What To Ask Your Wedding Photographer.

So it seems the theme of the week has been wedding photography! I promised the other day I would put together  list of questions to ask of your potential wedding photographer and I live up to that promise! 

Booking your photographer is one of the largest purchases and subsequently most important decisions you can make during the wedding planning process. These pictures are one of the only lasting visual memories of your wedding day, so it is important to make sure you feel 100% confident in your photographer and his or her capability to provide you with the perfect end product. 

Being a DIY bride, I knew there were a few areas in which I wouldn't be able to cut back on my costs considering how picky and precise I can be, so asking all of the right questions to prove the photographer was capable of handling (and up to!) the challenge was imperative.  

So! What to ask your wedding photographer? Download a copy of this list, or scroll to view more below.

To view other helpful forms and lists for diy wedding planning, click here.

WHAT TO ASK YOUR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER.

• Will you be taking our photos on the actual wedding day? If not, can we meet the person who will be?
• Talk about your primary style.

tip! An experienced photographer will have a really good sense of what they do well, as well as a portfolio to back it up.

• Are you familiar with our venue(s) and have you done shoots there before? 
• How many weddings have you photographed? Are you comfortable with the size and formality of our wedding? 

tip! Timing and quick thinking during weddings are important. And if they haven't covered a wedding before they may miss a key moment - the kiss for instance. 

• Will any assistants be working with you? If so, will they be acting as a second photographer?
• If you are bringing lighting, tripods or other equipment, how intrusive might they be?
• What kind of input can we have on the direction of the shots? Can we give you a shot list to work from?
• What do you ask of the couples you work with?
• Do you have backup equipment and is it the same quality as the primary equipment?
• What time will you begin and how long will you stay until?
• When will the proofs be ready, do you mark them, and do we get to keep them?
• Do you work well with the other vendors? i.e.: coordinators, caterers, videographers.
• What packages do you have available and what is included in them?
• After booking, what is the typical communication process up until the big day?
• Are you able to provide me with references? 

 THINGS TO CONSIDER.

Once you have had the opportunity to ask your photographer all of the questions you feel appropriate, there are a number of things you will want to think about before making your final decision: 

• Review the available packages.

tip! Do they include everything you need? Are you comfortable with his amount in your budget? It is important to remember that these are one of the lasting physical things from your wedding day, so considering them an investment is important, however it shouldn’t break the bank.

• Review their portfolio again. Does the quality of their work meet your standards?

tip! Options and quantity of prints are important, but if you don't like the quality of the pictures, what good are all of the bonuses the package offers?

• Is their work consistent?

tip! Any photographer can have a number of great shots after shooting for a couple of years, but seeing a few entire weddings can help you to determine if they are capable of doing exactly what you want. The last thing you want is to be worried about whether or not you’ll be getting what you had anticipated! Any doubts – move on to the next photographer.

• Is this someone you would be comfortable around for a long period of time? 

  tip! You’ll be spending a huge portion of your day and both positive and negative feelings towards them will come across in your pictures. Like I always say, trust your gut. If there is anything about them that rubs you the wrong way, keep looking.

• Two photographers are usually better than one. 

  tip! Those little things going on behind the one photographer might be a perfect opportunity for the other photographer to capture. You won’t want anything missed! Especially if you’d like both you and your groom photographed getting ready in the morning!

• Contact their references.

tip! While it may feel a bit awkward to call a stranger, it can be invaluable to have an outside opinion on a potential wedding photographer. Remember, your photographs will be one of the most lasting aspects of your wedding – you’ll want to make sure you find the right wedding photographer for you.

THE FINE PRINT.

• The name of your photographer and whether a second photographer is included.
• The time that he/she arrives and leaves.
• The number of proofs you will view in order to pick your enlargements keep.
• The description of the package you ordered.
• A list of guaranteed prices for enlargements. If they have a brochure with prices then get these prices in writing.
• All additional charges, services, taxes, travel, etc... get the exact cost on the contract.
• An explanation of what happens if your photographer doesn't show up.
• The date and deposit amount and how much remains owing.
• Your name, address and phone.
• The names and addresses of the ceremony and reception locations.
• Limitations to other vendors (videographers) or snap-happy guests.

 

Investing in Wedding Photography.

This week we booked our wedding photographer! I say this with such joy because it was such a lengthy process. With the choices of wedding photographers seeming endless, the decision to settle on one that is right for you can be quite daunting, but there are a few things you can do to make both the search and selection process easier.

*image sourced from Renaissance Studios

BUDGET. As a DIY bride, I am very sensitive about my budget and spending too much money. But when thinking about it, I knew I had to flexible with my photography budget  in order to get what I wanted. You must think of your wedding photography as an investment as these are one of the only things (besides your live for each other and your rings!) that will be a physical reminder of one of the biggest days in your life! 

PACKAGES. Wedding packages vary by photographer, but you always want to make sure that you're getting a huge bang for your buck. For example, I saw a photographer in the city I liked but the package I was interested in didn't offer an engagement shoot or coffee-table book, was limited to 6 hours, and 250 retouched photos. Her fee was $2600 - just slightly over my budget. I found another photographer whose work I liked more that included a coffee table book, 2-3 hour engagement (or boudoir!) shoot, 250+ retouched photos, 8 hours of service and travel within 200km of their studio. This was all for $2995, plus tax. So all in all, I was slightly over budget, but knew I would have complete faith that my pictures will be exactly the way I want them and that all of the additional items are worth it in the end, making the whole experience that much more fun.

REFERRALS. First off, ask friends and family who have recently been married. These couples have been through the process already and may be able to recommend either the wedding photographer they hired, or another they came across during their search. If you do find a photographer on your own be sure to ask the photographer if he can provide you with references. Ask these people to be brutally honest.

*image sourced from Renaissance Studios

ADVERTISEMENTS. Click on the ads you see on the Facebook sidebar. Seriously. I know they are annoying, but sometimes this is the best way to see agencies you may not otherwise have found through search engines. We may not have ever found our photographer had I not clicked on these links! 

SCOUR LOCAL WEDDING BLOGS. This can be really useful as they often feature local weddings and subsequently links to the photographers!

BE PERSISTENT ON CONSISTENCY. Have a clear idea of what type of photos you want. Do you want photos with a crisp black and white shot, or something more vintage? Photo retouching is a huge part of the process, so make sure the photographer's way of finishing a photo is consistent with what you want. Most photographers try to show just how flexible they are with their work and styles. To some this can be exactly what they are looking for, but for me, I found it just plain confusing - could they guarantee they could do what I wanted or not? I found that during the search, finding a wedding photographer who could consistently show me they could give me the product I wanted was exhausting, however by being persistent, I finally found the right photographer for us.

*image sourced from Renaissance Studios

ASK QUESTIONS. If you don't ask questions, your photographer won't get a sense of who you are or be able to prove to you that they can or cannot do what you want. I'll be putting up a list of questions to as potential wedding photographers, so check back for that!

We decided to go with Renaissance Studios, located in Milton. The package was filled with all of the essentials and their level of customer service has been fantastic both leading up to and after the booking. Their work is incredibly consistent and they offer you the ability to select from a grouping of photographers. Renaissance Studios even provides you with articles and information, and ask you to fill out a lengthy questionnaire in order for the relationship between them and you to be strengthened. The reviews I've read have been outstanding so there was no question in hiring this studio. Their uniqueness in style, approach to customer service and overall love for bringing great photography services available to everyone makes them an obvious choice.

If you're a recent bride, who did YOU hire for your wedding and why?