5 things to ask before booking your wedding photographer
Picture it: You’ve finally found several wedding photographers you like—after spending weeks visiting websites, looking at pricing and packages, and stalking them on Instagram—and you’re ready to reach out and start chatting with them about your wedding. It’s exciting, but a little daunting. Maybe you don’t know a lot about photography, or maybe you’re not even sure where to begin. After all, this is probably the first time you’re looking to hire a wedding photographer.
So where do you begin?
First, you’re going to want to make sure you double check the best way to get in contact with them. Some photographers have strict no DMs, some have created a detailed consultation form, and some just want you to email them and say hi. Whatever it may be, make sure you’re contacting them through their preferred method so that they see your inquiry!
Then, once the conversation starts, it’s important when you’re chatting with these professionals that you click with their personalities and styles. This is going to be one of your vendors you work really closely with on your wedding day. They’ll be by your side for all of the big moments, so you’re going to want someone you vibe with, who’s going to be there for everything you need, and who’s going to capture all of those really important moments.
Finally, you’ve chatted through their different packages, gotten to know them a little more, and feel comfortable with their offer. YAY!
Before signing the contract, here are a couple really important questions you should ask just to make sure you’re all set and ready to commit:
What’s your cancellation/reschedule policy?
Top of mind for me is the cancellation policy. After the past year and a half, we’ve witnessed what can happen when an unforeseen and uncontrollable event transpires—thank you, COVID-19. So it’s super important that you understand what the process will be like with your wedding photographer if something else unexpected occurs. Life happens, so let’s be prepared.
Nowadays, I always bring up my cancellation/reschedule policy in my initial consultation. I want my couples to know right away that I will be flexible and do everything in my power to work with them should something happen. It’s in my contract too, but I want to be transparent right off the bat. So don’t be nervous when chatting with your wedding photographer, ask them what their cancellation policy is!
Do you have insurance?
This might not seem super important, but a lot of wedding venues actually require vendors to have insurance. If the wedding photographer you’re chatting with is well established and been in the industry for a long time, they will more than likely have insurance and be able to provide you and your venue with proof, but you should absolutely ask before signing the contract.
Some venues will also want your photographer to add them to their insurance policy or have a specific amount of coverage necessary. If this is the case, be clear on the verbiage your venue wants on the policy and their requirements or put the venue in contact with the photographer. That way your photographer can make sure they get the venue exactly what they need!
Do you have travel fees?
Is your wedding out of state? Or maybe your dream photographer isn’t local to your wedding location. Make sure you know what their travel fees are! This will depend on state, time of year, distance, and so many other factors—and it can really impact the cost of your package. So it’s important to know up front.
I also really appreciate when my couples are upfront about their budgets. If I vibe really well with a couple and their location is either not too far or really specially, that can play into my decision on travel fees. I’ll do some research, figure out what the cost of travel will be and see if I can make it work within their price range. While this isn’t always feasible, sometimes just being there for my couple is more important than the travel fee. So just be transparent and kind—it doesn’t hurt to shoot your shot!
What’s your turnaround time?
Turnaround times can vary from photographer to photographer, season to season, and package to package. So ask them what their turnaround time is. During busy season, I like to be transparent with my couples and let them know that my turnaround time will likely be between 8 to 10 weeks, while during off seasons it can be a quicker 4 to 6 weeks. Every photographer has a different process, different workload, and different timeline, so don’t hesitate to ask!
Some wedding photographers will also offer sneak peeks to hold you over while you wait for the full gallery! Ask your photographer if this is something they provide and what the turnaround for these is. During busy season, this is 1 to 2 weeks for me, while the off season can be within the first 48 hours. It all varies, but I promise I’m as excited as you are to see your photos!!
How do you backup your photos?
This is super important! Your wedding day is only happening once and there are no redos, so it’s really important to know your photos are safe while the photographer is working on them. Ask your wedding photographer what their backup process looks like and how they store the images until they’re delivered.
For me, I back them up onto two separate hard drives, in the cloud, and then I safely store the CF and SD cards in a labeled envelope in a fireproof safe while I process, cull, and edit the images. This way I know the photos are safe and sound until I can deliver them to you.
Be open and ask!
When it comes to working with your wedding vendors, I cannot stress this enough: Be open! Let them know what your needs are and don’t be afraid to ask them questions! Seriously, no question is silly. Wedding photographers understand that you’re new to this, and there’s no judgement here. You don’t have to be a photography expert to hire one. So don’t be afraid to ask questions and be open about where you’re coming from and your needs. This is going to be one of your wedding vendors you work closest to, and if you do it right, you’re going to have a new best friend by the end of it!
