Wedding Photography, what questions to ask?

What questions to ask. a wedding photographer? Finding Compatibility with your photographer. 

Finding the right wedding photographer to capture your big day is really important. Be prepared with some questions to ask a wedding photographer. This person is going to be around you during your entire wedding ceremony, from start to finish, shooting you and your guests from all angels, and you need to be at ease around him/her. Your wedding photographer may be highly skilled and may have the latest photography equipment, but if you are not comfortable around them, they won’t be able to deliver the desired results. Compatibility between the photographer and the bridal party is required to get great wedding shots your comfort level is very important. Here is a list of some important questions to ask a wedding photographer, before you book one:

Questions to ask – What photography style are you looking for?

This is probably one of a few important questions that you need to ask yourselves. Firstly, it is important you decide what style you want, before proceeding further in your wedding photographer research.

In your research for a wedding photographer, you should seek to find a photographer who’s style  is in-keeping with the style you are seeking. There is no advantage to moving forward with a photographer whose style is not to your liking.

A good photographer will have their own unique style. It is recommended you research the past works of any photographer’s you are looking into to best access if their work in compatible with the vision you have for your wedding photo’s.

You will most likely hear words like “creative”, “photojournalistic”, “candid”, “natural”, “romantic” or “documentary” style.  Your first priority should be to take a good look at their photography gallery, this will give a clear representation of the way they approach and photograph a wedding. Once you have selected the photographers whose style you have an affinity with, then you will be ready to engage with them and discuss further about your special day.

You can research wedding photographers past works to best access if their work is compatible with your vision for your wedding day.

The best way to conduct this research is to visit the website and Instagram pages for the wedding photographer’s you are considering.

See Steph’s gallery here, wedding photography.

Questions to ask – Have you ever shot at my wedding venue?

Don’t allow your research into your wedding photographer to be limited by past experiences with your chosen venue.

There is good argument on both sides whether a photographer has previously shot a wedding at your chosen venue. If your wedding photographer has shot a wedding at your selected wedding venue, they will have a good idea of the kind of facilities available and will be able to show you examples of their work from your venue. While two weddings will never be the same, this will give you a good idea of the kind of wedding photographs you can expect. If this is the first time they are going to be shooting a wedding at your location, this can be to your advantage as the new venue can be a positive motivation towards new creativity from them!

Questions to ask -What is included in the photography package?

Out of all the questions to ask a wedding photographer, this is probably the most important one. Without knowing the details of the package you are paying for, you won’t be able to compare the costs with other wedding photographers. Make sure to ask as many questions as you can and try to write them down in your final contract so that there is no ambiguity down the line. Some important questions to ask your wedding photographer regarding the package are:

• What is the deposit and total fee of the package?
• Do you offer payment plans?
• When is the payment due?
• What is your cancellation/refund policy?
• How many hours are included in the package?
• How much do you charge for extra hours?
• Do you charge a travel fee, if so, what does this cover?
• When will I be able to get the images?
• How many final images should I expect to receive
• Do you provide printed photographs?
• Are you able to add a Wedding Album?

Visit our pricing page, Steph is available to discuss, should you have further pricing inquiries.

Make sure to see a sample contract and try to read the terms and conditions section to get an idea of the kind of services you will be able to receive from your wedding photographer. 

Questions to ask- How will you be dressed?

Wedding photographers are an important part of your wedding day, so it is important that they blend in with your wedding day atmosphere and not create any distractions. Most of them will have no objections following your dress code for the wedding, or if you have alternate requirements, just make sure to convey your likes and disliked to them in advance. 

These are just a few important questions to ask a wedding photographer, knowing the answers to these questions will help you narrow down your choices and pick the one that satisfies you the most. 

By Nicola Hazzell

for

Photographiez Votre Histoire
Wedding Photographer Melbourne