Are you struggling with finding the right photographer for your wedding?
Brides - this one is for you!
A wedding photographer tells your love story over and over. You may think that hiring a professional wedding photographer is an added expense you can cut by asking a family member to take the photos for you. Wrong! (And take it from me! My wedding pictures are the WORST!) Hiring a professional wedding photographer might be the best decision you will never regret having on your special day!
Here are a few things to think about and to ask when interviewing to hire a professional wedding photographer.
Vetting before meeting – If a photographer's starting price is way out of your budget, and you cannot stretch it, then it is not worth meeting. Be sure that the basics are in place. Here are some things to think about when vetting the perfect wedding photographer for your special day.
- You like the photographer's work.
- You are happy and can pay the prices.
- You have read the reviews and looked for any red flags.
- You feel a connection to their words and photos.
- You are seriously considering hiring the photographer.
You have done your vetting, and you are ready to meet the photographer. Here are some things to think about and things to ask during your meeting:


Experience – If you are concerned about the photographer’s level of experience, don’t just ask ‘how long have you been shooting’, many will answer from the minute the first picked up a camera. You want to know that your wedding photographer is invested in wedding photography and ensure their heart is really ‘in it’.
- How many weddings do you shoot per year (on average)?
- What do you enjoy about photographing weddings?
- Have you shot at our venue or a venue like it?
- Do you have insurance? What does that cover?
Style & Approach – You want to find, in their own words, how your wedding photographer will describe their style. If you want to know more about editing, feel free to ask. A good photographer should be able to explain in simple terms.
- What makes your photography unique?
- What level of editing can we expect?
- Can I see a range of wedding galleries you have shot?
- What is your favorite & least favorite part of the wedding day?
Money & Payment – As a business owner, photographers should not be afraid to talk about money. You want to be totally clear on how much you will need to pay, when to pay and how to pay with no surprises. Most photographers are flexible with payment schedules, but all will require a deposit (ours is based on the wedding package which is stated in the incestments section).
- What exactly are we paying for? Are there any extra costs?
- What are some of your add-ons to the package?
- Can you give us a quote and a sample contract to review?
- What type of payments do you accept?
- Is there an overtime charge?
- Is the deposit refundable? What happens if we cancel our wedding after we book with you?
- Is there a minimum of coverage time/number of hours?

Help with Planning – Photographers love to provide assistance with timeline planning! It ensures we allow time for all the things you value. Planning is key to a successful, stress-free wedding day.
- Do you help us create our wedding day timeline? What planning help you do provide?
- What are some tips and tricks for getting the most out of our wedding experience?
- Do you include a second shooter? How do we know if we need one?
- Do you offer meetings, and can we call you if we have questions?
Wedding Day – When you are planning and securing your vendors, it may seem like your wedding day is a long way away, but it is important to know what to expect on the day itself before you book your wedding photographer. It is totally fine to bring up any issues that are on your mind when you look ahead to the day itself. Helping you feel confident on your wedding day is so crucial.
- Will you be the one shooting our wedding day? If not, can we meet the person that will be?
- How do you interact with our guests?
- How do you take good photos if the lighting is less than ideal?
- How will you help us relax and look our best?
- What happens if you are not physically able to shoot on our wedding day?
What is included AFTER the wedding – After the wedding when the nerves and excitement are over, you will be ever so eager to see the photos. It is important to get a realistic sense of when you will get to see the finished images. You should know an approximate number of images to expect per hour. Copyright is also important information! One that is easily misunderstood. You will want to be sure that you get high-resolution files as part of the package and not as an upgrade for additional charge. Know what to expect.
- How long does it take you to deliver the finished photos to us?
- Do you provide a ‘sneak peek’ of a few images earlier?
- How many images should we expect? What factors influence this number?
- Do you offer printed items? Can we decide this after the wedding?
- What size can we print from the finished files?
- Copyright? Will we own the images?
We have to say, photography is one of the biggest and best parts of your big day (maybe we’re a little biased.) Make sure to hire someone that will make your wedding the best it can be. We would love to be considered for your big day – Check out our other pages and see if Mystic Moments Photography, LLC is the best fit for you!