5 Questions to Ask Your Wedding Photographer Before Booking

Photo: J Brown Photography

When booking your wedding photographer, you may think “oh it’s just photos, it doesn’t matter who we book it will all be the same”. Well…there’s actually quite an art to photography, and you want to make sure you find the perfect match to your vision. Some photographers excel with the dark and dramatic, some excel with the bright and colorful. Especially if you do first looks, you will be with your photographer for most of the day, so you want to make sure it’s someone you’ll get along with. As skilled wedding planners based in Chicago, we are match makers with photographers and clients. That being said, here are a few questions you should ask your photographer before booking them:

1. What’s your photography style?

   Typically, you should be able to sense it from their portfolios or social media, but you want to make sure the photographer matches your style. Are you looking for bright and bubbly photos? Candid? More dramatic? Dark and moody? Some photographers do better with bright outdoor weddings, and some do better with the darker venues. You want to make sure the photographer will capture your event the way you envision it.

2. What’s Included

   Many photographers have different event packages that might include additional photographers, additional hours, an engagement session, a keepsake book, or maybe even cinematography! Make sure you ask about those packages or ask if they have add ons. You should hopefully find the perfect combination to match your budget.

3. Are you available on ___ date?

   This is probably the first question you should ask! You always want to make sure the photographer is available for your date before truly engaging in a conversation. You don’t want to get your heart set on a photographer and realize you won’t be able to work with them.

4. Can we request specific shots?

   We always make sure to chat with your photographer before your wedding, and get a shot list from you. That way your photographer is aware of what images to capture on the day. That being said, some photographers have a very specific way of taking their photos, so you want to make sure they will capture what you want, and that their way of taking photos matches your vibe.

5. How soon after the wedding will we receive our photos?

After the wedding day you will be so excited to relive the day through all the pictures your photographer captured! It typically takes about 3 months for the photographer to edit all the photos. Of course, it will depend on their schedule! Some even share previews a about a month after so you have a little taste of what’s to come! Make sure to check with the photographer to see how soon after the wedding your photos be ready.

And of course, feel free to ask them about their photography history and their interests! As mentioned—you will be with them often on the day, so it’s such an added bonus if you get along.

Photo: Roni Rose Photography

DO YOU HAVE A BOLD VISION FOR YOUR WEDDING?

Fierce Productions is a Chicago based event planning company specializing in curating unique, bold, non-traditional weddings and events. Our talented team of professionals can handle all of your event needs including planning and coordination, design and styling, vendor and talent management, fundraising, marketing support and beyond - get in touch to learn more!