When it comes to what questions to ask your photographer before hiring them it can be intimidating to know exactly what to ask, let alone know what answers you’re looking for. But don’t worry, that’s why I’m here! As a seasoned wedding photographer myself I’ve definitely been asked a lottt of questions over the years. This has given me the opportunity to put together this list of the ones I’ve found to be the most important! These questions play such an important piece in the hiring process for the client so they get to know you and how you operate!

Making sure you (the client) and your photographer are on the same page is such a crucial part so there are no unmet expectations or miscommunications. Especially when it comes to planning a wedding. To ensure that doesn’t happen you want to make sure you ask all the questions that will set up those expectations leading up to the wedding and after!

Below is a list of 5 questions that I believe are extremely important and helpful to ask your photographer before you hire them! You should feel comfortable asking them these questions along with your own that you may think of. It’s so important that you find a photographer that really understands your vision and wants to bring those ideas and moments to life. So without further ado, here are the most important questions to ask your photographer before hiring them.

1. What’s Your Turn Around Time?

This is a very important question to ask as you’ll want to ensure the turnaround time both allows them enough time to edit your photos with care and also isn’t too long of a wait for you! The typical time is anywhere from 4-6 weeks. That should be plenty of time for them to sort through and select the best out of the bunch and edit them with care and precision. I always deliver a sneak peek gallery within 48 hours of the wedding and the full gallery is delivered within 4-6 weeks!

2. What’s The Best Way To Communicate Information With You?

Everyone has their own personal form of communicating, but you need to make sure it’s clear and you know how to best get information from them ensuring you can reach out and ask questions or touch base with the process. The last thing you want is to not be able to communicate properly and there to be miscommunications due to lack of information. When it comes to communicating information, I love to keep it all on email so we don’t lose any important details! I definitely don’t mind texting with my couples though to make sure communication is flowing!

3. Do You Offer Payment Plans?

It is so extremely important to make sure you have the payment process agreed upon beforehand. Every photographer has their own process, but typically a deposit is made beforehand, and then either you set up a payment plan together using whatever service they use. Whatever the preferred method is, just make sure it’s clearly understood between both parties and it works for YOU as the client.

I’m happy to use payment plans as I totally understand photography is typically a large chunk of the wedding budget. I do require a 20% non-refundable retainer fee at the time of booking to get your date on the calendar. After that I’m happy to break up the rest into smaller payments to be completed before the wedding date!

4. Why Do You Do Wedding Photography?

Asking this really gives the photographer the opportunity to share their heart and passion with you. It gives the opportunity to make sure you connect well and share the same goals for your wedding day. You want to know that they love what they do and take pride in their craft because that shows they will dedicate themselves to making sure your photographs are exactly what you have envisioned.

I absolutely love photographing couples on their wedding day. My experience with our wedding photographer was amazing, which led me to enjoy being the calm presence for others on their special days. Both the art of photography and the people I document are why I chose wedding photography. It is through photography that I can serve and love others!

5. What Is Your Approach To Posing?

This is such a great question to help give you a bit of a plan/layout of the day and get a glimpse of the way that they work. It’s easy to get nervous about knowing how to pose and what to do when you’re in front of the camera, so having an idea of what they’ll have you do is super helpful! Another good question that goes along with this is figuring out what the most important shots are that you want to make sure you get. That way you won’t have to remember or think about it on your wedding day and will be able to relax and live in the moment.

When it comes to posing my couples, I strive for natural movements that give candid vibes in the photographs. I love unposed moments, but I also offer guidance so that you feel confident and comfortable in front of the camera. The last thing I want you to worry about is how you look! I just want you to remember how you feel in the moment.

Hopefully this will help you during the process of hiring your photographer and gives you an idea of what questions to ask!

For more helpful tips and ideas, click here for my blog page! If you want to work together to make your dream pictures become a reality, you can contact me by clicking here!

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Kind Words

” Sam is SO wonderful to take photos with. As someone who’s rarely felt comfortable in front of a camera, Sam has taken some of my favorite pictures of us. She was our wedding photographer and has taken anniversary pics for us since then. She was such a steady and enduring force on our wedding day. With Sam, you get more than a photographer — you get a friend, comfort, and the kindest blessing you could wish for. ”

– Shelby