Today on the blog, I, Mohana Priya Soundara Rajan, am bringing you a list of questions to ask before booking a wedding photographer. When most people plan their weddings, they have no idea where to start, especially when it comes to booking a wedding photographer. I don't want you to sit on the fence and wonder what to look for. Well, I've got you covered. I'm also going to answer these questions the way I would if someone were inquiring with me. Grab a cup of coffee or tea, as we are going to take the first step.
A Little Background Check
You definitely want to make sure that you have viewed their online portfolio and Instagram feed and love their style. Feel free to request to see a full gallery of a recent wedding. It's always good to know the physical location. Most photographers have a dedicated in-house office or studio space, and a few have commercial spaces as well. Always make an appointment in advance and visit in person at studio before making a payment. Confirm the address on the website with the location pinned on a Google Map.
Here I have listed a few of the FAQs and my answers to them. Make a note of all the questions to ask before you book the photographer of your dreams.
Do you have my wedding date available?
Yes / No.
I'll always send a confirmation email if it's yes.
If it's a no, I'll confirm in person, on the phone, or through text, respectively, during the inquiry.
How far in advance do I need to book?
Typically, couples book 6–8 months in advance, but I do not have the required time for booking as long as your date is still available.
Who will be shooting my wedding—the owner of the studio or an associate?
We are a husband-and-wife team, so I, Mohana Priya Soundararajan (owner of the brand and photographer), and my husband Marshal shoot all our weddings together along with our team.
Few photographers, including me, may assign different assistants for different events on the same day. Confirm the events that I or they will be working on, and if it's only an associate, you want to make sure you can talk with them or meet them. Usually, I'll arrange a meeting in advance and introduce my associate to my client. We will discuss over coffee, tea, or juice if only an associate is going to work on any event.
Feel free to ask me, "Have you worked on a certain Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, or other specific cultural or multicultural wedding?"
Yes, I have worked on several Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, and multicultural weddings.
This question is super important. You get to know if the photographer is aware of the religious rituals of the wedding. If not, please book a meeting and explain the ritual step by step. Be more specific about the events and the place where they're scheduled. Some rituals may be scheduled on the same date and time in the bride's as well as the groom's homes, respectively, and sometimes in different sections or floors of the same hall. All these need to be discussed in advance before making payment to avoid extra charges.
If it's a multicultural wedding, plan ahead in order to incorporate everything from both cultures properly and confirm the same with the photographer. The advance effort not only paints a clear picture for both sides of the families but also helps the photographer prepare in advance for what's about to happen next. The idea is to bridge any gaps between the photographer and the client. If not informed in advance of a cross-cultural wedding, photographers will not be aware of most of the rituals and cultural differences.
Communication and confirmation are the keys here. I'll always initiate communication to get to know my clients better
How many years have you been photographing weddings? (Chat a bit and know their journey.)
My journey: Since 2012.
As part of my studies during my final year of a Bachelor's degree program, I had the opportunity to do an internship for four weeks as a photojournalist with The New Indian Express Group, whose slogan of ‘Fear none, favor none’ is known for its courageous and fiery journalism. I contributed a few pictures to the City Express supplement of The New Indian Express Newspaper. The opportunity not only molded me into a bold personality but also made me a photographer who caught the eye of relatives, peers, and neighbors.
After completing my bachelor's, I started getting paid inquiries to shoot portraits, birthday parties, corporate events, wedding events, and so on. Initially, I started working for cash and did not focus on streamlining until 2017.
In 2018, I started Mr.Mrs.Photography and branded myself as a wedding photographer. I own an in-house studio/workspace in Perambur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Can I see a full gallery of a recent wedding you have photographed?
Yes absolutely! The gallery always has the highlights and not the reality of the entire wedding event. Take a look at the actual album.
This will give you an idea of what you can expect to receive from that photographer for your full wedding gallery.
What is your working process—blending in and being unseen, or being loud and taking charge?
A little of both, for the most part, we tend to be behind the scenes, but at the appropriate times, we will direct our couples, such as during family formals or posing.
What are your wedding packages and prices?
You can contact us here, and we’d be glad to send you our pricing guide.
Is a wedding reception session included in your package?
Yes, one reception session is included in the wedding coverage. If there are more events, charges will be quoted accordingly.
How many hours do you offer in your base package?
Our base packages include 5 hours of coverage.
Usually, we suggest this package for small events like a pre- or post-wedding photoshoot, an engagement party, a baby shower, a blessing event (Nalagu/Mapali-Pon Vazhthu), Maruvidu Varudal (this is the couple's first trip to the bride’s house after the wedding), and Sammandhi Mariyathai (the first post-wedding ritual, sammandhi mariyathai is where the families of the newlywed couple exchange gifts and clothes as a token of their love and appreciation).
Do you charge travel fees?
Not within Chennai. Otherwise, please inquire about our travel fees to other parts of the district or state.
Is it okay if other people take photos while you are taking photos?
We do not mind when family members take snapshots or phone shots as long as it does not interfere with our process. However, we do ask that you hire us as the sole professional photographers for your wedding day. A constant request from wedding guests to click a picture with their phones will be politely declined.
How long will it take to receive our images? And how do we receive them?
The full gallery takes about 6–8 weeks on average, but I do send out sneak peeks so you can keep up with social media in the meantime. I will provide a USB drive and an online gallery to our couples
How much of a retainer do you require? Also, when is it due?
My retainer fee is 50% of your total package price to secure your wedding day and is due upon booking. A clear contract will be shared, confirming the payment.
Do you accept payments?
I'm happy to set up any payment plan you would like, but the full balance must be paid no later than a week before the wedding date. A clear contract will be shared on closing the payment.
How do we receive the videos?
In a USB drive. I will also upload it to a personalized folder on Google Drive, so you can share it with your family and friends.
Do you offer albums?
Yes, it's included in the package.
Can we purchase prints from you?
Yes, please inquire for more information.
In the event that a camera is damaged, do you have backup equipment?
Yes, you can be assured that we (I, Mohana Priya Soundara Rajan, and the team of professionals) travel with multiple camera and lighting setups.
If you cannot photograph my wedding because of some unforeseeable event, what is your plan?
I will say that in my 10 years of photographing weddings, I never had to deal with this issue; however, if an event does happen where we (as a team) are unable to photograph your wedding, I will inform you as soon as possible and do our very best to help you find a replacement photographer.
Will you post our wedding online, and where?
Yes, with permission. I love to share sneak peeks of my client's wedding days on Instagram and Facebook. I also exhibit (non-downloadable) images from your wonderful day on my website's gallery, blog, and album. A few weeks after the wedding.
However, if a client asks me not to post, I'll be happy to accommodate these requests.
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