Questions to Ask Your Photographer
You are on the hunt for your wedding photographer, so what should you be asking? How do you know your wedding photographer is the best fit for you? Well, I came up with some questions as a wedding photographer/planner, that will help you have a better idea of what to ask.
What packages do they offer? How long will they be there, and what do you get for that package price?
Make sure you have a good understanding of what all is included in your package! I do want to say that “you get what you pay for”, with everything in the wedding world. Someone’s pricing can give you a great idea of what you will get. If you hire a newer photographer for $500 for your wedding photos, then that’s what you will receive. It’s important to observe the quality of the photos, social media, and their pricing info sheet, before committing to your wedding photographer.
Do you have a contract?
This is SO important. Never hire any wedding vendor without a contract, and make sure you read the contract thoroughly. Make sure there’s a contract, and that it covers what you will receive, how long it will take to edit, what happens if you’re sick, etc. I will be going into this more as you read.
How many photos will you receive?
I think this is an important question that most people probably wouldn’t see as a big deal. I have seen so many brides on Facebook groups that have been scammed, because their photographer didn’t have a minimum amount of photos on the contract stating that they would receive a certain amount. I have even seen where the photographer charged $25 per photo, because there was never an agreed amount of photos for the minimum. The client had to spend over $5000 extra to get their wedding photos back. It seems silly, but make sure there’s a minimum amount of photos on your contracts. I think a great photo minimum is 600 edited images. For smaller weddings, you can still get at least 600 photos!
When will I receive my wedding album?
This question is good to keep in mind whenever your wedding day is over and you are SO READY for your wedding photos. I get it! I was a bride a few years ago, and I remember being so excited to sit and scroll through all the photos to relive the day. But, it takes time to sit and edit an entire wedding album. I take so many photos every single wedding day, and it takes awhile just for culling. Then detail editing and color editing, it’s not a one day process! So keep in mind that your wedding photographer does have a work/life balance just like any other profession. It’ll help ease your mind that your photographer didn’t forget about you, they are just making sure your wedding album is perfect! An average wedding photographer's deadline is 8-10 weeks after your wedding date! My contract, as a wedding photographer, says I must return the photos in 90 days or they receive a full refund.
Another thing to note with this question, if you do not have a deadline in your contract then photographers can get away with taking as long as they need to get them to you. Make sure you are not waiting 9 months for your wedding album.
What happens if your photographer can’t be there?
I think for every vendor, it’s important to have this conversation with them. It’s inevitable that there will be moments for every vendor where a family emergency, or a scheduling issue comes up. It happens to the best of the best. However, it’s good to know the back up plan if the lead photographer is sick or can’t attend. What’s the plan? The answer you are looking for is that they would have another photographer they trust to take on the wedding. You do not want to be left empty handed on your wedding day if your photographer cannot attend. Make sure your contract states that there will be a photographer there in place of them, if they cannot attend. As a photographer, I have multiple photographer friends, who I trust, that would take my place for a client's day if needed. It’s kind of like a rainy day plan. You don’t want to think about it, but you’d rather have the conversation just in case the issue arises.
How do you save your images?
Well, I hate this conversation, but it’s super important to keep in mind. Being a photographer is not always a walk in the park. There’s behind the scenes stress of being responsible for someone’s special memories that are on a small card. That small card is still technology. Stuff goes wrong sometimes with technology, whether we want to acknowledge that or not. I think the best response from a photographer is that they shoot on multiple cards, meaning that if one card does happen to mess up, that they took plenty of photos on another. (This will need to lead into another talk about why it’s important to have a second photographer!) Then you would want to hear that they back up every card on a hard drive immediately. Meaning, your photos would be saved once on the cards, and twice on the hard drive. You want to feel that your photographer will do everything and anything to keep your memories safe.
What happens if all of my photos are gone?
I would hope that most photographers would refund your money back, than they would offer a few free sessions. This is what I would do, because I would feel like the worst person on the planet if something happened to someone’s wedding images. I would give my right arm to never have to tell someone, “I lost their wedding images”. If I missed out on my wedding photos, it would be a major bummer; but if my wedding photographer tried their best and did everything, then I could only be upset with the situation. Again, it happens to the best!
Ask the hard and awkward questions, because they will help determine if you have the right wedding photographer!
Happy Planning!
- Hannah
