We’ve been getting quite a few inquiries for 2013 lately, and we’ve really enjoyed meeting so many lovely couples.  From our perspective, that first conversation we have with couples is interesting, because everybody comes to it with a different story and a different dream for their wedding day.

One thing most couples have in common, though, is that they may not be quite sure about what is supposed to happen when they talk to potential photographers.  There are about a million lists out there of questions to ask, but few of them will actually help you get to know your photographer and understand what he/she does best.

So, here is my attempt to help you navigate the often confusing waters of finding your perfect wedding photographer.  The key, really, is for you to think about some of these questions yourself so that you can figure out what is best for you.

1.  What is a wedding day with you like?

This question is getting at style and experience.  A photographer’s style is not just photojournalistic, traditional, or artistic, but rather it is made up of the way he/she interacts with you, guides you, and interprets your wedding day.  Your wedding photographer will be with you for the entire day and will also be creating the images that you will be going back to throughout your life.

There is no right or wrong answer to this question, but it should help you open up the conversation and get to know the person you are chatting with a little bit.  And really, we just want to get to know each other.  We pour our hearts into preparing with you, thinking of creative ideas for you, spending your wedding day with you, and perfecting your wedding images for you.  We want you to love what we are creating for you, because we love creating it.

2.  Will you be the one shooting my wedding?

This seems like a silly question, but wedding photography companies come in so many shapes and sizes that it’s a smart question to ask.  When we got married, in fact, we were surprised to realize after our wedding that our photographer – one of two brothers who owned the company we worked with – was not the one whose style and images were mostly represented in the company’s portfolio.  If you are working with a larger company, you may not get a lot of contact with your photographer before the wedding or have a very good idea of what your photographer’s images will look like.

3.  What is included in your packages?

Unfortunately, there are no standards in photography packages.  As we are mostly independent small business owners, we all have unique pricing and packaging structures.  Take some time to get to know the options that your photographer provides, including albums, hours, photographers, etc.  Even the products that each photographer will offer will be different, so you might want to find out what the he/she considers the most important parts of their packages. What are the highlights?  What is the photographer really excited about?  What would they get if they got married?

In other words, packages can be confusing and intimidating, but they can also be fun.  This is where we get to show you the awesome products and options we have!

4.  How many photographers do you shoot with and why?

Some photographers mostly work on their own.  Some will bring an assistant to help with lighting and other things.  Some will bring a second photographer whose skills and vision can add creatively to your wedding collection.  Find out how your photographer works and why.

For example, Kamran and I are obviously a husband and wife team.  We work together not because we can shoot more photos together, but because we feel that just like any other relationship we are greater together than just the sum of our parts.  There is some kind of magic that we can create together that just isn’t there when we’re apart.  You know what I mean. 😉  But we feel like if you want to hire us, it’s because of what we can do when we’re together, no matter what size your wedding is.

5.  How much time do we need for different parts of the day?

This is a question I wish couples would ask.  It can be hard to foresee how much time you will need on your wedding day, because, well, everything just takes longer on your wedding day.  When we talk, we are more than happy to talk about your schedule and even help you figure out your wedding day timeline.  In my experience, though, most couples underestimate how much time they will need throughout their day, and especially for photos.  So, come to the conversation with an open mind about how much time the photographer might recommend for your getting ready photos, portraits, etc., and you’ll be well on your way to getting the best wedding photos that photographer can possibly create.

Ok, I’m sure I can come up with more, but I feel like this should get you started.  Let me know if you have suggestions or questions for part 2!