Will You Be My Bridesmaid Fortune Cookies
If youre looking for a fun and unique way to ask your bridesmaids to be at your wedding, look no further than fortune cookies! These tasty treats can be personalized with particular messages, making them the perfect way to show your appreciation. Plus, theyre sure to bring a smile to everyones face. So why not add fortune cookies to your wedding planning arsenal? Your bridesmaids will be thrilled!
Global Grub DIY Fortune Cookie Kit
Do You Recommend A 2nd Shooter
I generally recommend a 2nd shooter to clients for a few reasons. First, if you are planning a raging party with a lot of guests, it can be beneficial to have two bodies on the floor to capture events happening simultaneously. Having a second shooter at the ceremony is also an opportunity to have multiple angles of coverage. For example, capturing the couple walking down the aisle from two different perspectives can help better capture the photographic story of your day. Additionally, if the couple plans on getting ready in two different locations, a second shooter can help document both experiences.
Do You Offer Album/print Sales
The photography industry has changed tremendously as far as offering albums and prints with every package, and its now entirely unique to the photographer you choose. Some photographers offer an online high-res gallery with all of your edited images which can be downloaded and printed from anywhere of your choice. I use an online gallery service called Pic-Time so youre able to order prints, albums, and other fun physical products straight from your online gallery that I send you, or you can download and print them from wherever youd like Some photographers like to be involved in designing your albums with you/for you, some photographers offer that as an upsell with their packages. Sometimes photographers will even throw in some prints as a gift when returning your wedding photos *wink wink*. Everyone is different, and theres definitely no right or wrong way to do it! But I would definitely ask about this before you book just so you know what to expect.
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What Happens If You Get Sick
Although this is very rare, your photographer is, after all, human, and it is an important question to ask. You want to make sure that you dont loose your large non-refundable deposit over them getting sick with the flu. At the very least, they should return your deposit in full so that you can hire another photographer ASAP.
Ideally though, they should have a backup photographer that they can rely on if that were to ever happen. You want to make sure that they have people on their side who can still be there for you if the worst case scenario took place.
When discussing what if scenarios, ask:
What Is Your Back
People get ill and family emergencies happen. Your photographer will likely have a network of fellow professionals they can call upon if circumstances change unexpectedly. Despite the best laid plans, its always recommended you get wedding insurance to cover for any last-minute disasters. Listen to your gut if they ignore the question youre only going to have one chance at this day and you need to trust they have you covered.
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But Make Sure Theyre From Similar Types Of Weddings
Its more important that the sample galleries be from wedding that share similar qualities. For example, if youre getting married in a loft space, a gallery of photos from a destination beach wedding isnt very relevant. If you know youll want some rooftop night portraits, ask for a gallery that shows that. You want to seeing real weddings with similar ceremony and reception locations.
FIVE MORE GOOD QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
TELL ME ABOUT YOUR SECOND PHOTOGRAPHER?
Many photographers tout a second photographer or market themselves as a team, but often the second photographer is more of an assistant, or a spouse with a camera. If youre getting two photographers, ask about BOTH of their backgrounds.
In our case, we shoot every wedding with two photographers. Two PRIMARY photographers. I only hire other photojournalists with similar backgrounds and experience levels. Theyre people I completely trust. Two of them actually shot my own wedding. Another shot my brothers wedding.
HOW DO YOU SAFE-GUARD MY IMAGES?
Make sure your photographer has thought about worst-case scenarios and has real backup procedures in place to mitigate these risks.
We take your image security very seriously. We shoot every photo to two cards, so theres an immediate backup. Additionally, we make two more copies plus one off-site immediately after the wedding. Seriously, I cant even go to bed until I know your photos are backed up safely.
WHAT WILL YOU WEAR TO OUR WEDDING?
Will You Be Photographing Us As We Are Or Will You Put Us Into Situations We Arent Comfortable In
Its so important that you get to know the photographer you hire. I normally like to ask my clients before their portraits if theyre cuddly with one another or what their love language is. That helps me decide the best way to photograph them without making them uncomfortable. If I have clients who say they arent cuddly or touchy feely then I will either have them run around playing games or do more editorial type posing. If I have clients who say they love to cuddle then I will shoot them a bit more intimately. I have seen SO MANY photos from photographers with clients who are clearly uncomfortable with the pose theyre in, and this is most likely the culprit.
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Will Other People Be Able To Take Photos While You Are
Theres so many benefits to an unplugged wedding where phones are banned. Even if youre happy for people to take photos during the day, your photographer might request that guests dont during the ceremony. No one wants their walk down the aisle blocked by Auntie Alice taking photos on her giant iPad.
What Is Your Cancellation And/or Refund Policy
None of us likes to think about the worst, but it is prudent to plan for it, so ask about the consequences should you need to cancel your contract with your wedding photographer. How much noticed must you give? Will you lose your deposit if you cancel? Will you lose it if you re-schedule?
Dont be afraid to ask these questions because, in the event you need to cancel , youll be glad you did.
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What Do Your Packages/collections Include And What Will I Have To Pay Extra For
What you need to know: It is especially important to comb the photography contract because there can be additional fees or add-on costs that arent clear at first. Its not a matter of intentional deception, there just may be costs like overtime hours or transportation you may not have thought of. Ask your wedding photographer questions like, how many hours are included in each package? How much do extra hours cost? Do you include engagement photos in your packages? Do you include pre-wedding events likerehearsal dinners in your packages? Do you offer retouching, color adjustment, or other corrective services? Are those included or an additional charge? Do you charge a travel fee? For what distance? What does that cover?
Can You Take Engagement Photos
Depending on your photo package, a photographer may take engagement photos in addition to the wedding day itself. By having the same photographer take your engagement and wedding photos, you can build a relationship early on in the planning process.
Feel free to ask about other pre-wedding events like the rehearsal dinner as well. If you want professional photos from your rehearsal dinner, ask if this can be included in your package.
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How Will The Photos Be Delivered At What Resolution At The Longest Edge And Jpeg Quality
The actual resolution in terms of dots per inch does not affect the resolution and therefore actual quality of a JPEG. A more important aspect of the quality of an exported JPEG photo are the number of pixels at the longest edge. This simply means the horizontal edge on a landscape photo, or the vertical edge on a portrait photo.
There is no need to quote the horizontal and vertical resolution, because all photos will come out of a full frame camera at a ratio of 3:2. So a landscape photo with a resolution of 1000 pixels at the longest edge will be 666 pixels at the shortest edge.
For general social media posting a resolution of about 2000 pixels at the longest edge is more than enough for social media. For printing photo books or small prints up to about 12 inches, then a resolution of about 3600 pixels is perfect.
I provide photos at both social media and high resolution at the longest edge .
You may also want your photos at maximum resolution , especially if you intend printing artworks such as large prints, wall canvases etc. Maximum resolution for most professional cameras is in excess of 5000 pixels at the longest edge, but it depends on the exact camera and the number of megapixels and whether it has been creatively cropped.
New York City Hall Photographer Questions
If you are considering a New York City Hall wedding photographer, ensure that you inquire with them on these points. You must consider that most photographers will charge differently for NYC City Hall wedding photos.
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How Does Your Pricing Work
Why You Want to Know: Videographers typically charge a flat rate based on an amount of time. Others offer preset packages that also include other pieces, like a same-day edit or an extra shooter. Even if you’re just buying a standard package, it’s important to run through what’s included. And if there’s something you’re hoping forbe it a short trailer to share with family or a hard drive with all of the raw footageask about it and get any agreements in writing.
How Many Hours Of Filming Does Your Package Include
Why You Want to Know: A wedding videographer’s packages likely include a certain number of hours of filming on your wedding day, anywhere from four to an unlimited number of hours, The more time your videographer spends filming your wedding, the more you’ll pay, so you’ll want to make sure that the amount of time and cost aligns with your needs and budget.
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Whats Your Photography Style And Can You Change It To Suit Our Tastes
Though it may seem like editing is just hitting a button, much like applying a Snapchat filter, photographers have spent years evolving and constantly refining their editing style. Going back to the painter analogy, youd find the artist whose style you like, then commission that you make a painting that looks much like their other work, for you.
OK, were not painters but the same deal holds up. A good wedding photographer will not simply change their editing style for your tastes, but rather refer you to a different style of photographer that is exactly what youre looking for.
What Attire Will The Photographer And Their Assistants Wear
Even though the wedding photographers are a big part of the wedding day, its important that they are not distractions. As such, its important for the photographer to blend in as much as possible. Furthermore, for religious or cultural ceremonies, there may be certain colors that are considered taboo. Make sure your photographers will be dressed appropriately for the occasion. Typical Lin and Jirsa wedding photography attire is black suit pants with a black polo or dress shirt. We dress completely in black because we want to go unnoticed by the clients and guests so that we can capture the event as photojournalists.
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Can We Request A List Of Specific Shots We Would Like
You can give me a shot list, but I can’t guarantee I’ll capture them all. I’ll request a list of group photos you’d like, but the rest is generally left to me. For example, I don’t need to know that you want a photo of you two kissing at the ceremony : ) But please do let me know about any family heirlooms or important objects you DEFINITELY need captured.
What Equipment Do You Use
If you dont know the difference between an 85mm F 1.4 and F 1.2, or an 580EX II and a 600EX RT, then you probably dont need to ask about it. Just like your mechanic, or an artist youve commissioned for a painting, trust they have the equipment they need to complete the job at hand.
It can honestly be pretty boring for photographers to answer questions about gear, especially when we arent talking to other photographers! It always makes me wonder WHY are clients asking this. If you have major misgivings about your photographers equipment, choose a different photographer!
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What Is On Your Wedding Priorities Short List Is Wedding Photography On That List
The most valuable wedding planning advice Ive ever heard in my decade as a wedding photographer comes from the first chapter of A Practical Wedding Planner, by Meg Keene:
When the seating charts are in the trash and your wedding decor is packed away, what emotions do you want to remember? Once youve done the work of figuring out what you want your wedding to feel like you and your partner try to create a joint list of top three wedding planning prioritiesthat will help you figure out what makes a wedding feel like a wedding to each of you As you get lost in the weeds of This costs what? and Your mom insists we have that?? you can revisit your original list to make sure youre focused on the things that actually matter.
While it doesnt have to be a list of three, knowing the small handful of thingswhether its food, music, guest experience, venue, flowers, attire, transportation for your guests, or anything elsethat you want to prioritize is invaluable as a guiding star in the wedding planning process.
Moreover, wedding budget templates popularized by sources like The Knot can vary wildly from actual pricing in a given city or metropolitan area. Rather than blindly relying on percentages of total budget for each vendor, this approach can help you identify your top few priorities as places to allocate more resources, and consciously choose which other elements to de-prioritize.
