Questions to ask a wedding photographer and videographer

Coverage and team

1. Which events and how many hours does the package cover? What is the rate for an extra hour?
2. Who exactly will shoot our wedding? Can we meet the lead photographer and videographer?
3. How many people will be in the team for each event, and who covers each side of the family?
4. What equipment backup do you carry in case a camera or memory card fails?
5. Will you scout the venues beforehand, or work from a shot list we give you?

Deliverables and timing

1. How many edited photos do we receive, and do we also get the unedited selection?
2. How long is the highlight film and how long is the full film? Is a teaser included?
3. When will each deliverable arrive, and in what form: online gallery, drive, album?
4. Is a printed album included? How many pages, and who chooses the photos?
5. How long will you keep a backup of our files after delivery?

Rights, privacy and drones

1. Who owns the copyright in the photos and films, and what may each of us do with them? Please write it into the contract.
2. Will you post our photos on social media or your website? Can we ask you not to, or to leave out certain people?
3. Which music will be used in the films, and is it licensed for that use?
4. If you plan drone shots, how will the drone, the pilot and the venue’s location meet the current DGCA rules, and who is responsible for any permission?

Money

1. What does the package cost, what is extra (travel, stay, food, albums, extra edits), and are taxes included?
2. What is the payment schedule, and is the final payment due before or after delivery?
3. What happens if the photographer we booked falls ill or cannot attend?

Get it in writing

• A written quote on the vendor’s letterhead, email or invoice format, dated, with the event name, date, venue and hours.
• An itemised list of what is included and what costs extra, so two quotes can be compared line by line.
• Whether taxes are included in each amount, and whether the vendor will issue a proper invoice.
• The payment schedule: advance, part payments and balance, with the date each one is due and how it is paid.
• What happens if you postpone, reduce the guest count or cancel, and what happens if the vendor cannot deliver.
• The name and phone number of the person who will actually be in charge on the day.
• A receipt for every payment, including cash, with the date and what it was for.