The Photos draw you in but where do you go from there?
This one has been heavy on my mind as of late. Why? Simply because the internet will be quick to tell you that you're photographer isn't X,Y, or Z. So, the lingering Question then remains "what is the entirety of your photographers job"? Im hope to answer that and more for you here.
While I can only speak for myself I'm going to first run you through some of the questions I believe are the most important when it comes to choosing who will cover your day and then go over everything that your photographer may be responsible for if you should choose to move forward with them. We know you like their work because well that's what got you there. So, let's go over what questions you should be asking them.
~ Ask for a consultation ( do they have time for you even if you don't choose them " this is going to tell you a lot about how they might work with you").
~ Do your research ( & I can't stress this one enough. If you're looking at the work of multiple photographers & 3 of them are in line with pricing but the 4th is much higher but all the packages are comparable. Ask "WHY").
~How is working with them going to make your day easier?
~ Personality ( are you vibing? This person is not only going to be working with you but also your fiance and all of your closest friends/ family.)
~ Do they have an example contract, printed work, or an example timeline. ( How they lead a day is going to be huge. " You don't want a photographer your going to have to babysit.")
~ Lastly but arguably the most important Experience. ("& No I don't mean the I've been shooting since I was a kid kind. I mean How many weddings have they been the Lead for and how many Years have they been in business.")
Do your research
This should really come before the consultation. What research is she talking about? Even if you already have an idea of who you want here's a few things you should double check.
- Budget - do you have one in mind & does this person align with it?
- Packages - what are they offering & is it the coverage you want/need? If not never hesitate to ask if the package can be adjusted and if so at what cost?
- Packages- I know I already said that but do yourself a favor & reference what I said earlier " is this package offering anymore then anyone else & what is the cost difference". I'm seeing a lot of brides making the mistake of just assuming that a 5-10k quote is totally normal. Please look at your area's average cost for a Professional Wedding Photographer.
- Experience - Does the experience match the quote? Meaning typically the longer someone is in the business the higher the prices will be for example you can typically find that 5k quote coming from an experienced Wedding Photographer who has shot 100's if not 1,000's of Weddings and has been in business 5+ years. Please keep in mind like anything else someone can just decide to quote you essentially whatever they want. You'll find the industry standard is typically going to be where the 3 photographers I mentioned earlier are which is as of 2026 around 3k.
- Reviews- What are the reviews actually saying? Are they talking about the person, or the photos, or the way they felt on their Wedding day? Or a combo of all of the above? Reviews can really help you see if someone stands out more then someone else and for what.
In my opinion What is your Photographer's actual job?
How your Photographer see's their job or rather what is in the scope of their job can make or break your day. There are so many small things a photographer does in a day that may never get noticed but I can promise you this. If they weren't done you might notice. Having a Photographer who takes the approach of- I am here for my client and that may not be " my job" but it'll make my clients day easier or more enjoyable so I'm going to do it. Well that makes a difference and unfortunately other then character I'm not sure that there is a definite way to know if you got that person.
So, What do I view as in the Scope of My Job as A Photographer
- Consultation- ( I believe that investing my time in my clients is Always worth it. I want to get to know you. The more comfortable we are with each other the better I can read you and understand how to navigate your Day.)
- Timeline assistance- ( We will review/ build your timeline and in that I will essentially schedule all photos to be taken throughout the course of your Wedding Day. Of course while that is the case we do take additional photos along of the way of whatever is noticed . The timeline is just a guideline of what should be happening and when.)
- Rehearsal- ( This one is up for argument but I'm talking about myself here. I think it's important because it gives me and my clients peace of mind. How? For starters my reliability " I showed up for them." Not only that but I typically will lend a hand because well I'm here anyways. This time gives me familiarity of the venue now I know exactly where I'm going and I have a plan ahead of time and I get to meet everyone in the Wedding including both sets of parents. Which again makes communication the day of the Wedding so much easier.)
- Family Portrait List - ( I will collect an entire list to have ready for the day of your Wedding with everyone you feel is important and want to get photos will. For example: Aunt Amy Bell, Uncle Todd Bell, kids Andy & Sarah. I will call out and mark off these names as the photos have been taken and ask if anyone additional is wanted at the time of photos.) This is A Huge part of picking the right person and an underrated area where "experience matters". Most of my couples have told me this is the most stressful part of the day for them.
- Throughout the day - ( This very well might fall under the consideration of not my job but not for me. I will carry your shoes , get you a drink, light your candles if I notice it hasn't been done but needs to be. I will keep an eye on your kiddo because it's your Wedding and I know your are surrounded by family/ friends but after all it is a party. I will hold or bustle your dress or take your bridesmaids stuff so they can do there entrance's. I will keep an eye on you so you can eat your first meal all day in peace if I notice you won't eat because guests keep coming up and talking to you. )
It is my job to do my best to not only make sure you have stunning photos to remember your day but to also make sure you have as much fun with as little stress and feel the most like yourself as humanly possible.
