55 Questions You Have to Ask Your Wedding Photographer
There are a lot of brides out there who may know what questions to ask when meeting with their potential wedding photographer. To get you started, I’ve compiled a list of 55 questions to ask your photographer, and my answers to these inquiries to give you an idea of what to expect from me as a professional.
What’s in this Questionnaire
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Availability
1. WILL YOU BE THE ONE PHOTOGRAPHING MY WEDDING?
I sure will! And I usually bring along a second shooter.
2. WHAT IF YOU GET SICK OR AN EMERGENCY COMES UP AND YOU CAN’T PHOTOGRAPH MY WEDDING?
I’ve been very fortunate to have never missed a wedding day yet. But, in the event that this ever does take place, one of my assistant photographers who is scheduled to be there will step up and save the day!
3. ARE YOU PHOTOGRAPHING OTHER EVENTS ON THE SAME DAY AS MINE?
No! If you book a wedding with me, then you’re the only one that I care about on that day.
4. HOW MUCH OF A RETAINER DO YOU REQUIRE? WHEN IS IT DUE?
I request a 30% deposit for all of my packages. For example, 30% of $3,550 is $1,050 that is expected to be paid to officially book the wedding.
As for “when” the retainer needs to be paid, it’s honestly up to you. I don’t tell clients that they have to pay anything right away. However, as far as I’m concerned, the date is not officially booked until the contract and retainer have been paid. Until then, that date is still open for another client, yet I will always check in with you when another inquiry comes in for that date.
5. HOW DO YOU LIKE TO SCHEDULE A WEDDING DAY?
I’m glad you asked! There are four main things that I require when planning a wedding day with the bride and the coordinator. To make things simple, here is a wedding planning post explaining what I’d like to see to make my life, and yours, easier!
6. HOW WILL YOU AND YOUR ASSISTANTS BE DRESSED?
While I wish I could come in a t-shirt, shorts, and sneakers for maximum comfortability, my assistants will come professionally dressed depending on the vibe of your wedding. Black-tie kind of wedding? I’ll be wearing a black dress shirt with either black or grey dress pants. Is it an elopement taking place in the woods of Yosemite? Probably a nice shirt, cardigan, black pants, and a flat cap.
7. HOW FAR IN ADVANCE DO I NEED TO BOOK WITH YOU?
Simply put, ASAP. I don’t like pressuring couples, but the reality of wedding photography is that you want to make sure your date is secured. Be sure to send in your retainer fee and contract in ASAP!
8. WHAT DO YOU DO IN EVENT OF RAIN, STRONG WIND, ETC?
I keep on shooting. After all, it’s all part of the story.
9. WHAT IS YOUR CANCELLATION POLICY?
It would make me very sad to hear that your wedding is not going to happen. If it ever does come down to being canceled for any reason, then the 30% retainer paid at the time of booking will continue to serve as a cancellation fee. This is to cover potentially not being able to book other weddings or events for that day.
10. WHAT IS YOUR RESCHEDULING POLICY?
RESCHEDULED WITHIN THE SAME YEAR: If you need to change the wedding date, I will try to accommodate the change and no fee will be charged as long as the new date is available and within the same year of the original event date. If I’m not available for the new date, the original contract will be canceled and subject to the cancellation policy.
WEDDINGS RESCHEDULED TO NEXT YEAR If your wedding is rescheduled to the following year of the original date, a 15% change fee will be added on top of the total payment amount in the original contract for dates rescheduled that fall between a Monday through Friday. This fee amount will account for my new yearly price change, as well as the possibility of hiring a second shooter, or assistant, for the wedding.
If the wedding is rescheduled to the following year of the original date, and it falls on a Saturday or Sunday, a 25% change fee will be added on top of the complete payment amount in the original contract. This fee amount will account for my new yearly price change, as well as the possibility of hiring a second shooter, or assistant, for the wedding or event. If I’m not available for the new date, the original contract will be canceled and subject to the cancellation policy.
11. HOW DO YOU ACCEPT PAYMENTS?
I accept payments through Zelle, check, or good old-fashioned cash! Keep in mind that I, nor any of my hired help, will not take photos or videos on your wedding day until the remaining balance is paid in full. Please plan accordingly!
12. DO YOU TRAVEL FOR DESTINATION WEDDINGS?
Yes, I do! My professional work has blessed me to be able to travel to Guatemala, Mexico, and the Philippines, and I’ve never lost my passion for traveling. Being an experienced explorer, I would love nothing more than to capture your love story as a destination photographer on the beaches of Cancun, the romantic sights of Paris, or wherever you need me worldwide. Click here for travel wedding info.
Background Check
13. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN PHOTOGRAPHING WEDDINGS AND HOW MANY WEDDINGS DO YOU PHOTOGRAPH A YEAR?
My photography career began in 2011. My photojournalism career ended in 2017. From then on out I have been focused on weddings. I average between 25-30 weddings a year. When I’m not shooting weddings, I also photograph lots of corporate events to keep the business going. Of course, weddings are my first passion.
14. HAVE YOU EVER PHOTOGRAPHED A WEDDING AT MY VENUE BEFORE?
I’ve been to a lot of venues, contact me and let’s talk about your venue!
15. WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHING WEDDINGS?
While my first love was being a news journalist, I decided to become a wedding photographer after discovering it was just a different form of journalism, telling someone’s love story. Since then, I’ve enjoyed the connections that I’ve made with the couples I’ve photographed and take great joy in being a part of a family’s legacy.
There’s nothing happier for me than making lifelong friendships, and I look forward to being yours!
16. MAY I HAVE A LIST OF REFERENCES OR A LINK TO REVIEWS?
Sure! You can click here to see what other brides have to say about me.
17. WHAT SETS YOU APART FROM OTHER WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS?
Customer service! I’ll be the first to admit that there are better photographers than me in the world. However, if you’re looking for a friend who will help pick up bags, and tables, and grab you a glass of water, then I am your guy.
If you want somebody who responds to your emails and texts within minutes to make sure that your wedding needs are met, then I’m your guy.
My goal is to make your day as stress-free and enjoyable as possible. And that is a photographer worth investing in.
18. CAN I SEE THE FULL ALBUM FROM A WEDDING?
Of course! You can click here to see a gallery of my work. Just note that not all galleries will look the same as every client has a different need of what they’d like covered. Be sure to contact me and let me know what you wish to be covered extensively on your special day!
19. CAN I SEE A CONTRACT?
Of course! When you decide to book me as your wedding photographer, I’d be more than happy to send you a contract to look over and sign.
20. DO YOU SPECIALIZE IN INDOOR OR OUTDOOR WEDDINGS OR BOTH?
As a wedding photographer, it’s my job to be an expert at both! Wherever your wedding venue is, I’ll be sure to research and gameplan for it so you can have the best quality pictures.
21. CAN YOU GIVE LOCATION RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE FIRST LOOK, BRIDAL PARTY, AND SUNSET PICTURES?
Researching is a big part of my job. If it’s a venue to which I’ve never been, I will always make it a point to study and gameplan with you and the coordinator which spots will be the best for all of those moments of the day.
Style
22. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE OF PHOTOGRAPHY AND CAN I SEE EXAMPLES?
The photography style that you see on my website is a “photojournalistic” or “reportage” look that stems from the many years that I served as a news photographer.
Just like in my old days as a photojournalist, my job is to document whatever is happening in front of me and tell your love story in a cinematic way. Nothing is forced, nothing is staged. Just you and your spouse living in the moment. The only posing that you’ll see from me is when it finally comes down to shooting the portraits and family formals. Click here to view my most recent galleries.
23. DO YOU SHOOT DIGITALLY? WITH FILM? OR BOTH?
I only shoot with a digital camera, the Nikon Z6ii. In my college days, the first photography course that I took was a black and white film class. While my love is strong for film, I believe in efficiency and shooting digital allows me more shooting options for my clients.
24. DO YOU SHOOT MOSTLY IN BLACK AND WHITE OR COLOR?
I mainly shoot and edit everything in color. You’ll notice in my work that I edit a photo in black and white whenever a photo looks slightly soft, or not sharp. Making it black and white then gives it that more vintage feels.
The only other reason why I’d edit a photo in black and white is if the colors from the location are all over the place and distract from the moment. Having a photo in black and white causes the viewer to just focus on the moment. Should I edit a photo in black and white, and you’d like a color version of it, just contact me and I’ll send you another version of it ASAP!
Packages
25. WHAT FACTORS INTO YOUR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY PRICING?
A lot of people have the misconception that they’re hiring a photographer and videographer “just for the day”. Clients may book me for a certain amount of hours and think that’s all of what they’re paying for when in reality it’s…
For all of the years and hours that I have spent honing my craft. You are paying for my expertise in knowing how to document all of the important parts of the day and under any kind of lighting. This is what differentiates a professional from a beginner. Always invest in quality over cheap pricing. After all, this is your legacy we are talking about. Don’t you want it documented in good hands?
For all of the hours that I am spending editing. Couples may not realize that documenting the wedding is actually the easy part. A rule of thumb would be that however many hours that you booked me for to capture your wedding, double that amount and that’s roughly how long it would take me to edit all of your photos and videos. For example, 9 hours to shoot a wedding equals around 18 hours in total to edit. This means that I am easily the only vendor who works extra hours and days after your wedding ends.
For the cost of all of my photography gear used at your wedding. I am carrying thousands of dollars worth of camera, lighting, and audio equipment throughout the entire wedding day. The pricing allows me to be able to upgrade, or repair my gear, and continue offering the highest levels of quality for you.
For all of the extra help that I’m hiring. While I wish that I could keep the full amount of money paid to me to cover your wedding, I still need to pay my second shooters as they need to eat and support their families as well.
The many hours spent putting together a wedding album. All of the photos need to be prepped to make sure that accurate colors are displayed on the pages of the photo book. And of course, the actual design of the album may take a couple of days to get right with a client’s approval.
26. DO YOU OFFER PAYMENT PLANS?
I do not. I understand that clients need funds available to pay for caterers, flowers, etc. Couples can pay the rest of the balance whenever they can. My only rule is that the balance be paid two weeks before the wedding date.
If the balance is not paid still by the wedding date, I will still show up at the venue, however, I will not begin working until someone comes over to me and pays the rest of the balance. All I ask is for couples to respect my time and pay the balance ASAP.
27. WHAT DO YOUR PACKAGES INCLUDE?
Here is my pricing guide for wedding photography, videography, elopements, and even some upgrades to add to your packages. Need clarification on anything? Feel free to contact me and I’ll respond to your email ASAP!
28. CAN YOU PUT TOGETHER SLIDESHOWS TO BE SHOWN DURING THE COCKTAIL HOUR/RECEPTION?
If that is what you request, I can definitely provide that service for an extra $200. This will go to the assistant brought along to edit some sample photos while the wedding day is going.
I will bring a table and a television screen that will play a slideshow on a loop for people to stop by and enjoy during the reception. Should you like them available for a big screen projector to be displayed, let me know!
27. WHAT IS INCLUDED IN YOUR STANDARD PACKAGE? WHAT ADD-ONS DO THE MORE EXPENSIVE PACKAGES INCLUDE?
The answer to all of these questions are in my pricing guide!
29. CAN I CUSTOMIZE A PACKAGE TO FIT MY NEEDS?
Of course! Not every package is for everyone. There will just have to be some compromises from both me and the client in some areas. For example, I can’t offer the most expensive package at the price of the starter package. I can, however, take an hour off of my time to work, not include an album, etc. It just has to be reasonable.
30. HOW MUCH DO EXTRA HOURS COST?
If we are having a blast at your wedding, and you wanna keep the fun going for another hour or two, I charge an additional $400 per hour.
31. HOW MANY HOURS DO I ACTUALLY NEED?
If you're getting married at any type of traditional wedding venue, I recommend a minimum of 8 hours of coverage. This will allow you to cover all the important parts of your day, from getting ready to the best dance floor party of all time (I’m sure you want photos of your guests having a great time, right?). While brides think that they can have a lot of things covered within 4, or even 6 hours, they often have to skip the bridal prep in the beginning of the day or have me leave the reception early.
If your wedding day includes travel, you'll want to make sure to add on extra time to account for traveling I personally recommend 8 to 9 hours for complete coverage of your love story.
A good rule-of-thumb to follow: the larger your family and bridal party, the more hours you'll need to ensure you have enough time to cover the special moments of your wedding, while also actually enjoying your day!
Unsure of how many hours you need? Contact me and I'll be more than happy to answer all of your questions!
32. DO YOU OFFER A SECOND SHOOTER?
I always have a second shooter with me in my photography packages. Should you like to add even more shooters for your wedding, it will cost an additional $499 for each shooter.
33. HOW MANY HOURS ARE INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE?
I offer 7, 8, and 9 hours of photography coverage in my packages. Each hour has different things included at each price point. Be sure to view what the differences are in each package.
34. DO YOU OFFER ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS AS PART OF A PACKAGE?
I sure do! While most photographers charge separately for engagement sessions, I include these photos in my packages for free as a way to say, “Thank you!”
35. WILL I ONLY GET EDITED PHOTOS OR WILL I GET THE UNEDITED RAW FILES AS WELL?
Every package comes with professionally edited digital jpegs. The unedited RAW photos are available for purchase at $999 for me to sign my creative vision over to another user.
Albums
36. HOW MANY FINAL IMAGES SHOULD I EXPECT TO RECEIVE?
7 hours of coverage gets you between 250-400 photos. 8 hours gets you between 400-600 photos. 9 hours gets you between 600-800 photos.
37. CAN WE ORDER A WEDDING ALBUM DIRECTLY FROM YOU?
You sure can! A lot of couples say that they can make their own album, but life hits them and they never get around to it. You can view all of the information regarding my wedding albums here.
38. ARE ALBUMS OR PRINTS INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKAGES?
Wedding albums are included in my “Main” and “Full” photo collections. They are not included in my “Starting”. You can my pricing guide for these collections here, and also see wedding album info here.
As for prints, I do not offer any other types of prints besides those in a wedding album.
39. CAN I ADD MORE THINGS TO MY WEDDING ALBUM?
After proposed drafts, you can provide feedback until we get the draft perfect for print. Additional pages and a keepsake box are available for an additional cost. There is also an option to upgrade to thick cardboard paper for increased durability. Not sure if you actually need an album? Click here to find out “6 Reasons Why You Absolutely Need a Wedding Album”!
40. WHAT FACTORS INTO THE COST OF A WEDDING ALBUM?
From the pages to the binding, to the cover, there are quite a lot of materials that go into the making of your wedding album. And the more expensive the materials, the more expensive the album. For instance, standard art paper, while professional in quality, won’t be as durable as thick cardboard paper. The same goes for ink and print quality. Images from “cheap” shops will not look as sharp or color accurate compared to professional production.
The number of pages that are in your wedding album will also impact the overall cost. An additional photo spread (two pages) will cost $25 per each additional spread. Be mindful of how many extra pages you will actually need as the cost can quickly add up.
The bigger the album, the bigger the budget needs to be to accommodate all of the materials used to create it.
Designing an album takes a huge amount of time to figure out the right layout to display your photos. While it may seem easier and cheaper for couples to design albums themselves, it takes precious time away from you to narrow everything down when you’re given hundreds of images to sort through. Because of this, most couples don’t create a wedding album simply because they don’t have the time. It’s my job to take that burden off of you so you can enjoy married life!
Equipment
41. WHAT EQUIPMENT DO YOU USE FOR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY?
Camera: Nikon Z6ii
Lenses: 70-200mm 2.8, 105mm 2.8 Macro, 85mm 1.8, 50mm 1.2, 35mm 1.8, 24mm 1.8, 14-24mm 2.8
Flash: Godox V860iii (used under rare lighting circumstances)
Lights: Godox ML60 LED Continuous Lights
Audio: Zoom H5 Recorder, Sony Clip Recorder
42. DO YOU HAVE BACKUP EQUIPMENT?
I always bring three camera bodies, and multiple lenses just in case one breaks down. Nothing has failed me yet, but in the event that any of my gear does go down, another one will quickly take its place and save the day!
43. HOW DO YOU BACKUP YOUR PHOTOS?
Hard drives, hard drives, and even more hard drives.
Logistics
44. ARE YOU INSURED?
Most definitely! I worry greatly about the photographers who are not insured. If your venue requires insurance information, don’t hesitate to contact me with what they are needing and I’ll send over the necessary documents.
45. WHAT TIME WILL YOU ARRIVE AT THE SITE?
My assistants and I will arrive about 45min-60min before the official start time to set up and scout the location.
46. CAN WE REQUEST A LIST OF SPECIFIC SHOTS WE WOULD LIKE?
I’m all for it! Just be sure to look at my galleries first to see my style for taking portraits and then send me any Pinterest boards or screenshots that you think are in the realm of my style.
47. IS IT OKAY IF OTHER PEOPLE TAKE PHOTOS WHILE YOU'RE TAKING PHOTOS?
This is a really good question. I tend to view it this way, you hired me for my vision and work ethic. I do not mind other people with cameras taking pictures on the wedding day.
All that I ask for is that they do not interfere, or jump in to take pictures during the ceremony, couples portraits, or family formals. For example, it would pain me to miss your first kiss because a friend with a camera jumped in the middle of the aisle to take the photo.
48. DO YOU OFFER A PHOTO BOOTH?
Unfortunately, I do not.
49. DO YOU OFFER RETOUCHING, COLOR ADJUSTMENT, OR OTHER CORRECTIVE SERVICES?
I only use one color preset for all of the edited images that I deliver to clients. I do moderate retouchings such as removing pimples, bruises, and maybe a slight chin or love-handle tuck here or there. However, if you’re asking me to do a full-scale edit that will make you and your spouse look like completely different people, that I will not do.
50. DO YOU CHARGE A TRAVEL FEE? FOR WHAT DISTANCE? WHAT DOES THAT COVER?
DRIVING: I do not charge for weddings within 40-miles of where I am based at (Whittier, California). After 40-miles, there will be a $50 charge to cover gas expenses.
FLYING & HOTELS: For any weddings across the United States, my starting pricing for destination weddings is $3499 for a two-night stay. This does not include travel & lodging expenses. We could look into an Airbnb for a cheaper option if you cannot afford to have me at the same hotel or resort that you are staying in. This applies as well for international weddings that start off at $3,999 for a three-night stay. Should you need me for more, or less, than the mentioned nights of coverage then feel free to contact me!
Please keep in mind that pricing not only compensates the work that I am producing for your wedding, but also for the multiple days of potential work that I will be missing out on back at home as well.
51. WHEN WILL I RECEIVE MY PHOTOS?
After the wedding, I will send 5 to 7 sneak-peek photos within 2 to 3 days. Deliverables of all wedding photos are typically between 2 to 4 weeks.
Copyright
52. WILL WE HAVE THE RIGHTS TO THE IMAGES?
As your professional wedding photographer, I will retain the copyright of all your wedding images for advertising and promotional purposes to help grow my business. However, you can use the photos and videos handed over by me to be printed or displayed online for personal use only. You may not display them for commercial use.
53. WILL THE IMAGES BE ACCESSIBLE ONLINE?
I include a wedding gallery for all of my clients on my website for you and your loved ones to enjoy. I do send privately your images through a WeTrasnfer download for social media use and then send a USB flash drive later as a hard copy to save somewhere.
54. WILL YOU BE POSTING ABOUT OUR WEDDING ON YOUR WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA?
Yes, everyone will have their own website gallery, as well as have the possibility of me posting a photo or two of their wedding on my Instagram or Facebook. Should you not want any pictures posted anywhere, I do charge for an NDA at $799. This is to cover the loss of promotion that I would have otherwise received from your wedding.
55. WILL YOU BE SUBMITTING OUR PHOTOS TO MAGAZINES OR BLOGS?
I’m not really a big fan of submitting to magazines or blogs first. I only submit things if they reach out to me.
