Planning a wedding can be an exhilarating yet overwhelming experience, with countless decisions to make and details to consider. Amidst the flurry of preparations, one aspect that holds profound importance is capturing the essence and beauty of the day through photography. As couples embark on this journey to immortalize their love story, questions inevitably arise regarding the intricacies of wedding photography. To ease the minds of soon-to-be newlyweds, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of the top 15 wedding photography FAQs, expertly answered by a seasoned professional in the field. From understanding different photography styles to ensuring seamless coordination on the big day, let’s delve into the essential insights that will pave the way for timeless and captivating wedding memories.
Top 15 Wedding Photography FAQs Answered by a Pro.
Where all good things start, you must ask…
1. Availability: Is my wedding date available?
This is the first question you’d like to ask because if the photographer is unavailable, then there is no need to continue.
2. Experience: How many weddings have you photographed, and for how long have you been doing this?
At this point, I am trying to remember how many weddings I have photographed, so a more important answer to this question would be how many years the photographer has been photographing weddings.
3. Portfolio: Can we see full galleries of recent weddings you’ve covered? Can you show examples of weddings similar to the style and venue of ours?
Seeing finished wedding galleries from a photographer will give you an idea of what you can expect your wedding gallery to look like and if they have photographed at your venue even better.
4. Style: How would you describe your photography style?
There are a range of photography styles, the most popular being film-inspired or true-to-life color, dark and moody, and light and airy. A photographer’s portfolio will give you an idea of their style. You can also ask whether the style is more photojournalistic or editorial, meaning the photographer captures the wedding day like they are a fly on the wall or gives heavy direction.
5. Packages: What packages do you offer, and what do they include? Can packages be customized?
This will vary from photographer to photographer; most photographers will have a base offer and add-ons from there. The base offer you should look for is at least 8 hours of coverage, a second photographer, and an online gallery of edited high-resolution digital images. Most photographers will provide custom quotes for their services to fit the needs of their clients.
6. Second Shooter: Do you work with a second shooter or assistant? Is this included in your packages or available at an additional cost?
This FAQ is essential, as two photographers should photograph all weddings, if not three, depending on the size of the wedding and guest count. If a second photographer isn’t included, you should ask how much an additional photographer costs or move on to your next choice. As a husband-and-wife team, we are able to always provide two photographers. I highly recommend hiring a team that works together regularly.
7. Deliverables: How many edited photos can we expect, and in what format? Will we receive digital files, and are they high-resolution?
The photographers you interview should be able to give you an approximate number of images to be delivered to your gallery. Today, the standard is to provide a digital gallery via an online link. Be sure to ask that you are receiving high-resolution images rather than a low-resolution version, which means you will have to pay more for the images you want.
8. Rights: Will we have the rights to the images? Can we print the photos ourselves or post them on social media?
Your rights to your images will be outlined in your contract with your photographer. All photographers retain the copyright of your pictures but will provide a print release.
9. Post-Production: What is your timeline for editing and delivering the wedding photos?
Knowing how long it will take to receive your wedding photos before moving forward with a photographer is a must. Also, having the timeline in your contract is a must.
10. Backup Plan: What is your backup plan in case of illness or equipment failure?
Another quality FAQ for any wedding photographer is asking about their backup plan. Planning for unexpected circumstances when the photographer cannot photograph your wedding is essential. For our company as a husband-wife team, we will, at the very least, ensure one of us is present and works to find a second photographer of equal caliber. On the question of equipment failure, making sure your photographers carry backup equipment is a necessary question to ask.
11. Retainer fee and Payment: How much is the retainer, what is your payment schedule, and what forms of payment do you accept?
It is essential to distinguish between a retainer fee and a deposit. A retainer fee is typically non-refundable, while deposits are usually refundable. Therefore, it is necessary to read your contract thoroughly, especially about this. Does the retainer go toward the total package price? Clarifying a payment schedule is also something you should look for in your contract or outlined on your invoice. Most photographers will work with whatever payment schedule you’d like.
12. Cancellation Policy: What is your policy on cancellations or rescheduling?
Also found in the contract, or it should be at least, are the photographer’s policies on cancellations. Most will require they keep the retainer fee if the couple cancels, but others will make you pay in full depending on how close to the wedding day the wedding is canceled.
13. Logistics: How do you handle logistics for venues you haven’t shot at before?
Many people ask, “Have you shot at my venue before?” Personally, I think that an experienced photographer will have no issue at a location they haven’t photographed previously, but if it’s important to the client, then I always like to do a walk-through of any venue I have not photographed before.
14. Travel: Are travel fees included in your pricing?
Fees: This is one of the biggest FAQs you want to ask about. If your photographer isn’t local to the city you are getting married in, then asking about travel fees is a good idea. Please make sure you know the fees ahead of time, have them detailed in your contract, or ask if they are included.
15. Insurance: Do you have professional indemnity and liability insurance?
If the photographer you are inquiring with does not have insurance…run!
