10 Questions to ask your Wedding Photographer | East Coast Wedding Photographer

I had a bride recently contact me and had a list of questions to ask. A friend had given them to her and said, here are some questions to ask your wedding photographer. I was more than happy to answer them for her, and was pleasantly surprised by the questions. Don’t get me wrong… they were typical questions for a wedding photographer. However most brides don’t know, and/or haven’t been told the right questions to ask. Here are my top 10 questions to ask your wedding photographer so you can make sure you’re all on the same page before your wedding day!

1. Are you available on my wedding date? and will you be my photographer?
This might seem like an no-brainer… However i’ve known of brides discussing details, packages, scheduling a time to meet etc, just to find out that the photographer isn’t available on their wedding day. Be sure to mention your date – and ask if they’re available then before getting into all the details. It will save you time and disappointment in the long run. 

2.  Will I receive prints, digital files, a disk and/or an online gallery?
This is a very important question! All photographers do this differently, so be sure to ask before signing the contract. I knew a couple who assumed they were getting all the digital images, only to find out after the wedding that NO prints or digital images were included and they had to pay double their wedding photography budget just so they could get their wedding images. Sad right?! Be sure to ask whats included in the package you’re looking for and if digital images or prints aren’t included, ask how much prints are after the wedding. 

3. How long after the event will my photos/disk/album be ready?
This is also a very important question! All too often brides and grooms don’t understand how much work goes into processing and editing after the wedding and assume they’ll be getting their images sooner than later. Again, every photographer is different and their wedding seasons all vary. The time of year you get married could potentially play a part in how long a photographer will take to get your images back. As a standard rule of thumb I try and deliver all images to my clients a month after their wedding date. Some photographers take longer, and some are quicker. It will vary, but its always good to ask so you know what to expect later. 

4. Will there be a second photographer? Do I need a second photographer?
If you are looking at a particular wedding photography package, ask if their is a second photographer joining them. If there is one included, wonderful! If there isn’t one included ask the photographer if they think you’ll need one. They will know based on your timeline, what you want covered and where you’re getting ready if this is something that will be necessary to capture everything you want. 

5. Do you have insurance?
Ask if your photographer has insurance on their equipment, themselves and any second photographer involved. Most photographers who have been in the business for a while will have this. Their insurance should cover any equipment lost, stolen or broken, as well as any injuries or accidents out of their control. 

6. What kind of equipment do you use? Do you have backups?
This isn’t a highly necessary question, but never the less, a good one to ask. Do they have backup equipment? If something breaks or is lost will they still be able to continue documenting your wedding flawlessly? 

7. How much of a deposit do you require and when is it due? Do you offer a payment plan?
This question is also extremely important and will vary with every photographer. Ask how much the deposit is and when it’s due as well as when the final payment is due. If you need or prefer a payment plan, ask if they offer payment plans. Some photographers allow this and if you are paying for the wedding yourself, this can be a good way to pay it off slowly before the wedding day. 

8. What is your refund/cancellation policy?
This is important to know in the extremely unfortunate case that you have to cancel your wedding. Most photographers have a non-refundable deposit. Some require you to pay in full no matter what. Ask your photographer what their policy is. This will be in the contract you sign as well. 

9. What happens if the photographer is ill on my wedding day?
If your photographer gets sick, has a baby, or another emergency they prevents them from being at your wedding, what is their backup? Do they have someone available they can send in their stead? Ask to see if they have a plan b in place for your wedding day.

10. Why do you do what you do? OR Why are you a photographer?
This is one of my favorite questions and my favorite question to answer. This will help you get to know the photographer a little better. Help understand who they are as a person and may even give you insight into if your personalities will work together well. 

BONUS: Discuss your timeline with your photographer! 
It is very likely that your photographer will be able to give you some insight into your timeline of the day. They have photographed and attended so many weddings that they often can write a wedding day timeline perfectly. They will know how long it takes for certain photos and will be able to help make sure nothing is rushed. Be honest with them! Tell them how many family members you have, or if you are notoriously late. Those things will be helpful for the photographer and they will be able to suggest times accordingly. 

Don’t be afraid to ask questions! We are here to serve you and serve you well. If you come across a photographer that seems to be frustrated or annoyed by your questions, then maybe they are not a good fit for you. [Tweet “Its your wedding day & you want to make sure you hire the perfect photographer for you.  “]