Hiring a Wedding Photographer | Mydeejay.com

Included topics are photographer style (primarily photojournalistic vs. traditional), personality matching with the couple, film vs. digital, budgets, engagement sessions, etc. The article then ends with a list of questions you should ask a wedding photographer. I’m going to put a post break here and answer that list for myself after it.

Questions to Ask a Wedding Photographer

- May I see one or two entire weddings that you’ve photographed?

My first two weddings are in my gallery on this site, so absolutely.

- How many images do you shoot at a typical wedding?

I average about 100 images per hour, so roughly 400-600 for an average wedding.

- How many images do you typically deliver to your clients?

Once upon a time I said I would try to make best cuts and deliver no more than 200 images. Reality is that 300-400 will make the cut and be delivered.

- When can I expect to see my photographs?

I have become more photojournalistic as time has passed, especially since my own wedding. There are still some poses I certainly want to get, and I would seriously hesitate if asked to remove the family portrait time completely, but I lean more toward interaction on rehearsal day so that I know where, when, and how, and possibly had some input on those.

- Do I get the high resolution files?  Is there an additional cost, and may I make prints from those files?

I find myself torn on this issue. An 8×10 or larger from me is simply going to look better than an 8×10 from a 1 hour photo. I really prefer to have people see my work printed at the highest possible (within reason) quality available. On the other hand, a 4×6 is only going to be slightly better from me. The end result is that I will provide some medium resolution files suitable for 4×6s and I have deep discounts on multiple prints at larger sizes. If you are coming to me for your photography part of that is for the quality of my final prints, which will be how your wedding (or portraits) is represented to the world.

- What is your backup plan should you become ill?

I work closely with another photographer in the area. Her website isn’t ready to go yet, but you can see her work as she shot my wedding, which is in the gallery section of this site.

- Do you have back up equipment?

Yes. I am always saddened that some people don’t, a wedding is an event where a reshoot will never fully capture the emotion of the day. I have a backup camera, and a second backup camera that can work in a pinch. I have backup lenses covering nearly every focal distance I use at least twice. I have multiple strobes and backup wireless triggers. I even have backup light stands because once I had an entire light kit run over and completely destroyed, so it really is something that another set can be needed.

- Do I need to provide you with a meal?

It’s always appreciated. It does need to be something I can eat with one hand, though as I won’t get a chance to attend a sit down dinner as a participant.

- Do you bring an assistant?

I always prefer to, but for some simpler weddings this may be optional if cost is an issue.

- Can you photograph our ceremony without flash?

This is an area where it really does matter what kind of equipment your photographer has. Generally speaking equipment that can work in lower light is more expensive. While a friend with a point and shoot camera, which are starting to become really, really good, can produce similar image quality of portraits on a cloudy afternoon professional gear is needed to work without flash in both harsh midday sun and in the low light of an interior. It also then takes a steady hand and good eye to keep people in sharp focus as the wider a lens has to open up the smaller the area of focus.

Right now: Most likely. While I am predominantly a user of a number of wireless strobes I also do have a number of very low-light lenses.

Spring 2010: Cameras have taken epic leaps in low light capabilities this year. My current upgrade path includes switching to a Canon 1D Mark IV over the winter. In my print testing using the sample prints Canon and some of the pre-production reviewers have provided I can get similar quality down to 1/16th the light required by my current camera. This has be very excited for a number of reasons.

- What is included and what is extra?  Is there anything you recommend we add?  Why?

I don’t have any prebuilt packages. I will build a package on request, but I feel that the best, most cost effective way to order from me is to use the discounts and credits to build your own package. Fully one-half of the hourly charge can be applied to print costs and if you order multiples of your favorite shot there is up to a fifty-percent discount.

I do suggest getting a wall feature, but the specifics are dictated by space available in your home. If you have a large space the standout sets are fabulous. A canvas print is a very traditional, but also usually large option. I, personally, like the size and shape of 11×14s in a medium size frame, which is also conveniently fairly inexpensive.

Also, after my own wedding I have come to regard photo books as an indispensible item. I love albums, and the quality is fabulous in them, but they just are too expensive to leave out for anyone and everyone to handle. Photobooks (also often referred to as coffee table books) are printed using much lower cost methods. The initial cost tends to be half that of an album due to the amount of time involved in producing it, but the fantastic part is that the multiple discount is fairly extreme as it does not have to be redesigned to be reprinted. My wife is a 4th grade teacher and ours have spent much of their life at school, and are just about due for a replacement, something we’d never consider with a $1,500 album.

- May I see a price list for any of the products that I might want to purchase after the wedding?

A partial price list is available on this website that covers basic prints. A full (multi-page) listing is availble in person or via e-mail.

- Are other people allowed to take pictures while the photographer is?

Of course. I am even looking into the possibility of bringing a self-contained photo printer so that guests can leave their digital prints for the couple.

- Do you do pro-bono and charity work?  What causes are important to you?

I volunteer primarily in a non-photographic capacity for a number of causes. The IRS does not currently allow tax write-offs for artistic donations beyond the cost of materials, so I do not donate prints. I have done photographic charity work for a few non-profits, though, most recently David vs. Goliath.