Oxford Wedding Photographer Give Tips On What Questions To Ask When Choosing The Person Behind The Camera On Your Big Day

Any photographer you are considering for your wedding should make you feel at ease, no question is silly and really your photographer should cover this all for you so when they say ‘do you have any questions’ you draw a blank and feel confident that everything you need to know has been discussed.

Do you have Insurance?

When hiring a wedding photographer make sure that they have public liability insurance. This ensures they are covered in the event of an accident or damage, either involving your guests or the venue. Inexperienced or amateur wedding photographers often don’t have this type of insurance cover due to the additional cost involved..

Some wedding venues actually require all photographers to provide proof of their insurance before working on their premises, especially in the case of drone photography or video work.

What happens if you are ill, or there is an emergency?

Experienced professional Photographers will always have a contingency plan in the event of them not being able to complete the booking due to illness or some other unforeseen circumstances. This will normally take the form of a network of fellow wedding photographers (with a similar style and approach) on standby and available to step in and take over if required

What do you love about weddings and what you do?

It’s important to make sure that your photographer is a good match for you, not just in terms of the style of the pictures they take, but also in their personality. They will be sharing one of the most significant days of your life with you, your family and friends so it’s vital that they make you feel comfortable and confident. Do they share your excitement? Do they love what they do and have a passion for it? Nobody wants to be in a situation where they feel their photographer in either disinterested or unapproachable.

Can I ask for the booking to be extended on the day?

Plan out the day and the timings and ensure your photographer is there to capture all the key events on the day. Make sure the start and finish times of your booking are realistic in terms of capturing all the key moments you’d like to be documented. You may have booked your photographer and agreed everything with them, however you may have changed the timings slightly, the cake cutting has been moved back slightly which has moved your first dance back so it is little later now, if timings are tight and you maybe pushed then speak to your photographer and see if you can agree for them to stay and extra hour and find out how much they would charge for this. An experienced professional photographer won’t be a clock-watcher. They understand that schedules can slip (particularly when champagne enters the equation) and so won’t be packing away their camera the second they hit the agreed finish time. I normally don’t charge if the schedule overruns by up to 15 minutes. It’s easy to lose track of time in amongst the fun and excitement of a special wedding day. Professional photographers understand this and will discreetly let you know if a reasonable period of overtime has elapsed.

Do you work with a second photographer or assistant?

Understanding the photographer’s team setup is vital, especially for larger events. Having a second photographer or assistant can ensure that multiple angles and moments are captured simultaneously, offering a comprehensive view of your day. It’s essential to know if they work solo or have a team to support them.

Can I request certain images to be taken?

If there are specific family photos you would like, make sure you have written a comprehensive list of the groupings required in advance. Trying to think on the day of who needs to photographed is both stressful and can cause considerable delays to your carefully planned schedule. then let your photographer know well in advance. Have someone familiar with the bride and groom’s families to help round up people for group shots. Professions that involve a degree of shouting (teachers, army & police personnel) are ideal for this kind of job! I always tell my couples to think of me as their “photographer for hire” during the time I’m with them – if they, their families or friends want any shots during the day, they just need to come and grab me.

How long after the wedding should it take till I see my photos?

Once your day is over your photographer will start editing and colour correcting your photos.. This can take anywhere from 4-6 weeks at peak season. I endeavour to send all my couples some “sneaky peek” previews withing 7 days of the wedding day.

How will I receive my images?

Professional photographers should be able to host your images securely on a password-protected gallery, allowing you to share and download images directly with family and friends. They will also supply you with the images on a physical portable drive. I supply these in 2 formats – a high resolution set for prints and albums, and a lower resolution set for emailing and social media.

Have you ever shot at my wedding venue?

This makes it a little easier as your photographer will already know where to find great little spots for beautiful couple shots. If they haven’t then there is no need to worry, they may wish to go and check out the venue before hand or get there a little earlier to have a walk around.

When looking for a Wedding Photographer here a few questions to ask yourself:

Do I feel a positive connection with this photographer and their work?
Am I comfortable and confident with this person’s work?
Has this photographer listened well and addressed all my concerns?
Do I trust this person to capture the biggest day of my life?

Your photographer should answer any questions you have and address any concerns. If you come away with any worries then perhaps get back in touch with them to see how you feel. Go with your gut. If you love their work, feel confident with them and feel you can trust them, then get them booked.

Ian AllendenFebruary 11, 2025