Questions for your Wedding Photographer

What You Need to Know About Wedding Photographers

Unless you are a wedding photographer with years of experience, understanding wedding photography and interviewing potential wedding photographers can be daunting. These questions will help you get started with finding your professional wedding photographer. While this list consists of questions to ask, you still need to consider the skills mentioned in “How Do I Choose a Wedding Photographer” during your initial conversation. Whether you are hiring Ambar Moreno Wedding Photography or another studio, we have created a list of at least 14 questions you should ask to find the perfect photographer for your wedding.

 

1. What is your primary style?

Your first and primary question to yourself is the style of photography that interests you. Ambar Moreno Wedding Photography is primarily a photojournalist with hints of fashion and fine arts that influence our wedding photography techniques, which are extremely popular with couples. Check out our About Us page for more about our wedding photography style and philosophy. If you are seeking photojournalism, read our section titled “What are photojournalists” to ensure you are getting a photographer who specializes in this area.

2. How many weddings have you photographed that are similar to mine?

This is a great question to get an idea of how much experience your photographer has. Years are not a good indication of experience since some wedding photographers may work part-time and only shoot five weddings a year on weekends. Thus, they may have five years of experience but have only photographed 25 weddings. Again, look at our explanation of experience in the “How Do I Choose a Wedding Photographer” section to understand what we consider experienced.

3. How many times have you worked as a wedding photographer?

This question is geared toward finding out if the photographers specialize in wedding photography or are photographing different types of photography or, better yet, a “one-stop-shop photographer.” You are better off looking for a photographer specializing in wedding photography and the style of wedding photography that interests you.

4. How many other events will you photograph that weekend?

Larger studios with multiple photographers often double and even triple book dates since they have the resources. However, not every photographer in those larger studios will photograph a wedding in the way you desire. However, a medium-sized studio will limit the number of weddings per month, which allows them to evaluate every detail and cater to your needs. Ambar Moreno Photography can strike that perfect balance because the two master photographers share the workload while focusing on the details without compromising the quality of their work.

5. Will a contract for the services be provided? If so, can I get a copy?

Unfortunately, there are way too many photographers who do not create contracts for their wedding photography clients. You should require a contract from your photographer that details what services they will be providing, pricing, termination resolution terms, etc. Even going as far as guaranteeing a timeframe for delivering photos and products. Otherwise, you should cross them off your list. A contract is created for your protection and the wedding photographer’s protection. It is best to hire a photographer who will provide a contract with the products and services you request; otherwise, avoid those who will not create a contract for you. We see a contract as an instrument that will protect the photographer and, most of all, the client.

6. What happens if the photographer is ill?

While the photographer is unlikely to get ill on your wedding day, there is still a chance. The photography studio should and must do something to remedy the situation in case of illness. Ideally, Ambar Moreno Wedding Photography has two master and equally skilled photographers (Eddie and Ambar) who can take over if the other photographer is sick. Your coverage will never be at risk of being adequately covered at the premier level we provide.

7. Do you have insurance?

Professional wedding photographers should have adequate insurance for their business. Insurance protects the photographer against equipment theft, but more importantly, as an example, it provides liability protection in case a guest trips over the photographer’s lighting equipment and incurs an injury. Many venues today also require proof of insurance, which Ambar Moreno Photography provides immediately or annually to many of the same venues we photograph. Our coverage goes above and beyond what venues usually require. If a wedding photographer does not have insurance, chances are they are new to the industry or elect not to pay for it since it is not a serious business.

8. Does the package I am interested in include an assistant?

If your wedding has 50 or more guests, you should purchase a package with an assistant photographer. Aside from the wedding site, there are many moments that one photographer cannot thoroughly cover alone. There is no way to capture the first kiss and simultaneously turn around and get the tears in the mother’s eyes. At Ambar Moreno Photography, our clients are receiving the best photography service possible. You will always have two lead photographers who are equally attuned to their surroundings. So, everything that is simultaneously occurring will most likely be photographed. Weddings with more than 300 guests will likely prompt us to encourage you to include an assistant.

9. Does your studio allow me to choose a certain post-production style?

In other words, how will your pictures look after the studio applies the post-production style? Be careful, as many studios don’t post-produce your images but rather provide you with unfinished, straight-out-of-the-camera photos. In this situation, you are not receiving a finished and professional product.

Uniquely, Ambar Moreno Photography will likely discuss their preferred style with the client, which is uncommon among wedding photographers. We will not only photograph the wedding in the particular style the client is looking to get but will also post-produce the photos in the requested style. Many photographers do not possess the talent or ability to alter their style. While we specialize in timeless post-production techniques, we thoroughly discuss the client’s desired style before we book and photograph their wedding.

10. Will you color-correct my images?

Color correction is a basic post-production task, and it will certainly be applied to every image. Sadly, many photographers will not color-correct their images or only “select” a handful of images to color-correct. This means that you may have a lot of pictures where your skin tones are too orange, yellow, red, or even blue. With the use of mixed lighting, which is used in many venues today, color correction is undoubtedly a required task. Otherwise, you will be left with many wedding photos in mixed colors. At Ambar Moreno Photography, every image is color-corrected on our color-calibrated systems. We ensure that your wedding pictures retain that professional quality—a process we call masterful retouching.

11. What kind of equipment do you use? Do you have backups?

Our studio uses top-quality camera bodies and the finest quality top-tiered lenses. While wedding photographers don’t necessarily need the best of the best, it is vitally important to us that we have the best available equipment along with an adequate backup so we produce the best quality images possible and never worry about equipment failure. Nothing would be worse than for the photographer to miss half of your wedding because his or her camera or lens stops working, and he or she doesn’t have a spare.

12. If my event lasts longer than scheduled, will you stay? Is there an extra charge?

Knowing the photographer’s policy from the beginning before you sign the contract is vitally important. Knowing the overage charges up front is critical. You don’t want to be surprised when your wedding photographer asks for an additional $1,000 before they release your pictures to you. Even worse, you don’t want your wedding photographer to pack up and leave when their time is up. That is why a contract that spells out everything is vital for the client.

13. What attire will the photographer wear?

This is not a question a client should not have to ask, but sadly, it is required. Even though wedding photographers are a big part of the wedding day, they shouldn’t be a distraction. As such, the photographer needs to blend in as much as possible. Make sure your photographers are dressed appropriately for the occasion. Typically, at Ambar Moreno Photography, we will be comfortably and professionally dressed in appropriate attire.

14. How long will the proofs, album, etc. be ready after the event?

Each wedding photography studio varies in the time it takes to produce and deliver your pictures. The predominant wedding season will also dictate the delivery timeline. Studios that do not do any post-production or color correction may try to entice you by saying your photos will be ready within the week or even the next day. You should be very cautious. However, most studios that develop and produce their images will take anywhere from 4 weeks to 6 months. At Ambar Moreno Photography, we have developed a consistent production schedule where we deliver an amazing product exceptionally quickly. This schedule is addressed in the contract, and it can be seen below:

• 3-4 Weeks for Engagement, Family, Anniversary Photography Sessions.
• 8-12 Weeks for Weddings and Receptions.

For more information, we encourage you can schedule a time with one of our professionals to discuss your wedding.