(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.
Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by. If you’ve enjoyed this blog post and want to read more like it, then join the tribe below!!
How do we even start to say thank you for all the work and effort you put into our wedding day?
- Josie and Scott
Lauren played such a meaningful role in our wedding, capturing the day in photos that we'll look back on for the rest of our lives. She kept Scott and me calm and sane - Lauren is a miracle worker! She put in 100% effort and gave us her very best, and that means so much to me. Seeing our photographs makes me so excited and so happy that Lauren was with us on this journey.
Lauren made the process so easy and made us feel so comfortable!
- Amy and Luke
We just wanted to say thank you again so much for your amazing work. You were seriously incredible to work with and we loved the locations you suggested for both our engagement shoot and the spots in Stillwater. We were very worried about getting professional photos done since we had never done it before, but you made the process so easy and made us feel so comfortable. Thank you!
Working with Lauren was easy breezy and FUN! She gave us our most treasured photos ever!
- GRACE AND NICK
There was a chunk of time in our wedding planning when we thought we'd go without a professional photographer to save on cost (terrible idea!) but once we met with Lauren, we knew we'd be in good hands. She checked in often and asked questions that got us thinking about other parts of the wedding that we probably would've missed. Lauren captured exactly who we are as a couple!
Lauren's enthusiasm and passion make the photo-taking process so fun – she made me feel like a star!
- Alisa AND Adam
Lauren and her team are so much fun to work with! She made us feel so comfortable on the day of our wedding, providing both silly and helpful cues to help us relax and be ourselves in our photos. Lauren’s background in dance is super helpful in recognizing simple posture changes that make a big difference, too. Oh, and the photos we got are just stunning!
Lauren was pivotal in making our wedding day perfect!
- Emma AND Erik
My husband and I looked FOR MONTHS to find the perfect photographer and after meeting Lauren we knew was the best fit for us. She made our day so much fun and easy. She found little opportunities to make the perfect photo all with a calm ease that comes from someone who has an artistic eye along with experience in understanding the flow of a wedding.
Not only is Lauren an amazing human being, but she is an awesome photographer!
- Haley AND Erick
I've been in several weddings and have worked with a multitude of photographers and I never felt as confident as I did with Lauren. I love how professional she is. She helped with the timeline way in advance and we stuck to that timeline the day of. She was also able to professionally and firmly keep unruly family members settled and focused and navigated family drama beautifully!
PLEASE COMMENT BELOW