9 Things Your Wedding Photographer Should Provide to You
9 Things Your Wedding Photographer Should Provide to You | Wedding Photographer Kansas City
As a wedding photographer in Kansas City, it might surprise you to know that one of the most important parts of my job as your wedding photographer (aside from documenting your wedding day with beautiful images) is communication. I know! Surprising answer, right? But it’s true.
Communication is one of the most important parts of the wedding photography process.
Some of the most frequent questions I used to hear from my couples included “What else should we be asking? What do we need to know? What do we need from you?”
I’m so glad they asked those questions, because it prompted me to adjust my onboarding process to intuitively provide the answers to the questions they don’t even know to ask yet. And it stirred a few more questions newly engaged couples might have, including the question that sparked the topic of my post today: What should a wedding photographer provide to their wedding clients?
It’s a great question! And today, I’m serving up the answer, blog style.
Bride and Groom embrace in field. | Wedding Photographer in Kansas City, Merry Ohler.
9 Things Your Wedding Photographer Should Provide to You
1. A Written Quote
Your wedding photographer should provide you with a quote for their wedding photography services.
A typical wedding photography quote will include the basics, such as:
the different types of wedding photography packages they offer
the cost of each available wedding photography package and add on service or product
an option to accept the quote and move forward in the booking process
The written quote is not typically an exhaustive document, but includes specific language about what you will purchase in your wedding photography package. It may include an option to “accept” the quote digitally, as well as the ability to view and sign your contract.
2. A Contract
Your wedding photographer should provide you with a contract to sign in order to engage their services.
Most wedding photography contracts include very detailed language which specifies the date, location and time when and where services will be rendered, as well as what type of editing is included, what will be delivered, payment terms, image delivery method and timing, and more, such as:
print release information
legal language, such as arbitration clauses, cancellation terms, etc.
photographer meal/break information
image release for website use, etc.
3. Payment Information
Your wedding photographer should provide you with clear, simple to understand information regarding your wedding photography payment terms and accepted payment methods.
Most wedding photographers accept payment by credit card in addition to cash or check, but with the plethora of possible payment methods available, they may accept various mobile payment methods as well. They should have clear language and directions for you to make payments for their services.
Bride and groom hold rings in hands. | Wedding Photographer in Kansas City, Merry Ohler.
4. An Explanation of What’s Included in the Services You Are Purchasing
Your wedding photographer should provide you with a clear explanation of what is included in the wedding package services you are purchasing.
This is typically provided in the form of a wedding guide or via a page on their website, but they may also provide this via email. Regardless of the method, it is important to have a copy of this printed in case the electronic version is updated or unavailable at any point in the future. This should include, at a minimum:
the number of hours of photography coverage you are purchasing
the date and location(s) of the event
the name of the photographer or photography business
the cost of services and payment terms/arrangements
the approximate turnaround time for your gallery of final images to be delivered
5. Proof of Professional Business Liability Insurance
Your wedding photographer should be able and willing to provide you with their proof of professional liability insurance.
While this is not something that most wedding photographers lead with, you should only do business with industry professionals who carry and are willing to furnish proof of their professional business liability insurance. The mark of a working professional is that they are serious about protecting their business and clients, and that goes hand in hand with carrying professional insurance.
A serious and experienced wedding photographer will not bat an eye at this request, and will be happy to email you proof of their insurance. On the flip side…if the wedding photographer you are considering is reluctant to provide or does not carry professional insurance, it might be wise to consider using a different professional to photograph your wedding.
6. Wedding Day Timeline Assistance
Wedding days are all about timing, and a wedding photographer worth their salt will be happy to give you a little guidance here.
An experienced wedding photographer has been intimately involved in dozens if not hundreds of weddings, and they will have a solid grasp and understanding of the flow of a wedding day, how long various elements take, and how to ensure your day flows smoothly from start to finish.
Wedding Day Timeline Assistance is a pretty way of saying, they should help you determine when to schedule your first look, when and where family members need to be for family photos, approximately how long it will take to get wedding party photos, and when you need to sneak out of the reception for those romantic sunset photos you’re dying to have.
7. Referrals for Other Professional Wedding Vendors
Your wedding photographer should be willing to provide you with their professional recommendations for any wedding vendors you need.
As a wedding photographer in Kansas City, I can tell you that I’ve worked with hundreds of wedding vendors, and I notice when they go above and beyond for my clients. A good wedding photographer will keep a short list of preferred vendors - not because there is any kickback involved (there shouldn’t be!), but because they provide the kind of experience your photographer strives to provide to their own clients. A good wedding photographer will want to know whomever they refer will provide stellar service.
You might ask your wedding photographer for referrals or recommendations for:
wedding DJ’s or live bands
wedding catering, wedding cakes, or bartenders/bar service
makeup artists and hair stylists
wedding transportation
and more!
Bride and groom embrace and smile. | Wedding photographer in Kansas City, Merry Ohler
8. A Back Up Plan for Wedding Day Coverage Emergencies
Your wedding photographer should provide a backup plan for wedding day photography coverage emergencies.
Weddings are a once in a lifetime event, but the truth is that emergencies do happen on occasion. While ideally there would never be a time when your wedding photographer is suddenly unable to photograph your wedding, the truth is that it is possible. Your wedding photographer should have a backup plan in the event that they are unable to photograph your wedding.
9. Additional Methods of Contact (for the Week Of Your Wedding)
Your wedding photographer should provide you with additional methods of contact for the week of your wedding.
Leading up to your wedding week, email is typically a perfectly acceptable, and even preferable way to communicate with your wedding photographer, but when it comes to the week of the wedding, you need to be able to reach your wedding photographer by phone.
While texting is not my personal preferred method of contact, I make it a point to be available to my couples via text during the week of their wedding, and this is an industry standard. The week of your wedding can be hectic, with last minute changes or shifts you’ll need to communicate with your wedding photographer quickly and efficiently. While I do request an email, and typically confirm any changes by email to ensure there is a paper trail for my couples, text is an acceptable method of communication during wedding week.
There you have it! Now that you know 9 Things Your Wedding Photographer Should Provide to You, my hope is that you’ll be better prepared and equipped to hire the best wedding photographer. In Kansas City, there are literally thousands, so now you have a bit of a leg up to find the right fit for you two!