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It\u2019s time to sit down and start planning out your wedding details. Booking a meeting with a wedding photographer is one of those exciting early moments that helps you bring your dream day together.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Most couples only meet with a handful of wedding photographers before finding the perfect one. To help you navigate the process and find your own gem, here\u2019s our list of questions to ask wedding photographers.\u00a0<\/span> It\u2019s useful to know details about photo retouching and shot lists, but before that happens, there\u2019s a couple of key things you\u2019ll want to confirm.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n First of all, if you\u2019ve already fallen in love with your photographer\u2019s work, you\u2019ll want to check their availability. If they\u2019re already booked on your day, it may be back to square one \u2014 or you could look at an alternative wedding date if yours isn\u2019t set.<\/span><\/p>\n If they’re popular, photographers will have a long lead time. Ask your photographer when you need to secure their services by. In some cases, it might be a year or more in advance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Design: Claudia Owen<\/p><\/div>\n No two photographers are alike, and each has their own style, portfolio of work, and flair that they can bring to your celebration. Discover more about your photographer with these questions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Every photographer has their specialty, and it\u2019s a good idea to understand your photographer\u2019s preferred type of wedding. Ask whether they typically photograph traditional or modern weddings, or whether they specialize in destination weddings or <\/span>elopements<\/a><\/strong> if that\u2019s your plan.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This is a great way to get a feel for the style of photography your chosen expert enjoys and how your wedding gallery might look. Of course, you can usually understand this by browsing their past work, but hearing it straight from the photographer is a lovely way to get to know them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Some couples are happy to take a chance with a fresh new photographer, but others will want someone with years of specific experience. Ask your photographer a little about their work history \u2014 it should help you make a decision about which direction you want to go in.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We all love those gorgeously candid snaps of moments like a couple\u2019s first dance or the laughter between friends. Ask your photographer how they capture these memories on film, and what their approach is to snapping moments, expressions, and candid fun.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Design: Bonjour Berry<\/p><\/div>\n You\u2019re going to be working closely with your professional wedding photographer. Here\u2019s how to suss out how they work before you trust them to capture this huge life moment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n An engagement photoshoot is a lovely way to kick off this amazing journey together. If you\u2019re researching wedding photographers early enough, ask if you can book them for an engagement photo session too \u2014 and use the photos for your <\/span>digital invitations<\/a><\/strong> or <\/span>save the dates<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Your <\/span>rehearsal dinner<\/a><\/strong> is usually the evening before your wedding day when you gather your close family members together. Sometimes, it\u2019ll be the first time everyone meets \u2014 other times your guests are old friends. See if your photographer is available to capture moments from this special evening.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Shooting a wedding is a big responsibility that comes with a lot of ground to cover. For this reason, many wedding photographers work with a second photographer or associate photographer \u2014 known as a second shooter. The second shooter is usually there to snap candid moments around your wedding venue or set up alternative angles for big moments.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n You might have heard of a shot list when researching wedding photography. It\u2019s a list of images you\u2019d like captured, and it acts as a sort of to-do list for your photographer. Many experienced wedding photographers don\u2019t need one, but yours may ask if there are any specific shots from your <\/span>wedding day timeline<\/a><\/strong> you\u2019d like \u2014 or they\u2019ll ask for a list of names to make sure they get your family group photos correct.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Most wedding photographers specialize in capturing still images only. If you\u2019d like a videographer too, ask your photographer if they can recommend someone. Often wedding vendors are a tight-knit circle, so they may be able to surprise you with someone amazing to film your day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019re in a small town, this can be a great way to scope out whether your other vendors come highly recommended by your photographer. And if you haven\u2019t started looking for a florist, wedding planner, or caterer yet, they might be able to direct you to someone great.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Design: Ashley Ottinger<\/p><\/div>\n The perfect photographs don\u2019t just roll out of the camera that way. Expert photographers spend time editing, retouching, and carefully presenting your images. These questions to ask wedding photographers will help you understand how it all works.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Check with your photographer to find out whether they retouch all your photos, only the ones you handpick, or none at all. You can also make special requests here about edits or color grading, and ask whether these are included in your package or would require an additional fee.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We know how much you want to see your wedding photos right away, but most photographers put time and love into getting them just right for you. It\u2019s common to wait between two and six weeks for your wedding photos, but ask your photographer to confirm their process. If you don\u2019t want to wait for the full gallery, maybe they can send you a couple of sneak peeks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Different photographers have different ways of displaying and sharing photos with you. Some will show you a private gallery and ask you to select a few to share with others, while others may upload all the photos from your celebration for you to view online.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If your wedding photographer is a pro, all your photos should come out looking gorgeously crisp. Most wedding photo packages feature a set number of photos with others costing extra. If there\u2019s a handful more that you\u2019d love to use for social media or your <\/span>thank you notes<\/a><\/strong> only, you may be able to score a lower resolution file at a discount.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n You\u2019ve fallen in love with the photographer\u2019s work, and now it\u2019s time to talk about money and contracts. Here\u2019s how to get those must-have answers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Before you sign anything, you\u2019ll want to fully understand how pricing works and which packages your photographer can offer. Most wedding photographers offer packages that include on-the-day photography and a set number of professionally edited photos afterward, but some prefer to charge a day rate and a price per photo.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Many couples choose to book a wedding photographer who\u2019s based close by and who they\u2019ve found through recommendations from friends or others in the business. In those cases, there\u2019s likely no travel fee or it may only be a small fee to cover gas. But if you\u2019re booking a photographer from across the country \u2014 or for a <\/span>destination wedding<\/a><\/strong> \u2014 expect to confirm and pay a travel fee.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\nThe Basics<\/b><\/h2>\n
Are You Available on Our Planned Wedding Date?<\/b><\/h3>\n
When Do We Need to Book to Secure You for Our Big Day?<\/b><\/h3>\n
Photographer’s Style and History<\/b><\/h2>\n
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What Type of Weddings Do You Photograph?\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n
What’s Your Photography Style?<\/b><\/h3>\n
How Long Have You Been Shooting Weddings?<\/b><\/h3>\n
How Do You Capture Candid Moments?\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n
Working Together<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Do You Offer Engagement Sessions?\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n
Are You Available to Shoot Our Rehearsal Dinner?<\/b><\/h3>\n
Do You Have a Second Photographer?\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n
Do We Need to Put Together a Shot List?\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n
Can You Recommend a Videographer?<\/b><\/h3>\n
Have You Previously Worked With Any of Our Wedding Vendors?\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n
Edits and Delivery<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Is Retouching Included or Is It an Add-On?\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n
When Will We Receive Our Wedding Photos?\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n
Can We View the Full Wedding Gallery Online?\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n
Are All the Photos High Resolution?\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n
Pricing and Contracts<\/b><\/h2>\n
What’s Your Pricing Model?\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n
Is There an Additional Travel Fee?<\/b><\/h3>\n
What’s Your Cancellation Policy?<\/b><\/h3>\n