Finding a wedding photographer that you feel comfortable around is almost as crucial as their skills behind the camera! So don’t be shy, once you have narrowed down your search ask to meet in person or video. You will be spending a lot of time with your photographer on your wedding day (and before), if they can put you at easy, you will not only enjoy your big day more but also get more genuine and natural photos.
A great questions to start with is how long have you been photographing weddings and how many do you typically do a year?
Get a sense of your photographers experience and workload. Some photographer’s business model is to book a ton of weddings and others limit the amount they do a year. I am a photographer that limits the amount of weddings I do a year so I have more quality of service and photos not just quantity. I want to give you the best service and photography and that takes time.
Will the photos be edited or retouched? If so how many?
Some photographers edit or retouch a certain amount of photos of your wedding day, leaving the rest to look not as polished. And other edit all photos. It is important to ask how many photos you may receive just to get an idea. For instance I edit all your photos so they look cohesive and amazing also a typical wedding usually will contain 700 to 1000 photos.
How would you describe your style of photography and can I see a portfolio?
Words like: photojournalistic, romantic, formal, documentary, or traditional may come to a photographers mind and use frequently BUT these mean different things to different people. Ask the photographer to walk you through why they describe their “style” in that way. And never hesitate to ask to see a portfolio or full wedding gallery.
I describe my style as inspired, meaningful and romantic. What this means to me is that I am inspired by YOU and your vision. I take time to get to know you and your fiance (one of my favorite parts)! I am always looking to photograph special moments right before a kiss, grandma and grandpa dancing, or dad holding his baby girls hand tight.
What do you love about photographing weddings?
This is one of the most important question to ask to help you get a sense of your potential photographer’s personality, and to see if they seem genuinely excited to be a part of your wedding day. And remember if your personalities do not jive or you don’t feel comfortable with that person it may NOT be a good fit! I can’t tell you how many times I have heard horror stories of how their photographer was too bossy, mean, weird, not around much, showed up in jeans, you name it. So trust your instincts and look for someone who is only going to put you at ease and add to the wonder of the day!
Will you be my actual photographer, or will it be one of your associates?
This is an important question to ask! If the photographer is a part of a company or has associate photographers the person you are getting to know may NOT be the person that shows up on wedding day. I have an associate photographer but I will always be at all my weddings and be your point of contact at all times.
How many photographers shoot at a wedding?
The answer to this really depends on the size of your wedding. If you’re having a smaller wedding, one photographer may be okay. But if you are having a larger wedding, you’ll likely need at least one if not two additional shooters. I have learned over the years that I ALWAYS bring a second shooter (another photographer) to every wedding no matter how small or big! We truly are the ‘dream team’ and no matter the size of the wedding we want to capture it all!
How do you like to schedule a wedding day?
It might seem like a strange question to ask a wedding photographer, but it’s not at all! It is essential for a photographer to have good time management skills and be able to create a photography timeline for your day. Their ability to stay on schedule and bring their experience and knowledge to the table will affect how your wedding day plays out! I walk each bride through their wedding day timeline helping allocate time for every shot they want and need. I work with other vendors such a florist, planners, dj etc. to make sure we are all on the same page.
What are your packages and can we customize them?
Ask to see their pricing and what each package includes. Ask if you can customize your package, take something away or add an hour. Can the photographer be flexible and work with you and your budget? All of my packages are customizable and most of the time we do “create your own” package. Because everyone is different and every wedding is different!
What will our communication look like from now until the wedding?
Find out what kind of care and communication you will be receiving. Will they be sending you questionnaires? What kind of info will they need? Their answers may help you to see how involved, proactive and organized they maybe.
How long after the wedding do we get to see the photos?
Find out how long it may take the photographer to send you some or all of your images. And how you will receive them, CD, USB, on line gallery. Industry standard of time to get your images by varies a ton depending on the amount of retouching, work load, etc. But on average 3 to 4 weeks.
After a wedding (24 to 48 hours) I love to give my newlyweds a sneak peek for them to relive the evening and share with friends and family. Then your entire album will be completed all edited (retouched) in high resolution ready for printing within 4 to 6 weeks.
Heather Sherrill Photography specializes in wedding and portrait photography. I am booking for 2018 and 2019 I limit the amount of weddings I do a year so I can give you the individual attention and care! Spots fill up quickly if you are interested lets chat! Oh and did I mention I love to travel! If you wedding is out of state or country no problem!
