Questions to Ask Your Wedding Photographer

Before you can hire a wedding photographer, it’s important that you not only like their photography style, but that you also get along with them. If you feel at ease with your photographer – if they can make you laugh and feel comfortable – you’re going to get better photos. Remember: at the end of your wedding day, the only things you get to keep are your partner, your rings, and your photographs. How you remember your day depends on how your photographer tells your story.

1. What’s your style? Formal, relaxed, photojournalist, candid, traditional, creative, artistic?
2. Do you photograph with film? Or digital? Or both? If you use digital, can or will you edit the photos before we get them? (e.g. make the photo black and white but keep the flowers coloured, or fix the shine on my face?) If you use film, do you develop your own film, and make your own prints?
3. What kind of input will we have on the photography? Can we give you a list of “must-take” photos or samples of poses we like?
4. Are you the person who will be taking the photos? If not can we meet the photographer?
5. Is wedding photography your primary business, or just a side thing?
6. How long have you been photographing weddings?
7. Will there be other events that you also have to photograph that weekend? If so, will that affect your ability to do the best job you can for us?
8. Do you bring backup equipment with you?
9. Can I see an example of an entire wedding? (It’s easy to show us the best photos you have taken from 30+ weddings, but looking at all the photos of one entire wedding will give us a better idea of what you can do.) Did you take all these photos? or are they studio samples?
10. Do you have any testimonials from recent newlywed couples (not ones from five years ago…)
11. What deposit is required to reserve your services?
12. How long after the wedding will the images be ready for viewing?
13. How many images do you take?
14. How long are these prices locked in for?

Once you find a photographer you like book them on the spot. The best photographers can book up really fast. Expect to spend 2,500 to 16,000 on photography, remember most photographers know what they are worth and charge accordingly.