As you start on your wedding planning journey, searching for your wedding photographer can be a tedious task. It's not uncommon if you feel overwhelmed by how many options there are out there. How in the world are you going to choose the right one? We got you.
Couples on the search for their photographer usually go on the hunt with two things in mind: whether or not they love their work and budget. While both of these are important factors, there are a few others you'll want to consider.
In hopes of helping you narrow down the search, we've made a list of 10 important questions to ask your wedding photographer.
10 QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
1. What's your favorite part about photographing weddings? What got you into wedding photography?
Okay, technically that's two questions, but they go together. It's helpful to get to know your photographer a little bit before deciding to book!
2. Have you ever shot at my venue(s) before?
If possible, it's nice to be able to see examples of photos taken at your venue. It's also important for your photographer to know if they need to be aware of any lighting needs or aspects specific to space. If your photographer hasn't attended events at your venue, don't worry! Chances are they could meet you there or check it out before the wedding day.
At Leyre Photography, whenever possible, we set a date to visit a couple's venue at least two weeks before the wedding day!
3. Can I see examples of wedding galleries?
Every photographer has a different style and you want to make sure you love the style of your wedding photos! Don't be shy about asking your photographer to see more of their work. Check out a couple of wedding galleries so you know you like their work and are making the right choice for you.
4. Do you require a deposit? If so, when is this due?
Most wedding vendors require a deposit to reserve your wedding date and time on the calendar. It's helpful to know when this deposit is due as you start planning and budgeting for the big day.
5. Do you have a shot list for weddings?
A LOT happens on your actual wedding day, and chances are, you want to capture as most of it as possible. Many photographers will come with at least a short shot list, but make sure to discuss specific photos that are important for you. Keep in mind that you're not only hiring the photographer for their eye but also their ability to create a story of your big day.
6. Would you help us create a wedding day timeline?
While the job of your wedding photographer is not to take the place of a coordinator or planner, it's helpful to be on the same page when it comes to day-of events. Most photographers will discuss a wedding-day timeline with you so you can best plan out the wedding day schedule. An important part of the Leyre Photography Experience is helping our brides and grooms come up with the right wedding-day timeline for their event. Our job is to capture the beautiful but fleeting moments of their wedding day; we want to make sure to maximize photography coverage to make this happen.
7. Do you have backup photographers who will shoot the wedding if there's an emergency (i.e. sickness)?
Despite all the planning and effort into making your big day go smoothly, sometimes, things just happen that are outside of anyone's control. Ask your photographer if they have capable colleagues or associates that can be called on in case of an emergency.
We want to make sure our couples are covered. This is exactly why we've got the Leyre Photography dream team!
8. Do you include a second shooter? How do we know if we need one?
Some photographers include a second photographer in their packages to provide additional coverage on your big day.
9. How long will it take to receive our wedding gallery?
Not long after saying, "I do" are you ready to see some wedding photos. The anticipation of getting your final wedding gallery can be excruciating! Ask your photographer what you can expect for the editing or turnaround time for your wedding gallery. You can even ask them if they provide a small sneak peek shortly after the wedding day
(we love doing this for couples!).
10. What printing rights do we have to the images?
For many couples, it's news to learn the wedding photographer, as the original creator of the work, owns the legal copyright to the wedding photos they take (this means you can't go and sell your wedding photos as your own work, but why would you want to do that anyway?) In some cases, this also includes printing rights.
At Leyre Photography, we grant our couples usage and printing rights. This means clients can share and print their wedding images as they prefer. We also provide the opportunity to print from our high-quality, professional lab and can provide web-sized digital files for social media and other online use. For convenience, we also offer print packages and customized ordering sessions.
We hope this helps you as you narrow down the choices for YOUR right wedding photographer! Ultimately, if searching for the right match feels a lot like speed-dating, you're doing it right. At the end of the day, the photographer you go with is going to be responsible for capturing a major milestone in your life. You want to make sure they're the right person for the job!
Are you starting to wedding plan? Check out these related posts:
HOW TO FIND THE PERFECT WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
HOW MANY HOURS OF WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY DO I NEED?
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