YOUR

QUESTIONS

There’s a lot to think about when hiring a wedding photographer and some very important questions that you’ll  want answered. I know that many wedding blogs have a list of must have questions, ranging from “Have you shot at our wedding venue before?” to “What equipment do you use?” but I can honestly say, most of them are not the important questions. In fact, my wife, a multi award winning Essex wedding photographer, was so adamant that they’re not the right questions to ask that she wrote a blog post about it here!

So what should you be asking? Here are the questions and answers that I think are the most helpful to you.

Can we see a full wedding?

Yes, of course! You should always look through a selection of full weddings to see whether your photographer’s overall coverage consistent with the best of shots you see on the website. Tell us a little about your day and your plans and I’ll send you access to them all.

Are the photographs we see on your website representative of the photos we will receive?

Absolutely. In terms of style, content and finish. All of the photographs on my site are from real weddings, no workshops and no styled shoots. They are edited exactly as I will edit your photographs, in house so that I have total control over the finished files.

WIll you be the one photographing our wedding?

Yes. It is my eye, my experience & skill and my way of seeing that you are paying for, no one else’s. I do not employ operatives or subcontract out weddings.

Do we get a contract?

Absolutely. In fact your wedding is not confirmed until you sign it. If you’d like to see my contract you’ll find it here.

Are you insured?

Yes. I have both Professional Indemnity insurance and full Public Liability insurance. 

Do you carry spare equipment

Yes always. Spare bodies, lenses, flash guns, batteries and cards. I always have more than we need, just to be safe.

CAN WE MEET?

Of course! If schedules allow we can meet at my Keswick Studio before you book, or we can have a skype/facetime meeting, which is rapidly becoming very popular with couples organising their wedding at a distance.. It’s a great opportunity to have a look through our sample albums, so you can see full weddings and get an idea of what our different packages offer you. If you can’t come to us in person we can always chat over skype so you can still see the albums.

 

how many photographs will we get?

Obviously this depends on many different factors, so I can’t give you a specific number here. However, if you take a look at our full weddings you’ll see that I clearly work exceptionally hard throughout the  day to ensure that your wedding story is told in full. As a guide I would typically deliver 500-700 images from a full day coverage.

Can we have family group photographs?

Of course you can. While my style is  documentary, I do photograph family  groups, they will be the historical documents in your album. We had them ourselves at our own wedding. I am classicly trained from back in the days when that’s all we did, so I’m very quick at doing them.  The  trick is to keep them to immediate family and wedding party if possible, this allows me to complete them in 20 mins.  Your booking forms have  my suggested list to keep them short but get the essential ones, you can of course remove any you don’t want and shorten it further. Conversely, if you add to them, particularly by including aunties, cousins etc, then they will take quite a bit longer, probably impacting on the natural coverage of your family and friends you hired me for!  But don’t worry, it’s one of the key things we discuss at the meeting.

When will we see our photographs?

I typically aim to have your photographs in your online gallery three weeks after your wedding, although any holidays or the xmas/new year period may extend that. Albums obviously take longer, but I have set timeframes for delivery of those too. For  Keepsake packages, album delivery is 8 weeks after your final image selection is received by me. For the Heirloom package, albums are delivered  approx 12 weeks following your wedding.

What happens if you are ill?

It would take being run over by a bus for me to have to miss your wedding day! But, on the off-chance that something terrible does happen I am part of a group of amazing professional photographers who all look after each other. I know each and every one of them personally and would highly recommend them all, in fact two of them photographed my wedding. Anyone in the group who is available will literally step in at a moments notice. In addition I have a a network of Cumbrian photographer colleaugues I can also call on. 

How do we book?

First of all, check the date with us! If you’re happy with everything that you’ve seen and simply want to book, then bank transfer your booking fee  and drop me an email confirming it, and the date is yours. I’ll email you the contract which can be signed electronically, and a link to the booking forms to complete online. If you’d like to meet  before making the commitment to book, just let mes know and I’ll organise an appointment for you, either in person, or via Skype./Facetime. Either way, just fill in our contact form and I’ll be in touch as quickly as possible.

Time to pop the question

COULD I BE YOUR WEDDING STORYTELLER?

CONTACT ME

The Studio

My photography studio is in Keswick, in the heart of The Lakes, directions & map on the cantact page.  With ample parking it's only 20 mins off the M6 from Penrith,  20 Mins from Ambleside, or 30 mins from Windermere.

@DERWENTPHOTOGRAPHY