You’re going through your wedding checklist, steadily marking things off and feeling like a champion. Your dream wedding is coming together exactly how you envisioned. Now, you just need to find a photographer who will document those forever moments.
Naturally, there is a lot on your mind when thinking about what to tell your wedding photographer and what questions you should ask your wedding photographer. So here’s a go-to list to help make your meeting the most effective!
Things to ask your wedding photographer:
1. What is your preferred style? Some photogs opt for natural, some for dark, some for vintage, some for bright. You need to make sure their style matches what you envision for your wedding photos.
2. What is your price? And what is included with that? Many photographers have packages that include engagement sessions, videography or second shooters; and some photographers start with a lower base price and add on all additional services. You need to know exactly what you’re getting and how much you’ll be paying.
3. What is the deposit? When is the final payment due? Can I split the payment into smaller ones? What is your cancellation policy?
4. How many photos can I expect to receive? How will they be delivered to me? The two biggest options are digital proofs or prints. You need to ask about cost for these as well!
5. Is there a limit to how many photos you will take and/or edit?
6. When can I expect to receive my images?
7. How much does an additional hour of coverage cost? More often that not, you’ll realize that you don’t want the wedding party to stop, and you want to document it as much as possible. Just be sure you know what that final bill will be!
Things to tell your wedding photographer:
1. What the venue is like. This includes the areas the bride and groom will be getting ready in, the ceremony, and the reception location. Talk about lighting, seating arrangements, decorations, and anything else you can think of to give the photographer a mental layout of the area. They may also ask to go visit the location prior to the wedding — that’s a bonus for you!
2. Timeline. You should be very detailed about when you will start getting ready, when you want the photographer to arrive, what time the ceremony starts, when the reception will begin, and at what time the photographer can wrap up.
3. Shot ideas. Are you doing a first look? Do you want a precious picture with your flower girl? Is there a certain family member that you’d rather not have in the group photo? Just let the photographer know so they can make sure they get to all of these.
4. How involved do you want them to be? Some couples are more reserved and would enjoy a little more space and intimacy. Other couples want the photographer to do whatever they need to in order to get the shot. Just make sure this is clarified beforehand, so there are no awkward moments during the wedding.
Whatever you discuss, the biggest thing is to BE HONEST!! For example, my husband and I started planning our wedding before we even got engaged (due to time constraints). I remember talking to the photographer trying to hide that we weren’t engaged, and the meeting was so awkward! Finally, we just told the photographer, and he was so chill about it! The meeting went much smoother after that!
And remember, transparency works both ways! Your photographer should freely answer any questions you have, without reservations. If you feel like they’re hiding something or giving vague, sketchy answers, you may want to consider if that is the right photographer for you.
Hopefully this list of things to ask and tell your wedding photographer will come in handy during your meeting, and you’ll find a perfect match for your big day!
Want to know more about Bethany?
Meet the owner of BB Photography AZ here.
