As a wedding photographer, I promise I know how big of a decision it is to choose yours. I don’t take my role lightly and I don’t think that any of us should. It is a BIG deal to capture someone’s wedding day and you should have full trust and confidence in who you choose.
So how do you know if a photographer is right for you? By knowing the right questions to ask your wedding photographer before hiring them!
I believe in complete transparency with my couples and am happy to answer any questions that come up. But if you’ve never interviewed a wedding photographer before, you may not know what to ask and then miss out on some of the most important details. To help you find the right photographer for you, here are 11 questions you should know the answers to before making your decision!
In this blog post, you’ll also find my answers to all of these questions, or you can click below to tune into my podcast episode about this very same topic on Apple or Spotify!
1. What is Your Photography Style? Can I See Full Wedding Galleries?
Every photographer has a unique approach to how they capture a wedding day and how they edit images. Some specialize in documentary-style photography, primarily acting as a fly on the wall capturing candid moments only, rather than providing any direction. Others focus on heavy guidance with traditional poses, while some blend multiple styles.
Understanding a photographer’s shooting and editing style helps ensure their approach aligns with your vision. If you don’t want to spend hours posing for photos, then you’d want to make sure that isn’t how your photographer operates. If you are hoping for natural photos, you wouldn’t want to hire someone who does body contouring or extensive photoshopping.
To make sure that their style is what they say it is, be sure to ask to see complete wedding galleries, not just the portfolio highlights. Review multiple full galleries to ensure consistency across different lighting conditions, venues, and seasons. Pay attention not only to the couples portraits, but to the whole day, because you are investing in photography for every portion.
My shooting style is a blend of gentle guidance with documentary storytelling. I love a classic posed portrait as much as I love all of the candids and believe there is room for both on your wedding day. During formal photos, I’ll be there guiding everyone making sure we get the combinations you most want and ensuring everyone knows what to do with their hands. The rest of the day, I’m anticipating the moments before they happen and immersed in your day alongside you to capture it all from the perspective of everyone there.
My editing style is best described as natural and true to life, only enhancing the beauty that was already there. I want to honor the true colors of your day so that your photos look like the day did through your own eyes.
2. What’s Included in Your Wedding Photography Packages?
Wedding photography packages vary significantly between photographers. Some offer hourly coverage and a set number of digital images, while others include engagement sessions, albums, prints, 35mm film photography, second photographers, rehearsal dinners, farewell brunches, and more.
Be sure to ask for a detailed breakdown of what’s included and any additional costs you might incur (like travel). This transparency helps avoid surprises later and ensures you’re able to best compare packages between different photographers.
Because every wedding is so unique, I work with my couples to create a custom package. All of my packages do include me as the lead photographer, a preview gallery within 48 hours, the full gallery within 6 weeks, no maximum on the number of images returned to you, and full access to me throughout the planning process. Beyond this, many of my couples add on a variation of services like a second photographer, engagement session, additional hours of coverage, welcome party/rehearsal dinner coverage, 35mm film photography, or albums.
3. Do You Include a Second Photographer?
Not every photographer requires a second shooter for every wedding, but some do. Be sure to ask them if they include a second and what their role is on the wedding day.
Some insight from me as a wedding photographer is that in most cased, you should add on the second photographer. The second photographer can document different angles during your first look and ceremony, capture guest reactions while the lead photographer focuses on you, and ensure comprehensive coverage throughout the day by being in 2 places at once. Plus, a second photographer can help organize your loved ones for family photos to make the process as easy as possible!
For larger weddings or venues with multiple locations, a second photographer provides invaluable additional coverage that one person simply cannot achieve alone.
I believe in providing complete coverage of your day, which is why my full wedding day collections all include a professional second photographer to ensure we capture every special moment from multiple perspectives. My microwedding and elopement packages don’t begin with a second photographer, but you can always add one.
4. How Do You Create and Manage Wedding Day Photography Timelines?
An experienced wedding photographer should help create a photography timeline that allows for all the portraits you want, while leaving more than enough time for you to enjoy your celebration with your guests. This question reveals not just the logistics of their timeline planning process, but how they prioritize your experience.
Ask specific questions about timing: How long do they typically need for family portraits, couple’s portraits, and detail shots? Is there flexibility if you don’t want more than 15 minutes of portraits at sunset? How do they adapt to and honor your desires? Some photographers might need an hour for family photos while others can accomplish it in 20 minutes—these differences significantly impact how you’ll spend your wedding day.
I believe you should spend your wedding day doing what matters most to you. My timeline planning process starts with understanding your priorities and what you value most. I then create a customized timeline that protects whatever that is, while building in flexibility for any unpredictable moments like a weather delay. My goal is to be efficient without rushing—ensuring we capture all of your portraits in a timely manner so you get to live as much of your day as possible not worrying about a timeline.
5. How Do You Handle Bad Weather on Wedding Days?
I’m based in Colorado and the weather here is famously unpredictable, especially in the mountains. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer, while snow can appear even in May or September at higher elevations.
Wherever you are planning your wedding, ask your photographer about their experience shooting in various weather conditions and their backup plans because bad weather happens everywhere. Their answer will reveal their preparedness and adaptability, plus, their attitude and willingness to work with you will greatly impact how you feel about any weather changes on your day. You want to find someone who can go with the flow and make the very best of it!
Having photographed weddings across Colorado in all seasons, I’m prepared for everything from summer thunderstorms to winter snowfalls. I always bring weather-appropriate gear and scout indoor alternatives for portraits if needed, ensuring beautiful images regardless of what Mother Nature delivers.
Plus, I like to build buffer into the timeline so even if we are delayed, we still have time. And if we absolutely have to, I will coordinate with your planner to rearrange events to do everything in my power to ensure you get the photos that are most important to you.
6. What Is Your Approach to Your Engagement Sessions?
Engagement sessions provide a great opportunity to work with your photographer before the wedding day, but the approach varies dramatically between photographers. This question reveals so much about their overall approach to planning your session, and how they’ll interact with you and pose you!
Ask about session length, location options, how they help you feel comfortable in front of the camera, and how their shooting style is different or similar to the wedding day. Essentially, do they treat engagement sessions as quick, standardized photoshoots or as meaningful experiences designed to capture your unique relationship?
I believe engagement sessions should be genuine experiences, not rushed photoshoots. That’s why my sessions last 2-4 hours—giving us time to explore beautiful locations while getting to know each other on a more personal level. I design each session around YOU. After hearing what you love, how you spend your time, and your whole story, we’ll brainstorm sentimental locations, “totally-you” activities, or check off a bucket list adventure and call it your engagement session.
7. When Will We Receive Our Wedding & Engagement Photos?
This is a simple yet super important question to set up expectations! Ask about the expected turnaround time, how many images you’ll receive, and in what format they’ll be delivered. Most professional photographers provide edited digital images through an online gallery, but the specifics and timeline vary significantly between photographers. Do they offer a sneak peek gallery, or just the full gallery?
I know how exciting it is to get your photos back and that’s why I deliver a preview gallery within 48 hours of your session and wedding day! Your full gallery will be delivered within 3 weeks of your session and 6 weeks of your wedding day via an online, downloadable gallery link. You are able to download all of your photos from your gallery link and can even order prints directly to your doorstep.
8. How Do You Keep Our Photos Safe?
Image security should be the number one priority for any professional wedding photographer. Ask about their backup systems during shooting (multiple camera bodies, dual-slot cameras, etc.) and afterward (backing up your photos in multiple places, keeping them until delivery, etc.) to feel confident they will keep your photos safe from camera through delivery.
I protect your memories in a lot of ways from shooting to delivery. I shoot on multiple cameras, use only dual-slot cameras, back up files immediately after your wedding or session to multiple hard drives and cloud-based softwares, and store your images on the physical SD cards until after your final gallery has been delivered.
9. How Do We Book With You?
Having an understanding of each photographer’s booking process helps set clear expectations about payments, contract terms, and what happens next. Ask your photographer about the retainer amount, payment schedules, what’s required to secure your date officially, their cancellation policy, refund policy, if you have printing rights to the photos, and how you’re allowed to use the images.
To officially book your wedding date, I require a signed contract and a $1,000 non-refundable retainer. The remaining balance is divided into three payments, with the final payment due 2 weeks before your wedding date. My contract outlines deliverables, package inclusions, policies, and image usage to ensure we’re both protected.
10. Do You Have Wedding Photography Liability Insurance?
Professional wedding photographers should carry liability insurance that covers potential accidents or damage while shooting your wedding. Many venues now require vendors to provide proof of insurance, so this question can save headaches later in your planning process in case they didn’t have it.
Yes, I maintain comprehensive business liability insurance that meets or exceeds the requirements of all Colorado venues. I’m happy to provide certificates of insurance to your venue or planner upon request.
11. Do You Charge Travel Fees?
Ask about any additional travel fees, accommodation requirements for distant locations, and if they have a radius within which travel is included in their base package(s) for both weddings and engagement sessions. Your photographer should share this information upfront and not stack on travel fees later. Be sure this is listed in their contract, too.
I include travel to wedding venues within a 100 mile range of Loveland in all my packages. For weddings in destinations beyond this range, I offer transparent travel rates with no hidden fees that are communicated on the consultation call. My engagement sessions include travel within 50 miles of Loveland—I charge a flat fee of $75 for day trips or $250 for overnight stays beyond this range.
How to Choose the Best Wedding Photographer for You
These 11 questions to ask your wedding photographer are a great starting point for meaningful, transparent conversations with potential photographers, but the most important factor is often how well you connect personally. The wedding photographer you choose will witness some of your most sacred moments, interact with your closest family and friends, and help shape the emotional flow of your day. Their energy, personality, and approach can significantly impact your overall wedding experience. The personal connection you share with them matters just as much as their portfolio or pricing.
Meet Your Colorado Wedding Photographer
Hi, I’m Logan! A Colorado and destination wedding photographer who believes this personal connection is so essential that I offer a complimentary consultation call with every couple who inquires. During this call, we’ll get to know each other, dive into your vision for your day and photos, answer any questions you have about working together, and walk through all the package options!
My heart as a wedding photographer is rooted in creating an authentic, joyful experience that allows you to be fully present on your wedding day. I believe your wedding photos should reflect who you truly are and capture genuine emotion and connection rather than forced poses or trendy phases.
If you’re interested in working together, you can read more about my Colorado and destination wedding photography packages here, then officially inquire to get started! I’ll be in touch within 24 hours to let you know if I’m available for your date and share all the details. I can’t wait to hear from you!
