Questions to ask Potential Wedding Photographers

Your wedding photos will be your most treasured memento of your special day, so choosing the right photographer is very important.

Your starting point should be to find out what exactly you want from your photographer. To do this, go through wedding magazines and cut out photos you like and place them in a folder. Soon you’ll have a good idea of the kind of style you prefer, whether it’s the natural ‘reportage’ shots or the more traditional staged family arrangements.

When you meet potential photographers, bring your folder along to show them what kind of style you want. Find out if they have done anything similar and ask to see entire wedding albums to check for consistency. The following questions should come in handy when interviewing potential photographers.

• Are they available to work on your wedding date?
• What's included in your wedding photography package? Some photographers do not include the cost of the actual album, so check on this.
• How many photos will be taken and how many will you be allowed to choose?
• Have they ever photographed your wedding venue before, and if not would they be prepared to check it out before your big day?
• Will you get to keep the negatives and if not is there the option to buy them?
• Will they be photographing your wedding themselves or sending their assistant?
• How long will it be before your wedding album is complete?
• Are there any hidden costs such as travel expenses?
• What would happen if they were unwell? Would they be able to arrange for a photographer with a similar style to take their place?

Never be rushed into making a decision on a photographer – there’s no harm in saying you need to sleep on it. There are plenty of great photographers out there and a good one will not pressure you into making a quick decision.

Finally, get every detail of the agreement down in a written contract and make sure it’s signed by both parties. This should include all the dates, timings and locations of each photo shoot, as well as full details of pricings and what is included in the package.

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