10 Crucial Questions to Ask Your Wedding Photographer Before You Book
10 Crucial Questions to Ask Your Wedding Photographer Before You Book
Choosing the right photographer is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your wedding—and knowing which questions to ask your wedding photographer can mean the difference between “just fine” and “absolutely unforgettable.” In this guide, we cover the 10 essential questions every couple needs to ask. Follow these best practices to secure a pro who matches your style, vibe, and expectations—without any surprises.
1. What’s Your Photography Style and Approach?
Every photographer has a signature style—whether it’s bright and airy, moody and dramatic, or candid photojournalism. A lot of times these are a bunch of buzz words and mean something to each photographer. Ask them to walk you through two very different weddings they’ve shot. Pay attention to how they discuss lighting choices, color palettes, and composition.
- Pro tip: Ask a your wedding photographer what aspect of the wedding is their favorite part to capture and why. This will give you great insight into their creative process. If you are looking for a candid photographer and they say portraits. You may want to go a different direction.
2. Can We See Full Galleries?
A lot of folks like to ask how many weddings a photographer has shot to gauge how good they are. While I understand this question, there are better questions to ask. To this day one of my best weddings was from my first year as a photographer and there are still images in my portfolio from that wedding.
The question you need to be asking is to see full galleries. This will give you a much better idea of their quality from start to finish. Highlight reels are great for Instagram, but full galleries tell the real story of a wedding day.
When looking at full galleries pay attention to:
- Are skin tones consistent across different lighting setups?
- Do they nail critical moments—exit from the ceremony, cake cutting, first dance?
- Do the indoor photos & harsh sun photos look good? Any one can crush it on a cloudy day.
- Can you feel the emotion?
Red‑Flag Checklist:
- Inconsistent Skin Tones: If a couple looks rosy in one shot and washed‑out in the next, the editing may be uneven.
- Blown‑Out Highlights or Blocked Shadows: Key emotional moments lost in overexposure or underexposure are hard to fix later.
- Missing Moments: A truly thorough photographer captures every peak of the day. If you don’t see important events in the gallery, ask why.
- Being far away: If every photo is captured at a distance, you won’t be able to feel the emotion in the same way.
Having this checklist at your fingertips helps you judge both technical skill and follow‑through.
Want to see some a full gallery?
3. Who Will Actually Be Shooting Our Wedding?
It’s easy to assume the person you meet is the one showing up on your date. In reality, many studios employ associates or second shooters. Make sure you know:
- Lead vs. Associate: Who is the primary photographer, and who are the others?
- Experience: Can you see a portfolio of work specifically shot by each team member?
4. What’s Included in Your Packages—and What Costs Extra?
Packages vary wildly from one photographer to the next. Beyond hours of coverage, dig into details like:
- Engagement or bridal sessions
- Number of images delivered
- Album or print credits
- Digital negatives versus print rights
Ask about overtime fees, travel expenses, meal stipends, and gratuities upfront. A transparent photographer will lay everything out clearly so you won’t be hit with surprise line items later.
5. What Happens If Something Goes Wrong?
No one expects gear failures or sudden illness, but every professional photographer prepares for the unexpected. Your questions should cover:
- Backup Gear: Do they bring multiple camera bodies, lenses, batteries, and memory cards?
- Substitute Plan: In the unlikely event of injury or emergency, do they have a trusted colleague on standby?
6. Do You Carry Liability Insurance and Have Contracts?
A polished contract protects everyone involved. But legal jargon can be daunting. Ask for a sample, then review these five key terms together:
Quick‑Glance Contract Glossary
- Force Majeure: Explains what happens if an act of God—like a storm or power outage—prevents the wedding.
- Deposit & Cancellation: Details on how much is refundable (or non‑refundable) and under what conditions.
- Image Usage Rights: Clarifies who owns the final files, where you can share them, and any limitations on printing.
- Overtime Fees: The cost per extra hour if your celebration runs long.
- Indemnification Clause: Specifies liability limits if equipment or property damage occurs.
A photographer who walks you through these terms in plain English is one who values your peace of mind.
7. What’s Your Editing Process and Delivery Timeline?
Couples want to relive their wedding day, but timelines can vary. Get clarity on:
- Sneak Peeks: Will you see a handful of highlights within the first few days?
- First Gallery Delivery: How many images and in what format (online gallery, USB drive)?
- Final Edits: What retouching is included, and when will the complete gallery be live?
- Gallery Access: How long does your online gallery remain available for downloads and sharing?
8. Can We Provide a Shot List or Must‑Have Family/Formal Poses?
Most photographers welcome shot lists, but every added request shifts timing. Talk through:
- Family Shots: Which relatives are non‑negotiable?
- Timeline Integration: How will formal portraits fit around first looks, portraits, and reception events?
9. Do You Offer Engagement or Bridal Portrait Sessions?
Engagement and bridal shoots serve two purposes: building rapport and ironing out logistics. Ask about:
- Location Selection: Do they recommend spots based on lighting and background?
- Wardrobe Guidance: How many outfit changes work best, and which colors pop on camera?
Couples often tell me their initial nerves melt away after a fun engagement session—something well worth bundling into your package.
10. What’s Your Personality and Communication Style Like?
At the end of the day, hiring a wedding photographer is like adding a friend to your celebration. Your photographer will be with you more than any other vendor. Make sure you actually enjoy them as a person.
Other Questions to ask Your Wedding Photographer Before You Book
FAQ’s
Where Do You Serve?
While many of the weddings we photograph are in Bozeman, we spend many weekends on the road photographing all over Montana and Nationwide at this point the furthest we have photographed is Chicago. That being said we are always ready for a new adventure anywhere in the world!
How many photographers will be at our wedding?
Since every wedding day is unique, we customize our collections to be a perfect fit for you. Sometimes a second photographer makes a lot of sense, while others they may be overwhelming for you and your guests. In general, we recommend a second photographer for weddings with over 150 people
When is the best time to book?
If you think Charles Moll Photography is a good fit for your wedding day, I highly recommend booking ASAP, especially if you are getting married during peak season (June-October). To provide our clients with the best experience possible, we only take 20 weddings per year. To reserve your date we require a signed contract and a retainer.
How many Photographs can we expect to receive?
When you receive your final gallery there will be loads of photos of you and all your loved ones. Since every wedding is different, I can’t give you hard numbers. However, couples generally receive between 500 and 1000 images depending on the length of time I am there and the activities taking place on the wedding day.
Will You be Photographing our wedding?
You bet I will! We are a small studio committed to providing you with exceptional wedding photography. As an artist, every wedding I document whether solo or with a team, I pour my heart and soul into. Every image is individually edited with care by me. This is to ensure the highest level of quality.
How many hours of wedding photography do you recommend?
As a documentary photographer, I am focused on capturing moments. Unfortunately, meaningful moments don’t happen on a set schedule. For a standard wedding day I am a huge advocate of opting for “full-day” coverage. This way you aren’t locked into a set number of hours and your entire day will be documented. A large majority of our couples end up going this way as it is a huge stress relief when building out your wedding timeline since I won’t be leaving until the day is finished.
Conclusion
As you wrap up your wedding planning, don’t forget that the questions to ask your wedding photographer are just as important as your venue tour or cake tasting. By covering your must-have shots, their contingency plans, turnaround times, and rights, you’ll walk into your big day with confidence—knowing that you and your photographer are perfectly in sync. So take a moment to review your list of questions to ask your wedding photographer, fill in any gaps, and schedule that final consultation. Asking the right questions to ask your wedding photographer now means beautiful, stress‑free memories you’ll cherish forever.
