The Knot's 10 Most Important Questions to Ask Your Wedding, Photographer.

If you've been engaged for a few weeks now, you've probably made your way onto sites like The Knot and Wedding Wire, which are resources for engaged couples.

Like many resource-driven wedding websites, The Knot has a plethora of helpful checklists and articles to help you plan your wedding. Like, 70 Wedding Captions for All of Your Instagram Posts. And 26 Menu Ideas Your Wedding Guests Will Love. 

However, these sites are most helpful in the questions they recommend asking potential wedding vendors, including photographers. 

So, to save you some time, I thought I would go ahead and answer them for you here.

This way, when we get on the phone, you'll already understand what I do and what I provide. And we can jump straight to the important stuff: You and your needs.

The Knot's 10 Important Questions to Ask Wedding Photographers Before Booking Them

1. How long have you been a professional wedding photographer?

Since 2009, I've photographed over 200 weddings. Before that, I was a photojournalist for Vail Daily, where I worked as a photographer for about five years.

It's a small-town newspaper, and the news cycles were predictable and redundant. But over those five years, I honed my technical abilities. I learned how to find something interesting even in the most mundane situations. And I gained experience working with all different types of people. 

At some point, a friend asked me to photograph her wedding, and I (reluctantly) said yes. To my surprise, I enjoyed it more than I expected, as I could tell a much longer and more profound story. My business heavily shifted to weddings after that.

2. How would you describe your wedding photography style?

Documentary fine art. 

What does that mean? Well, let me break it down for you:

My style is documentary in that the process is story-driven. I capture your day as it happens, moment by moment, without intervention. In other words, it's a hands-off approach apart from when the time comes to take family portraits. Then, I'm a bit more hands-on, so you get great-looking photos and get back to being with your people.

Fine art is an aesthetic. It's refined, sophisticated, timeless. These images are intended to be more than just wedding pictures - they're designed to be pieces of art to be preserved in an album or framed and displayed in your home. That's why I also love capturing landscapes and the area where you're hosting your wedding - to capture a sense of place and tell a more powerful story.

3. What is your photo editing style?

Natural and timeless. This is why I love photographing in black and white. Color can date an image just as much as a piece of clothing can, but black and white photos transcend time. I typically deliver about 75% of your pictures in color. The rest are in black and white. 

4. Can we see a full wedding gallery?

Absolutely. In fact, I'll send you some even if you don't ask for one.

Viewing a complete gallery is a good idea to get a big picture of how I'll document your day. Portfolios can seduce couples, and Instagram only shows you so solo moments. But with a full gallery, you get to see all of the things that make up a story, such as a sense of place, details, people, etc. 

I will happily send you galleries that remind me of what you envision. Of course, it won't look exactly like your own because for every wedding I photograph, I intentionally make it personal to the couple. But you will be able to understand how your wedding will look through my lens. 

5. What is it like to work with you on the day of the wedding?

My documentary style lends me to take a more relaxed approach, like a real-life fly on the wall. I will direct you during family portraits or if you're nervous (most are!). Otherwise, I'll just let you do your thing.

When I do direct, I don't man-handle. Instead, I will politely tell you or your guests what to do so the image looks better. It's more about the backdrop and lighting than posing perfectly, anyway. 

To get people to relax, I'll say funny things here and there. And I will take several shots of each grouping to make sure everyone's eyes are open—that kind of stuff. 

Overall, I'm laid back, I go with the flow, and I try to be a calming presence. 

6. Do you have a backup plan in place?

I bring backup batteries, flash, and memory cards for my gear. And I'm notorious for always bringing too much out of fear of not being able to capture something.

On the day of your wedding, I always give myself plenty of time to get to the venue. As it's Colorado, you never know if a mountain pass will be closed (although I check before I leave the house.)

If you're hoping for outdoor photos and the weather turns bad, we'll work around it. Most of the time, we can wait an hour, and the weather will change. But in case that doesn't happen, we can do an after-wedding session the day or week after so you can have those images. 

7. Can we request specific shots?

I will send you a questionnaire asking about essential details, people, and events happening throughout the day. And if you have something day-of that you want me to capture, just make a note or ask!

I'll also look through your inspiration images or Pinterest boards to see what types of photos you like. But please know that I won't take direction on styling. After all, that's my job as a professional photographer. 

8. What do your wedding packages include?

After you inquire, we'll get on the phone or meet up for coffee so I can get an idea of your photography needs and wants. From there, I will put together a custom package for you.

Packages will always include timeline support, black and white and color photos, and an online gallery. Depending on your specific needs, it can consist of an engagement session, additional hours of coverage, personal editing, a second photographer, and albums and prints.

9. When will we receive our wedding photos?

I like to offer sneak peeks within 48 hours so that you have something to share with your friends and family or on social media. And most importantly, so you can start reliving your day and get excited for your full gallery, which you'll receive within six weeks.

If you want to preserve your memories by purchasing an album, I will give you a week to look through your gallery and mark your favorite images. From there, I'll design your album to include your favorite photos in a way that tells your story. After the final proof is approved, you can expect your album within six weeks. 

10. What are the next steps?

Say hello! We'll set up a time to chat so I can get to know you, your vision, and your expectations. And from there, create your custom proposal.