Questions to Ask Your Wedding Photographer Before Booking
Here are 10 important questions to ask your wedding photographer before booking to ensure you find the perfect fit.
Your wedding day is one of the most memorable moments of your life, and capturing it perfectly is crucial. With so many wedding photographers available in Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas, how do you ensure you’re choosing the right one for your big day? To make an informed decision, asking the right questions during your consultation is essential.
1. What’s Your Photography Style?
Every photographer has a unique style—whether it’s traditional, photojournalistic, fine art, or a mix. Before making a decision, take the time to look at their portfolio to see if their style resonates with your vision. Do you prefer candid moments, posed portraits, or dreamy editorial shots? Ultimately, you want to make sure their approach aligns with your preferences. This is an important question to ask your photographer to determine if your vision fits their style.
DBW’s Answer:
Our style is a mixture of candid and naturally posed. We understand when the posed family shots are needed, but we also LOVE capturing the authenticity of every couple’s personalities. For us, it’s important to blend the artistic photojournalistic approach with guided posing and direction. Our editing style is more true to life with a moody and romantic flair, as we value being able to see all the details of your day. We’re not into overexposed, really bright editing.
2. Have You Shot at Our Venue Before?
Experience with your venue can be a huge advantage. If a photographer has worked at your venue before, they likely know the best angles, lighting conditions, and hidden spots to capture stunning shots. However, if they haven’t worked at your venue, don’t worry! Simply ask if they are willing to scout the location in advance.
DBW’s Answer
Our team has worked with venues across the Lehigh Valley area, New Jersey, New York, and beyond! At Dearly Beloved Weddings, it’s important to us to create long-lasting relationships and encourage collaboration with local venues to serve our couples and their needs well. We are listed as preferred vendors for many of our local favorites – including Terrain, Folino Estate, Rivercrest Country Club and more. However, something to keep in mind, just because we haven’t been to your venue doesn’t mean we can’t capture the beauty of it. If anything its a plus– we have a new opportunity to see your wedding day with fresh ideas and new creativity.
3. Do You Offer Both Photography and Videography?
Coordinating multiple vendors can be overwhelming, so finding a team that offers both services can simplify your planning process. Not only do bundled packages ensure your photographer and videographer work seamlessly together, but they also create a cohesive style for your wedding memories.
DBW’s Answer
Our team of professionals are dedicated to serving you wholeheartedly. It’s important to us that we offer packages that enhance your experience and love story. At Dearly Beloved Weddings we offer packages that include both photography and videography services. There are some moments that photo can’t quite capture the same way as video can, and vice versa. That’s why we encourage couples to invest in a package that gives them the best of both worlds.
4. Can We See a Full Gallery of a Recent Wedding?
Many photographers showcase their best work in their portfolio. It’s crucial to request a complete wedding gallery. This will give you a better understanding of how they capture every aspect of the day—from getting ready to the reception. Seeing a full gallery will also help you gauge their consistency and storytelling ability.
DBW’s Answer
We LOVE chatting, getting to know you, and pairing you with members from our team that we are confident will deliver you not only an amazing experience, but amazing results. All of our staff are hand picked and personally trained by Co-owners Kristen and Christian. We are happy to share out gallery links to show you the magic that we can create together. Click here to see some of our recent favorites!
5. What’s Included in Your Packages?
Understanding what’s included in their pricing is key. For example, do their packages cover an engagement session, albums, or prints? Additionally, how many hours of coverage are provided? By clarifying these details upfront, you can avoid any surprises later, especially if you’re considering venues in different areas.
DBW’s Answer
We offer various packages that can accommodate different price points and budgets: Our packages eliminate the hassle of hidden fees—what you see is what you get! Taxes and travel are included, so there are no surprises. No matter which package you choose, we capture everything, giving you the option to purchase add-ons later if a more all-inclusive package wasn’t in your budget at the time of booking. Inquire with us today to start chatting about your options!
6. How Do You Handle Unexpected Challenges?
As you probably know, weddings can be unpredictable. Whether it’s bad weather, difficult lighting, or last-minute schedule changes, your photographer should be prepared for anything. So, be sure to ask how they handle challenges and adapt to unexpected situations. Their ability to adjust is just as important as their technical skills.
DBW’s Answer
Sometimes things don’t go as planned—and your wedding day is no exception. Our top priority is ensuring you can enjoy your day without the stress of figuring out last-minute solutions. That’s what your vendor team is for! Have a rip in your dress? We can sew it up for you. Rain right before your first look? We’ve got you covered (literally) with umbrellas ready to go. Plus, with a dedicated team of shooters, you won’t have to worry about last-minute emergencies—if one of us can’t make it, we always have backup professionals ready to step in. It’s a true honor to capture these special memories, and we’re always happy to help in any way we can.
7. How Do You Ensure We Feel Comfortable in Front of the Camera?
Not everyone feels like a natural model, and that’s okay! A great photographer will help you feel at ease and guide you through poses to create authentic, flattering images. To ensure you feel comfortable, ask about their approach to working with camera-shy couples. Some photographers provide direction and prompts, while others focus on candid moments.
DBW’s Answer
Our team is well aware of the pressure of being in front of a camera. To us, it’s vital that you feel confident and can show your true colors. We want to highlight what makes you unique as a couple. Your quirks are what makes your love unique, and we just love finding that sweet spot. Expect your time with us to feel like a date that just so happens to also be a photoshoot. Connection matters, and we work to connect with your story from the very beginning.
8. What’s Your Turnaround Time?
After your wedding, you’ll be eager to relive the memories. Therefore, it’s important to ask how long it will take to receive your photos. Wedding galleries can take weeks or even months, so be sure to get a realistic timeline. Additionally, if you’re excited for sneak peeks, find out if they provide a few preview shots shortly after the wedding.
DBW’s Answer
We know you are just as excited to see your photos as we are! At Dearly Beloved Weddings, we guarantee our couples get access to their sneak peeks within a week from their wedding day. A full wedding gallery can be expected within 3 months from the wedding day. Our post-production flow has a multi-step process that focuses on delivering you stunning galleries with attention to detail. You can expect updates along the way so that you know what part of the process your gallery is in and when you can expect to receive it.
9. Do You Have Liability Insurance? – Ask to give you peace of mind!
This question may seem technical, but it’s actually vital. Many venues require vendors to carry insurance, and having it provides an added layer of protection for you. Before signing any contracts, confirm that your photographer has liability insurance in place.
DBW’s Answer
Dearly Beloved Weddings is fully insured and understands the importance and protection this provides for our team, our couples, and the venue.
10. What’s Your Backup Plan?
Emergencies happen, but a professional photographer will always have a backup plan. Ask about their backup equipment, secondary photographers, and how they handle unforeseen issues such as illness. Knowing they have contingencies in place will give you peace of mind on your special day.
DBW’s Answer
When you book with Dearly Beloved Weddings, you can feel at ease knowing we have a solid contingency plan for emergencies and unexpected illnesses. No matter which photographer or videographer from our team captures your day, you’ll receive the same exceptional experience—our entire team upholds our core values with passion and expertise. What truly sets us apart is our teamwork, sense of family, and commitment to protecting your memories. We use a meticulous hard drive backup process to ensure your footage is safe, with multiple copies stored securely so nothing is ever lost. Your wedding day is too important to take chances, and we go above and beyond to safeguard every moment.
Conclusion: Find Your Perfect Photographer
Your wedding photographer is more than just a vendor—they’re the storyteller of your special day. This is a great start to help you think of questions you can ask a wedding photographer before determining if it’s a good fit. By asking these 10 important questions, you can feel confident in your choice and focus on enjoying every moment of your wedding.
Are you searching for a photographer and videographer who can authentically capture your big day? Whether your wedding is in Lehigh Valley, Philadelphia, or New Jersey, our team specializes in preserving love stories. We’re glad you are here – Let’s connect and see if we’re the perfect fit for your celebration! Any questions that you ask your wedding photographer should be answered with grace and compassion. At the core of Dearly Beloved Weddings is Family, Integrity, Grace, Growth, and Compassion. We are here to serve you and walk alongside you throughout the entire process.
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