Questions To Ask Photographers

To preserve your wedding memories, it is critical to select the right photographer for your wedding day. While each couple will have their own unique needs, these questions are a great starting point as you interview photographers. We’ve listed the questions and what we think should be the right answers.

1. How can I view your portfolio? (Online galleries are a convenient option, but don’t always tell the whole story. If you are considering an album purchase, it is best to view in person so you can inspect the materials and designs.)
2. What is your style? What does that mean? (There are several photography styles; traditional, photojournalistic, stylized, candid. Look for a photographer that offers a blend of these styles to meet your needs. Ask them to define the term to be sure it meets your definition. They should have sample images to support their styles.)
3. Will I receive my high resolution images on DVD? Do I own the rights? (Make sure that the DVD includes high resolution images and a personal copyright release. Without one, you can not print your own images!)
4. How many photographers work with you? (Make sure there is enough to guarantee a photographer is “on-call”.)
5. Does the photographer work with the DJs, videographers and hall managers? (Yes.)
6. Are we allowed to submit our own shot list? Can you help me develop one? (Yes. Yes. Beware of photographers that do not ask for your input.)
7. What attire will you wear to the wedding? (A photographer should be dressed in professional business attire.)
8. Do you participate in online wedding communities? (A reputable photographer will have an online profile with highly regarded online resources such as theknot.com. This is a great place to read reviews from real brides.)
9. Is there someone to replace the photographer in case of emergency? (Yes. A photographer will be prepared and standing by.)
10. Will you bring back-up cameras and lenses to the wedding? (Absolutely.)
11. Are you insured? (Do not hire a company that doesn’t have at least $1,000,000 of coverage.)
12. Will we receive a personal consultation with our photographer prior to the wedding date ? (Yes.)
13. Can I have the number for previous clients? I’d like to call them for a reference. (No problem.)
14. Do you accept major credit cards? (Yes. This signals a professional & reputable company.)
15. How much do you cost? (Stay away from “bargain” photographers!)
16. How many hours does that include? (Should offer packages that vary to meet your needs.)
17. How much for each additional hour? (Rate should be stated on paperwork in advance.)
18. Will the photographer require a meal? (It is standard to feed the photographer, DJ and videographer.)
19. How long will it take to receive my proofs? Is another meeting necessary? (Online image proofs and album designs make it convenient for you to view your wedding day images without another time consuming meeting. Proofs should be available in a short turn around time – such as one month from your wedding date.)
20. May I review your contract? (Never do business with any wedding professionals that do not clearly spell out what you should expect!)

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Make a Photography Plan

Every bride wants amazing, breathtaking images of their wedding day. But it’s important to remember that you have invited your guests to share the evening celebrating your wedding with your family and friends. A photography plan can prevent you from spending too much time on photography – a mistake brides often make. (Want to know the others? Click here.) A photographer will likely have suggestions their experience tells them works well, but can only understand your unique wishes by developing a plan with you. Here’s are some tips and a general timeline for wedding photography:

Pre-ceremony photos with the bride = 1 hour

Hair and make up is completed or near completed when coverage begins. The photographer will typically spend 1/2 hour photographing details and candids. The remaining 1/2 hours is spent capturing attendants, family and planned images of the bride. Be sure to convey your comfort level with having someone in the room as you get ready to your wedding photographer. Together, you and the photographer should develop a list of images and special items you would like the photographer to capture during this time.

Pre-ceremony photos with the groom = 1/2 hour

The pre-ceremony images of the groom are often captured at the church, but any location of your choice can be used. The photographer will typically photograph the groom’s attire, images with groomsmen and family, pinning of boutonnieres, and other detail shots. If you have specific requests for the groom’s images, be sure to share them with your photographer.

Ceremony

Many churches will have restrictions on wedding photography. If your church does, share that information as early as possible when you are developing the wedding photography plan as it may impact the type of images that can be captured. As you develop the photography plan, it is a good idea to discuss what you would like the photographer to capture – your last moments with your father before the ceremony or guests being seated. Let your photographer know if there are honored guests, candle lightings, or other items to make special note of.

Post ceremony = 30 minutes

Following the ceremony, many couples like to have a balloon release or bubble exit. This is typically done immediately after the ceremony so that guests that are not a part of formal altar images can be released. You will likely sign your marriage license before beginning your family images as well.

Altar images = 30 minutes

Again, many churches limit the amount of time you have to capture formal altar images. Because time must be used effectively, assigning a friend to help gather groupings is most helpful. Work with your photographer to develop a list of images that should be captured at the ceremony location and those that can be done at the wedding reception.

Romantics = 1 hour

This is the time that your wedding photographers artistic abilities can really shine. Whether you are interested in traditional, photojournalistic or artistic images, develop a plan for what images you would like to capture of you as a couple, with and without the bridal party. If you like images with an urban or natural background, you and your wedding photographer can discuss locations that match your creative vision. You should also discuss poses that you’ve seen in the past that appeal to you – and those that don’t too.

Reception

You family and friends will be gathered to share a meal with you and your new spouse, visit and dance. When planning the photography for your wedding reception, remember to take your guests in account. Share the timeline that you have developed with your wedding DJ with the photographer for the grand entrance, cake cutting. toasts and special dances. Most couples focus the wedding reception photography on those key moments and take a more candid approach to the remainder of the evening. This allows them to converse with their guests and have a great time dancing, while the photographer captures those candid moments.

By forming a photography plan with your wedding photographer, you can preserve the memories of your wedding day without letting the wedding photography take over.

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Communicating With Your Wedding Vendors

On your wedding day, you will trust your vendors to execute your dream wedding plans. One of the biggest mistakes brides make on their wedding day is not communicating well with their vendors. (Want to know the others? Click here.) To avoid this mistake, try some of the following strategies.

Form a Photography and Videography Plan

After the wedding day, you will have very few tangible memories more precious than your wedding photographs and video. When working with a professional photographer and videographer, it is important that you convey your vision to them so they can create the wedding keepsake you desire. Form a photography and videography plan that is built upon your unique wishes by letting them know if you prefer photojournalistic, candid or cinematic images – or a mixture of each. The more specific you are about the type of images that appeal to you, the better your photographer and videographer can capture those images. Discuss images you would like to capture through the day; poses you love and the ones you hate, but don’t create too large of a “shot list”. You want your wedding photographer and videographer to have some artistic license. That’s how he or she captured the images that made you want to hire them.

Discuss Your Musical Tastes

It’s your wedding reception and you should have a say in the soundtrack. Work with your wedding DJ to identify songs that he must play, should try to play, and should absolutely not play. While you should have input in the music played at your wedding reception, it’s not a good idea to create a playlist for the entire evening. A professional DJ knows how to read a crowd and can identify the best song to play next to keep your wedding reception rocking.

Create a “Loose” Timeline

It’s important that you create a timeline for how you would like your wedding day to flow. It’s just as important to realize in advance, that you will need flexibility in your schedule. If the timeline is so tight that a red light on the way to the wedding reception knocks the whole thing off track, you’ll spend the rest of the day chasing time. Work with your vendors to identify when you would like important events to take place, such as the grand entrance or cake cutting, but allow some flexibility. You wouldn’t want to miss pictures against a beautiful sunset because the timeline says you should be visiting table 27 at that exact minute! Click here for the timeline of a typical wedding reception.

Appoint a Helper

It’s your wedding day and you should enjoy it. There will be moments throughout the day that your wedding vendors will need to verify or clarify information from your plan. Consider appointing a close friend, that isn’t a member of the bridal party, to assist your vendors. They can help identify people for family formals, move items between venues, check the setup of the wedding reception decorations, and locate people for your grand introduction. They can also be the point of contact for florists, caterers and other vendors on the day of the wedding. If you decide to appoint a bridal helper, be sure to share her contact information with your wedding vendors too.

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Wedding Photography Tips

Our Director of Photography, Michelle Chevatewa, is sharing some of the small things that can make a big difference in your wedding photography. Here’s a few of her big (little) tips:

It’s All In the Details. The personalized cufflinks, the invitation, grandma’s rosary, even the custom golf balls used at the bachelor golf outing have special meaning to the couple. Every bride wants all those little details she’s carefully planned and created photographed, and your photographer should get those images for you. It’s important to plan ahead and ensure those details are shared with your photographer and available for pictures. Giving your bridesmaids a gift? Why not keep them aside so your photographer can arrange them artfully for a cute photo….and then give them to your bridesmaids, for another great photo moment. Everyone loves the dress photos….and yours will look so much better on a pretty satin or wood hanger. Attention to details early in the process and shared with your photographer can make all the difference in your wedding album.

Less Really Is More. Actually, getting the room prepared for the “Getting Ready” photos is more important than most brides realize. Having a neat, well lit area makes for a much nicer backdrop to showcase you and your girls as you get ready for your big day. A room full of dress bags, accessory boxes, snack bags, and unmade beds will be distracting and detract from those special moments. When you look at the picture will you think “what a great day” or “why didn’t I clean that up”? Pay as much attention to the detail of your “getting ready” room as you do to the rest of your decor for your day.

Getting Ready. The time you spend directly before the ceremony is some of the most emotionally charged of the day. You may be nervous and a little on edge about timeline. Try to limit guests from coming in to “wish the bride luck” so that you can step back and relax a few minutes before heading down the aisle and share some special moments with your bridal party or parents.

First Look. More couples are electing to have a private portrait session prior to the ceremony. If you’re having a First Look Session, it pays to plan ahead. Think of a romantic location that would have meaning or that you would love to have as the setting for your First Look photos. If your timeline allows, you could select a location separate from your ceremony location, such as the spot you met or became engaged. This should be a special moment for the two of you; let the bridal party know that you’ll call on them when ready for pictures.

The Ceremony. Some churches have very few, if any restrictions on the photographer…other churches have rules that dictate whether a photographer is allowed to stand (or not stand), how many photos the photographer is allowed to take, and so on. It is important to learn these restrictions when booking your ceremony site so that you have a good idea of how your ceremony will be captured. – and to make the photographer aware so that you can form a plan together.

Smile For the Camera. During the day, your photographer will give you coaching to look your best, but there are some times that we just can’t interfere to remind you. During the processional and recessional, remember to look at the camera so we can get a great shot of the beautiful bride!

Formals. Family formals are a must at every wedding, but are often overlooked when planning your wedding. Most churches will allow 30 minutes for altar images so it’s very important that you have a clear idea of what group and individual photos you need at the church. Assigning a “shot list helper” to your photographer, who knows all the parties involved, can help you get those images in an efficient way. This is a great job for a close friend or cousin that isn’t in the bridal party, but wants to help. Getting the important family formals while keeping the list to a minimum will insure that there will be sufficient time for photos of the bride and groom (the stars of the day) after the ceremony.

The Reception. It’s time to party! Your reception is a time for you to have fun, sharing special time with your new husband and blended families. If you have special groups you want captured, tell your photographer, after all their your personal photographer for the day. During your First Dance, Father/Daughter Dance, and Mother/Son Dance, don’t forget your photographer is capturing your dance. We don’t like to interfere and want to capture it as it happens, but you’ll likely want one of you looking directly at the camera too! Discuss your preferences with your photographer so that you get the image you want.

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