Top 10 questions to ask your wedding photographer (with our honest answers!)

By Dover Media Group – Professional Wedding Photographer in Kent

Choosing your wedding photographer can be overwhelming; there are so many options out there, all promising different things. Some promising anything you wish to hear to desperately secure a booking. To help you make sense of it all, we’ve put together a list of the top questions you should ask any wedding photographer before booking and because we like to keep things real, we’ve also added our own honest answers below.

1. How will I receive my images?

Always ask what is delivered by the wedding photographers you’re talking to. While many offer an online gallery for you to download, this is great if you plan to keep the images safely stored on your mobile device, but always ensure you back them up somewhere else too.

Pro tip 💡 – If you have Amazon Prime, did you know you get free cloud storage to back photos up forever?

Anyway, ensure you know what you get. Do you get a cheap plastic memory stick? How long does the online gallery stay up for? All things you should be asking, but our main tip: back them up multiple times.

Our answer: While our packages differ, we are lovers of giving, so most of our packages include personalised memory sticks, a selection of 6''x4'' prints as standard, and of course a private online gallery to view and share with family and friends. In addition, many of our all-day packages have A3 printed photo albums included as standard too!

2. When will I receive my photos?

Hotly debated for the right answer among the groups. With some “photographers” claiming within three days of the wedding, some up to six months, and some just never turning up. Be sure to have an expectation set out in your contract of a maximum wait and ensure you are happy with it.

While I don’t think a three-day delivery is the correct thing to do, nor do I believe it can be done well and guaranteed, some offer it. We advise to consider longer waits. Why? Because science. If you review your images in a week, the memory of the day is still fresh in your mind. With it being so fresh, much of the photographs’ memories just don’t take you back, nor do they provoke that inside warmth of reminiscing. (Google it – it’s real.)

While a six-week wait not only builds anticipation and excitement, many of those smaller memories fade away, so reviewing the photos really does take you back there.

Our answer: Within six weeks. No excuses. Always. With 150 weddings completed, we have never missed our deadline. Even if it means working longer days to deliver on time, we do it – because that was one of our promises to you. We don’t hop in and out of your album to do a day job, feed the kids, or pop to the pub with the guys. This is our real life, and we pride ourselves on being a stable, professional business and achieving deadlines.

3. Can I see your reviews as a wedding photographer?

You should be able to easily find reviews for any of your suppliers. Don’t just look for a few; look over a longer period of years. That shows stability and growth. It also indicates they may have been trading longer. Don’t just limit it to one source either – more sources means more credibility. Check Bridebook, Google Reviews, Facebook Recommendations, Hitched… dig around and build a solid review history. Always be suspicious if you can’t see reviews – are they turned off, and why?

Our answer: Yes, of course! Check out all of the above. With 60+ reviews we’ve seen that are easily accessible, go looking – Google Reviews (34 at last check), Facebook (25, I think?), Hitched (we’ve got one on there too, I think). We don’t hide anything – it’s all there to see.

4. What’s plan B?

I think this is possibly the most important. What happens if your suppliers are very ill? Their legs fall off? What happens if their car breaks down? What happens if the camera breaks? What happens if…? There are literally thousands of scenarios that could prevent your supplier from being there on your wedding day.

As a professional, they need a plan set out in the contract for everyone to see. What happens if the memory card breaks – will you lose all of the images? A huge part of planning is preparation for failure and having solid plans in place, plus solid insurance for when they need cover. These are questions that must be asked, and answers they should know. You can learn a lot about their level of professionalism by their insurance coverage and backup plans.

Our answer: We’ve planned for literally everything – from emergency cover to spare vehicles, shooting to two memory cards, to carrying multiple spare cameras. Even if our car is stolen from beneath us on route, we have a plan. And it doesn’t stop when we get home on the wedding night; it extends to backing up the wedding photos multiple times – a backup on the cloud, one on a server, and keeping the cards untouched until the album is delivered. Being a bit “case crazy”, our couples know there is a plan for everything. Ask us any scenario!

5. Booking and deposit terms

What is the deposit, and what does it cover? Something again that should be covered in the contract. While photographers have little standard practice across the industry – some a fixed £100 deposit, some a £500 “retainer”, and others “hundred and fifty quid cash, m8” – whatever the ask, make sure it’s recorded and safe.

Pay securely via credit or debit card where possible, or even PayPal (not family and friends). While we believe the deposit should be the last part of the booking process, be wary of people keen to extract money from you as soon as possible, and never feel pressured to pay deposits if you’re not 100% comfortable with the photographer.

Our answer: 25% of the balance as a booking fee, with the remaining balance due one month before the wedding date. Of course, it’s all on the terms and conditions you agree to before we collect a booking fee. While we don’t do pressure selling, we do take booking fees. Following our initial meetings, we insist couples go off and discuss and review other options if they need to. We will never chase for a booking fee; we simply say, “Go away, have a chat, then if you’d like to book, drop us a message.” No pressure, no hassling.

6. Do you have insurance or accreditations?

While your photographer is “just taking photos”, it is imperative they carry insurance. Not only are more venues insisting on this before they’re allowed in now, but it also covers damages you may not think about.

What happens if they turn around and knock that vase off the shelf? Or set fire to something with the sparklers? While many amateurs tend to miss this out, it’s so important to have public liability as a minimum. This protects your guests if they trip over tripods and your venue if anything gets damaged. However, you should also consider whether you want them to be covered for professional indemnity too – this covers you in the event of complete failure by them: if they lose the photos or the delivery isn’t as expected. Only you know the value of your wedding photos to you.

Our answer: Of course, we’re insured. Public liability (£5 million), professional indemnity, legal cover, multiple business car insurances, PAT testing certificates, City & Guilds accreditations, ICO registrations, executive vehicle breakdown coverage, onward travel – if we need it, we’ve got it (and more) for our peace of mind and yours.

ICO Registration badge and number

7. Can I view some completed albums?

With so many photographers showing off their prettiest portraits in the nicest venues, it’s easy to be drawn in by “they look nice, we’ll book them.” Well, nice light and nice venues make for much easier portraits.

But did they nail focus walking down the aisle? Did they get Nan crying over there, or the confetti line-up? Did you know a huge amount of photos on social media are from styled shoots? They’re like make-believe weddings without the real pressures, guests, or timings – basically a couple in a venue having a photo shoot for fun.

Ask to see full albums, from prep to evening. Only then will you be able to see if that photographer produces albums you’ll love at all times of day. Can they shoot in the dark? How’s the focus on the first dance? Do they get good group shots? And of course – did they get that perfect first kiss?

Our answer: Yes, of course! With over 150 real, complete albums here at our fingertips, pop into the studio and I’ll let you sit and look through them all if you’d like to. Pick a venue – if we’ve shot there, you’re welcome to see what our work looks like there. Oh, and I’ll add: although we’ve been part of a couple of styled shoots, we NEVER share those photos ourselves.

8. Have you shot my venue before?

It can always be nice to see work from photographers in your venue so you can get insight into what your album may look like, what works, what doesn’t work. And of course, your photographer is familiar with the grounds and surroundings. They may know all the little spots they like for portraits and group shots, taking the worry out of the day.

Our answer: It doesn’t matter. We’re strong believers that our first time at some venues has led to some of our best work. Planning and preparation are key to good workflows, so for most venues we’ve never been to, we often arrange with the venue to pop over and take a look around. We also know that if you shoot the same venue too often, you get predictable and safe. You shoot the same thing over and over because you know it works and stop, as an artist, looking and exploring for something unique. So to us? We plan and know where we plan to play, even when shooting our first wedding at your venue.

9. Can I request certain images to be taken?

While you may have a list in your mind of things you want captured on your wedding day, your photographer will already have a “must-get” list in their mind too. While there may be some special ones for you, you need to make sure your photographer will even accept requests, as some don’t. I know – crazy, right? But it’s true.

If you want that picture of you, X, Y, and Z, and you hire a documentary photographer that doesn’t do portraits, you might be disappointed. While most photographers won’t want 600 shots on a list (flowers, chairs, name tags, wine bottles…), a few special requests are absolutely fine.

Our answer: If you want something, just grab us – that’s what we’re there for! Alternatively, throughout the planning journey with us, we ask for a list for the group shots and any special requests to be on that list. While we never guarantee every single shot on any list, we do our absolute best to get as many as possible.

10. What’s included in your packages, and are there additional costs?

Finally, one you should always know: what’s included, and from when until when. With photographers’ packages so varied, it can be easy to lose track of them all and think you’re getting coverage you may not actually have. So be sure to have a written plan of what you get – whether that’s times of coverage or what’s delivered.

Also, know what happens if you want to add additional time, for example – how much is an extra hour in the evening?

Our answer: All of our most popular packages are listed everywhere and easy to find. From pricing to deliverables, it’s all on the website, then itemised in your invoice. Additional time? Add-ons like photo booth or videography? If in doubt, ask – we’re always happy to clarify. We don’t like surprises and wouldn’t want our couples to either.

Every photographer will tell you they’re the right fit, but the best way to find out is to ask the right questions and trust your instincts. We’re proud of what we do, and we’ll always answer honestly, transparently, and with a cup of coffee (or two!) waiting at the studio.

📸 Dover Media Group – Wedding photographers & videographers in Kent Telling your story with heart, laughter, and a dash of cinematic magic.