Wedding photographer, Ten REAL questions to ask

Wedding photographer questions, Ten real questions to ask!

I have a lot of brides contact me who print off questionnaires online on “What to ask your wedding photographer”. The only problem, is they seem to be written by editors and not actual photographers. Some random questions I’ve been asked include “Do you give the RAW files?”. Actually, if I gave the RAW files, you wouldn’t be able to open or print them. Or “How many megapixels is your camera?” Well that depends on which camera, and if I’m shooting on my film camera then zero. So that’s why I decided to write some questions that would really help as written from a photographers perspective. Enjoy!

1) Why are you worth the amount you charge?

I honestly WISH a couple would ask me this! I could tell them so many things! I am a boutique studio, which means I take a limited number of weddings per year. This is different to a factory studio who takes as many people as possible and the quality can be lower (not always). Since I take a limited number of weddings, I’m really able to try to give each couple the time and attention they deserve. I also try to build a relationship with my couple so that they are more relaxed in front of the camera and are more likely to show genuine emotions. Furthermore, I also edit the photos myself, giving it a personal touch. A lot of larger studios outsource their editing. This is why I charge a bit more than the larger studios because of this personal relationship and attention to detail. Finally, I have been published in many publications including The Knot, Brides magazine, Style Me Pretty, Green Wedding Shoes, Southern Weddings, New Jersey Bride magazine, Manhattan bride magazine, Wellwed magazine, and more!  Being published of course, doesn’t make a better photographer. But it does provide credibility and trust with your photographer. I also have 65 five star reviews on weddingwire.com. Your photographer does not need to have all of that, but those are things to look for when search for a photographer.

2) Do you shoot natural light or artificial light? Or both?

This is an important question because it will really determine how flexible a photographer is while shooting your wedding. Ideally, you would want a photographer that shoot both natural and artificial lighting. Below, is an example of natural light (left) verses off camera flash (right). Notice the off camera flash is a more dramatic look, while the natural light is more smooth and natural looking.

 

3) Do you back up your files online just in case of a fire? Do you have backup equipment?

I heard a statistic that one in every three hard drives fail! One out of THREE! That’s why I never ever trust putting all my wedding files on JUST a hard drive alone. I always back them up online as well. This is just in case of a fire, someone breaks into your house, etc… You can never be too careful with your wedding photos! Instead of asking the photographer how many megapixels their camera has, ask them if they have backup equipment. It’s really important on the day of the wedding for the main photographer to have at least two camera bodies on them just in case. Also ask them if they have a dual card slot. Shooting on two cards is really important! Anything can happen to a card, it can go corrupt, you can lose it, or a card reader can even eat your card. That’s why the highest end cameras have dual card slots that record the images on both cards just in case.

4) Will I get a HIGH* resolution DVD?

A lot of photographer say they give the DVD of images, but that can be deceiving as some photographers only give a 4×6 resolution. So if you ever want an 8×10 print or canvas print, you have to spend hundreds of dollars with the photographer for the rest of your life. I’ve even heard some studios making photos into squares! That way prints and frames can ONLY be ordered by that photographer and no where else.

5) How do you make us feel relaxed in front of the camera?

This is a very important question! You want to feel relaxed in front of the camera so that you show more genuine emotions in your photos. Since I’m a boutique studio, I specialize in trying to capture those special moments and by trying to make sure you are more comfortable in front of the camera. One way I do this, is by giving a complimentary engagement photo shoot with most of my packages so that we work together before the wedding day and then trust is built. I also have other tricks such as speaking in a british accent and telling jokesThis gets you to relax a bit more. And of course, it’s always important if you allow a lot of time for photos so that you don’t feel stressed.

6) How do you describe your shooting style? Are you laid back or aggressive? Do you tell the whole story of the day?

I’ve heard crazy stories of aggressive photographers and videographers. That’s why it’s so important to make sure you have a photographer that is a good fit with your wedding. If you are planning on a super loud and crazy wedding, then a more aggressive photographer is ok. But if you are having a laid back beach wedding, you want someone who is unobtrusive or has a more photojournalistic approach and remains in the background for the majority of the day (except while posing). The second part of this question, asks the photographer if they specialize in storytelling. This means capturing not only the main points of the day, but also aspects of the day that you might miss. This could include the sky, people’s reactions during the ceremony, guests reactions during the first dance, etc…

7) Will you help me with my time line for the wedding day?

A good photographer should help plan the photo aspect of the day to make sure every flows smoothly. The last thing you want to do is to be rushed on your wedding day, which is why I suggest to ALL of my couples to do a first look. A seasoned photographer should also point out various things that can come up that you wouldn’t think about. Such as the fact that a receiving line can take up to 30-40 minutes, and before you go into your limo, they do a champagne toast, which can take another 10 minutes. These are all things to think about while planning the timeline for your wedding day. A great photographer should also know when the best light is, and schedule your photos during “golden hour lighting”, even if it’s just for 10 minutes or so after the cocktail hour. Golden hour lighting is really gorgeous and here is a photo below of an example of how the light looks.

8) What happens if you get sick on my day?

I have photographed close to 100 weddings and have never missed one yet *knock on wood*. But I have been in an emergency walk-in, the morning of a wedding and luckily was well enough to photograph the wedding. There should be a plan in place just in case the photographer is sick. My plan would include my 2nd photographer being the first photographer and then I have a network of other photographer who I can reach out to as well.

9) What will we do if it rains or snow?

Knowing what to do if it rains or snows on your wedding day is important. The weather in NJ lately, has been especially difficult. I actually wrote an article on Top tips if it rains on your wedding day. But you want to make sure your photographer is comfortable with their camera and knowing what to do. They should have a plan as to where they would go, how they would shoot, etc… Below is a photo that I photographed on a wedding day where Hurricane Irene hit. The weather was very scary, but I remained calm and backlit the raindrops so they looked like sparklesWe also found some indoor places to photograph.

10) What would you like for dinner?

Yes! I included this one because I think it’s important to show that you care about your photographer. Let’s be honest, your photographer is there longer than anyone else on your wedding day! A florist comes for part of the day, the band or DJ is only there for 4-5 hours, but a photographer arrives way before you get your dress on. I have photographed 10 hour weddings where we never got fed and yes, it makes it harder for the photographer. Of course, I now bring snacks, but it’s still nice to offer