Questions to Ask Potential Photographers

Once the vows are said, the cake is eaten, and the flowers have wilted, how will you capture the memories of your special day? The answers, through your wedding photos. As a result, choosing the right photographer is extremely important. Expect to spend around 7-10% of your budget on a photographer. Before choosing a photographer, find out what it is that you want. Some photographers will offer amazing looking pictures, but you will only receive a small number of photos. Others, may not do much as far as artistic work (ie. photo editing, or artistic photography techniques) but you may be able to get all of your photos and the negatives.  In any case there are several questions to ask before choosing a photographer:

• Was the photographer referred to you by someone?  If at all possible, get some referrals.  Whether you have friends who are married or are planning a wedding, or whether you get advice from people on a local website forum, the best way to find a photographer is from other people.
• How long has the photographer been shooting weddings?  Weddings are unique and competitive, so if the photographer has been doing weddings for a while, it is likely a good sign.
• Does the photographer have formal photography training?  Some more budget photographers have no formal training, and basically took their hobby of taking pictures into a career.  This may be fine, but it is best to know in advance.
• How far in advance is the photographer booked?  A busy photographer is probably also a good sign, but you will want to know for booking purposes too.
• What are the wedding packages and what do they include?  Find out how many hours and photos you will get.  Even if the package has an unlimited number of hours, find out how long the photographer generally stays at the wedding because it is unlikely that he/she will stay to 2AM.
• Do you get the negatives?  A lot of photographers won’t give you the negatives because part of the business is selling you photos any time you want/need more.
• What about extras?  So many brides end up going way over budget on photography after the wedding because they just can’t limit the number of pictures that they want.  This can get very expensive, so make sure you know how much it costs in advance.
• Can you get digital prints / copies and how much?  Sharing your wedding photos is so easy now with online sites, so you may want to take advantage of this.  Be sure to ask permission first and see if the photographer has some kind watermark on digital photos.
• Do you like the pictures?  When a photographer shows you samples of their work, make sure you understand that these are probably the best of their pictures.  So, if there are any pictures that you don’t absolutely love, keep this in mind.
• What kind of deposit is required and when is the final payment due?
• What is there turn around time  after a wedding?  So many brides have played the waiting game with photos, and believe me, after your wedding you really really really want to see your photos!  If possible, have them guarantee a date or withhold some of the money until you have the final photos in your hands.  In some cases people have waiting almost or even more than a year…ouch!

Photography really is one of the most important parts of a wedding because it is how you will capture the day and share it with others.  Find the right photographer and DO NOT leave this decision until the last minute.

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