When it comes to planning a wedding, there are so many factors to consider when choosing your vendors....  Do you have a good connection with them?  Are they within your budget?  One of the most important vendors is your wedding photographer - the person who will capture the lasting memories from one of the most important days of your life!  There are probably a ton of questions you have swirling around your mind and you're just hoping you remember to ask everything.  This post will cover a few of the most important questions you should ask any photographer that you're considering hiring for your wedding day...

• What is his or her preferred style of photography? And what do YOU, as the client, prefer - a more candid, documentary style, or more posed/styled shots?  There is nothing wrong with either choice, but each photographer has his or her own style, and this will help you narrow down your options.  A photographer's style and editing will generally be consistent throughout different clients and sessions.  If you like someone's work, but wish they did something slightly different, go with someone else rather than trying to change the photographer's style, because you'll only end up disappointed.

• Make sure to view FULL GALLERIES of events and sessions or example wedding albums!  Anyone can post their best photos online in a portfolio, but you want to view full galleries so you get a better idea of what an entire wedding day looks like, and you'll have a good sampling of the types of photos you might receive for your day.

Other information to ask and consider:

• What is included in the package you're considering purchasing?  Time for photography only?  Digital files?  Prints?  Albums?

• What is the delivery time frame for images/products [there should ALWAYS be a time frame specified in a contract!]?

• Does he or she have backup equipment?

• What is his or her cancellation policy?  For both if you cancel and if an emergency comes up for him or her (does he or she have a back-up photographer/back-up plan?).

• What are your personal use rights after receiving the images?  May you post them online?  May you print copies for family/friends?  [Note: Most, if not all, professional photographers will NOT allow clients to edit or add filters to any of their images - violating that is copyright infringement.]

• It's also important to make sure that you click with the photographer you hire - this is one of the people you spend the most time with, so make sure you get along well together!

• Professional photographers will also be registered as a business, have business insurance, and will provide you with a detailed contract.

The list above should give you a good starting point to have a really thorough conversation with any photographer that you're considering hiring to capture your wedding day.  When it comes down to it, the most important thing is that you shouldn't settle for a wedding photographer...  Find a photographer whose photos you absolutely LOVE, ask lots of questions to make sure you're a good fit, and then hire him or her before someone else snatches him or her up for your date!