5 Important things to ask your wedding photographer before signing the contract

Jan 8

Wedding photography isn’t cheap.. and, lets be real, if it IS cheap you’re likely going to get what you pay for. Aside from finding someone you love that fits inside of your budget, there’s a few things you should discuss with them before signing on the dotted line.

Contracts and the small print.
If your photographer doesn’t ask you to sign a contract, consider that a red flag. ESPECIALLY if they require a retainer payment. A contract not only protects the photographer, but it also protects the couple. It lays out the expectations of both parties, discusses the what-ifs, out lines cancellations and date changes, travel expenses and goes over turnaround times and permissions. Be sure to keep a copy of this until your gallery is delivered. Take your time to review this so you can ask necessary questions and discuss any uncertainties before committing. CONTRACTS aren’t scary; don’t fear them! They’re actually a powerful tool that brings clarity to the process.
Ask to see a FULL wedding gallery!
There are so many photographers out there. Some with 10 or 15 years under their camera strap.. but even more that just started their photography business venture. KNOW THE DIFFERENCE. Start ups and lower budget photographers aren’t necessary a negative thing, but its important that you know what you’re signing up for so you don’t regret your decision later. Weddings happen once; there are no re-shoots. It’s very important that you ask to see a few FULL wedding galleries even if the photos on their website are killer and just what you’re looking for. Here’s why.. styled shoots are bigger than ever right now. Some in which photographers pay to be part of. There’s nothing wrong with styled shoots - I love them and think they’re a fun way to showcase a certain style or idea! But when someone has oooonly done controlled shoots with models and not yet experienced an actual wedding, then you have to understand that it’s a huge variable in their capabilities. Asking to see a full gallery will be proof that they’ve photographed actual weddings. It will allow you to see the transition of the events and how they were captured factoring in both technical skill and style/perspective. It will either show a consistency with well exposed and favorably edited photographs, or it will highlight their struggles. Seeing a finished product lets you know what to expect and that’s so incredibly important when it comes to your wedding photos. There’s even non-visable reasons that experience is crucial. A professional needs to have a good demeanor and communication skills to keep you, your friends and family happy, yet still be able to stay on schedule. A photographer should be confident and comfortable in setting up shots and posing couples so images look natural.
It’s okay to hire someone new to the biz, but it’s not okay if you did so unknowingly. Do your research to avoid disappointment later.
Personality is a BIG DEAL.
Yes, a stellar style of work is important.. but you know what else is important? Enjoying the presence of your photographer. We are literally hired BFF’s and by your side the whole day (on one of the most important days ever, no less!). A good way to find out you’ll jive well with your photog is to book an engagement or boudoir shoot before the wedding. That will give you some time in front of their camera so come the wedding day you’ll already be comfortable because you’ve been there before.
Back ups.
Don’t be afraid to ask the question about what gear they’re using and whether they have back ups for everything should something happen to their equipment during the wedding. A photographer should carry 2 or more camera bodies to a wedding. That way, if something malfunctions with one, they always have the other to continue the day with. Same with lenses. While we don’t need to carry duplicates of each lens, it’s important we carry multiple lenses that can do the job. Some cameras record to one memory card at a time, others record to multiple simultaneously. For those that use single card cameras, I highly encourage them to shoot with smaller memory cards. That way, in the event a card failure it minimizes the loss. Both my camera bodies record to two cards at once; Better to be safe than sorry. Also, an important conversation to have is what the photographers archival process is like. How do they back up the final images? How long will they be available to you?
Liability + Venue Expectations.
Some venues require photographers to hold a level of liability insurance. Be sure to ask your venue about the requirements of photographers so you can make relay the message. Since we’re on the topic, it’s also nice to inquire with the venue about their expectations for photographers (especially churches). Often we are asked to only photograph from certain locations within a church. We often try to ask those questions on your wedding day when we meet with the venue coordinator, but it always saves time knowing these things in advance.