Questions To Ask A Wedding Photographer | Dallas Wedding Photographer

All the time I get a list of questions found on most wedding planning sites that say “Questions to ask a wedding photographer before you hire them.”  They are all basically the same questions so I decided to write up this blog post dedicated to those questions and what you really should be asking.

Planning a wedding can be stressful and since you’ve never done it before, you ask friends or family to help.  You may even go to the websites like The Knot or Wedding Wire to find answers.  All these sites have a list of questions you should ask each vendor.  While most of these questions are good, some aren’t necessary.  The questions you should be asking aren’t listed on many of these sites or if they are, you don’t understand the true importance of it all.  Let me break it down for you when it comes to wedding photography.

The basic questions:

• How many weddings have you shot?

  • You don’t want a photographer that has only shot 1 or 2 weddings.  You need someone with experience.  Photographing a wedding is not an easy task and should only be trusted to professionals that have been shooting longer than a few months.  I have shot hundreds of weddings over the last 12 years and have gained tons of experience along the way.

• How long have you been in business?

  • This question goes with the above.  Having someone who “has a nice camera” or “took these really great pictures of my cousin” or “they are just starting out so they are cheap”, shouldn’t be automatically trusted with the one important day you are paying thousands of dollars on.  After it’s all over, all you have left is your photos.  Do you want them to look okay or do you want them to look amazing?

• Do you shoot digital or film?

  • This is a personal preference.  Some people like the look of film and some don’t.  I personally shoot digital.

• How would you describe your photography style?

  • This is a personal preference too.  Some people like photojournalism and some like traditional.  Whatever your style is, a photographer’s website should be a good representation of their style.  You either like it or you don’t.  Some photographers are dark and moody and some are light and airy.  Which look draws you in the most?  I shoot true to color with bold colors so I am in between both styles.  Book someone you feel a connection with their photos as well as the photographer.

• How many events do you photograph in a day?

  • Most wedding photographers will only shoot one wedding a day.  I have shot two in one day but they both were very small and one was a brunch and one was a later evening wedding.  This rarely happens though.

• How long after the wedding does it take for the final images to be ready?

  • This is always a huge deal.  I have brides text me the day after asking when their photos will be ready.  Some photographers will turn around photos in a week but most don’t.  Anywhere from 4-6 weeks is common.  It also depends on their workload.  I know June and October are monster months to sit down and get any editing done.  I personally try to get them edited and delivered sooner than 6 weeks after your date.

• Do you provide retouching?

  • This is another huge deal.  Each photographer is different and how they edit.  Your photos should come color corrected with minor edits.  I go through each image and adjust it.  Some photographers will give you “proofs” without any editing which I would not want.  Major editing can be an additional cost and you will need to ask specifics to your photographer.  Major editing for me would be, swapping heads in photos, removing a person, removing background distractions, removing braces, removing eyeglasses, etc.  Those items are charged an additional fee based on the time it would take to perfect the image.

• What will you wear to my wedding?

  • I get this question a lot.  I personally wear black pants and a nice shirt typically with a blazer.  I look professional and every photographer should look professional when attending a wedding.  I’ve seen some show up in jeans with holes and t-shirts and that is not the look a professional photographer should have.

• Do I get digital images with my package?

  • Each photographer handles this differently.  I give the digital files to my wedding clients.  Some photographers will make you pay an additional fee for this so make sure and ask before you sign on the dotted line.

• Can I customize a package that fits my needs?

  • I say yes!  I don’t think you should feel obligated to purchase items you don’t want or need.  But some photographers won’t allow it.  This is a personal preference and would depend on the items.

• If my event lasts longer, will you stay, and if so, how much extra is it?

  • This is another question I get all the time.  I typically don’t need to add time because I provide you with 8 hours which is a typical wedding.  Some weddings last longer,  and I have no problem staying.  I will charge a fee depending on the amount of extra time I’m there.  Some photographers won’t even stay until you exit your wedding so make sure you discuss this with the photographer you plan on hiring.

• Do you charge a travel fee?

  • This is different with every photographer.  I choose to live in the country and I have no problem driving.  I give my clients 100 miles (one way) and then will charge after that.  Some will only do a 30-mile radius from their house/studio.

• Will you provide me a list of references?

  • A professional should have no problem with this.  I don’t get asked this question often, but I would give you a list of names to contact if you wanted.  I have tons of reviews that highlight myself, my second shooters, and my company, on Wedding Wire and that site is what I send most of my clients to for verification about me as a wedding photographer.

• Have you shot at my wedding venue before?

  • This is something I don’t feel is relevant.  I like to scout the venue before I shoot but just because a photographer hasn’t shot at a certain venue, doesn’t mean they can’t produce amazing images.  I know some venues tell you to only hire ones that have, but that isn’t always the case.  I also think that if you really want to see what a photographer can do at your venue, have them shoot a bridal or engagement session there and you can see images in the space your wedding will be.

• What kind of equipment do you use?

  • This is a funny question for me.  If you aren’t interested in photography, do you really know which camera models are considered “professional” or “basic”?  If they tell you the brand and model, are you going to look it up and see how much they spent on that camera?  I don’t think the type of equipment should matter.  The quality of the photos should.  When looking at prints or albums, make sure the images are clear and sharp.  Then you can ask, did you shoot this wedding with your current gear?  That question makes more sense to me.  Just because one photographer has a “nicer” or “more expensive” camera, doesn’t mean a thing unless they know how to use it and produce quality images.

The questions that should be asked:

• Do you have liability insurance?

  • The answer to this question should be YES!  It is very important that a wedding photographer has liability insurance.  I look at it like a professional knows the importance and a non-professional doesn’t want to spend the money.  I wish more venues required this from all vendors.

• Will I receive a contract?

  • The answer should be YES!  The contract is there to keep both parties safe.  I would not want to do business with a photographer or any wedding vendor that doesn’t provide you a contract.

• Are you the photographer that will shoot my wedding?

  • Some companies have associate photographers.  You may not get to meet your photographer until a photoshoot or even your wedding day.  This doesn’t sit well with me.  I spend the most amount of time with the couple on their wedding day and I want to make sure our personalities mesh well.  It would be awful to have someone you didn’t like or didn’t feel comfortable around.

• Do you have backup equipment?

  • The answer should always be YES!!  If you are talking with a professional photographer, then they will have backup equipment.  If the photographer only has one camera, then I would be leery of hiring them to shoot my wedding.  Too many things could go wrong and another camera body would need to be available in a moment’s time.

• Do you provide a second shooter?

  • This is a touchy subject with some photographers.  They think they can handle shooting an entire wedding alone.  I DON’T!!  I don’t feel like I am able to capture your wedding day to the best of my abilities when I am running around like a chicken with my head cut off back and forth trying to capture it all.  I want to experience what the bride does and have my second shooter with the groom.  This way we are both working at the same time and getting more accomplished at once and the day will be fully covered.  There are also two perspectives during the ceremony and reception which are valuable in so many cases.  I personally will not shoot a wedding alone unless it’s a small one.  I feel the day is entirely too important for me to miss moments and one person can’t be in two places at once.  Even during small weddings, I try and bring an assistant.  I want my full attention on the couple and their day.

• If you aren’t able to shoot my wedding for some reason, what’s your plan?

  • This is important to know that the photographer you are hiring has a plan in place.  This is also where having a second shooter is so important to me.  If for any reason I cannot be there, my second shooter would become the primary shooter and then a qualified second shooter would be contacted and hired.  The DFW area wedding photographers are always willing to jump in if needed.  I know several cases where the second shooter was injured the morning of the wedding and the main photographer put a lead out and 10 photographers were ready to go within minutes to assist.  We understand how important this is and are always willing to help each other when needed.

I hope this helps you ask the right questions and find the perfect photographer for your wedding day.

Happy Planning!!