Choosing the right wedding photographer is paramount to capturing the essence of your special day. While many couples focus on the obvious questions (The ones you find repeated over and over again on the big wedding planning sites), there are some very essential questions that often go unasked because the advice is just not out there. As an experienced wedding photographer team in the Bay Area who have made it our goal to make the wedding photography experience uncomplicated and transparent for couples, we see these common practices that most couples don’t know about that can negatively affect the wedding experience both for the couple and for their guests. In this blog post, we'll delve into three crucial questions to ask wedding photographers before you hire them that can make a significant difference in your wedding photography experience.

1. Are the photos in your portfolio from real couples and real weddings?

It's not uncommon for photographers to showcase stunning images from styled shoots, where everything is meticulously planned and staged, the “couple” are professional models, and having enough time to get that perfect shot is not an issue. While these photos can demonstrate a photographer's technical skills, it's equally important to know if they have experience capturing real moments at actual weddings. Real weddings present unique challenges such as time constraints, big groups of people, lots of moving parts, wedding guests and bridal parties, and not so perfect locations or lavishly expensive decor. A photographer's ability to navigate these challenges and still deliver stunning images of your most important moments is invaluable.

When you are browsing photographer’s portfolios online, look carefully because it is not uncommon for a photographer to fill their website with only styled shoots and to have very little to no experience photographing actual weddings. Here are a few ways to spot a styled shoot in a wedding photographer’s portfolio:

• The couple looks like models rather than two people happily in love on their wedding day

• There are no wedding guests in sight

• There are no bridesmaids or groomsmen in any of the photos with the couple or even photographed separately

• The reception detail photos only show one small table lavishly decorated

• There are no photos capturing genuine emotion or interactions between people

2. Do you specialize in weddings?

Many photographers are a one stop shop, meaning they photograph families, seniors, corporate headshots, corporate events, newborns, maternity, etc. as well as offer wedding photography services. If you are choosing your photographer based on them having a ton of good reviews, make sure a good portion of those reviews are from actual weddings. Even better, look for a photographer that only photographs weddings and all of their reviews are from wedding couples. Photographing family portraits just doesn’t translate well to the fast paced, dynamic environment of weddings where you often have to move very quickly, pivot unexpectedly and most importantly, you only get one shot to capture each moment. The more experience your wedding photographer has photographing weddings, the more you can rest assured that they can get those moments for you to cherish forever.

3. Are there any additional costs to get my photos and use them the way I want?

Understanding the terms of use for your wedding photos is crucial. Some photographers may have restrictions on how you can use the images or may charge additional fees for specific uses. Clarify whether there are extra costs associated with obtaining high-resolution images, professional editing on all of your photos, downloading ability, printing rights, or sharing the photos on social media. Knowing this in advance can help you plan your budget accordingly and avoid surprises later on. Quite often, photographers use a business model where they offer a low package price for their services, but after the wedding you will need to pay extra for editing or for the actual digital files and sometimes the only way you are allowed to print your photos is through the photographer which can be extremely expensive.

Ask if you can download your photos in high resolution and print them wherever you like.

The accessibility of your wedding photos is a key consideration. Ensure that you have the freedom to download your images in full resolution and that there are no restrictions on where you can print them. Some photographers may provide digital files with watermarks or limit the resolution for online sharing only. Having the ability to print your photos wherever you choose ensures you have control over preserving your memories in physical form and within your budget.

Ask if all of your photos will be edited like the photos you see in the photographer’s portfolio.

Photo editing is a crucial step in the post-production process. Keep in mind that some photos you see on wedding photographer’s websites may have involved elaborate photo shop work that took many hours of the photographers time for that one photo. Generally speaking, you can’t expect every one of your photos to get this type of editing treatment. While many photographers include basic editing in their packages, it's important to clarify the extent of the editing, how it compares to what you see in their portfolio, and whether it covers all the photos. Some photographers may only include editing of a selected number of photos and then offer additional editing services at an extra cost. Understanding the editing process ensures you know what to expect in the final set of images and that you won’t end up paying a lot more than you expected.

4. How do you feel about wedding guests taking their own photos or asking you to take photos for them?

The presence of smartphones and enthusiastic wedding guests capturing moments can sometimes impact the professional photographer's work. Ask your wedding photographer how they feel about guests taking their own photos around them and whether they are comfortable if guests ask them to take pictures. This ensures a clear understanding of boundaries and expectations during the event. Make sure the photographer’s stance on this aligns with the experience you want your guests to have at your wedding. Some photographers will be completely amenable to providing your guests with an enjoyable experience taking their own photos and others will not allow wedding guests to take photos in their vicinity and may even put this stipulation in their contract. We’ve unfortunately seen some photographers be quite rude to guests about this on the wedding day.

As you embark on the journey of choosing your wedding photographer, remember that asking these less-discussed questions can provide valuable insights into their approach and the ultimate experience you and your wedding guests will have with them. By clarifying these aspects upfront, you'll not only ensure a smoother collaboration with your wedding photographer, but also set the stage for ensuring your special wedding moments are captured the way you want them to be.

Hi, we are Breanne and Fernando Rojas, husband and wife wedding photographers in the San Francisco Bay Area and San Jose. We strive to give our couples a stress-free, transparent, and uncomplicated wedding photography experience. We specialize only in weddings and engagements and have over 50 five star reviews from real wedding couples. Every one of our photos on our website and instagram are from real couples and real weddings. Our pricing is listed on our website and is all-inclusive - your photos are your photos. We love your wedding guests and take the time to make sure they enjoy their time at your wedding. If you are searching for a photographer for your Bay Area wedding and we sound like a good fit, we’d love to chat more. Click the contact button below to get started.