Congratulations!! You’re newly engaged and started the (somewhat) overwhelming process of planning your wedding. I might be biased but I consider the photographer for your wedding day to be one of the most important decisions you’ll make during the planning process. Second to perhaps the one you decide to meet at the end of the aisle
Your photographer is going to be with you for most of the day capturing the moments you will want to remember and cherish forever! It’s so important to have someone you can feel comfortable with and enjoy being around to not distract from the best day of your life.
As with other aspects of planning your wedding day, you will most likely be scouting out different photographers you want to work with. When doing your research there are so many considering factors like: their photography portfolio, if they’ve photographed your venue before, if all images are included or if you can only purchase prints from them, etc. In hopes of helping you narrow down your search, I’m giving you a list of some popular questions I’ve been asked as a wedding photographer in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
What is your photography style?
Wedding photographers specialize in a variety of photo styles from candid shots to photojournalistic styles to traditional portraits. Personally, I try to have a little mix of everything but also know the importance of getting that traditional smiling at the camera shot so tend to lean in that direction mixed with a variety of candid pictures. Knowing what type of photos you want your final gallery to be full of will help you choose the right person to capture your day.
What is included in the wedding package?
Once you get pricing for the wedding photography packages a photographer offers, find out what is included in the price. For each of my packages, couples receive an engagement session, all digital files of their engagement photos and their wedding day with a print release, and a print credit to use in their online gallery store. Some photographers may require you to print directly through them and it’s important to know what you’re getting as an end result from your photographer.
What is your approach to wedding day timelines?
If you have a wedding coordinator, they will probably provide with a solid day of timeline but it is important to include the photographer in the discussion of how long each part of the day will take to photograph. Again, each photographer is slightly different and puts emphasis into different parts of the day to be captured. I like to assist my wedding couples in creating a timeline because I’ve seen how long detail photos take going into getting ready shots and so on and so forth. By asking this question you will better know how to plan your day for success and to make sure you get the photos you desire at the end of the day.
What is your process for editing and delivering photos? How long will it take?
Editing and delivery time varies greatly from one wedding photographer to the next. Personally, I try to deliver a sneak peek within 48 hours of your wedding with the final gallery hitting your inbox in 6-8 weeks from your wedding date. I know the hardest part of hiring a photographer, in any niche, is waiting for the final gallery so I also sprinkle in a few sneak peeks on social media to help ease the waiting period. It’s so important to ask this question though because there are some photographers who take up to a few months to get your final gallery.
Most importantly, don’t forget to simply have a conversation with your potential wedding photographer. Make sure you mesh and can have a good time on your wedding day with easy conversation and finding comfortability with them. A great way to get familiar with your photographer is to have your engagement photos taken with them, even if they aren’t included in your wedding package. This gives you a chance to get to know one another and how your photographer works.
If you’re planning your wedding and want to know more about my services, get in touch and tell me about what you’re thinking for your special day! I can’t wait to capture this special time for you and your significant other!
