I found a list of questions in an infographic and really think some of the questions are outdated or oddly phrased.

Here is what I think (as a professional photographer) what you should ask your professional photographer instead:

 

1.  What is your preferred style of photography?  Traditional, Artistic, Natural Light, Photojournalism or Illustrative?

It’s VERY rare that any client knows what any of these words even mean when it relates to photography and Illustrative or Artistic “style” could be just about anything  Only people that are interested in photography or photographers themselves will know what any of this actually means.  Instead, find a photographer whose portfolio grabs you and the images are the style you would like to see your wedding images reflect.  By the time you are meeting with someone, you should know if their style is up your alley, whatever it is called. 🙂

ASK INSTEAD:  Is your portfolio reflective of your current work?

Often photographers grow and change as time goes on and fads come and go. Images from ten years ago are totally different from how photographers capture things now.  This is just how things are trending artistically. Make sure that the images you are viewing are a current reflection of their style.

MY ANSWER:   If you look in my ‘About Me’ section, you will see that I have a long history working for major magazines and newspapers.  My style is definitely a photojournalistic approach to documenting your wedding for you to enjoy for decades ahead.  This can be from the smallest detail of the day to panoramas of the church and reception spaces so you don’t miss a thing.  I try to use natural light whenever possible, but will gladly throw a little flash into a scene to fill shadows while still making it all look natural.

 

2.  How many weddings have you photographed in your career?

While this is an okay question this is one needs a few qualifiers to be pertinent.  Ideally you want to make sure your wedding photographer is experienced.  Many people spend years second shooting under other photographers so this number could be very high but they only were the lead shooter a handful of times.

ASK INSTEAD:  How many weddings (roughly) have you been the primary photographer for?

This will give you a better handle on how much experience the photographer has photographing weddings.

MY ANSWER:  Hundreds, Possibly a thousand :-0.  Im actually not sure of the firm number – I currently have more than 150 on my proofing site that goes back about 6 years.  I know I’ve done more than 400 since 2000, but before that, it gets kind of fuzzy.  It was the time of film, rather than digital, and while I have many of those negatives, they archived far back in storage.  For some weddings, towards the end of the film days, I was actually offering a buy-out of all of the negatives that some couples took advantage of, so I only have the contracts and paperwork left from those.

 

3.  How many weddings will you shoot on my wedding day? 

If they say more than one, ensure there is adequate time in between each wedding.

I’ve never known a photographer to shoot multiple weddings in a day themselves unless it’s courthouse weddings or elopements.

ASK INSTEAD:  Will you be the photographer for my wedding if I hire you or do you employ a team that works under your studio name?

There are some companies that have multiple teams that photograph weddings and there have been times where the clients do not know that the owner won’t be the one photographing the wedding until the day of.  Make sure you know who will be the person with you and if it will be someone other than the owner, that you’re able to view their portfolio of work.

MY ANSWER:  I only do one wedding per day, and typically only one wedding per weekend.  I have a photographer friend who regularly runs marathons and is fit beyond reproach.  We were having coffee, talking shop, and she asked me, “Do you ever feel like you got run over by a truck on Sunday after an all day wedding on Saturday?”.  Yup, I do – its a long strenuous day, and while I have gotten up and done it again, and even a triple header, I would rather not shortchange my second or third couple and do my best for just one – you 🙂

 

 

4.  Have you ever photographed at my venue?

If they haven’t, ask if they would be willing to do a site visit.

Site visits are kind of silly for any seasoned pro, but I understand that often they can make you feel better.  The problem with site visits is that often they won’t be during the time of day/time of year as your wedding and often the setup for your wedding will be entirely different.  Outdoor locations will have different light and shadows at various times of the year and the day and indoor receptions can be completely transformed depending on your decor changing the entire look of the room and the way it would be photographed.

ASK INSTEAD:  Have you photographed an event at my venue before?  If not, can you show me some examples of a wedding day that has a similar set up?

You want to make sure that your photographer will be able to handle the various lighting conditions that your particular day will have, so ask to see a church ceremony and a ballroom reception if that is what you will be having and so forth.  While the same venue is ideal it shouldn’t be a deal breaker.  A ballroom is a ballroom and an outdoor tent is an outdoor tent, just make sure that they will be photographing it in a way that floats your boat!

MY ANSWER:  Having done hundreds of weddings, Ive probably been there before, but if not, I like to scope it out before hand.  While I never promise this, unless its included in one of the packages you select, I try to come to the wedding rehearsal.  This gives me a chance to meet the wedding party and parents on both sides and prepares me for the next days festivities.

 

 

5.  Do you bring in your own lighting?

The answer should be a resounding, “YES!”.  If they do not, expect a detailed answer as to why they work without their own lighting.

This question made me laugh because most clients won’t know what this even entails or why it is important.  Does this mean flash?  Off-camera lighting?  Flood lights?

ASK INSTEAD:  Will you be bringing along lighting equipment the day of the wedding?  If so, how will this impact the day?

Sometimes extra lighting may take some time to set up so make sure you know before making a timeline if you need to plan in 5-10 minutes for the lights to be set up for formals or on location for portraits.  You also want to make sure your photographer has some kind of lighting as I’ve yet to photograph a wedding that didn’t require flash of some kind!  Outside of that though, you shouldn’t need to worry about the details.

MY ANSWER:  Yes, I typically bring enough strobe lighting to light up an arena (which I have done many times for OSU Basketball, Blue Jackets Hockey, and other events).  I WILL NOT use strobe during your ceremony unless both the venue and all the participants are okay with it, but I probably will during your reception.  Typically you won’t even notice it, its subtle and the main strobes are off in the corners of the room.

 

6.  Do you work from a shot list?

If they do, ask to see this list.  If they do not, follow up by asking if you can provide a specific shot list for them.

If you are hiring a professional photographer they shouldn’t need a list to work from the day of the wedding, they should know what the essentials are to cover.

ASK INSTEAD:   May I give you a list of formal images for portraits?

What makes this awesome is that you’re able to find out ahead of time what parents want what images and everyone knows to stay after the ceremony for these.  I HIGHLY suggest having a point person who knows most of the people and can wrangle the guests and get people “on deck” while the photographer is working with another grouping.  Yes, I or my second photographer can rattle names off as well but it’s often smoother and easier to have someone on hand who knows the people – it’s a perfect job for that family member that wants to help but isn’t directly in the wedding – usually an aunt or cousin.

MY ANSWER:  I have a lengthy shot list that I will provide to you at the time of booking.  It has about a hundred shots that we try to get at the typical wedding.  Yours may not be that traditional or typical, and I welcome your feedback to finalize a list that works for you and your day.

 

7.  Can I request that certain images are taken at the wedding? 

If yes, ask how they will ensure to capture these images.

Trust that the photographer you hired is going to do their best to create unique and beautiful images that capture YOU as a couple instead of a ton of various Pinterest images that were about nameless couples that are not you.  Also know that sometimes we can HOPE for an image but it may not be able to happen due to circumstances beyond our control.  We know you want a photo of your Dad crying but it may end up that he’s so proud that he doesn’t end up shedding a single tear that day.

ASK INSTEAD:   May I submit a few images I am inspired by or would like to recreate?

MY ANSWER:  I love when my clients send me examples of what inspires them, but I want to use that as a springboard and not a template for their wedding.  However, I LOVE when my clients want to recreate images that their parents or other loved ones took on their wedding day.  Those are often some of my favorites and the tradition is fun to see carried on.

 

8.  How many hours are included in your package?

Typical wedding photography needs to start at least two hours before the ceremony, and if doing a first look three to four hours.

ASK INSTEAD:  Given our tentative schedule for the day, what hours do you feel would be the best fit for us?

Talk to each other and find out what you prefer to be covered professionally.  Some people want everything from sunup to sundown, some care more for reception than pre-makeup, some care for a little of both.  From there find out what hours would be ideal for the kind of coverage you prefer.

MY ANSWER:  I will sit down with you – typically at the time we do a contract and feel you out for your needs for the day.  Everything revolves around the ceremony and reception times – those are set in stone, but I will work with you to get all of the moments you need for an outstanding album and joyful memories of the day.  If you are doing a first look, we typically start about 3 hours prior to the ceremony, getting photos of all the details and the wedding couple getting dressed, then the first look and then the ceremony.  After the ceremony, about 30-40 minutes for family photos and then off to the reception, with maybe a stop along the way for some more couple images if time allows.  We can stay til the bitter end of the reception, or do a ’Toss +30’ where we capture all of the formal events at the reception and then hang for about half an hour to capture the party atmosphere before departing.

 

9.  How much does an additional hour of coverage cost?

This question is valid however you need to find out a bit more.  Some photographers are parents and they may not be able to suddenly add on an extra hour of baby sitting the night of, so find out if this can be added on if needed the day of the wedding and how they require payment for that hour.  Some photographers won’t work the extra time until paid in cash on the spot, some are happy to work it and get paid later, some will accept payment later but will not edit your images before payment.  Know where your photographer stands if this question is important to you.

ASK INSTEAD: What is the cost of an additional hour of photography and is it something we can decide on the day of?

Sometimes wedding timelines go sideways and you want to make sure that if catering takes an extra two hours for dinner that your first dance can still be covered.

MY ANSWER:  I am NEVER going to walk out on you in the middle of things because my watch says it’s time to go.  I won’t have anything else planned for that whole day, except you.  I know from experience that weddings tend to go long.  Even the best planned day with a day-of wedding planner can go off the rails.  This is what makes the day challenging, and FUN!  If things go incredibly long, we can talk about it after the honeymoon.  This has only happen a couple of times in 30 years of weddings.  If its just 30 or 40 minutes – I’m fine with that, its part of the game and I planned for it anyway 🙂

 

10.  Do you bring a second shooter?

There are so many moments missed (the bride’s face when she sees her groom, and the groom’s face when as sees his bride for the first time) because there is only one photographer.

ASK INSTEAD:  Is a second photographer included in the package and if not, can we add one?

What will their role be on the day of the wedding?  Make sure that if you are paying for someone that they will be taking pictures, not just carrying a light or bag around all day.  Typically those are called assistants but some photographers bill them as second photographers because at the reception they’ll be given a camera for a few images.

MY ANSWER:  I have a second photographer (always female) included in all of my packages.  I like to work with a second for many reasons.  The prime being, she can be with the bride while she is getting ready, while I’m with the  groom and there are no awkward moments :-).  It gives the entire day a second viewpoint, and worst case, back-up.  All of my second photographers are veterans and can handle a wedding by themselves.  They also come with fresh new ideas and creativity that spurs me on as well.  There are three women that I typically work with, and they have years of experience.  Two of them photographed my daughters weddings, I trust them that much.  They are AWESOME and I am luck to have them on my team.

 

11.  How many images can I expect to see from my wedding?

This is a fine question but the stuff beneath it?  Every photographer is different.  There’s no magic “right” number here.

ASK INSTEAD:  Roughly how many finished proofs should we expect from our wedding day?

Again, there’s no right number but if you know you’re the type of person that wants to see the nitty gritty know you’re going to want a photographer that delivers maybe a bit more than the photographer that tends to deliver 250 images.

MY ANSWER:  For us, the typical 8-10 hour wedding day will generate somewhere between 2000 – 3500 images between me and my second shooter.  I have had some all day affairs with three photographers that topped more than 5000 images!  We will edit that mass of images down to about 500-700 images that we actually work on and then present to you, but it really depends on the day and the couple.  Sometimes its hard to get under 800 finished images because the day was jam packed with great photo opportunities.  A wedding of the same time frame, might only yield 400 good images because of bad weather, or the couple wanted more privacy than photos.

 

12.  Do you have a limit to the amount of images you will edit?

ASK INSTEAD:  What is your post production process?

All the proofs that are delivered to you should be ready to send to the printer of your choice. Many photographers deliver digital proofs as-is from being shot in camera and while they look ‘okay’, they are far from ideal. In the business we call this a ‘shoot & dump’. If you are planning to print from your proofs make sure they’re going to be ready to be displayed when printed.  If your photographer does multiple edits, see what those look like (some do a general edit, then do an artistic edit for the blog and/or album).

MY ANSWER:  All the proofs I deliver are ready to be sent to the photo finisher of your choice.  We go through the final edit, one by one, crop and color correct each image.  Some need additional work such as skin blemish and stray hair removal.  Some of the family formals require head swaps clothing fixes.  We then sharpen them and apply some secret sauce to make them really pop and look extra good.  We typically always offer you a black & white version of each finished image as well as an ‘artistic edit’ of some of the images that we think would look good that way.  While you will get 500+ individual images from the days take, with the B&W dupes and other edits, it ends up being closer to 1500 – 2000.

 

13.  How long does it take to see proofs from my wedding?

ASK INSTEAD:  How long will it take until I’m able to view the proofs from my wedding and how are they delivered?  Is there a teaser and if so, what kind and how long does that take?

Some photographers do online galleries, some require in person viewing and some send out proof books to your home.  There’s no right or wrong length of time but if you’re impatient you may want to choose a photographer that will have their proofs ready quicker.  Many photographers blog or Facebook a select few images as a teaser before the final proofs are done.

MY ANSWER: I like to send you half a dozen the Monday following the wedding for you to use on Social Media.  All of the images are posted online in galleries and while my contract says 8 weeks for delivery of the final galleries, I like to keep it under 4 weeks for the bulk of the images.

 

14.  Do I receive a disc of images, or do I have to order all prints through you?

ASK INSTEAD:  How and when will the digital proofs be delivered?  What size of images are able to be printed with the files provided?

Many photographers are providing the digital proofs but they are in various different sizes and delivered in different ways.  If you do not have a computer with a disc drive you may want to see if there is an ability to get the images via flash drive.   If printing images from these files are important to you make sure you find out what sizes are able to be printed.  Some photographers deliver full resolution and some provide only mid to low resolution printing only a 4×6 or 5×7.

MY ANSWER:  I place all of the images into online galleries that are easy to share on social media and via email.  I also provide all of the edited images in high resolution form via DropBox and on a USB Thumbdrive that is mailed to you.  For the techies – the final image size is 5100px on the long axis (a 21 MegaPixel equivalent).  I have easily made 36” x 48” prints for my wedding show booth with outstanding quality.

 

15.  How much are prints?

ASK INSTEAD:  What is your pricing for prints and will your current pricing be locked in when I book?

No one likes surprises and if you are banking on the 4×6 to be the same price in a year when your wedding is make sure that it will be.

MY ANSWER:  I typically provide a print credit with my packages to be used on my proofing site HERE, but I am also providing you with the print released high resolution images and you can take the provided USB Thumbdrive to a photo finisher of your choice to have prints made.  Because of that, I try to keep my print prices low so I can compete with WalMart, but it is a bit more, and I guarantee the quality. :-). I would be glad to recommend a few places that will generate wonderful prints at reasonable prices.

 

16.  Is an album included? 

If so, ask to see a sample of the album.

ASK INSTEAD:  Is an album included in the package and if so, may I see an example of the album?  What is the album design process like?

Personally I’m a huge advocate of wedding albums because they are heirlooms that will outlive you and your children and be how your great-great-grandchildren will get to know you!  However you need to know what you are investing in.  Some photographers choose all of the images that go into your album and others allow you to choose what images go in.  Some allow you to have an input on the design going through a proofing process and some design and you may not get as much leeway in the process.  Know what you are getting with your investment and make sure you are OK with it if the album process is something you may not be involved in.

MY ANSWER: Many of my packages have albums included and when we sit down I will show you half a dozen different album options.  After the wedding, I will ask you to pick 60-70 ‘must have’ images, and then build the album around those, adding a few more to tell the story of the day.  I will deliver a proof of the book to you as a PDF document. You may have some changes, and it will take a back and forth a couple of times before we are ready to send it off to production.

 

17.  Will you use my images in any advertising?

Valid question but this is only typically an issue with few clients.  If this is a concern of yours, you may want to dig a bit deeper.

ASK INSTEAD:  What, if any, advertising will you do with the images from our wedding?  Will we be able to OK any national campaigns before they go live?

Advertising is so broad that if you have concerns about where your image may wind up you should have a clear understanding with your photographer on what you are OK with and what is NOT OK.  Advertising can be anything from using the images on the photographer’s website, blog, Facebook, Instagram and/or Pinterest to nationwide campaign ads in magazines.  If anything concerns you, bring these issues up with your photographer during your meeting.

MY ANSWER: I do reserve the right to use the images on my blog and make albums and prints for my own self promotion as well as offering them to magazines and websites for further promotion.  If your uncomfortable with this, we can write that into the contract and I will be bared from doing so.  I have had a number of high profile clients over the years where this was the case because they needed to control how they (the bride & groom) were being publicly presented.  As long as I know ahead of time this is no problem.

 

18.  Will you request the photography guidelines from the ceremony and reception locations?

ASK INSTEAD:  Are you able to photograph the ceremony from the back of the church if my officiant requires it?  Are you able to photograph the ceremony without flash?

This is the crux of the issue with house rules, often photographers are relegated to the back of the church and cannot use flash and if the photographer you hire does not have a telephoto lens or professional camera gear this could be a problem.  Make sure that the photographer you are hiring is equipped to photograph your wedding from any vantage point they may be restricted to without the use of flash.

MY ANSWER:  Personally, I require my clients to get this information and then to let me know what the house rules are.  I can certainly TRY to get this information but often I’m given the run around.  I’ve also found that when I am the one to ask about photography restrictions I will be given the strictest rules but when the clients approach this issue, they are given a more lenient list of rules.  I also prefer that my clients are involved in the conversation about guidelines because if there are constraints on where and what I can photograph, they need to be aware so there are no surprises on the day of the wedding for any of us.

 

19.  What will you and your second shooter wear?

If you are hiring a professional photographer this question should not need to be asked.  This may be something that you want to address with a new or budget photographer though.

ASK INSTEAD:   My church requires _______ attire for a wedding, would this be a problem?

Every religion and “house” has different rules for attire.  I’ve photographed weddings where I was required to wear all black (not a problem as this is my go-to color anyway so I blend in) and others where I had to have a shirt that went to my neck and covered my arms.  If you know your religion or church will be requiring special rules make sure your vendors are aware so there aren’t any surprise issues the day of a wedding.

MY ANSWER: I typically come to the day of the wedding dressed in all black, with a polo shirt, slacks and dress shoes.  On colder days I will be in a long sleeve button down with black slacks and dress shoes.  If you wish, I can be in a suit and tie, or even more formal if needed.

 

20.  What is your plan if you are ill or there is an emergency and you can’t photography my wedding?

ASK INSTEAD:   If an emergency occurs and you are not able to photograph our wedding do you have a backup plan in place?  Do you have backups of cameras, lenses and lighting?

Stuff happens, make sure that your photographer has a plan in place, not one they’ll toss together last minute,  just in case something does occur.  Backup gear is also essential when photographing weddings.  Things break or just stop working and you don’t want to be stuck with a bride walking down the aisle and a camera that went kaput.  Every photographer should have not only at least one backup camera (a professional one, not a junky camera), backup lenses and back-up lighting all within reach or a few steps or on their person during the key elements of the day.

MY ANSWER: This is a question that you should always be asking, but it definitely needs expanded upon to hit one of my biggest pet peeves with some wedding photographers – the lack of backup equipment. Between the two of us, we typically come with 5 professional grade camera bodies, more than 15 lenses and several back-up stones.  If something breaks, we just pick up the next piece of gear and move on.

Next is the photographers themselves – We are also a tough lot, we pretty much work through anything.  If we can stand (sort of) and walk – we’re working.  I have done weddings days with my back in knots requiring miracle work by my chiropractor, but the Bride never knew it. :-).  Absolute worst case scenario, I have a reciprocal back-up plan with three other photographers who can step in at a moments notice and take over.  In more than 10 years of having this plan in place, it has never been used by any of us.  As I may tell you at the time of our first consolation, “I will be at the wedding or you will have a death certificate or hospitalization notification.  Short of that, I will be there.”

 

21.  How much is the deposit?

Valid question but you may want a bit more info to have all the cards on the table.

ASK INSTEAD:  How much is the deposit and what methods of payment do you accept?  Are there any additional fees for using a credit card?

Most credit card processors take 2-4% of the transactions a fee, and many photographers will add this onto the quoted amount.  Another add on that you may not be expecting is sales tax.  Between these two fees, you may be charged 10% more than the agreed upon price.  If you have ever rented a car, you will experience this first hand.  While they say “$34.99/day” for the rental, that doesn’t include “Concession Recovery Fee (11.11%), Customer Facility Charge 5.00/Day, Mv License Cost Recover Fee .82/Day, Mv Rental/Tourism Tax (9.5%), Conv Ctr Fin Schg 10.00 /Rntl, Pkg Viol Schg 0.60 /Rntl, Police Training Fee 2.00/Rntl, Vlc Rec Fee 2.30/Day, Sales Tax (6.25%), Premium Location Charge (17.21%), Vlf Rec 1.10/Day, Goods And Services Tax (5.0%), Sales Tax (7.0%)”.  All of a sudden that $34.99 rental is more than $100.

MY ANSWER:  I personally do not charge additional fees, I have already factored that into the prices I quoted you and what is on my pricelist.  The price I give you already includes any cost of doing business as well as taxes.

 

22.  When is the balance due?

ASK INSTEAD:  What is the payment schedule for the wedding and/or when is the balance due?

Some photographers break down the payments into multiple payments, some just do a deposit and final payment.

MY ANSWER:  I can do whatever you need for creative financing.  I know first hand how much a wedding costs and the difficulty some people have in paying everything in huge chunks.  I often have couple who send me monthly or bi-weekly checks as its just easier to budget things that way.  Others who set up financing thru Square (I can help with that) and pay on that incrementally.  Whatever you need, I am fine with.  The only stipulation is that the total amount due is paid at least 14 days before the ceremony.

 

23.  What is your cancellation policy?

ASK INSTEAD:  What is your cancellation policy and timeline for cancellations?

Everyone’s cancellation policy and timeline is different and it’s hopefully something you do not need to worry about, but if you do, make sure you not only know the policy but what the timeline may be.  Many photographers require payment in full, regardless if the wedding happens or not.

MY ANSWER:  I have a sliding scale of what is due in case of a cancellation.  The deposit is forfeited after 72 from the signing of the contract and is not refundable. Clients may cancel the contract at any time prior to the Event date. To do so, the Client must send a written cancellation notice via either email or certified mail and have confirmation of its receipt by me. In the case of cancellation in the period of 12 to 6 months before the wedding, the Client forfeits their initial deposit and agree to pay 50% of the amount for the services listed. In the case of cancellation after the date 30 days before the Event, the Clients hereby forfeit their initial deposit and agree to pay the full amount for the services.

There are exceptions to this:  I had one wonderful couple a few years ago – I did their engagement photos and was looking forward to the wedding, but unbeknownst to almost everyone, the groom had a heart condition and died before the wedding.  I gave a full refund, including the deposit back to the bride. :-(.

The other exception is COVID.  2020 was quite a year for the event and wedding industry and we all tried our best to accommodate the ever changing landscape of what was allowed and what wasn’t.  We had a number of weddings scheduled for April & May of 2020.  Some of them went from several hundred people receptions into ‘backyard’ weddings with only 20 or so people there.  The reception for those were pushed off to 2021.  Several others just moved their entire day to the Fall or into 2021.  I am proud to say we covered each and every scenario and change with dignity and understanding. “What would we want to have happen if it was our daughters wedding”.  Simple answer to all of them was: “We will be there to cover each and every event of your wedding reception, regardless of when or where it happens and at no extra cost.”  We essentially photographed several weddings for free and juggled things so that we could also photograph the receptions at a later date.