Questions to ask before hiring your photographer

We’ve said it here before at Sydney Rose Portraits at least a dozen times: when you hire a photographer, you don’t just hire someone holding a camera. You hire someone to be present for the biggest moments of your life. As a photographer, I understand the importance of my job, and feel it’s important that all potential clients understand the importance as well, so here are the key things to ask before hiring your photographer.

How much is...

How much is the average investment for a client?

This is probably the question that’s on everyone’s mind as they begin the search for their dream photographer. It’s the one thing that’s usually non-negotiable. You have a budget, and you need to stick to it, I understand. That’s why asking this question in a respectful way is one of the first things you should do.

Typically, a photographer will have levels of wedding packages and will have a pricing guide. They will have a more affordable wedding photography package and a luxury wedding photography package, probably labeled something like standard and deluxe, respectively. Ask them to send it to you, along with giving you the average amount a client typically spends while working with them.

How much are extra hours?

Sometimes on a wedding day, the largest package offered won’t cover everything you want, and you’ll need to purchase an extra hour from your photographer. It’s important to know just how much more it’s going to cost you, since you’ll already be making a significant investment in your special day.

How much of a deposit do you require? When is it due?

Once you officially book your photographer and sign the contract (yay!) you’ll probably have to pay a non-refundable deposit or some type of down payment in order to reserve the photographer. I require a deposit upon signing the contract so we can all be on the same page as far as having you officially booked. For weddings, this amount is 30% of the total investment, and the remainder can be done in payments! 

How much is your travel fee, and what distance does it cover?

So you found the perfect photographer, but they don’t live in your city. Or maybe they do, but you’re having a destination wedding or elopement. Most photographers have a travel fee in place to cover this that will vary by distance, whether or not they have to spend the night, etc. If you know where your wedding will be, make sure to ask your photographer what their travel will be to get there, and have them break down the cost if necessary.

How much is it to have a second shooter? What are your policies there; what’s included, what’s extra?

For weddings that are on the larger side, I personally like to bring an assistant. It helps me make sure I’m capable of delivering on my commitment to capturing every single detail of your day. Second shooter rates vary from photographer to photographer, so if they ask you if they can bring one to your wedding, make sure to ask upfront about the prices, and how they handle the day with a second pair of eyes. Usually, it will be a small extra fee to have a second shooter, but it will definitely pay off in the long run.

What if/in case of emergency...

What happens in the event you have an emergency and can’t shoot the wedding? Do you have a plan for that scenario?

Thankfully, I’ve been in the business long enough to have some friends (or former mentees at this point) that I can call in case I can’t be at your special day. The editing and all of the contact will still be through me, but someone that I trust will be with you every step of the way. This question is so important because, on one of the biggest days of your life, you want to have tackled as many unforeseen circumstances as possible in advance. 

What if I need a break on my wedding day and get overwhelmed?

As your photographer, I’m on your team, and I think anyone else in the business should feel the same. I truly consider myself to be an inclusive wedding and elopement photographer who makes everyone feel safe and secure, and part of that is protecting you and your peace on your special day.

If you need a break, I don’t have a problem being the bad guy in other peoples’ eyes and stealing you away. Just say the word, and we can go outside and take a breather and get a snack, or use this break to take some more intimate wedding photos with just you and your other half. I’m gonna be the stress-free wedding photographer of your dreams!

What are your ways of backing up images in case something happens to your equipment? Do you have backup equipment?

Oh boy, the amount I have invested in SD cards and hard drives to make sure nothing happens to your precious photos... I always back things up on multiple devices, and save SD cards in case of emergency. All photographers should have a method of doing this to protect their assets. As far as equipment goes, YES. I have a backup of pretty much everything, and that’s another reason I’ve become more and more fond of bringing a second shooter; there’s basically a backup me, too!

Past experiences/about the photographer

Do you offer an engagement shoot as part of your package?

Sometimes, if you’re investing in a more deluxe wedding photography package, an engagement shoot will be included or will be offered at a discounted price. If this is something you’re interested in, make sure to ask about it before moving forward in the booking process.

Can I customize a package to fit my needs?

We photographers can be flexible! If you have unique needs or a special case scenario, let your photographer know, and they may be willing to customize a package for you. It’s often not a problem to buy an extra hour or two and have your photographer there for as long as you want (within reason)!

Can we see a full gallery of your work to get an idea of what ours will look like?

Asking for this is so important so you know what to expect from your gallery. I try to get shots of all kinds, from natural light to direct flash, and I deliver black and white images. Every photographer is different, and seeing a full past gallery will also give you a better sense of their style.

What vendors should you tip?

It can be tricky to navigate all the finances of planning a wedding, so I got you. A simple rule of thumb is to look at the bill and see which vendors include gratuity in that. You can definitely tip florists, planners, delivery event staff, and hair and makeup. Try and make sure you have cash on hand for some of these, too, to make everyone’s lives a little easier!

How do you work with different lighting, environments, and vibes throughout the day?

Your wedding day is not going to take place in just one room. The room where you get ready may have light streaming in through open windows, while the ceremony may be candle-lit or at sunset. Make sure to ask your photographer how they handle these changes and what equipment they have that will help get the best results. I personally have lights I can set up, as well as flash attachments to handle the dark.

It’s also important to remember that some photographers do specialize in certain types of weddings over others. I’ve found myself gravitating more and more towards intimate wedding photography and romantic, small wedding photography, but I have experience that runs the gamut. 

If you’re getting in a specific environment, like outdoors at night, or inside a church, you can ask your photographer about their experience shooting a wedding in that place, and ask for example galleries of those weddings.

Do you usually shoot with an assistant? Will you have any assistants with you on our wedding day?

A valid question! You should know who is going to be at your wedding! I have started to really like bringing an assistant (who I have trained on wedding etiquette, we value respect at SRP) and/or a second shooter. Typically, this will be someone I have shot with before who is a mentee or intern that is doing weddings on their own, or looking to. Giving them tasks like shooting behind me from a different angle helps get more coverage of your day, makes me less stressed, and gets another photo baby their wings.

Do you require that we have a planner?

I, personally, do not require my clients to have a planner, but some photographers do. I always recommend wedding clients have a planner, or someone *designated* as such (moms are a common choice here, but let them relax on your wedding day too and maybe get a day-of-coordinator). Regardless of who it is, make sure to put the two of us in touch so we can make your special day run as smoothly as possible

Do you shoot digitally? With film? Or both?

For a lot of photographers, the answer is going to be “Both,” but they are going to be separate packages. The standard way of shooting a wedding is on digital entirely. However, you can find a photographer that will shoot the whole day on film. Most of the time, Digital photographers have a film camera and shoot with it, but, as is the case with me, it’s going to be an add-on to your wedding package at any level.

What’s your approach to a wedding day? Do you take a more documentary or heavily posed approach?

I take a more hybrid approach. I aim to be a quiet presence that captures, well, as my website says, “the warmth and truth of your moments,” which means what happens as it happens in an unposed way. However, you’re gonna want some posed shots as well for your parent’s wall and we’ll steal away for some mini sessions throughout the day and hit all the good poses. 

If you have a vision for a documentary-style wedding where you and your guests are uninterrupted, make sure to search for a photographer who does that, and look through their portfolio. If you want a traditional wedding with mainly posed photos, you’ll be able to find someone who does that too! You’ll know when you find the right photographer because it’ll feel right, and their sample photos will look like what you’re envisioning.

How would you describe your working style?

It’s important to ask this question to know what kind of person you’re gonna be working with. Planning a wedding and pulling it off is super fun, but also hard work and all the moving pieces, photographer included, need to work hard. I’m someone who’s flexible, friendly, and experienced, and I work hard for each and every one of my clients, because I value that!

How would you describe your photography style?

Knowing this about your photographer is so important, as you want someone who fits the vision of your day. However, it’s also important to remember that the vibes of the venue can also influence the way your photos are going to look and to make sure your expectations have been properly set ahead of time. If you want a light and airy spring wedding, but choose a darker, indoor venue, your photos may not reflect those open vibes.

Do you have any meal requirements on the wedding day?

Most photographers will have this outlined in their contract. I simply require that I get to eat with the guests when the time is right. It gives me a little break and a little snack, and then I can be ready to capture all the fun of the reception.

What information do you need from me before the wedding day? Is there a client questionnaire I need to fill out?

Your photographer will, of course, need all the location and timing details, but they should also want to get to know you. I sit down with clients after they’ve inquired and filled out a standard questionnaire and let them tell me all the little fun things as well.

Can we meet to get to know one another/vibe check?

If the answer to this question isn’t a resounding “yes!” then you can consider that a major red flag. It’s so important to make sure your photographer is someone you feel like you can trust and talk to, because they’re going to be a part of the wedding planning process and your whole day. I like all my clients to feel like they can come to me and vent as a friend would, and I always like to make sure the vibes are good before we seal the deal.

Questions about after the wedding

How long after the wedding will you have to wait to see any photos?

I always do sneak peeks! Those usually come in around a week after the wedding, and the full gallery within 7 weeks. Always ask this, or check what’s in your contract so you know when you should expect your gallery.

How will we receive the photos, and how many will we receive?

So, I stopped giving clients an estimated number simply because I always overshoot. I take so. many. photos. because your day is so beautiful, and I can’t help myself! If you’re looking for a certain amount, make sure to ask.