So you just got engaged and are starting to plan your wedding which is super exciting but can also be super stressful. You’ve probably started looking for a photographer and may be wondering, what are the best questions to ask your wedding photographer? How do I make sure I hire the best photographer for MY wedding?
Well, I am here to help make this process easier for you! One of the most important parts of planning your wedding is finding the perfect wedding photographer. I mean, after all, these are the pictures you are going to look back on for the rest of your life, so you want to be sure you pick the right one.
Here are my top 10 questions to ask your wedding photographer to help make your decision. Please keep in mind that these questions are just to learn a little more about your photographer or their process, not a way to interrogate them!
Do you serve LGBTQ+ weddings?
This is a super important question to ask if you are an LGBTQ+ couple (obviously), but it is also a good question to ask in general. Especially if you and your partner value inclusivity and want to support other businesses who feel the same way, you will want to make sure that your photographer is LGBTQ+ friendly.
This is also worth asking if any of your guests are a part of the LGBTQ+ community, or if having an inclusive photographer is in line with your values. While you may not make a lot of your decisions based on your guest list, it is important to make sure all of your guests feel safe and included by everyone at your wedding.
Personally, I am a 100% queer-affirming business and I firmly believe that inclusivity is not only important, it’s a priority. Period. My goal is to make you and your partner feel as comfortable as possible and capture your perfect wedding day.
How would you describe your wedding photography style?
This question (and the next one) is one of the most important questions to ask your wedding photographer when it comes to how your photos turn out. Knowing your photographer’s style for their wedding shoots can help you decide if that photographer is going to be the right fit for you and your partner.
Here at Kylee B Photography, our style is a combination of naturally posed photos and candid shots. Your wedding day is about you and we want to capture how it unfolds naturally.
We do our best to blend into the background so we don’t get in the way of any intimate moments. We have been known to hop onto the dancefloor, though, which creates some amazing shots from the reception!
How would you describe your editing style?
The editing style of your photographer plays a big role in how your photos turn out. Do you want your pictures to be dark and moody? Bright and vibrant? These are the pictures you will look back on with your future kids so you want to make sure that however they are edited matches the vibe you are going for.
For instance, if you know ahead of time you want ethereal photos with a whimsical editing style, it wouldn’t make sense for you to inquire and book a photographer with a dark and edgy style, right? So, this is important to consider.
I love keeping photos true to life and so your memories of your wedding day match your photos. You’ve probably spent weeks picking out the perfect location and wedding colors, so I want to make sure they show up in your photos just how you remember them.
How long have you been in the photography biz?
When it comes to how long your photographer has been in the business, it is good to know the answer, but it should not be make or break for you. Just because one photographer has been in the business longer than another one doesn’t mean that they are best suited for your wedding.
Experience can be beneficial when it comes to navigating the ins and outs of your wedding day or knowing how to shoot in different types of locations, weather, etc. However, you want to make sure that regardless of your photographer’s experience, you feel comfortable with them and their style.
I started my photography journey back in high school but didn’t start my photography business until 2015. Since then, I have learned so much from all of the weddings I have captured and continue to learn more and more with each shoot.
Can you send us a full wedding gallery example?
This is a great question to ask for two reasons. One, you get a feel for how your entire wedding will be shot. Most photographers will have some photos from previous weddings but knowing how a full gallery looks will help you get a feel for their full editing style.
The second reason is to get an idea of what your final product will look like after your wedding. If you’re only able to check out a photographer’s work based on their curated portfolio (like Instagram) you are only getting a very small snippet of what they actually capture on a wedding day. This can help you decide if what the photographer offers is something that you and your partner are looking for!
What is your favorite part of the wedding day to photograph?
This is a great question to ask to get to know your photographer a little better. While this may not be a make or break question in picking your photographer, it can help open your mind up to doing something during your wedding that you hadn’t considered before.
For example, your photographer’s favorite part of the wedding day to photograph may be the first look. While having a first look is becoming more common, not everyone thinks about doing one. Having this conversation may make you think about adding it (or other things) to your wedding ceremony!
This is also a great question for you to ask if you are looking for more focus on specific parts of your wedding day.
For example, if you LOVE a massive reception dance party and want tons of photos of you and your guests tearing up the dance floor, you probably don’t want to book a photographer who isn’t a big fan of photographing receptions. On the flip side, if you want loads of portrait photos of you and your partner on your wedding day, find a photographer who loves to whisk you away to capture some magical moments of the two of you.
What are your wedding package options and what would you personally recommend we include in your package?
This is a super important question to ask, not only to make sure you understand what you get with your package but also to get your photographer’s advice on what they think is a must have for your specific wedding.
A lot of photographers will have different offers you can choose from for your wedding. Knowing what is included in each (or what the difference is between each package) is super helpful and can help you and your partner pick out the best package for your wedding.
You also want to make sure that if there is something specific you know you want for your wedding (like an album or an engagement session), that it is included in the package with your photographer!
Some photographers may also have custom-built packages or add-ons you can choose from. Asking your photographer what they recommend for you can make your decision much easier and help you pick the perfect package for your specific wedding.
Are we able to make any adjustments to our wedding package after we have already booked?
Picking your wedding photographer and your wedding package is a big decision and sometimes you change your mind.
Maybe you opted not to get an additional photographer but your plans changed and now you want one. Or, you didn’t think you wanted a wedding album, but then you looked through your parent’s and decided that it was worth it to get one.
Knowing if you are able to adjust your package after you have already booked your photographer can help take some of the stress off of you and your partner.
What is your backup plan if something were to happen in the days leading up to our wedding?
Life is unpredictable and sometimes things happen that are out of our control. Knowing if there is a backup plan just in case one of these unpredictable events happens is one of the best questions to ask your wedding photographer.
For example, what happens if your photographer gets sick before your wedding or they have an emergency and can’t be there on the day? You will want to know if they have other photographers that work for them (or that they partner with) that can still cover your wedding in the same style for you and your partner.
What are the steps to move forward in the booking process?
Okay so you know you want to hire a photographer, but what’s next? What do you have to do to book your spot on their calendar? Do they have payment plans/what does the payment process look like? Is there anything else you need to do leading up to your wedding?
Knowing these answers is not only important for your peace of mind, but also to make sure you don’t miss any important dates or deadlines leading up to your wedding! Asking these questions is also a good way to make sure that your photographer has a process so you know you’ll be taken care of.
There you have it. My top 10 questions to ask your wedding photographer. Still looking for the perfect photographer for your wedding day? Click here to get in touch and see how we can help make your decision a no brainer!
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