Seven important questions you should ask your wedding photographer

Believe it or not, photographs are the by far the most important part of any wedding.

Why? Because you can excuse the poor cuisine served by your caterer or that boring song the DJ played repeatedly till everyone got tired, but how do you deal with horrible wedding photos?

Those pictures are meant to keep that special day evergreen anytime you look at them. They are long lasting memories of the day you said "I do".

So, if you're yet to decide on which photographer to hire for your big day, here are some important questions you need to ask when you eventually choose one:

1. What is your working style? Will you ask us to stop and pose or can we do our thing while you watch the day unfold from behind the camera? Make sure his/her style is compatible with the results you want. If you want a lot of posed pictures, you don't want a photographer who prefers to act behind the scenes.
2. Do you have a gallery of wedding pictures I can review?This will give you an idea of what he/she is capable of — both on your wedding day, and after. If the photographer does not have a portfolio, run - quickly. And if the photos seem inconsistent, ask for contact info from previous clients; this is because some copycat photographers steal other people's pictures to make fake portfolios.
3. Do you have have backup equipment? Think of this as a 'Plan B' for your wedding pictures. Your photographer should have backup cameras, lenses, flashes, additional lighting equipment, extra memory cards, and batteries.
4. What kind of lighting will be used? Will your photographer bring in professional equipment? How will its setup affect you. If you're uncomfortable with a constant flash, can he/she work without one?
5. Will there be one photographer or two? There's a better chance for every moment to be captured if your photographer works with an assistant, which is pretty common, especially during the getting-ready time. If there will be additional people, ask to meet them ahead of time.
6. What will happen to the images after the wedding? Will your images be backed up to a hard drive or the Cloud once they're processed? How long will your photographer keep the images afterward? Will they be kept for a couple of years or dumped immediately? These are key questions you need to ask before you decide on hiring a photographer.
7. When will we get our photos? Many brides are surprised with how long it takes to get wedding photos, but your photographer needs to edit down the selection — he/she will likely shoot thousands — and touch up the photos so they're picture perfect. If you'd like a few sneak peek photos for social media ahead of time, ask him/her how quickly he/she can get one or two for you.