the photos they want with family members. then my job is to execute the list. that way i don’t have to ask, wait, and stress you out on the day of. i just make it happen! be sure to know what your photographer will do to prepare for this! on top of that, again, be aware of their working style and how they will direct you during couples portraits. make sure that it matches your vision and your style.

WHAT ARE THE DETAILS OF YOUR DELIVERY PROCESS?

Be sure to know what delivery looks like. when will it happen, how will it happen, and if there are any specific regulations. are you required to tag them always, can you submit your photos to a magazine, are you allowed to put an instagram filter over your photos? all of this should be laid out in the contract, but if it isn’t, ask away! be aware of how many images per hour you are guaranteed or if you have to buy the images back. know if you can print the photos wherever or if you have to order images through her.

I give my couples full printing and sharing rights meaning they can print and post wherever they wish. some photographers do things differently so be sure to know what to expect.

I hope this was helpful in letting you know questions to ask your photographer when leading up to booking. this is the main reason why i shared this post is to ensure that you know exact questions to ask your photographer so you can gage how fit they are for you and your day.

6 QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF BEFORE SIGNING A CONTRACT

Now that you have talked with photographers and are narrowing down your decision, before booking it is so important you stop and ask yourself these questions so that you do not have buyers remorse. make sure that this decision is the right one for you and your fiance!

DO YOU HAVE THE SAME PRIORITIES? DO THEY GET YOUR VISION?

Make sure you just click! that they will be capturing all the things you want them too without you having to worry about it. make sure that they have the shooting style that you are wanting.

Did they take an interest in you? did they genuinely treat you like they cared about you and your day?

I cannot stress this enough. it is your day and you deserve to be taken care of. did they treat you like just another wedding or did they truly buy in to your vision and what you are wanting. you deserve a photographer that is as invested in you as you are in them!

DID YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE? WILL HAVING THEM AROUND ALL DAY ON ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DAYS OF YOUR LIFE BE NATURAL?

This person is going to be with you all day long on your wedding day, make sure you feel comfortable around them! relationship is key to facilitating natural, comfortable photos. listen to your gut and make sure this is a person you want around for the full day.

DID YOU FEEL LIKE THEY WERE THE EXPERT? DO YOU FULLY TRUST THEM?

If you want to feel at ease on your wedding day, you need to have full trust in them and their abilities. every single time my couples have full trust in my, i do my best work! it is so important you trust them to deliver to you exactly what you deserve.

HOW QUICKLY ARE THEY RESPONDING TO YOU? ARE YOU A PRIORITY TO THEM?

Some may not agree with me, but this is a key way to see how invested they are in you!! of course things come up and at times it takes a bit to get back, but if you are waiting more than 3-4 days for a response consistently, i would maybe rethink. for me, i value connection and so feeling like a priority is a huge deal to me.

ARE YOU CONNECTED TO THEIR PHOTOS OR THEIR PRICETAG?

This is the most important question! sooo many people tell me how they end up going with the cheaper photographer only because she/he was less money and then end up hating their images. photos are one of the only things you get to keep after the wedding. cut your budget in other areas and get the photographer that you trust the most! trust me, when i asked on my instagram a few weeks ago people’s biggest piece of advice, 60% of you said hiring an unexperienced photographer. this is the main reason why i shared this post is to ensure that you know exact questions to ask your photographer so you can gage how fit they are for you and your day.

So, i have given you lots to think about! go out there, talk to photographers and find the one that speaks to you the most. you know what to ask, now just follow your gut! hope you enjoyed my top questions to ask your photographer!