There’s no question that planning a wedding can get overwhelming at times, and it’s no different when choosing your photographer. After all, these are the photos that will capture your beautiful, memorable day.
Our advice? Choose your wedding venue first and foremost. Regardless if you choose the Mansion Royal in Corpus Christi or another, your event venue will determine your day-of-photography style so that you can pick the right photographer.
Once you’ve narrowed down your list to a few options, you’ll have a few important questions to ask the photographers. Considering you will be spending your whole wedding day with this person, you want to make sure they’re the right fit and you feel as comfortable as possible with them. Here are the most important questions to ask your potential wedding photographer
What is your primary style?
Why this is important: This should be the first question you should ask your potential photographer as this is the style that interests you. You want to ask if they use a blend of different styles and other things that are important to you. Do you want portraits? Are you seeking a photojournalism style? What percentage of black and white photos do you want? You should have some ideas in mind before meeting the photographers.
What kind of experience do you have?
Why this is important: You want to get a good idea of how much experience a photographer has, not only in general but for your type of wedding venue as well. Make sure to ask specific questions — not all photographers work full time, so you’ll want to ask how many weddings they’ve worked, not how many years. They may only do 3-5 weddings a year. You don’t know until you ask.
How many weddings are you shooting that weekend?
Why this is important: If you’re going with a larger studio or part-time photographer, you’ll probably get someone that’s only working your wedding for the weekend. However, if you’re going with a smaller studio, they might assign a photographer to multiple weddings. If you want more attention to detail and more focus, go with a photographer that’s only doing your wedding that weekend.
Will you be my photographer? What happens if you get sick?
Why this is important: Oftentimes the person you’re meeting at the studio won’t be your actual photographer. Make sure they don’t pull a switcheroo on you. Ask to meet the actual photographer that will be shooting your wedding, and if they get sick, who would be their replacement. The last thing you want is surprises on your big day, so make sure you have a contingency plan in place.
How many hours of coverage? What do you charge for overtime? What’s the deposit and total fee?
Why this is important: Again, you want to avoid surprises on or after your wedding day, especially when it comes to extra fees and costs. Make sure to hammer home these details before you book. If overtime hours are extremely expensive, you might want to opt for a larger package that includes more hours to avoid a larger rate later on.
How long after the event will the photos be ready?
Why this is important: Although it’s tempting to go with a studio that will get your photos back to you in one week so you can show your friends and family. You might want to consider a studio that develops and produces your images so that you receive a better product. That can take anywhere from 2 weeks to 6 months, which is why it’s important to ask about their production schedule.
Picking Your Event Venue First
As we said before, choosing your wedding venue prior to shortlisting your photographers is your first order of business. If you’re looking for a venue that creates stunning events in the Corpus Christi area, you have to consider the Royal Mansion. With over 15 years of experience in the special event industry, you’ll get the perfect foundation for your entire wedding design.