Congratulations on your engagement! You’re likely excited to start wedding planning and choosing vendors, and the process can be a lot of fun. There are tons of fantastic Calgary-based wedding vendors to choose from, and sometimes it can be difficult to compare them. Packages and prices look similar and their work is great, so how do you choose? Ultimately, you should connect with your wedding vendors and ensure they can deliver what you’ve envisioned—especially your photographer. You spend all day with us, after all.
Here are some questions to ask your prospective wedding photographer (beyond the basics like price, packages, and availability)
Can we see a full gallery?
Wedding photographers share their best work on Instagram and on their website, but this is usually just a sample of their very best shots. Wedding photographers love golden hour, for example, and we love to share those magical shots. But that’s only a small portion of the day. A wedding photographer should be able to handle a variety of lighting situations, and seeing a full gallery will show you this. You’ll also get a better idea of what their editing style looks like in these different situations. And you’ll see portions of the day that aren’t shared as often, like the reception, family formals, and the full ceremony.
How many weddings have you shot?
It’s common to ask how long a photographer has been shooting for, but it’s actually more important to ask how many weddings they’ve shot. This provides you with a better idea of their experience in weddings specifically. It’s also ok to ask if they’ve shot weddings similar to yours to understand their level of experience with the type of venue and size of the event.
What happens to our photos after the wedding?
Let’s talk back-up systems. A wedding photographer should have a solid back-up system in place to protect your photos. Technology has come a long way, but malfunctions still happen and memory cards can corrupt. This is why photographers shoot to multiple cards throughout a wedding. Don’t be afraid to ask your photographer about their back-up process. The last thing you want are lost images from such an important day. Wedding photographers should also be using two camera bodies to ensure they can still capture key moments if one camera breaks or malfunctions.
This is also a great opportunity to discuss the turnaround time for your images. Every photographer is different in this regard. Turnaround times can be up to 12 weeks after your wedding, depending on the photographer’s level of experience, the amount of retouching they do, and their workload (especially during the busy summer months). But you’ll usually get a sneak peek delivered within a few days of your wedding to tide you over—and to have some images to choose from for thank-you cards and social media posts.
How do you handle retouching?
Retouching is a huge component of a photographer’s style, and it’s what makes your gallery look polished and consistent. And, no, it’s not just a filter. Retouching is an art in itself, and photographers spend a painstakingly long time ensuring your photos look their best before sending them to you. Keep in mind that the level of retouching will differ between photographers. Some photographers will remove small objects from the background, fix flyaway hairs, remove blemishes, etc, while others will leave these things as-is. Find out what your photographer does so you can set your expectations early on.
What’s it like to work with you on the big day?
You’ll get to know your photographer better as you plan your wedding—especially if you do an engagement session. Some photographers like to provide lots of direction and prompts, while others are more content to let the day unfold and capture it as it happens. I often do a blend of the two. I don’t provide a lot of direction during more candid moments (like cocktail hour), but I will during family formals, wedding party photos, and my time with you and your partner. After all, these are the images you’re most likely to print and hang on your walls.
What is your backup plan if you aren’t able to shoot our wedding?
This should always be outlined in a photographer’s contract, but it doesn’t hurt to discuss it before you sign. COVID made rescheduling weddings commonplace, and vendors are also humans who get sick or have emergencies. If your photographer is unable to shoot your wedding, they should be able to provide you with someone they trust who will provide the same level of quality they would.
Will you stay later if the wedding runs behind?
Wedding packages come with a set amount of continuous coverage (meaning you can’t break it up over the course of the day). It’s also not uncommon for weddings to go overtime, and this can mean additional charges from your photographer. Have an upfront conversation about this from the start to avoid any surprises on your wedding day.
Will there be travel fees?
Wedding photographers usually have a radius around their home city that doesn’t require travel fees. However, you may need to cover mileage and accommodations if you’re asking your photographer to travel a couple of hours outside their home base.
