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It's no surprise that wedding planning can be a huge undertaking. For many, it's hard to know where to even start. Which vendors do I need for my wedding? How do I know who will be the right fit? These are probably just a couple of the questions that come to mind.
Today we'll be focusing in on your wedding photographer and how to best determine your compatibility before your big day. Here are 5 things you should ask before hiring your wedding photographer!
1. Experience/Value
This one might be a given, but make sure you understand what value your wedding photographer is bringing to the table! If you're just wanting a beginner tagging along to capture your biggest moments, that's totally fine! If you're hoping for a specific style of photography (i.e. editorial) from someone who's been published in Vogue, that's also amazing! Make sure to ask what can be expected throughout the planning process, why your photographer charges the prices they do, if they will be working with a second shooter or any assistants and if so, if there's already a relationship there or how they choose who they'll be working with.
2. Portfolio of Work
Don't hesitate to ask your photographer if you can see recent galleries of their work! Do they have previous experience at your specific venue? Have they shot a wedding with a similar style? These are all welcome questions in vetting your wedding day photographer.
3. Contract Overview/Emergency Situations
Clear expectations are a must in light of quick changes with the pandemic. Make sure to ask what a date or venue change might look like - whether there would be additional charges should that photographer still be available or not. Is the deposit you're paying refundable or transferrable for any circumstance? How about if for whatever reason the photographer can't make it to your wedding - will they hire an associate shooter? And would you be able to meet them beforehand just in case?
4. Equipment
Something we're all too familiar with in this digital age is that technology cannot always be relied on. It's important for photographers to have backup equipment, especially for events as significant as a wedding day! Moreover, every photographer has a different process when photographing a wedding. It's important to take note of any equipment that will be setup and/or stationary during your big day.
5. Favorite Thing About Weddings?
To wrap things up casually - I personally love this question because it allows you to get a better sense of who you might be working with on your big day and why they do what they do. You'll quickly be able to distinguish those who are truly passionate about witnessing your love story versus those who are just there for the food!
If you want to dive even deeper into these questions, I recently hosted a live with Knoxville Wedding Photographer & Filmmaker Peyton Helm to go over all the nitty gritty details of hiring the perfect fit to capture your wedding day. Make sure to check out Peyton's site and our IG live!