GIFT 2 – Important Questions to ask wedding photographers

Choosing a photographer for your wedding day can be overwhelming. Want advice? First, decide what your style of day photography is, and then find professional wedding photographers within your budget. Once you've narrowed your list down to two or three potential options, come up with these questions to ask wedding photographers to see if you're comfortable with them.

Why take engagement photos? The best reason is that it is a great opportunity to work with the wedding photographer for the first time and feel comfortable in front of their lens and their style (Most photographers also include an engagement session in their wedding photography packages when you hire them). You can also use them creatively in props or decor for ¨Save the date¨ and your wedding day or use them on invitation cards for guests & family.

Keep reading for the basics that will help you get the most out of your pre-wedding photo session.

1. Are the photos retouched and color balanced?

Some photographers will polish all your photos, while others will show you untouched proofs and work their magic on only the images you ask for. At Flamingo Wedding Photography we retouch each of the photos to elevate the experience of our couples.

2. How many weddings have you done and how many do you do in a year? Do you have international experience? Also, what is your favorite part of the wedding day?

You only have one opportunity to get amazing wedding photos, so you'll want to hire someone who knows exactly how to get those photos under pressure (read: someone who makes a living at weddings, not your old college or roommate who takes photos as a hobby). Be sure to check out their websites or Instagram pages for samples of their work as well.

For example, we have more than 110 weddings, of which more than 90 have been in the United States. That's a major endorsement for any wedding photographer you book.

3. What exactly is included in your packages?

When comparing rates, check if it includes prints, paintings or albums, how many photographers, or even the engagement photo session itself, all can alter costs significantly. It's not necessarily a bad thing if, for example, your album isn't included, you can always make your own or buy it a la carte, but you want to make sure you're comparing apples to apples for the best value.

4. How many hours of coverage do we have? What is the charge for overtime? When comparing rates, check if it includes prints, paintings or albums, how many photographers, or even the engagement photo session itself, all can alter costs significantly. It's not necessarily a bad thing if, for example, your album isn't included, you can always make your own or buy it a la carte, but you want to make sure you're comparing apples to apples for the best value.

5. What is the total deposit and fee?

With this you will be informed in detail of the total that the investment of a photographer or photographers in your wedding will cost you to anticipate additional costs.

6. Will you be my actual photographer or will it be one of your associates?

Let's imagine that a famous photographer has a wedding photo agency called "Mario Testino Photography". Don't assume the same Mario from Mario Testino Photography will take your photos. That doesn't mean Mario's companions are lacking, but you'll want to meet with them (and see their photos) to make an informed decision.

At Flamingo Wedding Photography, we ourselves attend to our couples.

7. Do you have backup photographers to shoot the wedding if you are sick?

If you're going to a company that employs a team of photographers, you'll have a built-in backup. But if you're going with a solo photographer, ask if they have colleagues on call in case of an emergency. In our case, we have 2 photographers that we hire per event in Miami, FL depending on demand, which gives us a total of 4 photographers. As we just started working in Peru in 2020, we do not have them at the moment but there is no concern because 99.99% of our weddings are covered between Akshata and me (Rodrigo).

At Flamingo Wedding Photography, we ourselves attend to our couples.

8. Will there be a second shooter or an assistant? Is there an additional fee for each?

Second photographers can cover more ground and can give you two perspectives on key moments (for example, one can shoot the groom's face when he first meets his bride, and the other can shoot the bride as she walks down the aisle), but this may cost you more. Due to the high standards that we always try to offer, we at Flamingo Wedding Photographer always go together as 2 main photographers without additional charges.

9. How long after the wedding can we see the photos?

You'll want to see photos as soon as possible, and the wait can be quite agonizing (it can take months!). But if you know ahead of time, you can manage your expectations. We send the photos within an average of 12 to 25 days, always communicating with our wedding couple to give them news of the progress.

10. How many weddings do you do on a weekend?

If your photographer is shooting a wedding in the evening before yours, you'll need to come up with a plan for that. In FWP always, but we ALWAYS cover 1 wedding per weekend since we believe it is important to give our couples the necessary time. It is a very special day and we would not be comfortable being there for only a few hours as you never know what might come up.

11. Will you follow a list of photo requirements? Or would you rather have the freedom to capture the wedding however you see fit?

Most photographers will accept a (short) shot list to make sure you get the specific photos you want. But don't overwhelm them with hundreds of requests: if you hire a good professional, you're hiring them for their attention and expertise in creating amazing albums, so let them do their job. We at Roak are your friends and we always listen to your special requests, we even show you a list of important photos that we always suggest.

12. What are the restrictions for sharing photos online or for publication? Do you own the copyright of the photos?

If you are a Facebook and Instagram addict, not having permission to share some of your wedding photos online can be torture, it is better to know in advance. In FWP you are the owner of your photos, in addition, we will provide you with a "Release" which is a document that allows you to print your photos as many times as you want anywhere in the world.

13. Do you bring your own lighting?

You'll not only want to determine if you'll need to provide additional lighting (either by hiring a lighting designer or having the venue supply it), but you'll also want to make sure the equipment they bring isn't too bulky or obtrusive.

14. What will you wear?

Discussing your wedding day wardrobe will allow your photographer to plan your wedding style. Most will be happy to blend in with the scenery (for example, wearing black for an evening event or lighter shades for a garden party during the day).

Stay tuned for the next email because I'm going to send you one more gift!

Rodrigo & Akshata

Get ready for ANOTHER SURPRISE IN THE NEXT EMAIL, AS THERE´S ONE MORE GIFT COMING YOUR WAY!

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