Questions to Ask a San Antonio Wedding Photographer Before You Book

Your wedding photos are one of the few things you keep for life, so it is worth asking the right questions before you book. Here are the questions to ask your wedding photographer, grouped by what each set tells you. I wrote them as a checklist, and you can use them with any photographer, including me.

Experience and style questions

These tell you whether a photographer's work is what you actually want on your wall.

• —How would you describe your photography style (documentary, editorial, light and airy, true-to-color)?
• —How many weddings have you photographed?
• —Have you shot at our venue or a similar location before?
• —Can we see a full wedding gallery, not just highlights?
• —Have you ever worked with my videographer?

The full gallery question matters most. A highlight reel shows a photographer's best frames. A full gallery shows what a whole day looks like. You can see full sets in our wedding photography portfolio.

Booking and coverage questions

• —Are you available on our wedding date?
• —What packages do you offer, and what is included?
• —How many hours of coverage do we get?
• —Do you offer engagement sessions as part of your packages?

Compare what each package includes, not just the price. Hours of coverage, number of edited photos, and delivery time all change what you are paying for. You can see ours on the wedding photography and videography packages page.

Team and backup questions

• —Will you be the one photographing our wedding?
• —Do you bring a second shooter or assistant?
• —How do you and your assistants dress for wedding jobs?
• —What is your backup plan if you are sick or there is an emergency?
• —Do you have backup equipment?

Ask about the backup plan even though it feels uncomfortable. A good photographer has a ready answer, and you will be glad you asked if something goes wrong.

Logistics and process questions

• —How far in advance should we book?
• —What is your deposit and payment schedule?
• —Will you help us create a photo timeline for the day?
• —Do you require a shot list or family photo list?
• —Can specific shots be requested?

Timeline help is worth asking about. We do two planning calls before every wedding to build your photo timeline, plan around sunset, and sort out the family photo list so the day does not run behind.

Editing and delivery questions

• —How many final images can we expect to receive?
• —What is the best way to contact you after the wedding if we need anything?
• —How long will it take to get our photos back?
• —Will the images be edited (color corrected, retouched)?
• —How many hours of work are included in a typical package, and how much do extra hours cost?
• —How will the photos be delivered (online gallery, USB, prints)?
• —Do you offer albums or print services?

Delivery time is the answer couples are most often surprised by. We send sneak peeks within 48 hours of your wedding and deliver your full gallery digitally, as a private link where you can view, share, and download everything.

Contract and legal questions

• —Do you have a contract we can review before booking?
• —What is the best way to contact you after the wedding day?
• —What is your cancellation or rescheduling policy?
• —Are we allowed to print and share the photos ourselves?
• —Do you use our photos on your website or social media?

One question to ask about photo and video

If you want both photos and a wedding film, ask whether one person can do both. We shoot both photography and videography, so you coordinate with one person, one timeline, and one style. You can watch our work on the wedding films page.

Sasha By Design is a San Antonio wedding photographer and videographer serving New Braunfels, Boerne, Fredericksburg, and the Texas Hill Country. If you are comparing photographers, send us your date and we will tell you straight whether we are free.