What to Ask Your Wedding Photographer

You've put so much time and effort into planning your wedding you'll want every moment captured in photos. But how do you know which photographer is right for you?  Not only do you need to do your homework when searching for your wedding photographer, once you have narrowed it down to your final few selections, you need to have your arsenal of questions prepared to ensure that the one you ultimately choose is a good fit for you and your wedding.  We’ve made a list of questions to give you one less thing to worry about. Do you shoot in natural light or artificial light? This is an important question because it will really determine how flexible a photographer is while shooting your wedding. Ideally, you would want a photographer that shoots in both natural and artificial lighting. Do you back up your files online? Do you have backup equipment? You can never be too careful with your wedding photos. It’s important on the day of the wedding for the photographer to have at least two camera bodies on them just. Also ask them if they have a dual card slot. Shooting on two cards is important. Anything can happen to a card, it can go corrupt, you can lose it, or a card reader can even eat your card. That’s why the highest end cameras like the Canon EOS 5D Mark III Digital SLR Camera from Beachcamera.com have dual card slots that record the images on both cards just in case. Will I get a high resolution DVD? A lot of photographers say they give the DVD of images, but that can be deceiving as some photographers only give a 4×6 resolution. So if you ever want an 8×10 print or canvas print, you have to spend hundreds of dollars with the photographer for the rest of your life. You’ll want the rights and ability to print them yourself with your printer from Beachcamera.com or a professional printing company. Will you help me with my time line for the wedding day?A good photographer should help plan the photo aspect of the day to make sure everything flows smoothly. The last thing you want is to be rushed on your wedding day. A seasoned photographer should also point out various things that can come up that you wouldn’t think about. They should also know when the best light is, and schedule your photos during “golden hour lighting”, even if it’s just for 10 minutes or so after the cocktail hour. What happens if you get sick on my wedding day?There should be a plan in place just in case the photographer is sick. This plan should include the 2nd photographer being the first photographer and then having a network of other photographers who they can reach out to as well. What will we do if it rains or snows? Knowing what to do if it rains or snows on your wedding day is important.  You want to make sure your photographer is comfortable with their camera and knowing what to do. They should have a plan as to where they would go, how they would shoot, etc. Do you have photos of entire weddings that I can see? Request to see the images from a few complete weddings, instead of just a sampling of several events. This way, you can better judge the photographer’s work and see how he photographs the entire spectrum of a wedding―the bride and groom getting ready, the ceremony, the reception, and the portraits. Do you have references I can call? Ask to speak with two or three former brides. Ask them: Would you recommend the photographer to your best friends, and why? Was the photographer on time? How was he or she dressed? Was he or she professional to work with throughout the entire process?

When will my proofs, prints, and wedding album be available? Find out your photographer's turnaround time. Also, ask how long you have to choose the photos from your proofs and order your prints and album. Some other questions you should consider asking include the following:

• Is it okay if other people take photos while you're taking photos?
• What time will you arrive at the site and for how long will you shoot?
• If my event lasts longer than expected, will you stay? Is there an additional charge?
• Can I customize a package based on my needs?
• Do you include engagement photos in your packages?
• How many weddings have you shot?
• What information do you need from me before the wedding day?