Shopping for a wedding photographer is a Very Big Deal. The wedding photographer you invite to your wedding day will be the one who captures your memories that you will look back on for years to come.

Having been in business in the Greater Philadelphia area since 2009, Morby Photography has heard hundreds of questions from brides and grooms who are shopping for a professional wedding photographer. We wanted to provide you with some of the best questions we have received, as well as ones that you should ask to ensure that you are partnering with a photographer who you love and who will do a thorough and professional job on your wedding day.

Experience Questions

Consider this the baseline check of your wedding photographer. Every photographer has to start somewhere. But these sets of questions should help you determine if you’re happy with the experience, knowledge, consistency, and capabilities of your wedding photographer.

How long have you been photographing weddings?

Different photographers have differing levels of experience. Companies like Morby Photography have the breadth of experience across all available photographers, but you may feel more comfortable with a photographer who has more experience or you may want the eye of a photographer who is still developing their style.

Have you photographed weddings similar to the type I am planning?

There are weddings of all types – small, intimate weddings (like backyard weddings) to large, major parties and everything in between. There may also be considerations if your wedding is going to have a strong religious or cultural influence. Knowing that your photographer has experience with these weddings, can give you the peace of mind that they will be able to do their best job no matter what your wedding throws their way.

Can I see samples of your portfolio – particularly recent photos?

You should never purchase from a wedding photographer if you can’t see samples of their photography. Make sure that it is the style that you desire for your wedding day. We recommend looking at all types of photos: indoor, outdoor, group, action, close-up, and wow-factor. Make sure you are happy with the photos that your photographer takes.

Pricing Questions

The price of a photographer can vary widely depending on what type of photographer you are getting for your wedding day. Make sure you understand what you’ll be paying, what the pricing will get you, and any extra fees that you may not expect to see.

What is the price for a photographer and how many hours does that include? What is the cost for additional hours? An additional photographer?

All of these questions ensure that you and your photographer are on the same page when it comes to your budget and their pricing. Misalignment here can lead to a lot of issues down the road. If you’re unsure of anything, now is the time to ask for clarification.

Does your price include editing of the photos?

Not every photographer provides editing for their photos. If you want your photos touched up or perhaps even additional edits, make sure you understand what is included.

Do you charge any fees for travel or for multiple locations?

Typical locations will include the ceremony venue and the reception venue. If you have additional “on-site” locations where you wish to have additional photos taken, make sure that you understand any additional charges. Also, if you have found a must-have photographer, but you’re going to a place that is quite some distance away from the photographer’s core location, make sure you understand any additional travel fees that you may incur.

When must we have the contract signed and what is the process for collecting payments?

This is the basic timeline information. When is the contract due to lock in your photographer and how are payments collected.

Do you have a rescheduling/cancellation policy?

Unfortunately, not all planned weddings make it to the wedding day or they may need rescheduling for various reasons. This question is a case of planning for the best and preparing for the worst. Understand how close to the wedding you can cancel/reschedule and how much of your money may be returned to you if you do indeed cancel or reschedule.

Logistics and Process Questions

How your photographer works can be just as important as what your photographer does. Different photographers have different processes and logistics to keep your day running smoothly.

Do you have our wedding date available?

Don’t forget to ask this question! Do not assume that your chosen photographer will have your wedding date available.

Do you allow specific, planned shots? How would we go about doing that?

Many couples have specific shots in mind – our famous “car shot” is a favorite! Be sure that you are communicating this with your photographer and understand how many of these extra shots they allow and any additional preparation that might need to go into this.

Do you have a backup plan should our photographer be unavailable?

If your photographer becomes unavailable, what happens? In the case of sole photographers, they may have a partner company that they can pass the work to. In the case of a company like Morby Photography, we have additional photographers available throughout the Philadelphia region on your wedding day should an emergency arise and your first choice is no longer available. Understand your options.

Photography Questions

Asking to see a company’s portfolio is important. But additional questions are necessary. These questions get into the specifics of working with the photographer.

What types of photos do you take?

A photographer’s portfolio should give you a good sense of this. However, you may want to ask some more detailed questions and make sure that you have an understanding of what you’ll get from your photographer and if there are shots that they will or won’t take.

Do you shoot with digital, film, or both?

Straightforward, but this question seeks to understand how your photos will be delivered to you along with how easy it might be to share your photos with friends and family.

How do you deliver the photos?

Does your photographer provide the photos on a thumb drive, provided via Dropbox, or through a photo delivery platform? Additionally, you may also want to know what resolution and file type that the photographer delivers the photos in.

Service and Support Questions

Many photographers offer other services and support throughout the process and on the day of your wedding. Use these questions to make sure you understand what else is available to you and what the wedding photographer will and won’t do.

Do you create/build albums of your photography?

Some photographers strictly do the photography and you must find your own album designer. Other photography companies, like Morby Photography, have our own, in-house album designer and will work with you to create albums that you can proudly display on a coffee table and share with family and friends.

Can I take my photos to a different vendor to build the albums? What kind of license do I have to the photos?

Be aware of the license restrictions that may exist on your photos. Some photographers place limitations on your ability to take the photos to a competing platform. Others will require an additional fee to allow for a full license to your photos. Make sure you understand your rights and the rights of the photographer to your photos.

Can I have access to all my photos?

This might sound like a silly question, but thousands of photos may be taken throughout your day – the good ones AND the ones where the bride sneezed at the wrong moment or the ring bearer explores his nasal cavities. While you may not want ALL your photos, it is good to know if you can have access or are able to get all photos that were selected by the photographer.

Summary

A bit of preparation and investigation with your photographer can go a long way to ensure that you will be happy with your wedding day photography. Are there any questions we missed? Contact us – we’re happy to chat with you about your wedding day!

Let us capture your moments

Our photographers and team are ready to help you capture those moments that truly matter.
Contact us today!