Insights · A guide for your wedding
You find a photographer, fall for their images and ask if they're available. Then the quote arrives and the comparisons begin: hours of coverage, number of photographers, video, albums, a session after the wedding. How do you know which option is right for you?
Choosing a wedding photographer means looking at their work as a whole, getting a feel for how they operate on the day and understanding exactly what your booking includes. The photographs are only the starting point. A conversation with them will show you whether you trust them and feel at ease around them.
Contents (13)
- Ask to see a complete wedding
- Be clear about what you love in their photos
- Get to know the person who will be by your side
- Ask who will photograph your wedding
- Photography and video: one team or two?
- Compare quotes like for like
- Talk through the schedule before deciding on hours of coverage
- Find out what you'll receive, and when
- Make sure everything you agree is in writing
- Questions to ask at your first meeting
- Signs that call for a closer look
- In the end, it's the truth of the day that stays
- Frequently asked questions about choosing a wedding photographer
Below you'll find what to look at, what to ask at your first meeting and what your agreement should say before you book.
From getting ready to the first dance: a whole wedding tells you more than a single photograph. Andreas & Dimitra, Patras.
Ask to see a complete wedding
A few striking photos on Instagram can catch your eye. A complete gallery, though, gives you a far better sense of a photographer's work.
Look at how they captured the preparations, the ceremony, the people and the party. Are the colours and editing consistent? Do you like the images inside the church as much as the ones at sunset? Can you see the expressions, reactions and small moments that mattered to the couple?
If possible, ask to see a wedding with conditions similar to yours: an afternoon ceremony, a dark interior or an outdoor reception. That way you can judge the work more fairly. You can start with the wedding stories we have photographed, each one from the beginning of the day to the end.
Be clear about what you love in their photos
You don't need to know any photography terms to describe your taste. Just ask yourselves which images make you stop.
Are you drawn to candid moments? Carefully composed portraits? Natural colours? The energy of the party? Would you like a little direction during the shoot, or would you rather the photographer stayed as discreet as possible?
These can all sit side by side. What matters is saying what you expect and checking whether it already shows in the work of the photographer you have in mind.
Get to know the person who will be by your side
Your photographer will be close to you through moments of joy, emotion and, at times, pressure. How well you get on with them makes a real, practical difference.
In a meeting you'll see whether they listen to what you need, explain the process clearly and help you put your thoughts in order. Tell them what makes you nervous. If you don't feel comfortable in front of the camera, this is a good moment to say so.
Meet in person if you can. If you live in another city or abroad, a video call lets you get to know each other and talk through your wedding in detail.
Ask who will photograph your wedding
If you're working with a studio that has more than one team, you need to know which team will cover your wedding and who the lead photographer will be.
Ask to see work by that specific team. Ask too how many photographers and videographers are included in the quote and how they'll share the coverage. On our about page you can meet the people on our own team.
This matters most when you get ready at the same time in different houses. How many people you need should follow from the real schedule of your day.
Photography and video: one team or two?
If you'd also like a film of your wedding, ask whether photography and video are handled by the same team. When they work together, it's easier for them to agree where each will stand in the church, at the exit and during the first dance, so they stay out of each other's frame.
If you choose separate suppliers, make sure they meet before the wedding and work from the same schedule. You can also see how we approach our wedding films.
Compare quotes like for like
Two different prices may describe two quite different services. Before you compare the final figure, make sure you know:
- How many hours of coverage are included, and when they start.
- How many people will be with you, and in what roles.
- Whether the quote covers photography, video or both.
- Which digital files, albums or other products you'll receive.
- Whether a pre-wedding or next-day session is included.
- Whether there are extra charges for travel, accommodation or additional hours.
- What the final amount is, including VAT.
One useful question to ask is: “Based on the schedule we've described, is there anything else we're likely to need?” That way you can judge whether the proposal fits your wedding and the amount you'd like to spend.
Talk through the schedule before deciding on hours of coverage
The hours you need depend on the locations, the travel between them, the time of the ceremony and how much of the reception you want captured.
For example, two getting-ready locations far apart need different planning from preparations in the same place. Likewise, if you'd like couple portraits after the ceremony, it's worth checking how much natural light there will be by then.
Give your photographer a first draft of the plan, even if it isn't final. They'll be able to tell you where more time is needed and how to organise the coverage without rushing. If you're looking for ideas for photo locations, see the most beautiful places for wedding photography in the Peloponnese.
Find out what you'll receive, and when
Your work together continues after the wedding. That's why it's worth knowing from the start how your photos and films are selected, edited and delivered.
Ask about the estimated delivery time, how you'll access the online gallery and how the album is put together. If you've chosen video, check which films are included and when they're due.
Also ask what the studio means by “editing”, and which further retouching needs to be agreed separately. Clear answers mean both sides expect the same thing.
Make sure everything you agree is in writing
Before you confirm your booking, check that the written agreement sets out the date, the coverage, the team, what you'll receive, the cost and the payment schedule.
You should also know what happens if the date changes, if the booking is cancelled, if you need extra services, or if something unforeseen affects the coverage.
If you'd rather your photos weren't published in a portfolio or on social media, raise it before booking and ask for this to be written into the agreement.
Questions to ask at your first meeting
Keep this list on your phone. You don't have to ask every question in order; just make sure you have an answer to each one by the end of the meeting.
- Can we see a whole wedding, from the preparations to the party?
- Who exactly will photograph our wedding?
- How many people will come, and what will each of them do?
- What time does coverage start and finish, and what happens if the schedule runs late?
- How do you guide us through the portraits if we don't know how to pose?
- Have you photographed at our church or venue before? If not, how do you prepare?
- What will we receive, in what format and how soon?
- How are the photos chosen for the album?
- What does the price include, and are there any extra charges?
- What happens if the date changes, or if something unexpected happens on your side?
Signs that call for a closer look
None of the following means a bad choice on its own. But if you come across more than one, it's worth asking for clarification before you commit.
- You only see individual photos, never a complete wedding.
- It isn't clear who will actually turn up on the day.
- The quote gives a price without saying what it includes.
- You're asked for a deposit without a written agreement.
- Nobody asks you anything about your schedule, your venues or your people.
In the end, it's the truth of the day that stays
The days pass quickly. Years from now, what you'll look for in your photographs won't only be beautiful frames, but the look on your mother's face before you left the house, your friends' laughter, the way you held each other during the first dance. Choose the person who will see all of this as it happens.
Frequently asked questions about choosing a wedding photographer
How early should we contact a photographer?
As soon as you have a confirmed date, or a few possible ones, you can start getting in touch. If there's a particular photographer you have in mind, check their availability before you finalise all your other bookings.
Do we need two photographers at our wedding?
It depends on your schedule and how much you want covered. Simultaneous preparations, different locations and moments that happen at the same time are all reasons to discuss a second photographer. Ask them to explain what it would add in your case.
We don't know how to pose. Will that be a problem?
You don't need any experience in front of the camera. Ask how the photographer guides couples and see whether their way suits you. A pre-wedding session can also help you get used to the camera.
How long until we receive our photos?
It varies from photographer to photographer, so ask for it to be stated in your agreement. At our studio, photos are delivered 6 to 8 weeks after the wedding.
Do you photograph weddings outside Patras?
Yes. We photograph weddings all over Greece and also travel abroad for destination weddings.
Let's meet before your wedding
At our studio in Patras, the first conversation starts with what you've planned and how you want to experience your day. We look through complete weddings together, talk about the team and plan the coverage around your needs.
Get in touch so we can check availability and arrange a meeting at the studio, or online if you're far away.
Photographs: Dimitris Stergiou and the studio team