15 Questions to Ask Your Wedding Photographer | Colorado Photographer
Hiring a wedding photographer can be one of the most important decisions when you start planning your wedding. After all, this is the person you will spend the MOST time with on your wedding day, and who is going to be capturing everything so you can remember it forever! Here in Colorado, there are so many amazing wedding photographers to chose between!
Don’t worry, I got you! If you’re still searching for a Colorado wedding or elopement photographer, these are some questions you should ask them. In addition to asking these important questions, you should make sure that you a) like their editing style and b) like how you guys vibe together! Even if they have the right answers to these questions, if you don’t like their style and you don’t quite vibe, it isn’t going to be the best fit.
Oh, and my answers are listed below just to save you a step. 😉
How do you go about making someone feel comfortable for pictures?
I understand that taking photos is something you aren’t used to, so it can be uncomfortable! And if you’re uncomfortable, that’s what you’re going to remember about the experience and you won’t enjoy the photos. Talk to your photographer about how they approach this!
What do I do? Well, in addition to having a few cheesy jokes up my sleeve, I have a flow to get you relaxed. We start with a blend of super simply poses that literally ANYBODY can do to get you warmed up, and then we start to have a little more fun with prompts that help you forget I’m even there. I am also always snapping those in between moments, which end up being some of the best shots!
2. How do you feel shooting in unique or challenging lighting situations?
This is big, especially if you are getting married in a venue that has different lighting situations (think: dark church or barn). Wedding days are generally 8+ hours, and the light will change drastically throughout the day so make sure the person you hire knows how to handle it! Your wedding day isn’t going to be in dreamy, golden hour light the whole time.
I have shot weddings in all sorts of scenarios, like dark barns, churches with stained glass windows as the light source, and getting ready rooms with mixed lighting. I handle this with various flash set-ups and some other clever lighting techniques!
3. Can we see a full wedding gallery?
Follow up the lighting question with this one. Photographers tend to have the best of the best shown on their websites to sell themselves (and yeah, that includes me). But when you see a full day wedding gallery, you can get a sense of what your finished product will look like.
I will happily provide you with a full gallery scroll during the booking process! All you gotta do is ask.
4. How do you describe your photography style?
Styles in photography are similar to fashion: some things go in and out of favor. And just like fashion, there are just as many styles of photography as there types of clothing! Some of the styles you might have heard of include dark and moody, true to life, bright and airy, etc. There are tons of variations on those styles, and everyone within one style will still edit slightly differently. No style is wrong!! But make sure you find one that you like and will want to hang on your wall in 30 years.
My style is very natural and true to life, with a bit of warmth. I focus on creating colors that are accurate to real life, and I do love images with strong contrast and “pop”. I love the strong depth of field, which is definitely evident in my style! I want to create images that age well, and won’t go out of style.
5. How do you structure your packages/prices? Are travel fees included? Do we get engagement photos included?
Every photographer runs their business differently, so I am not here to tell you that one way is right and one way is wrong. But this is something you should know! Are those packages on their website showing you everything, includes tax and travel? Do they offer a la carte options, or is it an all inclusive package?
I custom create package options for every couple that inquires with me. Within these packages I do include any travel fees and tax, so that what you see is what you get! And yes, my starting price does include engagement photos!
6. How do you approach a wedding day? Do you have a back-up plan?
This is a broad question, so expect some different answers. They might tell you how they prepare, how they show up on a wedding day, etc. Make sure this answer makes you feel comfortable, and that they would show up ready to rock out your wedding! However, the back-up emergency plan is definitely important. Do they send another photographer in their place if something were to happen to them?
I do a lot of prep leading up to a wedding day. This includes questionnaires from you with details that I need to know, as well as helping you create your timeline. I keep these with me all day so that I can reference them as needed! I also keep in touch with you leading up to the wedding day, I don’t just ghost you and then show up on your wedding day! I also have a network of photographers to refer in the extremely rare event I can’t shoot your wedding.
7. Do you help with any other aspects of my wedding day beyond photography, like timeline creation?
Some photographers are very hands on with your wedding, and others are only there for the photography. Again, one way isn’t better or worse, it just depends on what your expectations are.
I very much want to be a resource to my couples, so I am happy to help you with any details you might need. I do always help my couples create a realistic timeline!
8. Do you carry back-up equipment with you?
This one needs to be a YES without hesitation. It is so crucial for weddings to have back-up equipment in case gear malfunctions! Your photographer should have a minimum of two cameras, just in case.
I do carry back-up gear with me all day long, including a back-up camera, various lenses, and extra flashes and batteries. I also shoot with cameras that have dual slots to constantly back up your images!
9. Are you insured?
This one also needs to be a YES without hesitation. Anything can happen at a wedding, and insurance is a safety net. Some venues even require this.
I am fully insured!
10. Do you have second shooters or assistants that you work with if I want one?
Second shooters can be a great add-on for your package. They help capture different angles, or cover things when your photographer can’t be in two places at once. Assistants are also super helpful! They might not be shooting, but they are there to help with lighting or carrying gear, which can make things so much more efficient. Every photographer will handle this differently!
I love having a second shooter or assistant with me when I can, but I am fully confident in shooting a full wedding day by myself. I am so fortunate to network with other photographers who are willing to jump in and second shoot if you add that to your package.
11. Do we have to pay extra for digital downloads?
Sometimes photographers do have you pay a small fee to download your photos. While this is certainly more typical in family photos or portraits, some wedding photographers do this as well. You NEED to ask this, because this is a big added cost if you didn’t realize up front.
I think it is shady to charge people for downloads, and I’m all about being transparent and keeping it real with you. That is included in the cost of my packages, so you can download them as many times as you need to from your online gallery.
12. How long do we have to wait to get our photos?
This varies from photographer to photographer, but generally industry standard is around 6-8 weeks! You should always ask though, some photographers have options to expedite your gallery.
I provide you guys with a next day sneak peek of photos to immediately share and post on social. I also offer expedited gallery turn-around time, so that you can get your full gallery within two weeks!
13. Do you design albums, and if so, can you describe them?
It is so important to print your photos, which is why so many photographers offer albums to their couples! Not all offer this, so it is definitely worth asking.
I actually LOVE designing albums for my couples. Not only is it really fun for me, but it saves you the headache after your wedding so you can enjoy married life! My starting price does include a starter album, and I have so much fun making them. There are of course options to upgrade your album, and you get to choose a cover type and color. My albums have a gorgeous lay flat design with thick, archival quality paper.
14. Do you offer us any other products, like prints and wall art?
Some photographers are big on offering additional products to you after your wedding which is awesome! Ask them what types of things they offer, and how the process works. Do they order through you directly, do you offer them a credit somewhere else?
I offer prints and gifts through your online gallery, which includes standard photo prints, canvases, metal art, and even Christmas ornaments. It is a super simple process, all you have to do is order through your site and my labs fulfill it with top quality!
15. How do you keep my photos safe?
This is so important, because you just paid a lot for these photos! Ask them how they prevent your images from getting lost, and how they back-up your images.
The idea of losing photos makes my stomach hurt just thinking about it, which is why I am SO careful with your treasured photos. During a wedding day, I am shooting on dual cards throughout the whole day. I also switch my cards out after certain chunks of the day, so that if one set of cards gets lost, your whole day isn’t gone. The first thing I do after a wedding is upload the photos to my computer, and back them up to an external hard drive so I have them in two places. I back-up the edited version to a hard drive as well as your online cloud storage. I also don’t format memory cards until your images are delivered to you!
Hopefully these questions are helpful as you narrow down your search for the perfect photographer!
If you thought my answers were pretty good, I would love to talk about how I can help make your Colorado wedding or elopement exactly what you want it to be!
