QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ASK BEFORE HIRING YOUR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
After 140+ weddings, and seeing A LOT of wedding albums, I have no doubt that the value of hiring an experienced wedding photographer is well worth the investment.
In addition to taking gorgeous photos, professional wedding photographers keep the flow of your wedding day photography going and are very skilled in being able to wrangle the members of your bridal party and family for photos. They do their best to keep the photo schedule on the timeline, but are flexible when they need to work around the unexpected.
Did you notice I said ‘wedding photographers’, not just ‘photographers’? Someone who mostly photographs children and families might take beautiful photos in those situations, but weddings are a completely different situation. You want someone who is has experience with weddings.
The Realities Of A Budget
It doesn't matter what your wedding budget it - there is never enough. Like with any other budget, you need to pay attention to what you are spending to make sure you stay at least close to it. With that being said, I recommend to prioritize your wedding budget based on what is most important to YOU. For some, photography may not be at the top of their priority list, or based on other budget constraints, your dream photographer just might not be possible.
First, let me say that I really believe that everybody has to start somewhere. Ideally that would mean aspiring wedding photographers would learn the ropes by taking lots of second shooting opportunities with a true professional. If you are getting a great deal because they are newly out on their own, make sure they have LOTS of experience as a second shooter. They should at least be able to show you the shots they themselves took and edited as a second. The last thing you want is for a photographer to "practice on your wedding."
You don't get a do over for your wedding photos, and after the day has come and gone, photos and video (along with your memories), is what will remain.
Selecting a photographer is about so much more than pricing and portfolio. Below I'll share a list of questions to ask your potential photographer.
Questions To Ask Your Potential Wedding Photographer
1. Do you offer a second shooter?
There are so many reasons to hire a second shooter (whether your photographer is a professional or an amateur.) Second shooters generally mean you have the chance at more photos, twice as many angles, and let's face it, no single person can be two places at once. It also means that in a worst case scenario, like your photographer suddenly gets sick or something, you already have a qualified person covering your day. Professional photographers are able to capture your day without a second shooter, but I wouldn't take that chance with someone less experienced.
2. Who are your second shooters?
Does the photographer usually work with the same second shooters, or are they just asking, "who's available this Saturday?" As you can imagine, there is value in pairs who work together frequently. They are more likely to have a similar style, and have a good working relationship.
3. Do you use flash indoors? In what situations?
"Natural light photography" is great, but let's face it, sometimes there are situations that require additional lighting (like reception photos). A photographer who uses flash indoors all the time likely doesn't have a full understanding of their camera and the settings needed in different lighting situations. There are many situations indoors that don't require flash photography (such as areas with lots of natural light), and when a photographer uses flash all the time, photos can look washed-out.
4. How many backup cameras do you bring?
I'll keep this simple - the answer should be at least one.
5. What camera mode do you usually shoot in?
Most photographers have a favorite camera mode. If the answer is auto, you are likely talking with an amateur photographer and it will show in your photos. Shooting in auto mode means that the camera is making all of the decisions about the outcome of your photo instead of your photographer making those decisions based on their knowledge and experience.
6. Do you backup my images to a secondary location? If so where (the cloud, a flash drive, etc) and when (that night, days later, never)?
I really hope the answer is yes and soon after the wedding day. I wouldn't feel comfortable with irreplaceable photos just hanging out on an SD card for weeks...
7. How many weddings have you been the primary shooter?
My vote would be at least 10 weddings as the primary shooter. If it’s less than this make sure the price reflects it.
8. Can I please see several FULL albums? Including indoor photos, rainy day photos, and images in less than ideal lighting.
Here's the deal. We all know an amateur photographer with a decent camera. They even luck into a few pretty shots, but what you don't see is how long it took them to get their camera settings correct, or how many photos they had to take to get THAT ONE.
In my opinion, before hiring a wedding photographer of any kind, I would ask to see some examples of a complete wedding day. Pros should wow you with their work all day long. Unfortunately, I've heard stories of amateurs posting only the few great shots on social media (who wouldn't?), and when the couple saw the full wedding collection they realized the only great photos were the ones included in the highlights on social media. Specifically ask for wedding day examples in rain, a dimly lit church or event center, etc. If you are checking them out you've already seen their work in the most ideal environments. You need to see it in all lighting and weather situations.
Additionally, when you see a full collection or several wedding collections does their work look cohesive? Is the editing consistent? New photographers often have a less consistent editing style and while you might have loved some light and airy photos you saw, they might edit your collection with bold and bright colors. If you notice inconsistency, ask more questions before signing on the dotted line.
Don't forget - in addition to all the technical stuff that is important, you'll spend more time on your wedding day with your photographer than almost anyone else. Make sure you actually like THEM and not just their work!
A thorough review of a professional’s website will tell you a lot. Not only will you find their work, you'll also likely find out some details about them as person, reviews, and more. Before you spend your time (or theirs) in an in person meeting, do your homework online and you'll save yourself time and stress in the planning process.