How to Hire a Wedding Photographer

Or, 3 questions to ask when considering a photographer for your wedding.

Having jumped in with both feet and with my camera gear strapped to my back into the world of wedding photography, I have quickly learned that being a wedding photographer is very (VERY) hard work. If you are jumping into wedding photography with the romantic view of only working weekends and being able to charge huge amounts of money for very little work, think again.

I have worked as a professional photographer for almost 5 years now, specialising mostly in corporate events. I shot my first wedding earlier this year and totally and utterly loved it, which is why I have now switched direction to concentrate almost entirely on photographing weddings and events.

One of the things I have noticed when working with wedding couples is that they don’t tend to ask very many questions. Of course, it’s my job as a wedding photographer to give them as much information as possible about what to expect when it comes to photographing their wedding.

However, if you are in the position of looking for a photographer for your wedding, here are some important questions that I think you should be asking to make sure that the photographer you are talking with is the right one for you.

Why did you get into wedding photography?

It’s quite an obvious question, really. But. It’s one I am rarely asked. There are lots of reasons why photographers get into wedding photography, so, there is no right or wrong answer to the question.

What the answer will give you is a good insight into the person you are thinking of hiring to photograph one of the most important days of your life.

I got into wedding photography after I was asked by a friend whether I would consider photographing a wedding they were helping to organize. It’s an area of photography I had often thought about for many reasons, so, I decided to shoot that first wedding.

The moment I clicked the shutter at that wedding I knew I was hooked on wedding photography. I have a documentary style of photography that suits events and weddings well.

I also love photographing people. Which is a bit of a photographer cliché. But. It’s true. Having photographed corporate events for the last few years, I always enjoyed meeting and photographing people that I wouldn’t usually get to meet. From authors, CEOs, scientists, celebrities to futurists. I would get to talk with them, know them, photograph them, and, capture their story.

I have the same feeling at weddings. I get to meet people who I might not usually meet and share in one of the most important days of their lives. And. Most importantly, I get to capture their stories.

In short, I am a photographer, people person, and a storyteller. Weddings are ideal for pursuing all those passions to tell the story of a couple’s wedding day.

Can you explain your pricing?

You have probably gathered by now that wedding photography is an area with little consistency when it comes to how much photographers charge. Some photographers charge a lot, some almost nothing, and, a lot charge something in between.

Some photographers have a never ending list of packages with different options, while others keep it simple. Some photographers list their prices on their website, and, some don’t.

Firstly, just because a photographer doesn’t list their prices on their website it doesn’t automatically mean they are expensive. It simply means that they want you to concentrate on seeing their work first rather than initially focuising on pricing.

Whether a photographer lists their prices or not, asking them to explain their prices is a good way to determine whether you are talking to a photographer who is serious about wedding photography.

If they can explain their prices and why they charge what they charge, it’s a good indicator that they have put a lot of thought and effort into the “business” of wedding photography.

I don’t list my prices on my website. You need to contact me and ask me what my prices are. My prices are fee based though, which means I charge a basic fee for shooting a pre-wedding session, the main part of the wedding day, the first part of the reception, and a bride and groom portrait session.

I then charge additional fees for shooting the bride and groom’s morning preparations and the reception until midnight. The basic fee includes digital delivery of the photos in high resolution within 7 to 10 days of the wedding.

I charge the fees that I charge because I have worked as a professional for photographer for almost 5 years. My fees are based on couple’s investing in that experience.

In short, as with everything else, you get what you pay for, and, wedding photography is no exception.

Wedding photographers who are serious about what they do will charge reasonable prices based in their experience and what they provide. If the price sounds too good to be true, well, it probably is.

The real value of a good photographer isn’t in the number of photos they promise to deliver or how quickly they promise to deliver them. The value is their experience, skill, storytelling abilities, attention to the right details, and their creativite approach to photographing your wedding.

Are we a good match as client and photographer?

This might seem like an odd question. I mean, most wedding photographers are in the business of photographing weddings, so, why on earth would they worry about whether you match?

Let me share a wedding photography secret with you. Any wedding photographer who is serious about what they do will actually turn potential clients away if they feel they aren’t a good match as a client. That means, you as a couple need to ask yourselves the same question about the photographer.

What does being a good match mean? In short, do you get on? Do you feel the photographer understands what you want from your wedding day? Does the work on their website match the sort of photos you expect to have? And, when you get to discussing how much it all costs, does it sound reasonable for what they offer?

There are no right or wrong answers here. Your needs and requirements as a wedding couple are unique. By actually asking a potential wedding photographer whether you are a good match for them as a client should kickstart a discussion about whether you can work together on your wedding day.

It takes teamwork and the ability to discuss and understand the details of the wedding day to be able to work together as client and photographer. Think about it, although your wedding day is a special day, it’s likely that through the day you will be emotional, stressed, elated, and, at times, even tearful, which makes it vital that you work with a photographer you get along with.

Asking whether you are a good match as a client and a photographer will help you decide whether you can work together on one of the most important and emotional days of your life.

I hope these questions will help you in your search for the right photographer for your wedding. Wedding photography is more than just a service, it really is a vocation, a pursuit of art and passion, which is why it’s so important to ask the right questions and get a gut feeling as to whether a particular wedding photographer is right for you.

I will be writing more on this subject now that I have started writing on Medium. If you would like to connect with me, please do drop by the Just Weddings website, where you can see some of my work and find out where I am elsewhere on social media.