THE JOURNAL
Want to inquire with a wedding photographer but aren’t sure how to start the conversation? Let me help with that!
When planning your wedding, you’ll naturally start thinking about who you want to hire as your wedding photographer.
You might scroll through their Instagram feed, swoon at the photographs on their portfolio, and realize you love their vibe from reading a few of their blog posts. Once you’ve done your research, all that’s left to do is send an inquiry form to your hopeful wedding photographer.
While there are usually form fields provided to help you make the initial contact, what happens when you schedule a meeting with the wedding photographer? What do you need to do, say, or bring?
No matter if you meet with them in person or through a virtual call, it’s important to have a list of questions going in. That way, you can ensure they’re the perfect fit to capture your big day.
Below, you’ll find a list of important questions and topics to discuss during your wedding photographer consultation to help you make an informed decision. Let’s dive right in!
General Information
- Availability
- Are you available on our wedding date?
- Do you typically work alone, or do you bring an assistant or second shooter? Is this included in the wedding package or is it an additional fee? If so, how much?
- Will you be the one shooting my wedding day?
- This is such an important question because some photographers have entire teams that work under the same brand. While many of these photographers are fantastic, there’s peace of mind when you know exactly who will be with you on your wedding day.
- Experience & Style
- How many weddings have you photographed?
- How long have you been in the industry?
- While the length of their time in the industry doesn’t determine their ability to photograph a wedding, viewing an entire wedding photo gallery (or two!) from a real wedding day can help you envision what your day might look like. You’ll also get a glimpse of their talents and see what kind of shots they like to capture.
- How would you describe your photography style (e.g., traditional, documentary, fine art)?
- It’s important to have a general idea of the photography style you’re ideally looking for. Questions to ask yourself ahead of time can include:
- Do I want my photographer to be more hands-on or fly-on-the-wall?
- Do I like the look of film, true-to-life, warm, clean and crisp, or dark and moody tones?
- Do I like the look of flash in photos? Do I want studio-style bridal and family portraits or more candid photos?
- Some of the answers to these questions can also help you narrow down which venue you’d like to move forward with. It’s always good to pay attention to the lighting, backdrops, and overall scenery around the venue.
- It’s important to have a general idea of the photography style you’re ideally looking for. Questions to ask yourself ahead of time can include:
- Portfolio Review
- Do you work with weddings of our size?
- If you are having a 30-person wedding party, take into consideration a photographer who’s comfortable and confident working with a group of that size.
- Do you capture weddings from different cultural traditions?
- Additionally, if there are particular cultural or religious elements that are a must-have, hiring someone with that background can help to ensure you are in love with your wedding photos!
Planning & Day-Of Logistics
- Pre-Wedding Preparation
- How do you help us prepare for the wedding day?
- My clients receive a full Wedding Planning Guide sent to them digitally with tips and tricks to help them in their planning process. I love chatting with clients throughout their entire engagement era, so I’ll always be an email or text away. Not sure who should do your hair and makeup? I got you. Need a killer DJ, say no more. Need to vent? I’m your girl!
- Do you offer engagement sessions as part of your packages?
- Engagement sessions can be a wonderful way to get comfortable in front of the camera before your big day. This helps me to know what poses look best, so on your wedding day we can fly through portraits to get you back to having fun with your family and friends.
- Are you open to receiving a shot list to ensure key moments or family combinations are captured?
- Three months before your wedding, you’ll receive a detailed questionnaire that collects all your important information. This helps me prepare for your wedding day by gathering info like a family photo shot list. I ask for all the names, relations, and combinations before compiling them into a list that makes one of the most common stressors of a wedding day feel seamless.
- Day-Of Coordination
- What is your typical arrival time, and how long will you stay at the event?
- For ACP clients, this is completely determined by the package you select. I offer 8, 9, and 10-hour packages, with 9 hours being my most popular. I typically arrive onsite about 30 minutes prior to our discussed start time which allows me to unpack and scout your venue if I’ve never been there before.
- How do you approach photographing a busy wedding day? Do you work discreetly, or are you more hands-on?
- Wedding days fly by! Even though I help to establish a photo timeline, I am flexible and can adjust to any changes that come our way. When a wedding day gets busy, I coordinate with the other vendors to make sure we’re all on the same page to serve you! Typically, I’m more involved in everything leading up to the ceremony. This includes portraits of you both, family photos, and the wedding party. Once the ceremony begins, I’m much more of a fly-on-the-wall and will capture the reception as it unfolds!
- What happens if an emergency prevents you from attending the wedding?
- I pride myself on my connections, and that includes having access to a network of photographers within the Twin Cities. Although it would take an earth-shattering incident to keep me from attending your wedding, if such an event were to occur (although it hasn’t yet), I’d work with my photo coworkers to find someone to cover your day.
Packages & Pricing
- Offerings & Costs
- Can you walk us through the packages you offer and what’s included in each?
- Once someone inquires, I send them a link to a proposal that walks through all of the ACP offerings. At the end of the proposal, you’re able to schedule a wedding photographer consultation with me where we can take some time to chat more in-depth about each package.
- Are prints, albums, or other products part of the package, or are they an additional cost?
- This is an important question when determining your overall wedding photography budget! While some photographers require you to purchase a minimum number of prints through them, I grant my clients a print release. This means they can order prints from a printer of their choosing! I know there are many options for quality printers, so I also offer a print store through your gallery at your convenience.
- Are there any extra fees, such as for travel?
- Another important question to ask a wedding photographer before you sign their contract is if there are any additional fees. If you provide the ceremony and reception location upon inquiry, all ACP clients receive travel fees quoted in their proposals so you know exactly how much you’ll be paying upfront. Travel fees such as mileage or hotels may apply for weddings 60 miles outside of Oakdale, Minnesota. It’s better to ask early to avoid unforeseen costs!
Post-Wedding Deliverables
- Turnaround Time
- Do you offer sneak peeks?
- Heck yeah, I do! I love sending sneak peeks to my clients because it helps you instantly relive your best day ever!
- When can we expect to receive our wedding photos?
- Every photographer handles this differently, so you’ll want to ask this question so there are clear expectations. My galleries are delivered within 8 weeks. This ensures enough time to fully edit and fine-tune all of your images.
- How many photos will we receive?
- Just like everything else, every photographer is different. I typically quote about 80 images per hour of coverage. However, this can vary depending on the size and style of the wedding day. I believe in quality over quantity, so you can trust me to deliver all of the best images.
- Delivery of Photos
- How will the photos be delivered (e.g., digital gallery, USB drive)?
- All ACP galleries are delivered through a platform called Pic-Time. It’s a common photographer favorite! Once your gallery is ready, you’ll receive an email with instructions on how to download and share your images.
- Will the gallery be available online, and for how long?
- Online galleries are guaranteed to be available for 4 months after final delivery. I highly recommend that upon delivery, you download and back up your gallery to multiple safe locations so you don’t potentially lose any images!
Backup & Insurance
- Equipment, Contingencies, and Insurance
- Do you bring backup camera gear in case of equipment failure?
- The last thing you want is for your photographer to arrive at your wedding and have their only camera break! I bring backups of my camera, lenses, and flash to ensure I have all the necessary equipment to beautifully capture your day.
- How do you keep our images safe and secure?
- First, I shoot on two memory cards so one is always being backed up to the second! Immediately after the wedding, I transfer the images to my hard drive, which is backed up to a cloud service. As an extra layer of precaution, I also hold onto the memory cards until your gallery is delivered. In total, I store 4 versions of your images to keep them safe and secure.
- Do you have liability insurance, especially if required by our venue?
- Yes, I do! If your venue requires liability insurance, please let me know as soon as possible so I can provide them with the proper documentation.
Personal Connection
- Working Style
- How would you describe your approach to capturing our wedding day?
- I like to show up with the energy and positive vibes your day deserves! Sometimes tensions can run high on your wedding day, so I like to come in with a service-first attitude to calm any nerves and serve you the best I can. I emphasize collaboration with other vendors so we can all do what we do best! Lastly, I’ll follow you around like your own personal paparazzi, snagging a pic of every fun and heartfelt moment.
- How do you balance candid moments with posed portraits?
- If a candid moment is happening at a designated portrait time, I absolutely DO NOT interrupt the moment. While I enjoy both candid and posed photos, I will always prioritize living in the moment and enjoying your wedding day over any formal portraits.
Now you know what to say during your wedding photography consultation.
I hope this guide made it easier to decide what to ask a wedding photographer. It’s helpful to clearly communicate your vision, priorities, and concerns upfront so you’re all on the same page.
You can tell a LOT about a photographer based on their answers to these questions. A thoughtful wedding photographer consultation will help you confirm they’re the perfect fit, ensuring your wedding day memories are beautifully captured.
Are you still in search of a wedding photographer? Reach out today and let’s chat!
