TWENTY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MUST ASK YOUR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER (with my answers)
1) What style(s) do you specialize in?
Why you want to know: This might be the most important question to ask wedding photographers. Most shooters use a blend of several different styles of photography, but you’ll want to make sure they shoot portraits, for example, if they’re important to you. You wouldn’t ask Monet to paint you a Picasso, right? Going with the style a photographer likes to shoot best (and has the most experience shooting) will give you the best results.
David Butcher: I have specialised in the documentary / reportage style. This means that I try to discreetly blend into the background (much easier said that done, when I am weighed down with two large DSLR cameras and lenses around my neck) and capture everything happening around me. I have to become much more visible and obvious to get the standard posed group shots of relatives and friends.
2) Will the photos be retouched and colour balanced? Is that done before I see the proofs?
Why you want to know: Some photographers will polish all your photos, while others will show you untouched proofs and work their magic only on the images you order.
David Butcher: I will retouch / polish EVERY SINGLE IMAGE captured at your wedding. This involves optimising the colour balance, brightness, contrast and cropping. All of these images will then be supplied to you (at no additional cost).
3) How many weddings have you shot, and how many do you do in a year? Also, what’s your favorite part of a wedding day, and time of year to shoot?
Why you want to know: You only have one chance to get amazing wedding photos, so you’ll want to hire someone who knows exactly how to get those shots under pressure (read: someone who shoots weddings for a living, not your old college roommate who takes pictures as a hobby). Be sure to check their websites or Instagram pages to see samples of their work too.
David Butcher: I have covered over 90 weddings in the last 11 years, many of which were shot in Dubai (when I covered not just weddings, but also portraits, pets, birthday and anniversary parties, corporate product launches, team-building exercises, presentations, hotels, properties for sale, furniture, etc.).
I will not accept more than one wedding booking a week, to ensure that I have sufficient time to retouch all of the couples’ images before my next wedding shoot commences.
You can view a typical selection of entire galleries of images supplied to my clients (not just one outstanding image from each of a few weddings) on my web site (click on the name of the couple in the Wedding Gallery section to open their slideshow).
My favourite part of the wedding day has to be the exchange of rings and the first kiss, since those are the most significant moments for everyone present. I don’t really have a favourite time of year, since different weather provides different opportunities to capture unique images – although reflections in puddles and sunsets have to be my favourites at any time of the year.
4) Do you shoot both digital and film?
Why you want to know: While digital is most common today, film has had a resurgence. If you want the latter, be sure your photographer has the relevant experience and skills required to execute this old-school format. If you’re obsessed with the dreamy quality of film, go with a pro in this medium. In addition to asking how many weddings they’ve shot in total (see above), let them know how many you want taken with film.
David Butcher: I shot 35mm film from 1972 until 2006, when I moved to digital, and haven’t looked back since. Hence although I do have the skills and experience to shoot film (analogue), I sold (gave away) all of my film camera equipment in 2011 (after it had been collecting dust in a cupboard for 5 years) when I realised that you can easily apply film-look effects to digital images with software (such as Photoshop) if desired.
5) If you shoot film, do you usually shoot in both color and black and white? If you’ll do both, what percentage of each do you recommend?
Why you want to know: These days, most shooters will do a mix of both color and black and white. You’ll get a sense of their style and how your album might look by asking what balance they usually go with.
David Butcher: Again, it is very easy to retouch a colour digital image to create a black / white image. I will do this retouching for any images that my clients request.
6) What exactly is included in your packages?
Why you want to know: When comparing fees, check whether prints, albums and proofs, as well as extra coverage such as engagement shoots, are covered. They can all alter the costs significantly. It’s not necessarily a bad thing if, say, your album isn’t included—you can always make this on your own or buy it à la carte—but you want to be sure you’re comparing apples to apples to get the best value. If you’re having your shooter use film, also ask about film costs and processing fees.
David Butcher: I don’t offer packages, because that usually means that the bride and groom are paying for services that they don’t require. Hence I offer a fixed flat rate per hour, and let the bride and groom determine my start time, and they can simply tell me at their wedding when they don’t require my services any longer.
No prints, albums or proofs are included, but can be ordered from me after the wedding at additional cost.
As mentioned above, the optimisation / retouching of every single image taken between the start and finish times is included in my hourly rate or package price for your wedding.
7) How many hours of coverage do we get? What is the charge for overtime?
Why you want to know: If overtime is going to cost you a ton, you’ll be able to plan their hours accordingly. For instance, if you have six hours of coverage but your photographer charges a huge hourly rate for overtime, you might have them leave after you cut the cake instead of after the last dance. Or, you may opt for a longer package to pay a little more up front (and avoid the larger hourly overtime rate later).
David Butcher: As described above, you determine on your wedding day how many hours of coverage you want. There is no charge for overtime – exactly the opposite, for longer shoots I am prepared to reduce the hourly rate after the sixth hour.
8) What is the deposit and total fee?
Why you want to know: In addition to this bottom line number, you’ll also want to ask when it’s due.
David Butcher: I do not insist on a deposit. However, my services will only be guaranteed for you after an advance booking fee of £150 (which is obviously credited towards the total amount due) has been paid. If you don’t pay this advance booking fee, I will still attend your wedding, but only if no-one else pays an advance booking fee for the same day beforehand. My total fee will have been shown in my written quotation to you, so you won’t be charged for any surprise extras.
9) Will you be my actual photographer, or will it be one of your associates?
Why you want to know: Don’t assume Bruce of Bruce Photography will be taking your photos. That doesn’t mean Bruce’s partner Frank is subpar, but you’ll want to meet with him (and see his photos) in order to make an informed decision.
David Butcher: Yes, I do not have any associates or employees, so I will be your actual Photographer.
10) Do you have backup photographers who will shoot the wedding if you’re sick?
Why you want to know: If you’re going with a company that employs a team of photographers, you’ll have a built-in backup. But if you’re going with a solo shooter, ask if they have colleagues on call in case of an emergency.
David Butcher: Yes. Although this has never yet been required, I am a member of several photographic groups / networks, so I know a large number of other Photographers that I can call on to replace me at short notice, plus I will do everything I can to find a replacement Photographer for your wedding.
11) Will there be a second shooter or any assistants? Is there an additional fee for each?
Why you want to know: Second shooters can cover more ground and can give you two perspectives on major moments (for instance, one can shoot the groom’s face when he first sees his bride and the other can photograph the bride as she walks down the aisle). But this may cost you extra.
David Butcher: I do not normally provide a second shooter or assistant. However, a second shooter is always a good idea, because they will capture images that would otherwise be missed by myself, since I can’t be in two places at once. Given sufficient notice, I am more than happy to arrange a second shooter at an additional cost (although I cannot guarantee now that they will work for the same rate that I do).
12) How long after the wedding do we get to see the photos?
Why you want to know: You’ll want to see your photos as soon as possible after your wedding, and the wait can be pretty agonizing (it can take months!). But if you know in advance, you can manage your (and your Mum’s) expectations.
David Butcher: As I complete the retouching work on your images, I will upload them in batches of about 10 into your dedicated gallery on my web site, so that you can preview these low-resolution images with my watermark logo and see the progress that I am making. I guarantee to complete all of this retouching work within 7 days of your wedding, after which I will send you an invoice. As soon as I have received payment in full, I will send you the full-resolution images without my watermark logo to be downloaded on-line, plus a backup on DVD / USB via post.
If you are in a real hurry, I can send you the invoice immediately after I get back home on your wedding day, and if this is paid before I complete the retouching work, I will send the images to you via www.wetransfer.com as soon as I have finished working on them (with a DVD / USB backup afterwards), so you could have all of your retouched images within 1 week of your wedding day !!
13) How will you coordinate with my videographer? How do you envision working together?
Why you want to know: This pair will need to coordinate and stay out of each other’s way— easier to do if they have a good rapport. If you haven’t hired a videographer yet, ask them for a suggestion.
David Butcher: I was employed for 5 years as a TV News Cameraman, so I fully appreciate the different issues that videographers face whilst covering weddings. Also, I have worked with videographers covering weddings in the past, and I am more than happy to work with and around your videographer.
14) How many weddings do you do a weekend?
Why you want to know: If your photographer is shooting an afternoon wedding before yours, you’ll need to work out a plan if the first event runs over.
David Butcher: I have only ever once photographed two weddings on the same weekend / day, but that was because these were consecutive weddings in the same church !! With that exception, I will only accept one wedding booking per week, to ensure that I have enough time to retouch those images before starting on the images from my next booking.
15) Have you ever shot at my venue(s) before?
Why you want to know: Your shooter should be aware of any lighting needs or issues specific to the space. If they haven’t ever worked in your venue, they should be willing to check it out beforehand.
David Butcher: Probably not, since I have only shot weddings at a few locations in England (including Cantley House Hotel in Wokingham, Wellington Barn near Calne, H.G. Wells Event Centre in Woking, Langrish House near Petersfield, St. Marys Church in Fratton, Winchester Register Office and Fareham Register Office).
However, I will visit the venue before your wedding whenever possible, and I always arrive at the wedding location about 1 hour before the booked start time, so that I can check out the lighting at the ceremony location plus potential locations for the individual and group shots afterwards, and to confirm with the priest / chaplain/ celebrant where I can stand and ask if I can use flash during the ceremony.
16) Will you follow a shot list? Or do you prefer to have free reign to capture the festivities how you see fit?
Why you want to know: Most photographers will welcome a (short) shot list to make sure you get the specific pics you want. But don’t overwhelm them with hundreds of requests—if you hire a good pro, you’re hiring them for their eye as well as their experience creating amazing albums, so let them do their job.
David Butcher: I will always welcome a specific shot list from the bride and groom, but equally, I have a list (in my head) of standard shots that I will always capture at every wedding, even if not specified beforehand. Obviously my list includes the conventional posed images of family and friends, and this will vary in size dependent on the number of guests present. I am more than happy to pass on this shot list to the couple before their wedding, so that they can use it as a basis to put together their own individual shot list for me.
And for the posed group photos, it will not be possible for me to collect all of the bride’s relatives together, then all of the groom’s relatives, etc., since I don’t know any of these people. Hence I will request that the bride or groom delegate someone (usually the best man) to herd up all of the relevant people for each shot, so that I can concentrate on capturing the required images.
17) If you provide print albums, what type of paper will you use?
Why you want to know: The answer should be acid-free, archival-quality paper, which will stand the test of time.
David Butcher: No, I will not print any images / albums myself. If the bride and groom would like me to supply album(s) for them, I will arrange for a professional printer and album manufacturer to produce this. However, this is an expensive additional cost, so I always recommend that the bride and groom select their favourite images for their album(s), and I will happily pass on contact details of printers that I have used – the quality of their albums is about 80% of the best professional suppliers, but for less than 10% of the cost.
18) What are the restrictions for sharing photos online or for publication? Do you own the copyright to the photos?
Why you want to know: If you’re a Facebook and Instagram addict, not being allowed to share some of your wedding photos online may be torture—better to know about this ahead of time.
David Butcher: I will retain the copyright of all photographs taken, however my client (the bride and groom) will be granted a royalty-free licence to reproduce any or all of the photographs for their own private or commercial use, on-line or in print, with no restrictions or additional costs. I will also retain the unrestricted rights to use any or all of the photographs for my own advertising purposes (i.e. web site / Facebook portfolio), unless a Non-Disclosure Agreement is signed (which will cost an additional 50% of the total invoice) to prevent this usage.
19) Do you bring your own lighting?
Why you want to know: Not only will you want to determine if you’ll need to supply additional lighting (either hiring a lighting designer or having the venue supply it), but you’ll want to be sure the equipment they bring won’t be too bulky or obtrusive.
David Butcher: No, the only lighting that I will bring will be a few flashguns and small LED light sources. One advantage of modern digital cameras is that they are so sensitive to low light levels that I can utilise the available light sources and just bring out the details on peoples’ faces from the shadows with a flashgun.
20) What will you wear?
Why you want to know: Discussing their wedding day wardrobe will allow your photographer to plan to match the style of your wedding. Most will be happy to blend into the scenery (for instance, wearing black for an evening loft event or lighter hues for a daytime garden party).
David Butcher: I will wear a suit and tie, and the bride and groom can choose between a light grey, dark blue or black suit, whichever they feel will fit in better with their colour theme.
