Choosing a photographer is one of the biggest choices you’ll make during the wedding planning process. Yes, as a wedding photographer I am biased, but hear me out. Photos are one of the few things that will remain after the cake has been eaten and the guests have gone home. These are the photographs that you’re great-grandkids will admire one day. What I am saying is that these heirlooms are going to be hanging around for, well, forever so you want to be sure they’re EXACTLY what you hoped for!

Your photographer is the person you will spend the most time with on your wedding day.

I’m sure you thought that person was your soon-to-be hubby or wifey but – surprise! It’s us photographers that will be tagging along with you from the quiet getting ready moments until you’re dancing your last dance, surrounded by family and friends. It’s so important that you jive well with the person you will be spending those countless hours with.

I get it, you’ve probably never had to plan a party for 100+ people before, let alone your own wedding! When it comes time to sit down with your prospective photographer and they ask you if you have any questions your mind goes blank, and you’re probably feeling a bit overwhelmed. No worries, we’ve got your back! After meeting with over one-hundred couples I have answered thousands of questions, but I have narrowed them down to the ten that I think really give you an idea of your wedding photographer’s experience level, shooting style, and personality. So here they are:

10 Questions you should ask a wedding photographer (and our answers.)

1. How would you describe your posing and editing style?

It’s no secret that we like our photos to be full of joy and authentic emotion. We achieve this by prompting our couples with silly tasks that sure to make them loosen up, and laugh at each other. When we want those intimate touchy moments we have them chat about their first date, or their favorite day together. We edit with a clean and vibrant style. I have always had a love for bold colors and that shines through in my editing. I also love that true-to-color images never go out of style, creating a timeless look for our couples.

2. How long have you been shooting weddings/how many have you photographed?

This is an important question because it will help you gauge your photographer’s level of experience. Weddings are full of events and unexpected surprises. Seasoned professionals know how to mitigate any mishaps to ensure your day flows smoothly. We have photographed over 100 weddings in the last 7 years. We know how to handle rain, unruly guests, shy grooms, and even carry an emergency kit full of all the things like scissors, which no one ever seems to have on a wedding day. ;)

3. What is your backup plan in case of an emergency?

Emergencies happen, but again, seasoned professionals know how to plan for them and how to handle them, quickly. In the last seven years, we have formed a vast network of professionals photographers and an emergency contact list. If something were to happen to me on your wedding day my 2nd photographer would immediately step in, reach out to our contacts, and bring in another shooter asap. This is why all of our packages include a highly trained 2nd photographer (more on that later.)

4. How do you keep our wedding files safe?

We shoot with top of the line Canon cameras that record to two memory cards simultaneously. Because memory cards are finicky, we believe that it is irresponsible to shoot a wedding without this capability. This means we have a backup of your wedding images immediately. Once your files are uploaded to our computers they are put on to an external hard drive and automatically uploaded to a separate cloud storage. We take backups very seriously, as you can see!

5. What is your turn around time?

We often hear stories of couples waiting months for their wedding photos. That just isn’t the way we do things. Here at SFP we edit as a team, meaning we all work together to deliver your images in under four weeks. We also do a full blog post of over forty images within three weeks and a sneak peek within three days of your wedding.

6. Will we have printing rights to our photos?

Yes. We deliver your edited files in an online gallery where you can download them and order prints wherever your heart desires. We also offer professional prints.

7. Do you have liability insurance?

Yes. This is a MUST HAVE for any wedding professional, it protects you, your guests and the photographer in the case of an accident.

8. Describe your ideal wedding.

This is a great way to get an idea of who your photographer is as an artist and if they’re a good fit for your style. I love the outdoors, so a natural light filled outdoor ceremony gets me excited. To me, the perfect wedding day is all about the couple; there would elements that are 100% unique to them. I adore couples who do things that are out of the ordinary. The vibe of my ideal wedding would be laid back and the bride and groom would get to spend time with all of the people they love most.

9. Do you always shoot with 2 photographers?

Yes! We think a highly trained 2nd shooter is imperative for capturing the many moments that happen on a wedding day. We only hire 2nd photographers who could lead shoot the wedding if needed!

10. Can we view a full gallery?

Of course. After checking out their recent blogs, this is another great way to get a feel for the photographer’s style. You want to pay close attention to the way they shoot things like the reception, family portraits, and candid photos as those are not always displayed on their blog.

Hopefully, this will help you feel well-prepared as you meet with your prospective photographers. We encourage you to do your homework and reach out to multiple photographers to ensure you find the perfect fit! If you’d like to learn more about SFP you can reach out here. We would love to chat with you over coffee at our studio!