Finding the perfect vendors for you wedding can feel so overwhelming! And finding the best person to capture the day for you is a big deal!

After narrowing down a list of photographers based on their portfolios and Instagrams, it’s important to interview your candidates and have open conversations throughout the planning process.

There are so many more questions to ask beyond “are you available on my wedding date” that will help you decide who will be the best fit for you as a couple. But hey, I get it, how would you know what to ask if you’ve never planned a wedding before?!

No worries, I’ve listed seven of the most important questions to ask potential wedding photographers so that you don’t have to.

 

What is your approach to wedding photography?

This is very telling of whether a photographer will be in your face with the camera all day or if you’ll hardly even notice they are there. This is all preferential! I personally describe my style as a mix of directorial and fly on the wall photography. During your newlywed portraits and family photos, I will be fully in charge adjusting your fam and giving you and bae prompts to get beautifully candid imagery. The rest of the day I like to be a fly on the wall to capture the day as it unfolds — this way you can relive all of those precious moments just as you remember them! 

Are you equipped to handle all lighting situations? 

This is a MUST! Your wedding is likely going to last 8-10 hours which means you’ll have all different types of lighting situations, from direct sunlight to low venue lights to DJ strobes and lasers! Your photographer should know how to capture all of them! 

 

Can I see a full gallery?

Piggybacking off the previous question, this is very telling! Ask to see a full gallery or two so that you can see exactly how they handle all of those lighting situations! This also gives you a good idea of what you can expect your gallery to look like and how they will deliver it to you!

I use a digital gallery platform for my couples that walks them through exactly how to download their images, educated them which resolution is best for posting on the gram or printing for your home, and they can even shop for prints and albums right there!

How many photos can I expect to receive? 

This is important because some photographers charge for digital files and some have a limit per hour. Your girl never puts a limit on imagery! I know you want to relive your big day, and limiting the amount of images I deliver would be limiting your story! Nuh-uh — not on my watch! 

Are there any hidden fees?

Again piggy backing off that last question, make sure they aren’t trying to bamboozle you! Ask if they charge for digital files, if tax is included in the quote they gave you and if there are any travel fees. 

Do you have a back up plan if an emergency happens and you cannot photograph my wedding?

This is crucial. Life is unpredictable and things happen. Just be sure your photographer has a plan in place! This should also be clearly laid out in the contract! I have a handful of trusted photographers I would send out in my place if needed to photograph your day on MY dime! I would also still be the one editing your images to be sure you get exactly what you were expecting out of your wedding photos!

How long is the delivery time?

The most important part, delivery time, is a key question to ask! Some photographers will give you a handful of images the next day so you have a couple photos to share on social media right away, then give you the full edited batch later on. You don’t want any surprises so always ask when you can expect to receive your edited images early on in the process!