A great photographer is the one vendor whose work you'll live with forever. These are the 27 questions to ask before you sign — grouped by topic so you can copy them straight into your inquiry email.

Style & deliverables

Can I see 2–3 full wedding galleries (not just highlights)?
How would you describe your editing style — light & airy, true to color, moody, film?
Do you deliver raw files? (Almost always no — and that's fine, ask why.)
How many edited images should I expect per hour of coverage?
When will I receive sneak peeks and the full gallery?
Do you offer prints, albums, or just digital files?

Coverage & logistics

How many weddings have you shot at my venue?
How many weddings do you book per weekend?
Will you personally shoot my wedding, or could it be someone else from your studio?
Do you include a second shooter?
What's your typical coverage timeline (getting ready → exit)?
How do you handle overtime if the day runs late?
Will you scout my venue beforehand or do a walkthrough call?

Gear & backups

What cameras and lenses do you bring?
Do you shoot to dual memory cards in real time?
What's your backup plan if a camera fails?
What happens if you get sick on the day?
How and where are images backed up after the wedding?

Pricing & contracts

What's included in the base package vs. add-ons?
How much is the deposit and what's the payment schedule?
What's your cancellation and rescheduling policy?
Do you carry liability insurance? (Many venues require this.)
Are travel fees included for my venue?
Do you charge a fee for an engagement session?

The "vibe check" questions

How do you handle awkward family dynamics?
What do you do if I hate being in front of a camera?
What's the biggest mistake you've seen couples make when planning photo coverage?

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27 questions to ask a wedding photographer before booking