Questions for Wedding Photographer?

[berry]

I'm helping my sister with her wedding planning. I need a list of questions to ask potential photographers.

All my wedding planning stuff is at home, I'm at work and have to email this to my sister.

Does anyone have a short list?

Thanks in advance.

[tlew12778]

Honestly? I didn't have a list. I was interested in what types of packages were offered (what was included in each package mainly), the price, how many photographers (1 or 2), how long they would stick around (all of them told me from preparations till cake cutting), film vs digital and if I got the negatives or CD, and how many shots they would take (approximately). In terms of the album, how many albums were included in the package (if any), how many shots in each album, and how much were additional albums if parent albums were not included in the package.

[maplekitty]

I agree....those are good *basic* first questions to ask. You can think of more specific ones if you meet with the person and sit down and talk.

[bedazzled]

Also, the percentage of B&W versus color that they shoot in (though most photographers will let you decide what ratio you want, one of my friends used a photographer who was going through a B&W "phase," so she has almost no color photos of her wedding).

Just a thought....

[AndreaMMS]

I would also ask if the photographer has worked in their ceremony/reception location before. Some places can be tricky with lighting and angles....

If they HAVE worked there before you can ask to see samples from those weddings....

This was a big help for me when I was looking.

Good luck to your sister! :)

[sdianems]

I would want to know the following:

Do you (the bride) keep the negatives?
Would you be able to print the photos yourself (anywhere) or is it necessary to buy photos from him/her?
Can you buy individual photos, or is an album mandatory?
Does the photographer work with an assistant, or alone?
(You will need to buy a meal for each of them)
If in the event of an illness or emergency, is there a backup photographer?

[berry]

Thanks so much for all your replies.

I passed the info on to my sister.

[MeTheGirlie]

One of the huge mishaps I had at my wedding was: I had 3 sets of family (personally), Dad's side, Mom's side & DH's side. With all of the confusion, for whatever reason, we didn't get a family pic of my Dad's side (who, by the way, helped me with the wedding). OY.

My best piece of advice (although this isn't a question to ask) is to make sure you have your list for them AND someone assigned to make sure they follow through with it (ie. and appointed member!). I wish I had.