Some photographers don’t address this on their websites, so I think it’s always good measure to get a verbal response for two reasons. First, it’s a great way to quickly break the ice with your photographer and second, you’ll get a great sense of how much the photographer values what they do. You would be surprised at how many photographers cannot put into words why they have chosen to photograph weddings. Honestly I’m not sure I would hire a photographer who doesn’t know why they do what they do.

All wedding photographers (including myself) feature our very best work in our galleries hoping to attract clients who are looking for a similar aesthetic for their wedding, but at the end of the day, you’re not just getting a few really fantastic images, you’re receiving a series of images that tells the story of an eight hour day from beginning to end. It’s important to see examples of this when hiring a photographer so you can have a much better idea of what you can expect. Bonus points if the photographer can show you an example of a full wedding at your venue. If the photographer gives you any hesitation about sharing a full gallery, I would suggest moving on to the next one.

Most photographers (myself included) will retain the rights to their own photographs and will license the work out to you for virtually any personal usage online or by print, or on any of the social media networks. The photographer will also likely reserve the right to use their images on their own website as well as on any social media outlet. Usually any further usage would require permission from either the clients or the photographer.

Some photographers insist on selecting photos, creating the layout and delivering the final product straight to the client. Other photographers may ask for your input. Ask this question so you know how involved you will be when putting together your wedding album. Personally, I think collaboration is awesome!

While it is uncommon, some photographers do still withhold high-resolution files hoping you will either pay a fee for them or purchase prints from their online gallery. This approach is largely based on a pre-digital business model where the photographer would retain the physical negatives (now jpeg files) and the clients would select images to be printed from a proof sheet (now an online gallery). Back in the day, this is how wedding photographers used to make most of their money, on selling prints.

To keep your life simple, I would strongly recommend just going with a photographer who will share the images with you for a single rate. Ultimately, you shouldn’t be forced to pay more just to access your wedding photos after all is said and done.

Life is unpredictable. Accidents and emergencies can happen that might prevent your photographer from being present at your wedding. Make sure your photographer has a section in the contract that ensures you will at the very least get a full refund should something happen. While your photographer should try to arrange an alternative shooter if possible, you must accept that in some cases that might not always be a possibility.

Most photographers will retain ownership of all images taken. As such, they reserve the right to publish on their websites, social media accounts as well as magazines and wedding blogs. They depend on these marketing outlets to grow their businesses. If you prefer discretion and want your wedding photos to be kept private for the world, the photographer may either walk away or charge you an additional fee to impose a restriction like this.