15 Questions to Ask Your Wedding Photographer Before Booking

Not sure what to ask? Start here.

If you’ve never booked a wedding photographer before, it’s hard to know what to ask. Full galleries, how they work on the day, what’s included and what happens to the photos afterwards are a good place to start.

I’m Dan, a wedding photographer based in Hull. Tell me what you’ve got planned, what you’re excited about and anything that’s worrying you. I’d much rather have a proper chat about your wedding than make you work through a list of camera model numbers.

Here are 15 useful questions, with my own answers along the way. Pick the ones you’re still wondering about. No need to turn the call into a job interview!

01 / The photographs & the person

First things first: do you like their photos?

QUESTION 01Are you available, and who would actually photograph our wedding?

Send me your date, venue and a bit about what you’ve got planned, and I’ll check the diary. If I’m free, we can have a chat and see whether we’d get on. You’re going to have your photographer around for a fair chunk of the day, so that bit matters!

If you’re speaking to a studio with several photographers, check who would actually be there. Have a look at their work and ask whether you can chat to them before booking.

QUESTION 02Can we see a complete wedding gallery?

Photographers only post what they want you to see on their social media, so I’d always recommend asking to see a full gallery. It gives you a much better idea of what they deliver across a full day, and whether they’re photographing the things you’d want photos of at your own wedding.

Even better if they’ve photographed a wedding at your venue and can show you that gallery. Have a look at the ceremony, groups, speeches and evening as well as the couple photos. If you’re getting married in winter, a gallery full of sunny summer photos won’t tell you the whole story.

You can have a nosy through my wedding photos here, then ask me about seeing a full gallery.

QUESTION 03How do you work throughout the day?

Most of my couples say it felt like having a guest with a camera, or a long-time friend at their wedding. That’s exactly how I want it to feel. I’ll have a laugh with you and your guests and fit in with the day.

I want you having a wedding, not a photoshoot. Most of my day is spent photographing whatever’s happening: the ceremony, someone getting a bit emotional during the speeches, your mates properly going for it on the dance floor. You get on with enjoying yourselves.

When we do your couple photos, I mostly just try to have a laugh with you and get you laughing together. I’ll do a little bit of micro posing if an arm looks awkward or something needs a small adjustment. Funny how the second a camera comes out, nobody remembers where their hands normally go.

But I’m not going to make you stand there for hours working through loads of poses. Unless you really want that, of course! We’ll chat about what you fancy and go from there.

QUESTION 04We feel awkward in photos. What would you do?

You don’t suddenly need to become models because you’ve bought wedding outfits. Tell me what’s worrying you. Is it being watched, lots of posing, or the thought of disappearing from your own wedding for ages?

You don’t need to practise poses or know what to do with your hands. I’ll give you a bit of help, get you laughing together and keep things relaxed. No homework required.

QUESTION 05How do we fit portraits and family groups around the day?

We’ll chat through which group photos you want before the wedding. On the day, I’ll usually organise everyone and shout out names, but it’s always handy to appoint someone who knows your guests to help find people. I can shout a name, but your mate can point out who that person actually is! It helps get everyone over and speeds things up.

I usually aim for around 6–8 group shots and try to get them out of the way early, usually straight after confetti if you’re having it. Everyone’s still together then, which is much easier than rounding people up once they’ve wandered off for a drink.

I usually throw in a joke along the lines of, “The faster we get these done, the faster you can get to the bar!” I’ve been to a few weddings as a guest myself, so I know group photos aren’t usually the bit everyone’s looking forward to. Your guests want to be chatting to you and catching up with people they haven’t seen in years.

You don’t need an enormous list. Think about the people you’d really want a photo with. And if there are any awkward family situations I should know about, tell me beforehand so I don’t put my foot in it while calling everyone over.

QUESTION 06What’s your plan for rain, dark rooms or an unfamiliar venue?

Ask to see photos taken when it’s wet, dark or both. A lovely sunny portrait is great, but you also want to know what the photos could look like in your reception room after the sun’s gone down.

If I haven’t photographed your venue before, tell me what you’ve got planned and what the spaces are like. We can talk about the timings, indoor options and anything the ceremony venue needs us to work around. It’s useful to have worked somewhere before, but it’s also worth looking at weddings with similar light and weather.

02 / The practical bits

Right, what are we actually booking?

QUESTION 07What does our coverage include, from start to finish?

My full day coverage runs from morning preparations through to the first dance, and I often stay longer depending on what’s happening. I bloody love a busy dance floor. If you’ve got something happening later on that you really want photos of, tell me so we can talk it through.

“Full day” can mean different things depending on who you book. Check when they arrive, when they leave and what happens if things run late. Nobody wants to discover their photographer has finished just before the bit they were most excited about.

My pricing page explains the options I offer. If you’re not sure what you need, tell me about the day and we’ll work it out.

QUESTION 08Would a second photographer add something to our plans?

I’d never try to upsell a couple on booking a second photographer. I’d only recommend one if I really thought it would help get the photos you want.

I mainly mention it if you both want getting-ready photos in the morning and you’re getting ready far apart. One of us can be with each of you, rather than me trying to squeeze both locations into one morning.

The other time is if you want lots of group photos but still want plenty of candids of your guests. While I’m doing the groups, the second photographer can photograph what everyone else is getting up to.

If someone recommends a second photographer, ask what they’d add to your wedding, what it costs and who would be coming along. It should make sense for your plans.

QUESTION 09What is the full price, and when do we pay?

With me, a £300 deposit and signed booking agreement secure your date. The rest is due two weeks before the wedding. If there are extra travel costs or an overnight stay is needed, I’ll tell you before you book.

You can find my current packages on the pricing page. Whoever you’re booking, check the full cost, including travel, any applicable VAT and extras you’re thinking about. Ask what extra hours would cost too. It’s much easier to sort that out now than have a surprise bill later.

QUESTION 10What happens if you’re too ill to photograph our wedding?

In 12 years of doing this, I’ve never missed a wedding. But if I were so ill that I couldn’t be there, this is what I’d do.

First, I’d message five photographers I work really closely with. They have a similar style to me and I trust them with my life, so they’d be my first people to ask. They’d photograph the wedding and I’d edit the photos afterwards to keep the editing consistent with my work.

If none of them were free, I’d put a request into an emergency cover group with over 500 photographers. I’d check the work and suitability of anyone available before arranging cover.

Only if I couldn’t find anyone suitable and free to photograph your day would I unfortunately have to issue a refund.

It’s also worth asking about backup cameras and what happens if equipment packs in. That’s a separate question from what happens if the photographer is ill.

QUESTION 11How do you look after the photographs before delivery?

Ask how your photographer keeps the photos safe between taking them and sending you the gallery. What happens if a camera, memory card or hard drive stops working? Where are the extra copies kept?

You don’t need to understand every technical detail. Ask them to explain it in a way that makes sense to you, then make your own backups once you’ve downloaded the finished photos too.

QUESTION 12What if we need to postpone or cancel?

If you cancel your wedding within six months of the date, my cancellation policy requires the full remaining balance to be paid. I’ve kept that date for you and could have booked another wedding, so a cancellation that close means a loss of earnings.

Have a read through the booking agreement before paying, and ask me about anything you’re unsure of. If you need to move the date, get in touch so we can talk about it and check the postponement terms.

03 / After the wedding

And what happens to the photos afterwards?

QUESTION 13How many photos will we get?

I can never give you an exact number because every wedding is different. On average, though, I deliver 800+ edited photos for a full day’s coverage. That gives you a rough idea, rather than a number I can promise for every wedding.

Ask to see a full gallery and you’ll get a much better idea of what you’d receive. Have a look at what’s actually in there, rather than just comparing who’s offering the biggest number.

If there’s something you’d like editing or retouching, ask me about it before booking and we can chat it through.

QUESTION 14When do we get our photos, and how long do they stay online?

My full wedding galleries usually arrive within 2–4 weeks. When it’s busy, it can take six weeks or longer, and I’ll keep you updated. You’ll get a private online gallery with high-resolution JPEGs to download, print and share with your family and friends.

I tell my couples their edited JPEGs will stay hosted in their galleries until I retire from photography. I can’t give you a guaranteed number of years, though, so please download them and keep your own local backup as well. It’s always good to have your own copy safely tucked away.

If you’re comparing photographers, ask when the photos will be ready, whether they send previews and how long you can access the gallery. Check what you’re allowed to do with the files too, including printing, sharing and passing photos to other suppliers.

QUESTION 15Can we ask you not to share our wedding photos online?

Of course. Just let me know and I’ll happily keep them private. It’s your personal wedding at the end of the day, not a social media marketing tool for me.

I’m always grateful that my couples let me share their weddings, when I actually find the time to post them, anyway! But you don’t have to. And if there are people or parts of the day you don’t want photographed, tell me so we can chat about that too.

A bit of everything.

Getting ready, the ceremony, group photos, food, speeches and everyone getting stuck into the party. Here are a few from different weddings I’ve photographed. Have a look at the guests and the little bits going on as well as the couple photos. And if you fancy seeing a full gallery, just ask.

A few more things couples ask.

How many photographers should we speak to?

There’s no right number. Find a few whose photos you like, check their dates and prices, then have a chat with your favourites. Once you’ve found someone you like and you’re happy with what you’re booking, you don’t have to keep looking forever.

Do we need to send a wedding photo shot list?

A short list of your groups and any people or moments I wouldn’t otherwise know about is handy. You don’t need to write me a minute-by-minute photography script, though. Tell me what matters to you, then leave some room for the things that just happen.

What should we have ready for the first call?

Your date, venue, rough ceremony time and what you’d like photographed. That’s plenty to get us started. You don’t need to have the whole wedding planned before we speak.

Can we book you for just a few hours?

Yes. If you’re having a smaller wedding or only want a few hours photographed, have a look at my bespoke coverage. Tell me your date and what you’ve got planned and I’ll check what’s available.

Do we need a pre-wedding shoot?

No, it’s completely optional. If you fancy some photos together before the wedding and a chance to get used to being photographed, we can chat about a couple shoot. You don’t need one to feel comfortable on the day, though.

Should we tell you about particular guests?

Definitely. I won’t automatically know who’s travelled halfway round the world to be there or which friend you haven’t seen in years. Tell me about the people who matter to you and any photos you’d really like. A little heads-up is much more useful than hoping I’ll somehow work it out!

Do we have to do a first dance or other traditions?

Nope. It’s your wedding. If you don’t fancy a first dance, cake cutting or bouquet toss, you don’t need to add them for the photos. Tell me what you are doing and I’ll photograph that. We’ll chat through the timings too, so it’s clear when your coverage finishes.

Can we include our dog in the photos?

I bloody love animals! If your dog can make it, definitely bring them. I’d love to meet them and get some lovely photos of your pet!

Fancy a chat?

If you like the photos and think we’d get on, send me your date, venue and a bit about the wedding. Bring your questions too. I’m happy to chat it through.

LET’S HAVE A CHAT

Questions to Ask Your Wedding Photographer Before You Book

Questions to ask your
wedding photographer.