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5 Questions to Ask Your Wedding Photographer Before Your Book! | Hawaii Wedding Photographer | Wedding Wednesday Tips

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Hello Wednesday!

Another #weddingwednesday is here, and today, I wanted to share with you what I think YOU should be asking your wedding photographer!5 questions to ask your wedding photographer

As a prior bride and a wedding photographer, I think it’s important that you should ask your wedding photographers all of the questions you have before you book them.

Of course, there is many more questions that you should ask your photographer, but these are the  5 that I came up with to start you off (I may make more blog posts in the future with more questions as well, so stay tuned for that!). You will notice that my top 5 questions have nothing to do with price, and while I know that is clearly important, I want you to think more than just price, because these are your memories, the most important day of your life. Shopping for a wedding photographer based solely on price isn’t the way I want you to think!

Grab a cup of coffee and a notebook, and check out the questions below!5 questions to ask your wedding photographer

5 Questions to Ask Your Wedding Photographer Before You Book

What is your editing style?

This is important because you want to know what your wedding images will look like when you receive them. There are many different types of editing styles these days- light and airy, dark and moody, film, vibrant, and the list goes on and on. When you look on a photographers website, look for a cohesive blend of images. This way, you know exactly what their style is and what you should expect. If you reach a website with so many different types of editing, you want to make a note of that and explain to them what you are looking for. For me, while I can edit in a different style, that is not my brand. You can see on my portfolio that my work is definitely on the light and airy side. I have turned down clients because while I can edit, lets say dark and moody, that isn’t ME. It’s not MY brand, and it’s not what I specialize in. Find the look that you are wanting to stare at for years to come!sunrise wedding couple

 What is included in your packages?

This is yet another important question as you should know what you are paying for! Make sure you understand what you are getting. Digital files, Prints, Albums, etc. Are you paying al a carte for your package? Is it all in one? Will you have to pay for prints/images after? How many images can I expect? Again, understand the package that you are choosing!Bridal Portrait at Hale Koa Estates in Hawaii

How Long Have You Been Photographing Weddings?

Now, depending on who is reading this, my professional answer may not be what everyone wants to here, but I want to give you what I think is the most honest answer. I think you should know how long your photographer has been photographing weddings. Not photographing in general, but photographing weddings! I keep harping on that part, but let me tell you why. Wedding photography is a whole new ball game. As a photographer, you may be fantastic at photographing newborns, maternity, or families. But that does not necessary mean they will be fantastic at weddings! Why? Technically, they understand their camera and how it works and how to take a great picture. But are they ready to photograph an 8 hour wedding? Do they understand the flows of the wedding day? Are they good on the fly, and still able to capture your memories? Do they know that when the bride is walking down the aisle, to turn and grab a shot of the groom’s face? Are they able to corral potential tipsy groomsman for photos? The list goes on and on! Not every photographer can be great at weddings, and that’s why I stress for you to ask them this particular question. **FYI, does that mean that a photographer with not as much wedding experience won’t be great? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!**Bridal Portrait at Lanikai Beach

 Ask to see a complete wedding portfolio!

Let me be real with you, and you probably already know this. As photographers, we put our best work online! Why? Cause that’s what marketers do! We are selling you our vision and images, so our best work is up front! BUT, do not book a wedding photographer based on what you see on our IG, Facebook, even our website! Ask for a full wedding gallery. You want to see the before shots, the family shots, the in-between shots, the reception, etc. Now, of course, every wedding is different! But, you want to see a full day wedding gallery to see again, typically what to expect and what your gallery could potentially look like!

Weddings at Kualoa Ranch Molii Gardens
Do You Have Insurance?

This is a big one that I don’t think many clients ask. Professional wedding photographers should have the proper insurance for their business. Insurance protects the photographer against equipment theft, but more importantly, it provides liability protection in case Uncle Joe trips over the photographer’s bag and breaks his arm. If a wedding photographer does not have insurance, chances are they are new to the industry or are not taking their business seriously. Also, most wedding venues require that the vendors have insurance as well, to cover them as well. The worse nightmare is for your wedding photographer to show up to your venue, and not able to shoot if the venue asks for a COI (Certificate of Insurance), and they don’t have one!Weddings at Dillingham Ranch

** Vanessa Hicks Photography carries general business, equipment and liability insurance through Statefarm Insurance and also Professional Photographers of America (PPA) insurance.**

This is one of the most important days of your lives. It should be documented and captured the correct way, because these images will be hanging on your walls for years to come. Your children will look at these images. Make sure your photographer is able to do that for you!

 

Would you like to chat and ask me these questions and more for your wedding day? Drop me a line!!

 

Check out more #weddingwednesday tips below:

How to Travel with Your Wedding Dress

Don’t Forget Your Wedding Details

 

 

  1. Lucy says:

    All very important tips. As a wedding photographer, I get asked a lot of these reguarly!

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