10 Questions for your Wedding Photographer
A good wedding photographer is hard to find. Unfortunately, a wedding photographer is not. Yeah, that means that there are tons of wedding photographers out there, but not as many good quality photographers. These days, the entry point into photography is so cheap. Give me $1300 and I could have the basics of what I need to shoot a wedding. Of course, I would be underprepared, but I would have a camera, a lens, and a flash. So assuming everything goes according to plan, I could shoot a wedding for a third of the price I would charge to shoot it. A twofold return on investment for my first gig? Sign me up! You can see why the job attracts so many. It’s a lot of money for a little investment, and it looks easier than it is.
Currently, I am not a wedding photographer. But I used to be, and I would still do it if someone asked me to. I love it, and about a third of my experience capturing weddings has been clicking the shutter and not the record button. So I do have some tips on the questions I would ask any photographer who I was considering hiring to capture my wedding. Let’s start with some basics…
Do I get the rights to the final pictures?
I know very few photographers who will give you their unedited RAW files (honestly, never understood this one, but most photographers get really offended if you ask them for the RAW’s), but some will allow you to have the rights to the final, edited pictures. If the answer to this question is “no,” then I would say that’s a red flag. This could be an indicator that the photographer doesn’t value you as much as their own social media/marketing. It could also be a sign that the photographer is stingy and wants to charge extra for prints. This used to be standard practice, but prints are dead. It’s 2024. Shutterfly is a thing. And photographers need to accept that charging for prints is no longer feasible. Now, the photographer should not be expected to hand over full rights, but some degree of freedom to use your pictures should be in order. (But don’t edit their pictures. That’s rude).
Do you dual record?
It used to be harder to do, but now, any modern professional camera will offer redundant recording to two SD cards at once. So, in case one fails, there’s a backup. It doesn’t happen often, but I would like to have the peace of mind knowing that if a card did fail at my nonrepeatable (not a word) wedding day, then I can rest assured that not all is lost.
How many hours do you offer on the wedding day?
I’ve seen it happen so many times. A couple wants to be cheap and they book a photographer for their lowest 6 hour package, not realizing that this will compromise their entire wedding day. 6 hours is not enough for a wedding day to take place. What usually ends up happening is the events are squished into a timeline that doesn’t allow for any wiggle room and the day is full of stress and everybody feels rushed and shuffled through a litany of predetermined events without a moment to process them. To me, offering 6 hours or less without educating couples on the reality of what they need is an excuse to lure couples in with lower priced packages and screams “high maintenance photographer.”
Do you know how to shoot with a flash?
I have worked as a videographer with a lot of photographers who really don’t know how to use a flash. Photographers often post their golden hour shots all over their Instagram and website, so couples don’t get to see all the shots the photographer missed during the reception. The ability to shoot in low light is a skill that takes time to develop, and if a photographer is new, chances are that isn’t a skill they’ve mastered. Asking for example images is fair, and if the photographer refuses, then that is a red flag.
Are you able to help us construct a timeline?
While it isn’t necessarily part of their job description, a wedding photographer should be more than capable of constructing a timeline that makes sense for the wedding day and offering advice on when certain events should take place. Many weddings don’t have a professional wedding planner present all day, and photographers often have to step in and take charge. This is a crucial skill for anyone capturing a wedding.
Do their reviews seem to reflect a connection with the couples they’ve shot for?
This one isn’t as much of a question as it is a homework assignment. Personality of a wedding photographer plays a massive role in the energy of the day. I have watched confident and positive photographers bring a sense of calm to an otherwise stressful day, and I have watched bitter and negative photographers absolutely destroy the energy to an otherwise great day. Having a photographer with a likable personality can make or break a wedding day.
Are you insured?
Business insurance is required by most big venues (especially in major cities), and it really is a poor reflection on a photographer if they don’t have insurance. That means they are leaving themselves open to catastrophes like: lawsuits, theft of all their gear, and liability in case something happens like… their drone crashes through stained glass windows of a historic church, their light short circuits and catches a venue on fire, or an old grandma trips over a power cord and breaks her hip. Those things rarely happen, but … goodness what a risk to not have insurance (like $700/year). Also worth mentioning is that insurance is also meant to protect the couple (for example, if all the pictures are lost on a corrupt card, the insurance might cover losses, which is much better than a careless photographer just throwing up his hands and saying, “Sorry… it happens!”)
What type of couple would you consider to be a good match is for you?
Personality plays a big role in the day. And the reality is that even among the great photographers, sometimes there just isn’t chemistry or much of a connection between them and the couple. While any good photographer should be able to put a couple at ease and take photos that they will cherish, sometimes personality and shooting style can hinder that process. So it’s important to make sure that your values are aligned before moving forward.
How many cameras do you use on the wedding day?
Cameras fail. I’ve had it happen to me on multiple occasions. Not only should a good photographer have multiple cameras for capturing shots at multiple focal lengths (especially if they use prime lenses), but they should also have a backup just in case one fails. For me, 2 cameras is the minimum (not one professional camera and an entry level backup, but two professional level camera bodies).
How many weddings have you shot?
While this isn’t an absolute dealbreaker, those who haven’t worked many weddings can’t possibly be prepared for all the unexpected events and curveballs that a wedding day can (and often does) toss your way. Making split second decisions, knowing where to be and when, capturing moments well, and constructing shots that tell a story all take a lot of practice and experience. Moreover, a photographer is going to be with you all day and will more than likely serve as more than a just someone capturing photos. You want someone with you who is capable of stepping in and making crucial decisions if that need arises. For example, a groomsman will sometimes approach me and ask when they need to be dressed. Getting that time wrong can change the flow of the day, and “I don’t know” just adds more stress to an already stressful time. Having a vendor with experience makes a difference.
Not all of these are dealbreakers, but some are! If I were looking for a photographer, I would start here. You might be surprised at how quickly you can narrow your search with just 10 simple questions! And if you’re wondering if it’s a red flag if the photographer you’re considering AI generates all the heading images for his blogs… no. No, it is not.
