12 questions to ask a wedding photographer

Photographs are the only part of the wedding you keep. Most couples pick a photographer from a portfolio and never ask the questions that actually decide how the day goes. Here is what to cover on the first call.

About the work

1. Will you personally shoot our wedding? Studios often sell on a lead photographer's portfolio and send an associate. Ask for the name of who will be there.
2. Can we see one full wedding, start to finish? A highlight reel is curated. A full gallery shows consistency.
3. How would you describe your editing style? Warm and filmic, true to colour, high contrast - make sure your taste and theirs match before the shoot, not after.

About the day

4. How many hours and which functions are included? Get it per function, not as a single lump.
5. How many people will be on your team? One shooter cannot cover the mandap and the entrance at the same time.
6. Do you scout the venue or work from photos? Either is fine, but you want a plan for low light and tight spaces.
7. What do you need from us? Usually a family shot list, a timeline, and one point of contact who is not the couple.

About the deliverables

8. How many edited images do we get, and when? A number and a date, both in the contract.
9. Do we get the unedited files? Many photographers do not release them. Better to know now.
10. How are our files backed up, and for how long? Ask for dual on-site backup during the event and a retention period after delivery.

About the contract

11. What happens if you fall ill or cannot attend? You want a named backup shooter, not goodwill.
12. What is the payment schedule and cancellation policy? Advance, balance timing, and what is refundable if your date moves.

One last thing

Meet them, even briefly, over a video call. Your photographer will spend more time next to you than almost anyone else at the wedding. Comfort matters as much as the portfolio.