Put a post on social media asking for a wedding photographer, and you will be inundated with offers spanning the whole spectrum of people who have a camera with budgets to match. It is essential to know your wedding photographer, and using the following questions can help you get to know your photographer and help you choose the type of photographer you want for your wedding. Whether that be a student, someone who does wedding photography as a side hustle, or an experienced professional,. You will be well informed to choose the right person who will be a good fit for your wedding. You'll be able to find a photographer whose wedding photography style suits the way you want to remember your wedding. 

Your list of things to do after you have decided to get married can seem rather daunting, and choosing a professional photographer for your wedding will be high on your list. Hiring a wedding photographer is one of the key decisions, and looking for the best wedding photographer to capture your memories is essential. 

I know how important it is to have a professional wedding photographer you feel comfortable with, as well as confidence in their work. That's why I often meet couples before they book me, either in person or virtually. In order to help you decide, I have created a list if essential questions to always ask in order to get the best wedding advice from a key supplier. From standard and logical questions to ensure everything is taken care of professionally to asking questions about creativity, poses, and group photos,.

These will help you create a valuable conversation and help you decide whether this is the right person to photograph your wedding day.

1. Do you have my wedding date available?

This seems like a pretty obvious question, but asking if a photographer has your wedding date available is often the first question, as wedding photographers get booked 12–24 months in advance. It is always a good idea to check.

If I have your date available, I will hold that date for you for 3 days. That gives you time to make up your mind and proceed, should you wish. At the same time, after this time, I will open the date for others to book; after all,  this is my job, and as much as I love it and wish I could do it for free, bills need to be paid.

2. Have you photographed at my venue before?

Of course, you may want to feel secure in the knowledge that your photographer will be able to provide you with the best photos of the day. That is totally understandable. No doubt you will have seen wedding photos of your venue too. However, if a photographer has experience of previously photographing a wedding there, that may not be such an advantage. Remember, at one time, it was the first time for that photographer too.  In reality, good, professional wedding photographers are skilled at adjusting to the light in different situations. Photographers will often find themselves in new venues, its part of our job. Therefore, the reality is that you don't have to worry about booking a photographer who has not previously worked at your venue.

I've worked at new venues a number of times and will survey the rooms and grounds as I arrive. Plus, every day is never the same; seasons, weather, and times of day affect the lighting conditions, even at the same venue. On some occasions, I have visited beforehand.

3. What is your photography style?

There are different styles of wedding photography, both in how the photos are taken and in the way the photos are edited before you see them. Your wedding photographer may have a very distinctive style that makes them stand out from the crowd. Whether they are more traditional in their approach or perhaps the photographer uses lots of flash to make their work distinctive and stand out from others,.

My style is very much based on documenting your day. Mixing in with your guests and being a part of the day. I take lots of candid photos of the different parts of the day. This is not an outsider. I may describe myself as relaxed and natural, but experience has taught me where to be in certain situations. Besides telling the story, I will take the portraits of you that you want. For some couples, it's just a few with a little direction. For others, it's more. It's your wedding day! My advice would be to ask the photographer how they would approach your wedding day.

4. Is a wedding album included? 

If you want a wedding album, be sure to ask wedding photographers before booking. All wedding photographers will offer you an album, but most will offer one included in the package that may suit you. Also, speak to your photographer and ask to see a sample album of a real and recent wedding. It will help you decide whether the album offered is right for you. 

I offer packages with stunning albums. It has taken a long time for me to be happy with the albums I offer. I have a simple philosophy; I only sell albums that I would be happy to buy. 

5. What packages do you offer?

Wedding photographers will offer a variety of packages. Ask your photographer for the details of each package to make sure you get the one that is right for you. Discuss this with your photographer to ensure there are no hidden details or costs that you may find out about later. Your prospective photographer should be able to answer any questions about the packages freely and informatively.

All of my wedding packages include the following: before your wedding day, we have a consultation meeting either in person, over Zoom (or similar), or a chat on the phone to go through some of the details and times of your wedding. On the day, I will arrive at least 3 hours before and leave after party photos and sunset/night photos have been completed. I will be the lead photographer at your wedding. Most photographers have one person who is the lead. If this is not the case, make sure you are happy with what you are offered. Your wedding photos will be delivered to you through a password protected online gallery.

6. How many photos can I expect?

Ask your photographer how many photos you can expect. In today's world of (mostly) digital photography, you can expect a large number of photos. This will vary, but make sure the photographer doesn't state an amount. If an amount is not stated, discuss it with your photographer.

I deliver at least 500 high-resolution plus web-sized versions as part of your full wedding gallery; including colour and a selection of black and white wedding images. I use digital cameras and take many more, but I deliver only the very best photos. Unless it's raining or very windy you can expect drone photographs of the venue, probably the group shot plus a photo of the two of you at your wedding venue. 

7. Do you have a backup plan?

This is an essential question to ask. Your wedding is a once-in-a lifetime event; therefore, you need to ask a wedding photographer: What is the plan if something happens and they are unable to attend? Like everyone else, photographers do get ill, and you need to know if this happens or anything worse! Whether your photographer has a contingency plan in place?

I’m a member of different groups of photographers, and we do support one another. As of yet, I haven’t had to ask anyone to cover a wedding for me. Also, I do try to stay fit and healthy and live a life outside of my work.

8. Are you insured?

Of course, you want your wedding photographer to be insured. There are many photographers, but this is something you should check out.  But you can expect every professional wedding photographer to have both professional liability and indemnity insurance. Ask any potential photographer upfront about this matter. You will probably have wedding insurance as it is; if you haven't, I advise you to look into this. The wedding planner at your venue will no doubt advise you on this matter. 

In case you are wondering, yes, I have public liability insurance and professional indemnity insurance too as a professional wedding photographer. I also use two cameras (both have backup memory cards), and I carry an extra set of all my equipment. On your big day, I don't want to be unable to photograph your wedding or lose a single memory. 

9. Can we request specific wedding photos to be taken?

It is definitely worth asking if your photographer can get the photos you want. You will have done your research and will have asked if your photographer has shot there before. A number of photos will be online, and your photographer should get similar ones to find out how they deal with these suggestions and how they approach certain photo requests. Nearly every photographer will likely have a different approach but will be expected to take a number of planned photos at your wedding, group photos, for example. So ask your potential photographer about their approach. 

I have been in situations where brides have asked for certain photos on the day or even sent images from previous weddings at the venue. I don’t mind. However, I do explain that certain photos need to be used as inspiration, but I do have my own style, and trying to recreate a photo found on the internet or social media is almost impossible to do due to different seasons and lighting conditions. Every wedding couple has asked for some group photos, but there are likely to be lots of fun-filled, action-packed moments that could be lost if lots of group photos are taken.