What to Ask Your Professional Photographer Before You Hire

You've made the decision to hire a professional photographer. Great! You know I'm on board. But once you decide to look into who to hire, what should you ask?

1. What do you charge? Do you require a deposit?

This is likely one of the most important questions. While photos of important moments and people in your life is priceless, money is finite and budgeting is essential in the real world. You definitely want to make sure that you understand and are in agreement with the photographer's package price, hourly rate, or any other applicable cost. Many photographers will require a deposit be paid to keep your place on a schedule, so be prepared for that as well.

2. What is your cancellation policy?

I cannot stress the importance of this question enough. Every photographer will have a policy for cancellations, even if it is flexible. These policies often vary on the reasoning (illness, act of God, weather, etc.) and timing (within twenty-four hours, withing seven days, etc.) for the cancellation, so pay attention to that. Also make notation of any penalties associated with that, such as losing your deposit, and/or opportunities for rescheduling and what that looks like.

3. What kind of photography do you specialize in?

Just as there are different attorneys for different purposes (civil, criminal, domestic relations, etc.) and different doctors for different purposes (pediatric, surgeon, psychological, etc.), there are different photographers for different purposes. Be sure that you are hiring a photographer that specializes in the area you need. If you hire a landscape photographer for your wedding, you might not end up with the product you were hoping for.

4. What can I expect during a session with you?

Some photographers have a studio, some offer sessions at venues and others still will come to you. Some photographers like to do posed and specific photos while others prefer candid ones. If you have a specific look that you are going for, be sure that this photographer can honor that. If you like candid, outdoor photos, but hire someone that does in-studio, creative but standard poses, you may not love the result. Be sure to talk over with the photographer their expectations and typical course of business for taking photos.

5. What is your style? Can I see your work? Do you have a website?

Do you like photos that are bright and cheery or dark and moody? Do you like black and whites, colors, or both? The best way to see if the photographer you are thinking of hiring is going to give you the photos you are hoping for is to look at what they have done in the past. Social media sites can give some good insight, but a better tool still is a photographer's website. Do you like the way that they did photos for this senior/family/blog/product/wedding? Then you can likely expect a similar vibe for your photos. Make sure that they match up. This kind of research is essential.

6. What kind of amenities are offered?

As mentioned above, some photographers have studios and others are more remote. Either way, you want to ask about things like restroom availability, changing rooms, snack and water availability, terrain (you do not want to be wearing high heels on a hiking trail -- trust me) and even their experience with the specifics of any outdoor venue. Is it usually crowded? What's the lighting like? If pets are being included, does the venue permit their attendance? What is parking like?

7. Can I look over your contract?

My educational background is in law so I would be remiss not to mention that reviewing a contract for a photographer is essential. This should give explanation and detail into what to expect with your photographer. Make sure to review their contract thoroughly before signing and ask any clarification questions that you have before you sign.

8. What kind of edits to you make?

Every photographer has a different level of editing to their photos. I don't think it's inaccurate to say that every photographer will edit their photos to some extent -- lighting, color composition, cropping, angling. But do they remove blemishes? Do they remove background unpleasantries such as trash or people that sneak into the photos? How much of that do they do? How much of that do you want them to do? These are important questions to ask. If you are looking for more natural photos, you want to find someone that does that or be sure to express that to ee if the photographer can accommodate that request.

9. How soon can I receive my final photos and in what format?

Outside of the excitement factor, you may have a deadline that needs met for getting your photos back. I'm thinking specifically about the graduation and holiday seasons. Be sure that if you need photos back at a certain time that the photographer can deliver. This may require asking about their current workload or making sure that the contract specifically spells this out. Generally, too, you may want to have a certain timeline agreed upon so that you are not waiting for too long before you get your photos back. Also important to know how you will receive your photos. Are they prints or digital? If digital, are they delivered on a flash drive or online portal? Once you receive the photos, are you given the rights completely for distribution? Does the photographer have requirements or prohibitions about sharing them on social media?

10. Do you have insurance?

Did you know that there is insurance for photographers? There is. I know because I pay them every six months. Photographers are insured can offer a bit of peace where it comes to lots of different issues such as insuring their equipment, assuring that if anything crazy happens on a shoot and someone is hurt (i.e. a photoshoot on a hiking trail and someone slips), or different acts of God cancellations. It may not be a requirement to you, but it can be helpful to know.