Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Videographer and/or a Photographer

Your wedding day is easily one of the most romantic and wonderful days of your life and you want to remember every single moment of it! The best way to do that is to hire a videographer and/or photographer to capture all those special moments. However, for those moments to be captured in your ideal way, you need to find a photographer or videographer perfectly fit for you. Follow our questions below to help you find the best one!

• Are they available on your wedding date?

• What is their style? Cinematic, documentary, or vintage?

• How do they choose the music? Discuss genres or your favorite songs that you would like to hear in the film?

• Do they use drones, and do they have the experience to use the drone? Do they have drone insurance, just in case the venue may require it?

• What is their editing process? How do they splice all that they captured that day into the film? Are they able to include the portions that are especially important to you to have in your highlight video?

• Will your photographer and videographer work well together? Have they worked with each other before?

• When will the film be delivered? Can they provide a timeline with updates?

• When will the photographs be delivered? Do you choose which photographs you like and those will be the ones edited?

• How will the film be delivered? Will it be delivered as a digital file (easiest) or on a USB?

• What equipment do they use? Are they up to date with the newest technology?

• Have they shot at your wedding venue before and are they familiar with the grounds and any requirements the venue may have? If not, are they willing to explore the area before your wedding?

• What packages do they offer and what do they include? Are the packages adjustable and customizable? Will they include a trailer and a film?

• Will there be one or two crews for the day of your wedding shoot? If two, will they be able to successfully partner to efficiently capture the getting ready photos for both the bride and groom, at the same time?

• Do they have an assistant or second shooter photographer/videographer to make sure no detail is missed?

• Will they be personally filming, or will they be using a third party? Will the person they’re signing a contract with be the one in charge of filming that day?

• How long have they been filming weddings and how many do they film each year? Are they experienced in the wedding industry?

• Will they be shooting another wedding the same weekend? Will they be able to dedicate the required amount of time needed to your wedding day?

• Do they have a certain number of hours allotted to your wedding day? If so, how many hours and does it fit within your time frame of what’s needed to be captured?

• What time will they need to show up on the day of to capture the getting ready footage? Will the bride and bridesmaids have time to book hair and makeup appointments? Will the groom and groomsmen be notified of when they need to be gathered and ready by?

• What is their cancellation policy? In the event we need to reschedule, will we be able to do so without a fee? Or will there be a cancellation fee?

• Are they open to edits or feedback, and are any additional edits needed included in the package?

• Is there a travel charge and how do they determine those travel charges? By distance? Or is this already incorporated in their package cost?

• How will the audio be recorded? Will they be connecting any microphones to the bride and groom during vows?

• How often will we communicate, and will they be able to effectively communicate about any changes involving your wedding day?

• Are they insured? If any damage is caused to the venue or a person, can the photographer/videographer’s insurance cover it?

• Do they have a link to read past reviews? Is there proof that couples highly recommend them?

Asking these questions is a fantastic way to guide you in the correct direction to finding the perfect photographer, videographer, or both! Always remember to also listen to your inner voice and choose to work with vendors that you are comfortable with, who listen to you, respect you, and are kind and fun to be around. Choosing someone you like and you feel will capture your special day best according to your vision while also following these guided questions will give you the best day and the best footage! For more tips and tricks, you can follow our Instagram page @sandynissou and see the latest trends in décor, venues, rentals and more!

Interested in looking further into how we can help with your wedding planning? Send us an email to see how we can help make your dream day come to life!