If you’re getting married, you know that one of the most important things to do is finding your perfect wedding photographer.

With so many wedding photographers and videographers to choose from, how do you know which one is right for you?

When you finally find someone whose style you love, the two questions that immediately come to mind are “are they available on my date” and “what is their pricing”. You’ll find that wedding photography pricing ranges drastically from one photographer to the next. However, before you book a photographer who seems more affordable than the rest, know that ”you get what you pay for” and there’s a reason pricing varies. Your wedding is a once in a lifetime special day, and you do not want to have regrets. So rather than simply asking “how much do you charge”, here are some questions you should be asking to know exactly what you’re going to get.

Before we dive in, I would like to introduce the beautiful couple featured in these images.

Soly and Fili hired my team at Travel Weddings to cover their American Eritrean wedding (which we will be shooting next week!).

In anticipation and excitement for their big day, I wanted to share some of their adorable courthouse wedding photos we did together (check back in next month to see their traditional cultural wedding events which will be featured on the blog).

Now for those questions you need to ask…

How long have you been doing this?

There are a ton of wedding photographers out there. Some are experienced shooters with years of practice, while other are just starting out and trying to build their portfolio. Most of the time, the cheaper ones are less experienced or have a team of associate photographers that are not invested in delivering quality work.

If you decide to work with a budget photographer for your engagement photos, it’s not a big problem as you can always do another shoot if you're unsatisfied. However, your wedding day is a one time affair and your wedding photos and films are all that you have to remember your special day. I have heard countless disappointing stories from brides who opted for a budget photographer. No amount of editing can fix a bad image.

Additionally, a professional wedding photographer often runs the show on your wedding day. They create your timeline, influence your mood, blend in with your guests… An inexperienced photographer only shows up to take photos while someone who does this professionally can offer so much more.

Can we meet for a consultation?

I cannot stress how important it is for you to meet your wedding photographer (even just virtually) before booking them. You may fall in love with their work online, and meet them on your wedding day to find out they make you and your guests feel uncomfortable. Your wedding photographer and videographer will be with you all day. If you think being in front of a camera is awkward, you will feel extra nervous if you’re not at ease with the person behind it. Being able to connect with your wedding photographer is extremely important, even if you don’t really care about photos. A wedding day can be stressful, so having someone you can trust will make a huge difference.

Make sure you do your research and read multiple reviews. Previous clients will either rave about their experience working with them, or reveal some unfortunate truths. Better yet, book an engagement session with them so you can get a hands on experience shooting with them! This also sets you up for success on your wedding day, as you’ll already be familiar with their shooting style and results.

Here are some reviews past clients have written for Travel Weddings.

How will my images be used?

Here’s the truth: when photography companies charge very little for their services, they make money some other way.

Have you ever heard of “printing rights”? What it means is that the client will have the right to print their wedding images, as it’s actually not a given! Some budget photographers only deliver watermarked web resolution photos and give you and your guests the option to “buy” an image after. So if you want to create an album or print images for your home, you only have the option to go through your photographer and they can charge any price they want. When you pay more for a photographer, you’re paying for more value (such as having printing rights, something we offer by default at Travel Weddings).

Another thing: ask to see a full wedding gallery. The images photographers share on their websites are what we call “portfolio shots” - the ones we are proud of. Those are not just the best images but sometimes the ONLY good images. Photographers share selected images to attract future clients without the context the images were shot in. Maybe the photographer staged a photo shoot to make it seem like they were hired for a wedding. Maybe the photographer got lucky with a good portrait while the others are unflattering. By asking for a full wedding gallery, you can get a real sense of the quality of their work throughout the day.

As a professional wedding photographer, I feel it’s important to share my industry expertise so that future brides can make educated decisions about who will be documenting their big day.

You’re always welcome to reach out for a free consultation to see if we are a good fit. I would be more than happy to help!

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What to ask a wedding photographer