Most couples that come into consultation calls with me know they should ask questions before booking and trust me, as your photographer, I want you to! The reality is though, that more than half the time, couples that come into my calls are really not sure which questions actually make the most sense to ask. You search google and see all these ‘great’ questions to ask photographers, but they are the same static questions.

I say this with love, I get it, but we’re not going to get stuck on surface-level questions.

Unpopular opinion, but Forget asking these questions…

• “How do you handle this”
• “What if this happens or that happens”
• “What is your editing style”
• “What camera and/or gear do you use”
• “Do you offer sneak peaks”
• “How many weddings have you done”

It is easy to get stuck on simple…yes I said it…simple questions like those you see above. Though they are helpful to get a bit of an understanding on some ways a photographer is the ‘right fit’…the bigger questions, the ones you really should be asking, end up being missed.

You need to ask questions focused on the entire experience that you will receive.

Experience is everything to me. You can even check out a quick overview of what your experience with me is like here.

In this blog post, I am going to walk you through the right questions to ask your wedding photographer before deciding if they are the right person you should be hiring to document the story of your day.

WHY CHOOSING A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER MAKES A DIFFERENCE MORE THAN YOU KNOW

Sure, Photographer A has beautiful photos, but then you get off the consultation call and there are more questions then answers. You start questioning whether the connection was there? Did you imagine it? Now What? Do you book them anyway and hope that somehow the day of you won’t be the couple where everything ‘goes sideways’?

You should never have to talk yourself into booking. ever.

Experienced photographers are able to naturally speak to the bigger picture and when you don’t know all the questions to ask, they can guide you through topics such as:

THE TOP 10 QUESTIONS TO ASK SO YOU GET THE ANSWERS YOU NEED BEFORE BOOKING

1 :: how involved are you in timeline building and what Does your Support actually include outside OF TAKING PHOTOS?

This is seriously one of my favorite parts of the experience that I create for my couples. And honestly, it. is one of the biggest reasons my couples hire me! A huge part of what I do happens outside of the wedding day…it’s not all just about just taking photos when you hire me! My couples refer to me as a ‘mini planner + photographer‘. I am here to tie in experiences I learned from planning my own wedding along with everything I learned from helping my couples navigate their wedding plans. I would love to lay it all out here, but I am keeping a few of my wedding experience secrets tucked away for now, until we get to our consultation call, where I can firsthand explain your experience with me!

2 :: What does coverage really look like, and how do you help couples know how many hours they need?

Wedding days move undeniably fast…I mean it. You blink and the entire day is in sports mode, then just like that it’s over. There are always so many moving parts, more than majority of my couples (and their guests!) even realize until they are smack in the middle of it. This is exactly why I involve myself in the backend of the planning process. Your time with me is not more than just the day of, and we will have planning calls throughout the entire process. We schedule these calls as often, or even as little, as you need guidance. Whether that is timeline planning or even knowing what color florals to pick, I am here!

3 :: How do you communicate throughout the planning process?

Communication is a huge part of the experience I offer, and it is not just me popping in to answer an email here and there. A lot of my communication happens through my questionnaires, Planning Calls, and everything in between. This gives me a better understanding of what matters most to you, what your day is going to look like, and how I can best support you throughout it all. I do not believe in just showing up on the wedding day and winging it. I want to know the nitty-gritty details that make up your story, so I am fully ready-to-go with the facts way before the day arrives. All these factors help me so I can photograph your day with more intention and help the experience feel smoother on your end too.

4 :: How do you handle family dynamics, shifting timelines, or unexpected changes?

This is where experience and maturity really matters. Weddings rarely go exactly as planning from the start of the day to the very end. Weddings are fluid and ever-changing, even when you have planned it down to the last micro-detail. This is why I send multiple questionnaires, so I am not walking into situations blindly. Context is key!

When changes happen on the day of, I roll with the punches, but I also do not let chaos win. I have seen timelines fall apart and families butt heads on the day of. Family dynamics are layered, timelines run behind and weather can give full attitude. None of these reasons means the day needs to fall apart. I communicate, aim high, and rise above to protect the outcome of your wedding experience.

5 :: Are you a registered business and do you carry insurance?

YES AND YES! Did you know you can check out my business standings, registrations, etc. through the Colorado Secretary of State and through the Arizona Secretary of State? Sure can!

I really do wish this question was more commonly asked in the Top 10 Questions to Ask Wedding Photographers. As an Admin of The Colorado Wedding Vendor group on Facebook, my team and I have seen first hand what are possible outcomes to weddings. When research is not done thoroughly when hiring vendors or just choosing the more cost-effective route, things can turn into a hot mess.

Many venues I worked with over the last year actually request copies of insurance from all vendors! This is known as a Certificate of Insurability (COI). If you need one from me, I just need a week or two’s notice to get a copy from my insurance. I am always happy to provide proof of my Liability insurance coverage.

6 :: can we see full galleries?

Absolutely and I encourage you to!

My client Galleries are structured to give you a clear picture on how I photograph different weddings, whether that be lighting, guest size, and even location. Beautiful images are a client’s dream. From my own hard learned experience, I wish this is something I would’ve asked my photographer. Going through full galleries, you can get an understanding of what your own experience and final gallery may appear.

7 :: How does booking work and what is your payment structure?

When you are ready to get your experience with me started, I like to make this process easy. Even upon the first inquiry you sent in, my system created you a ‘Client Portal’. This is where you will review and sign your contract, pay your retainer, and officially secure your date on my calendar. From there, everything stays in the client portal, including invoices, questionnaires, helpful resources, and anything else tied to your experience with me.

As far as payment structure goes, I require a retainer to book, and the remaining balance is split up according to the payment schedule outlined in your proposal. I also offer more advanced payment plans when needed. I always want my couples to feel clear on what to expect financially from the beginning, because transparency matters just as much as the creative side of this process.

8 :: how do you store and back-up our images?

This is one of those questions more couples should be asking. Your wedding images are far too important to only live in one place. After your wedding day, I take multiple steps to make sure your images are stored and protected properly. That includes backing them up and keeping them organized on an external harddrive throughout my editing and delivery process.

No photographer can promise your images will be stored forever, but they should have a solid backup system in place. Ask what their process is for storing and protecting your wedding photos after the wedding day. It may seem like behind-the-scenes admin, but it directly affects your memories if it is not handled properly.

9 :: WHAT SHOULD WE KNOW ABOUT PRIVACY, MODEL RELEASES, AND HOW THE CLIENT PORTAL WORKS?

This is the question of questions! Not every couple has the same level of comfort when it comes to privacy and how much of their day they want shared publicly. Your contract should clearly explain any model release terms, how images may be used, and what expectations are in place so there is no confusion later on. I deeply respect your right to share or not share photos from your wedding day. For some couples, that part does not matter much at all. For others, it matters a whole lot, and both are completely valid.

This is your wedding day, your memories, and your story. You deserve to know exactly what you are agreeing to and to feel comfortable with how your images are being handled beyond just the delivery of your gallery. Privacy is not something that should be treated lightly and it is an important conversation to have upfront. All photographers have different standards on how they handle this and I even know some who are different than me! Whether you are fully comfortable with your images being shared, prefer a little more privacy, or want to better understand what your options are, this is absolutely something worth asking about before you book.

10 :: What makes the experience with you different than hiring someone else?

Okay, this one really gets to the heart of it. I know for myself, I do not always love talking about myself, but the truth is, as a photographer and even once as a bride, this is absolutely a question you need to ask. Pretty photos are one thing. The photographer you hire will absolutely affect the experience you receive, if not more than just the pretty photos. Never hire someone just for how their work looks on social media or their website. Ask for full galleries. Always! As a photographer myself, we want to show our absolute best work we are proud of that represents the photos we want to create. But that isn’t what makes an experience. This is the kind of question that helps you understand what really sets a photographer apart beyond their pretty photos. And honestly, it should.

Choosing not only the right photographer, but the right Wedding photographer is one of the most important decisions you will make when it comes to the entire wedding planning process. Please don’t make the same mistake I did when it come to choosing a wedding photographer…yes, I had a nightmare experience and you can read more about it! If you have more questions, make a list and ask! Questions are always welcome.

Ready to find out more? Contact me to schedule a consultation and start planning the wedding of your dreams!