Lauren Baker is a fine art wedding photographer serving Boston, New England, and available for destinations worldwide.
(Did anyone else just read that like David Attenborough? Just me? Cool).
Here we are again friends. Part 2 of my top 10 questions all couples should ask their wedding photographer.
We’re digging in a little deeper with these final five questions, and I’ve gotta say…they’re good. So sit back, maybe have a cup of coffee, and enjoy questions 6-10!
6. How many hours of coverage do I really need?
This is a tricky question because there are a lot of factors that play into the answer. What’s your budget? What photos are most important to you? What’s the drive time between your various locations?
A lot of couples tend to underestimate how much time they’ll need for photographs…if you want getting ready photos AND reception photos, chances are that a half-day of photography coverage isn’t going to cut it.
In my humble opinion, the “Goldilocks” coverage time is 8 hours. You’ll easily be able to get photos of everything you want and nothing that you don’t (ie sloppy-drunk dance photos of Uncle Bob…unless you’re into blackmail…but that’s not something I’d recommend).
Instead of rushing to get through your romantic couple photos, wedding party photos, and family photos, if you have your photographer for 8 hours you’ll be able to take your time, relax, and enjoy the experience. And trust me, you’ll love your photos so much more if you work from a place of rest and calm instead of hustle.
That being said, if you only want photos of your first look through the end of your ceremony, a half-day of coverage may be perfect!
When it comes down to it, the amount of coverage time you need truly depends on what you want.
7. Can I customize a wedding collection?
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: no two weddings are the same. So, understandably, not every pre-made photography collection will fit every single bride. You might want to add an extra photographer or two. You might not want an engagement session. You might want to add an extra hour of coverage.
Asking for what you want should never be something you hesitate to do when it comes to your wedding and that is especially true for your photography collection. As my dad always says, “the worst they can say is no.” And if “no” is a deal-breaker for you…well, you’ve likely saved yourself and that photographer a lot of time.
8. When should I book you for our wedding?
Many photographers, including myself, fill their calendars several months to years in advance. If you know you want to work with a photographer (or other vendor for that matter), the sooner you make contact with them the better. You don’t want to sit on your hands for months to find out 4 months down the road that your dream photographer no longer has your date available. Secure your date and secure it as soon as you know you want to work with your photographer!
9. What should I expect after our wedding day?
This is one of my favorite questions. What can you expect after we’ve said goodbye at your wedding? Setting up these expectations is so important! You’ll be itching to see your photos and waiting for your those photos is one of the most excruciating waits ever.
Do yourself a HUGE favor and ask right away when you can expect to receive your edited wedding photos. Doing this will save you a lot of headache and anxiety…it’ll also tell you when it’s appropriate to start asking about your photos if they haven’t been delivered.
I promise my couples that I will deliver their wedding photos 10 weeks after their wedding. Of course, my goal is always to deliver them earlier than that but just in case something disruptive happens in my life (knock on wood that it doesn’t) I still have plenty of time to fulfill my promise to my couples.
10. Will you be the one photographing our wedding?
This might seem like a silly question but I promise you it isn’t.
Some photographers hire associates to photograph weddings and events for their businesses. I don’t believe there’s anything wrong with that; in fact, I think it’s wonderful that their businesses have grown to the point of needing associate photographers. But regardless, you should still absolutely know whom to expect behind the camera on your wedding day.
Just think how upset you would be if you expected one person to photograph your big day only to have someone else showed up! Now, that person is likely just as talented and has the same style as the original photographer you talked to (I mean they should if they’re employed by them) but because this didn’t meet your expectations the day will have started on a disappointing note. And that’s really hard to come back from.
So again, just do yourself a kindness and ask.
And wraps it up! There are many more questions brides could, and should, ask their prospective wedding photographer but I think these are the very most important ones (after “Are you available for my date?”). I’d love to hear additional questions you might have. Leave them in the comments below and I might just add them to a future blog or if they’re really tasty, they might find their way to my FAQ page.
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