As a requested article, I’ve put together this list of frequent questions to ask your wedding photographer!
HOW MANY SLICES OF WEDDING CAKE HAVE YOU EATEN?
You may ask, how many weddings have you shot? I’ve photographed over 400 weddings. Prior to making the full time leap, I’ve assisted at ~150 weddings. I’ve had my fair share of cake.
NO CAKE SHAMING.
Justification: I walk over 20,000 steps on a wedding day. I deserve this.
This is the most frequently asked question in real life. I figured it deserved a spot in this “Questions to ask a wedding photographer” list
WHAT IF WE AREN’T SERVING DESSERT ON OUR WEDDING DAY?
*eyebrows raised* That’s crazy talk. Don’t be ridiculous.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY STYLE?
In 50 years, I want you and your future family to look at your photo album, and think about how timeless and meaningful these memories are.
Wedding photographers capture moments to tell stories. And I’m here to tell your story.
I’m here to capture joy during the candid moments and create beautiful magazine-worthy portraits that will stand the test of time.
I love what I do and I take it very seriously. I’m here for you and your family, and I intend to do an amazing job on your wedding day.
I’ve been told that I make things easy and comfortable. Some have thanked me for being a calming presence.
Yes, I’ll take comfortably posed family formal portraits. However, I’ll also capture candid photos of moments that you didn’t know even happened.
HOW MUCH DO YOU CHARGE?
Wedding photography starts at 4500
Wedding videography starts at 4500
Engagement sessions start at 1050
My requirement is that I get a slice of your wedding cake. If you’re only serving carrot cake, I will not be your photographer. Vegetables do not belong in dessert.
DO YOU HAVE A VIDEOGRAPHER YOU LIKE TO WORK WITH?
Yes.
My couples love the fact that Karen and I are under one roof. I’ve known her since sophomore year in high school. Like a sports team, orchestra, or a theater group, we practice together constantly and are always in sync. Our teamwork is essential, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
This company started with just me. I had a passion, a curiosity, and a love for creating family heirlooms. Now, ten years later, we’ve grown to be a team of wedding photographers, videographers, designers, and editors. We’re all a little nutty, but I think that’s what make us special.
We work together to give our clients the best service possible, and support each other in more ways than one. We assist each other in all aspects of photography and filmmaking.
8 Reasons to book the same Photo & Video Company
SHOULD I HAVE AN ENGAGEMENT SESSION?
Yes. It’s fun! It’s an awesome way for us to get to know each other, and for you to get some professional photographs to celebrate your engaged life!
Favorite Boston Engagement Session Locations
WILL YOU TRAVEL?
I am happy travel all over the world for weddings. I am based out of Boston (good ol’ Logan airport).
To date, I’ve photographed in 55 countries on 6 continents. I’m no stranger to airports (and travel hacking). I used to be a traveling management consultant. I’ve got this. I may charge a travel fee but it’s best to contact me so we can talk about it.
HOW FAR IN ADVANCE DO I NEED TO BOOK MY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER?
Most Boston couples reach out to me between 3 months to 18 years before their wedding date.
HOW DO I BOOK YOU AS MY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER?
Our studio needs two things to secure your date:
1. A signed online contract
2. 50% as your non-refundable retainer
HOW LONG AFTER THE WEDDING WILL I GET TO SEE THE PHOTOGRAPHS?
My studio’s contract says 6 weeks until you can receive your wedding photos. In 2019, all weddings were delivered within 3 weeks.
HOW DO WE DESIGN MY WEDDING ALBUM?
This is our FAVORITE PART. Prior to your wedding, we’ll set a Design Session, typically about three weeks after your wedding.
Karen will invite you over to our studio or send you a Zoom link so that you all can virtually design your wedding album together.
We’re happy to help you select a list of favorites, design each page of your album together, and guide you through cover design options.
Many of our couples will also send us photos of walls in their home, and we can create digital mockups of what large framed printed or the modern look of frameless prints would look like in those spaces!
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN BUSINESS?
You need to ask your wedding photographer about this since expertise do matter if you want your wedding photo to be excellent. As for me, I left my full time job as a management consultant in 2010 and have been a full time photographer and videographer ever since.
CAN I SEE SOME FULL WEDDING GALLERIES THAT YOU HAVE PHOTOGRAPHED AT MY VENUE?
Absolutely! Tell me a bit about your wedding and I’d be more than happy to share some full galleries with you.
DO YOU HAVE BACKUP EQUIPMENT? WHAT IF YOUR ENTIRE GEAR BAG GETS STOLEN ON THE DAY OF OUR WEDDING?
I plan for “worst-case” scenarios with my team. Everything from… what if my pants rip, to what if my favorite lens gets stolen, to what if one camera suddenly malfunctions. I like to be prepared. It calms me.
My camera always stays on me, even when I go to the bathroom.
Take a peek into Nicole’s camera bags!
WHAT TIME WILL YOU ARRIVE AT THE SITE?
I’m one of those obnoxious friends that always arrives early, then texts you to say, “I parked and am here!”…all while you’re still at home getting your hair done.
IF MY EVENT LASTS LONGER THAN EXPECTED, WILL YOU STAY?
Happy to. Usually about 30 minutes before your wedding hours of coverage ends, I’ll check in with you. If you’d like me to hang and stay to photograph more of the party, I’m happy to. Additional hours are charged at an hourly rate
WHAT IS YOUR PHOTO EDITING PROCESS?
First, we sift through all of the photographs, take out the photographs with blinking people as well as the ones that are out of focus. We’re left with our final set, and that’s about 500-900 photographs for a standard 8 hour wedding day.
We then apply our secret sauce of post-processing magic. This magic includes color correction, to make sure that you and your families don’t look like oompa loompas. It also makes sure that lighting and exposure looks real and natural. Finally, we throw in a little boost of color, contrast, and voila, your photograph is done
I’D LIKE TO SEND THE PHOTOGRAPHS TO MY VENDORS. IS THAT OKAY?
Please have your vendors contact us for commercial usage for your photographs.
Photographers always hold the copyright to their photographs, and while my couples will have personal rights to print, other businesses do not have that right. Usage depends on how they are using the photographs and where. Often times, a link back to our site crediting our work is all we’ll ask.
CAN YOU PROVIDE MY VENUE WITH A CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE (COI?)
Absolutely.
I wish all couples would add this to their “Questions to ask your wedding photographer” list because it would greatly decrease the amount of horror stories that I hear.
WHAT OTHER QUESTIONS SHOULD BE ON MY “QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER” LIST?
Can I see a full wedding gallery at a venue that has similar lighting condition to mine?
I always advise to look at full galleries of weddings that are similar to yours. Our full galleries are between 500-900 photographs for an eight hour wedding photography coverage.
If you are having an evening reception in a spacious city ballroom with tall ceilings, a portfolio filled with beautiful outdoor wedding dinners in Southern California may not be reflective of your future wedding photographs.
Is there anything unique about your wedding that you would like your photographer to have specific knowledge or familiarity about? Perhaps cultural traditions? A gentle, but assertive personality to corral blended family dynamics?
