what to ask photographer?

Most importantly is to see his portfolio. Discuss with him the kind of photographs you like and be honest about anything you're not so keen on. Remember that his job is to take the kind of photos you are after, not to take lots of arty abstract photos that leave you wondering what's going on.

Ask how long it'll be before you can see your photos. How much each print will cost, and will you get the digital copies. Most photographers won't give you the digital images, because they make their money from the prints, but there are a few (including my friend Nick Reader, who is based in Cornwall) who give you the full-resolution digitals to do with as you please.

Also how he handles himself during the ceremony. I've been to two weddings recently where the photographer stood right in front of the B&G so the guests couldn't see the first kiss, or hand-tying Celtic unity ceremony that one of them had. Disgusting behaviour!

Ask for references and follow them up. If he doesn't have any, it's a BAD sign! Previous clients of his may be able to tell you what they liked, what they would have done differently etc.

Make sure it is the person you see who is actually going to be taking the photographs, and not one of his lackeys.

You also often have the choice of having the photographer for either a whole or half day. If you want the half-day option, it'll be cheaper, but you'll miss out on some of the shots - cutting the cake, first dance etc. If you're going for this option, see if you can pose for these shots earlier in the day.

That's all I can think of for now. Good luck!

Thanks snowbunnyAndorra thats really helpful x

Are they insured, public and professional indemnity?

do they have back up equipment?

Most photographers now will offer files on CD which you can print from - You have to ask what quality they will be? is it included with in the package, if not how much extra would it be? Will the images all be edited? are they watermarked or not?

Have they shot at your venue before, if not would they be willing to take a tour with yourselves so that you can say where you would like photographs?

1. you are going to be with this person all day long, you need to click

2. see whole weddings, not the select 20 shots. Any muppet can take 20 good shots, its much harder to be consistently good all day long

3. look at the work - is it clear, framed well, if appropriate, does the photographer get the attention of the person being photographed. Are the shots consistent in colour. Are they grainy, dull or lifeless. Are they lit well, does the whole wedding of images tell the story, are there any notable gaps

4. Who is shooting

5. Ask them what their backup regime is. to give you an idea of a good answer... My cameras shoot to 2 cards, those 2 cards are kept by 2 different people on the day, we back up the originals from one card immediately, the other card goes in the safe. We post a backup DVD of everything off site too.. The tread here is that we have thought about all of the eventualities - If I get mugged, my partner has the other set of cards, If the house catches on fire, there is an off-site backup etc.

6. Ask them when they will start, and finish

7. ETA for proofs

8. If they are giving you files - how many, what format, what resolution. I supply full res 100% quality JPEG files which in my case is 4256 x 2832 pixels, I typically supply over a thousand files. also check if these are edited and ready to print

9. ETA for album

10. What their "rain plan" is

11. the terms of the image licence to you

12. Payment schedule

13. is the price fixed or will it change next year

14. cost of reprints

15. what they do for you and your guests on-line in terms of galleries

11.

My thought would be:

1. To look online at wedding photos, look at friends photo albums and have an idea of what you like and don't like. For example, don't look for a photojournalist unless you want photographs of everything and anything that happens on the day - pretty or not.

2. Have a budget in mind.

3. Get a good idea in your mind on what you want covered time-wise (bridal prep, arrivals etc through to first dance, last dance etc).

3. Have a proper look through the albums of any photographer you visit.

4. Ask any questions and listen for simple, easy to understand answers - if something is not clear, ask again.

5. Be wary of any professional photographer that offers images with full rights release as this means no one has rights on your photographs (surprising?). Most photographers should give the right to print images to yourself and thus protect themselves and you.

6. Research any photographer using google. Most photographers will have a background that you can check (including history).

7. find a personality that you can get along with.

Best wishes.

Ask what happens if there is an unexpected emergency and they cannot make it - most should be a part of a professional body that they could call on another photographer for - just to give you the peace of mind if there was a catastophie and they couldnt personally do their wedding.

Have they been to your venue before? If not - could they go beforehand to scope out where they would think the best places for formal shots would be (Ours is coming to the rehearsal at the church because he hasnt been to the chuch before)

We were completely put of by one we saw by the answers they were giving - make sure to listen carefully!!

One of the potential photographers we met asked us if there were any specific shots we wanted - I said I really wanted on of me with my Dad getting into the car to leave, with the family home in the background....As soon as he said that he would normally do that shot at the church as its easier and the same thing I crossed him off straight away!!

If you have particular things you want photos off make sure to ask!

Hi

Hope your meeting went well ? It's important that you get on well with your photographers as they're going to be with you for a lot of the day and you don't want somebody who gets on your nerves. Also make sure the style of photography is what you're after, and that they're in budget too of course! Plenty of other sensible questions mentioned on the thread, eg. backup equipment, insurance, what happens if there's an emergency. Also make sure that you get a contract from your photographer.

Ali x

Hiya

Might be worth double checking whether your photographer would need to do this as a set up shot before you actually leave... The reason I say that is that we tend to leave 20-30 minutes before the bride as we need to get set up before the ceremony, speak to the vicar / registrar and to get some shots of the groom. Imagine you've sorted all that out, but thought I'd best mention it just in case - it would be hard to get everything done at your church if your photographer is leaving at the same time you are ?

Ali x

In fairness to the photographer here, what you are asking has consequencies that should be considered:

If only one tog, this would mean that shots of your OH, his parents, family and best man and ushers wouldn't be taken at the right time.

It would mean that you would leave for the wedding venue ahead of the tog......and therefore probably arrive before them.

The bridal car can park directly outside the venue...the tog often has to park sometimes a fair distance away and has to carry heavy gear,

It would mean that the tog would not get to talk to your vicar, priest, registrar before the ceremony

It would mean that all arrival shots of the guests would be lost.

It would mean that the bridesmaids shots would have to be done after the ceremony(along with all the groom his family, best man variations as well which will add a lot of time to the after ceremony coverage)......seperating you and OH directly after your marriage........

This is a lot to consider for the one shot you are after.....would you have been happy staging this instead and then allowing the tog to do all of the above shots at a timeflow that would be better for all on the day? I honestly believe that the tog had the right concept, although did not explain the consequencies to you properly.

Then again, a secong tog(with extra cost) could have sorted this....

hth

Peter