New Jersey Wedding Photographers: 15 Questions to Ask

Choosing a New Jersey wedding photographer should be about quality and style plus some personality thrown in that all fits with your expectations, style and personalities while staying within your pre-planned budget.

• You’ll want quality more than quantity. Your photos and album should withstand time because you’ll be looking at them through the years, revisiting one of your most memorable moments together as husband and wife.
• Your New Jersey photographer’s style should reflect your own visions of how you want your wedding day documented.
• If your NJ wedding photographer’s personality clashes with yours, it will just take away from the enjoyment of the occasion. After you interview your potential New Jersey wedding photographer, you should walk away with a definite good feeling and not just about the photos you viewed.

These are just some of the many things you should consider before choosing your New Jersey wedding photographer. The following list of 15 questions will help you in evaluating each NJ wedding photographer you interview. Print this page and take it with you to every appointment, then compare your notes for each wedding photographer. Don’t be pressured into signing a contract before you have time to review your notes and their contracts. Making the right choices will ensure a wedding day with minimal stress.

15 Questions to Ask New Jersey Wedding Photographers

1. Will you be the photographer that will actually photograph our wedding and reception? If not, we want to meet with the photographer. Will there be an assistant? We want to meet with the assistant, too.
2. Do you specialize in New Jersey weddings? Have you worked the same size wedding as we will have? Have you photographed a wedding where we will be having our ceremony and reception?
3. How will you and the assistant be dressed? You should blend in with the guests because you may also show up in some of the guests’ photos.
4. What is your style? Will you be able to be unobtrusive? Do you take mostly candid? How many posed shots do you expect to take? When will you take them?
5. What equipment will you be using? Will you need to set it up at any time? Where will you do so?
6. Do you use film or digital? Do you use high speed for natural light? How many pictures will you take? May we give you a list of pictures we would like? What packages do you offer? Is an engagement photograph included? If not, what is the additional charge?
7. What time will you arrive to take the pre-wedding photographs? How late will you stay at the reception?
8. Have you taken bridal party photographs in the area? Do you know of scenic spots we might like to use? Who much time will you need between the wedding ceremony and the reception for the photographs?
9. Can you take pictures during the ceremony without noise and flash? Will you call to get permission?
10. Do you have a videographer with whom you work well?
11. Do you have a back-up plan if you cannot work the day of our wedding because of an emergency? What would you do if we needed to postpone the wedding because of an emergency?
12. What is the length of time between the wedding day and receiving the proofs? What is the usual time between our ordering and receiving the album, etc.
13. Who designs and prints your albums?
14. May we see complete albums of recent New Jersey weddings you have photographed? May we have references to contact?
15. Are you insured? Will you provide proof of insurance with your contract? May we have a copy of your contract to review before we decide on a New Jersey photographer?

Remember, you must feel confident in the quality of the New Jersey wedding photographer’s work, compatible with the style, and come away from your meeting liking the photographer. Do not sign the contract until you have had time to read and understand the contract which must include in writing the NJ wedding photographer’s contact information and yours, all the details of the package, payment schedule, plus all your added requests that you and the NJ wedding photographer have agreed upon.

Take time to take care of the details now with your New Jersey wedding vendors so you won’t have problems on your wedding day. It will be your day, enjoy!