11 questions you should never ask your wedding photographer 

Wedding consultations are one of my favorite parts of my job.  Whether it is in DC or Virginia, I really enjoy discovering new coffee and donut shops (my favorite donut shop is in Alexandria). I love meeting my couples in person and getting to know them better. Most of my clients come well prepared and know what they are looking for. However, there are a few questions I get asked far too often. These are some common questions that most photographers dread hearing during a consultation. 

1. What kind of camera do you use?

This is probably one of the most common questions I receive as a wedding photographer. It is not only my couples, pretty much everyone who hears that I am a professional wedding photographer asks me this question. The problem with it is that it is not the camera that takes the pictures! The type of camera a photographer uses does not determine his or her skills. I have seen so many photographers with top of the line cameras who are not trained well enough to shoot photos in manual mode. We dedicate our lives to becoming the best photographers we can be by going to school, creating our portfolios and spending countless hours critiquing our own work. People should understand that there is a reason you’re not hiring uncle Bob with a DSLR to photograph your wedding day.

If you guys are still wondering what's in my camera bag, here it is:
2 Nikon Full Frame Camera
1 Canon Full Frame Camera
2 Fuji X Mirrorless Cameras
Prime Lenses: 35mm, 50mm, 56mm, 18-55 mm, 85mm,90mm,135mm, and Lens Baby Control Freak
Zoom and Telephoto Lenses: 24-70mm, 70-200mm, 17-55mm
6 Speedlites
MagMod Flash Diffusers & Light Modifiers
Creative gels
Soft boxes
Umbrellas
SD Cards
Extra batteries and chargers
Probably some Redbull and energy bars
 

2. Is it cheaper if we give you the Flash Drive?

Simple answer : No. 

3. Can we see all of the images you took?

What people may not realize is that you are paying your photographer to do more than just take photos. We also help with the planning, lead guests and family, go through a huge number of photos and edit the selected shots. Culling, or selecting the best photos, can take up to 20 hours for one wedding. This is a crucial step in the process as you don’t want to see the shots where the bride is blinking and the groom has his fly open!

4. Can we get the Raw photos?

The majority of well trained professional photographers will NOT give out RAW photos. Would you ask a painter to give you a blank canvas with their name signed on it? Probably not. Just like you wouldn’t ask a chef for a RAW chicken. It is simply unfinished work. 

5. Are you going to eat at my wedding?

This question was asked to one of our photographer friends. I feel like this one is a really silly question. Most of our weddings require 2 hours of driving and 8-12 hours of shooting so chances are your photographer is going to be hungry. If you don’t think you can fit a vendor meal into your budget, then please let them know so they can bring their own food.

6. Can you give us a discount?

Asking this question right off the bat might make your photographer feel undervalued and he or she may not take you as seriously as their other prospective clients.

7. How many photos will you take?

The problem with this question is that most photographers do not have a set number of photos that they limit themselves to take during a shoot. The number of photos we take depends on a number of different factors, such as the type of event, the flow of the wedding and the location(s). Also, this goes without saying; if you buy a package that comes with two photographers, you will receive more photos than you will with a basic package. 

 8. I saw another photographer’s work online that I like. Can you edit and/or shoot like them?

Every photographer has their own style! It's important that you find a photographer whose personality and style matches with what you are looking for. 

9. Do you give discounts for Sunday weddings?

I know there are some venues and vendors out there that are trying to book every wedding possible and will, therefore, offer discounts for Sunday weddings. However, the photographers at Justy Photography provide the same service for everyone regardless of where and when your wedding takes place. Each client will still be given our undivided effort and attention whether it be a Wednesday afternoon courthouse ceremony or a 12 hour Saturday wedding at the Ritz.

10. “Can you photoshop that out?”

To be honest, probably not. Your wedding photographer is going to have to back up and go through 1,500+ photos and pick the best ones (this takes around 10 hours). In addition to this, they will import them onto her/his hard drive, color correct, crop and enhance them (15-20 hours of work), backup the edited ones, sort them and upload your gallery. Photoshop is an expensive software that takes up a lot of time. One can spend hours photoshopping out something totally minuscule. Imagine doing that for every single photo delivered to you. It will likely cost you a pretty penny to get those manipulated photos.

11. A guest at my wedding is also a photographer. Can they take photos too?

Of course! As long as they are respectful of the other photographer’s space, they are more than welcome. But one important reminder: please don’t let them stand in the aisle during the kiss!