15 Questions to Ask Before Booking a Wedding Photographer
Finding the right photographer for your wedding day can be a pretty intimidating task, as it’s one of the most important decisions you’ll be making as you plan your wedding day. Your photographer gets one shot to document your wedding in a way that resonates with you. These are the photos that you’re going to want to look back on for the rest of your lives after all, so you should love each and every one of them! That’s why it’s SO important that you ask your potential wedding photographer the right questions to make sure they’re the best fit for you and your day. If you’re not sure which questions to ask, or you’re worried you’ll forget when talking with your potential photographer, then you’re in the right place. Let’s check out 15 must ask questions when looking for your wedding photographer!
Packages and Coverage
The first few questions all have to do with your potential wedding photographer’s different packages, coverage options, and more. Just like how every couple is unique, so is every photographer. Just because the first photographer you talked with doesn’t offer timeline assistance doesn’t mean that’s the case for everyone, so be sure you ask all of these questions before booking your photographer.
1. Do You Offer Engagement Sessions?
Are engagement sessions something they photograph, or do they strictly photograph weddings and that’s it? If they do photograph engagement sessions are those included in their wedding packages, or are they completely separate? Engagement sessions with your wedding photographer are something I personally ALWAYS recommend as they’re a great way to break the ice and get to know one another. It takes the awkwardness out of the start of your wedding and allows you to enjoy yourself the second the camera comes out.
2. Do You Offer Different Coverage Options?
With every wedding day being so unique it only makes sense that most photographers offer an array of coverage options when booking with them. Some have a few different packages that they let you choose from in order to find the best fit for your day, others have a base package that they build off of depending on what the couple wants. When inquiring with your potential wedding photographer be sure to ask questions about what coverage options they offer and what would work best for your wedding day specifically.
3. Do You Have Backup Equipment?
At some point or another our technology fails us, like when your charger doesn’t work and you wake up the next morning with your phone’s battery at 8%. It’s unfortunately an unavoidable part of life, but it is something you can prepare for! In the world of wedding photography we of course want each and every piece of gear to work flawlessly on your wedding day, but that’s not always how it goes. The important thing to know then when booking your photographer is how they prepare for scenarios like this. What sort of backup equipment do they bring with them? If the answer is hardly any then you may want to steer clear, the last thing you want is for half of your wedding day to be lost thanks to a faulty SD card!
4. What Do You Include in Your Wedding Packages?
Aside from the photos you’ll receive from your photographer, what other things are included in their wedding packages? All of my clients for instance receive timeline planning assistance for their wedding day as well as a handmade keepsake box with wedding prints and a USB drive of their photos. Of course you want high quality, stunning photos that let you relive your wedding day, but these things can bring your entire wedding experience to that next level.
Getting to Know the Photographer
Before you book your wedding photographer, you’ll also want to ask them some questions to get to know them and their work! Your photographer is the vendor that you’ll spend the most time with on your wedding day, sometimes even more than your partner, so you better enjoy being around them as much as you enjoy their photos! Speaking of their photos…
5. Can We See a Full Wedding Gallery?
One of the most important questions you should be asking potential wedding photographers is to see a full wedding gallery of theirs. Ideally this will be one with a similar layout to yours, both in terms of the timeline and the style of venue. Bonus points if they have a gallery from the venue you’re having your wedding at! When looking through these galleries, pay attention to the different types of lighting, and how the photographer’s work looks in these lighting scenarios. Looking through a photographer’s Instagram only gives you so much info. When it comes to your wedding album you deserve to enjoy every photo from it, not just a few highlights.
6. How Do You Approach a Wedding Day?
Every wedding photographer has a different approach to how we photograph a wedding day. For example, my style is more documentary, which means I like to document my couples in the moments that they’ve forgotten I’m there. I honestly tell my couples to outright ignore me a lot. My goal is to be present in your day, but never intrusive so that you can fully experience your wedding and then relive all of the moments you had no idea I had documented. Some photographers have a much more direct style where they’ll be very involved with their couples and their guests. There’s no wrong style as it comes down to what you want for your day, but it’s a question you have to ask as you need to make sure your wedding photographer’s approach aligns with the photos and experience you want!
7. What Do the Months Leading Up to Our Wedding Look Like?
As your wedding day approaches you’re likely going to have questions come up that you’ll want to ask your photographer. Whether they relate to your timeline, where your newlywed portraits are being taken, or when the best time for wedding party portraits is, these types of questions are bound to come up. It’s important to know then what your photographer’s communication style is. Are you able to text them during work hours with questions? Do they set aside certain dates for you to have a call and run through any questions you may have? Communication is key, so make sure you’re comfortable with their policy before booking!
8. What is Your Favorite Part of a Wedding Day?
This is a fun one, as it gives you a little insight into what makes your wedding photographer’s brain tick! This question is particularly difficult for me as I feel like my favorite part of a wedding day is different for each wedding. It’s hard to explain, but it’s those little moments that you almost forget about until you see the photo of when it happened. That little kiss between you two as the three of us head back in from taking sunset portraits, the extra tight hug you give each other during the last song of the night, the way you hold each other’s hands while listening to the night’s speeches. You can see how this question can give you some pretty clear insight into your wedding photographer’s style and if it aligns with what you want for your wedding day!
Knowing the Logistics
While not the most exciting part of this article, this may just be the most important!
9. Will We Need to Sign a Contract?
This first question here is something that you MUST ask, no matter what. If their answer is no, that is about the biggest red flag you can fly! Contracts aren’t just important for your photographer, but also for you, the client. They ensure that the photographer is paid for their work, but also that they perform their work to the level described in that contract. Read through the contract of your potential photographer thoroughly to make sure that there isn’t anything fishy or misleading in it. I know reading contracts isn’t exactly what people look forward to when booking a wedding photographer, but please do not write off how important this step is!
10. What is Your Payment Policy Like?
The next question you’ll want to ask your potential wedding photographer is what their payment policy looks like. Most photographers require an up front deposit in order to reserve your date, but after that things can vary from one photographer to the next. Do they split payments into multiple portions? Do they let you pay early? Are you able to pay with a credit card or only with a debit card? All of this again should be spelled out clearly in their contract, but it’s also a good idea to ask about it as well to avoid any surprises.
11. What’s Your Backup Plan if You Fall Ill or Have an Emergency?
Similarly to how we talked about backup equipment earlier, sometimes life throws a wrench into things and makes your photographer unable to attend your wedding. How they go about rectifying this again should be in their contract, but it’s a good idea to ask about it.
After the Wedding Day
Hooray! Your wedding day happened and it was perfect!! What happens next though?
12. How Do You Ensure Our Photos are Safe?
Before your wedding album is delivered to you, how does your photographer ensure that your photos are safe? Does their camera use multiple SD cards to ensure that there are backups for every image? When do they backup your photos after the wedding is over, and what sort of system do they use to do this? You’ll want to ask your potential wedding photographer these questions to make sure that the photos you’ve been anxiously waiting for actually arrive for you to enjoy.
13. What is Your Turnaround Time?
After your wedding is over, when can you expect your wedding album to be delivered? Does the photographer send sneak peaks before sending out your full album at a later date? If so, when can you expect those sneak peeks? All of this again should be in your contract (by now I’m sure you’re starting to see how important that is!), but it doesn’t hurt to ask as well so you can get the answer from your photographer directly.
14. How Many Photos Will We Receive?
This answer depends on a few different factors such as the amount of wedding coverage you have booked, whether or not your wedding day requires a second shooter, and how many photos your photographer typically delivers. Some photographers like to send over larger albums filled with moments and details from your day. Others like to send a smaller, more curated album of photos from the day. Be sure that this style aligns with the album you want for your day before you book with your photographer!
15. What’s the Best Way to Print Our Photos?
Last, but certainly not least you’ll want to ask your photographer how they recommend you get prints of your photos. Are you able to print photos directly through their gallery delivery system? This is often the best option as you can trust the prints to be high quality, and your photographer also gets a portion of the cost of the prints! Otherwise if they do not have this option on their gallery delivery site, ask if they have recommendations for you to use when printing your photos.
And there we have it, 15 questions you need to be sure to ask your photographer before booking with them! Knowing this information prior to booking means that you’ll be able to find the right photographer for YOU and YOUR wedding day, which is what’s most important. For more wedding planning tips head over to my blog, and if you’re looking to have me as your wedding photographer be sure to send an inquiry through my contact page! And be sure to ask me these questions once we start chatting!
My 5 Favorite Wedding Venues in Central Illinois
As a wedding photographer in Central Illinois I’ve had the opportunity to document wedding days at a TON of incredible wedding venues! From modern venues with the most incredible amenities, to gorgeous natural gardens that make the wedding itself feel like something out of a fairytale, really anything you can imagine. That’s why today we’re going to take a look at 5 of my favorite wedding venues throughout Central Illinois and what makes them special! Not only is this fun for me as I get to hype up some of my favorite spaces, but this is also great insight for couples as to what they should be on the lookout for in a wedding venue. So even if you don’t find a venue in this list that’s perfect for you, you’ll know what to seek out for your ideal venue!
Things to Keep in Mind
Ok real quick before we dig into my favorite wedding venues in Central Illinois I wanted to cover some of the main things you’ll want to take into consideration when looking for the venue that’ll host your wedding day. Keep in mind that there is no one size fits all answer for what venue is best for your day. That fully comes down to what you and your partner want and envision for your wedding day! Be open and honest in your planning, keep these key areas in mind throughout your search, and you’re sure to find the venue that’s right for YOU!
Guest Count
One of the first things you’ll want to take note of as you start looking into possible wedding venues is what their guest limit is. By this stage in your planning process you should have a rough idea in your head of how many guests you want present for your wedding day. Every venue has a max guest count, and some even have a minimum requirement in order to book with them. Make sure your count falls in line with these numbers, otherwise you run the risk of falling in love with a venue that won’t even be able to host your day!
Look and Feel
One of the most important aspects of deciding on the venue that’ll host your wedding day is of course the look and feel the space provides! This is the area that comes completely down to your preference, and what you’re looking for in a wedding venue. Only you can determine what the ‘right’ look and feel are for your wedding day, but believe me these aspects are just as important as all the others on the list!
The Spaces Available
Take into consideration the different spaces available at your wedding venue as they will greatly impact the flow of your day. Are you able to have both your wedding ceremony and reception at your venue? Would they be in the same space or separate spaces? Are there getting ready spaces on site and if so how many? For outdoor venues is there a backup space in case of weather? Will you be able to take all of your portrait photos at the venue, or will you have to travel somewhere for those? Ideally you’ll want to keep your travel to a minimum on your wedding day so you can fully enjoy your day!
Amenities and Service
Be sure to take into account the amenities and services offered by each wedding venue as these can really impact how your day feels as well as your planning process. Some venues have a ton of amenities and services available for you to choose from, while others leave things almost entirely up to you to handle. Which is best for your day is up to you, but it’s important to know what you’re getting into beforehand!
Vendor Requirements
Your wedding venue is just one of many wedding vendors that will help to create the wedding day you’ve envisioned. Each vendor plays an important role in making your dream wedding a reality, so when booking your venue it’s important to know if they have any specific vendor requirements. Some venues have a preferred vendor list that you have to choose from in order to book there. Some have services such as catering included in their venue completely erasing the need for a catering vendor at all. And then some venues have no requirements and let you have free reign when choosing your vendors.
Location
Last but definitely not least is the location of your venue! This is likely the least important aspect of the 6 we’ve covered, but depending on your guest list it can still be pretty crucial to consider. This is especially true if you have elderly guests like your grandparents in attendance, or are planning a destination wedding where guests have to travel a far distance. In these cases especially you should aim to choose a venue that can either accommodate guests staying on site, or is close enough to other options to make things easy for them.
My 5 Favorite Wedding Venues in Central Illinois
So now that we’ve covered what to look for when choosing a wedding venue, we can finally take a look at my 5 favorites in Central Illinois! Let’s get to it!
1. Pear Tree Estate
First on our list is the immaculate Pear Tree Estate! This wedding venue is about 15 minutes north of Champaign, Illinois, so your guests will have no trouble finding places to stay near the venue. In addition, the venue also gives you the option to reserve an on site estate for up to 8 guests to stay at to turn your wedding day into a wedding weekend! With beautiful indoor and outdoor space available that can host up to 400 guests, getting ready spaces on location, and a wide array of decor available to rent, the venue has SO much to love about it!
There’s still more I could gush over about Pear Tree Estate, such as their astounding amount of natural lighting in their indoor space, or the stellar team that works there to ensure your day runs as smoothly as possible. I’d be here ALL day if we went over each and every detail that made this venue as great as it is, and we still have 4 more Central Illinois wedding venues to cover, so let’s check out the next one!
2. Destihl
Up next on my list is the Destihl Brewery in Normal, Illinois. This super unique and exciting wedding venue in Central Illinois is a clear choice for any beer lovers for obvious reasons, but Destihl is MUCH more than just its beer (though it is great!) The first thing I’d like to bring to your attention is the style of Destihl, especially its barrel room which is a stunning space to host your indoor reception. There’s also an outdoor area for you to have your ceremony, getting ready spaces on site to use, and you can even take a tour of the facility while having your portraits done! The venue can comfortably fit 175 seated guests (275 for cocktail style events), has delicious in house catering, and finally a superb staff team to make sure your wedding day is seamless!
3.The Cannery
This space was originally a canned pumpkin factory which at its peak canned up to 15 million cans of pumpkin per year in the 1930’s. After closing in the 1960’s and sitting vacant for many years, the Cannery was later reopened as a wedding venue in Central Illinois that is rich in charm and character. The venue offers an array of spaces to use for your wedding day depending on what size gathering you're having, and can host a max of 250 guests. This includes the ceremony and reception spaces, as well as getting ready spaces for both the bride and groom.
The owners of the Cannery were able to preserve the building's original industrial character while bringing modern historic inspired touches throughout. The venue is flexible when it comes to the vendors you can work with, and has planning calls built into every contract. As for set up and tear down though that is the responsibility of the couple as is renting any decor, which is great for those that are looking to add their own unique touch to the space!
4. Allerton Park & Retreat Center
Next up is Allerton Park & Retreat Center which is 10 minutes from the town of Monticello, or about 30 minutes west of Champaign, Illinois. This gorgeous wedding venue in Central Illinois is perfect for couples looking to have their wedding in a setting that is both naturally beautiful and rich in history. Allerton Park offers a wide array of spaces to choose from to host your wedding, both indoors and out. These range in size from a max of 75 guests to 500 guests, so any and every size wedding is welcome here!
There are of course on site getting ready spaces as well, staff to help with set up and tear down, and up to 33 rooms that can be reserved for you and all of your favorite humans to stay at on site the weekend of your wedding. Just the beautiful backdrops alone are enough to make this venue tempting to book, add in everything else and you have a wedding venue that’s hard to beat!
5. Epiphany Farms Estate
Ok this last one on my list might kind of count as cheating, but it’s just too good not to share! The reason being is that Epiphany Farms offers an array of different wedding venues in Central Illinois to choose from. From small and intimate restaurants with their own unique style and charm, to a full estate where you and all of your favorite people can gather to celebrate! These options mean that Epiphany Farms really has something for everyone, but personally my favorite is the estate itself in Downs, Illinois. The town is just a bit south of Bloomington Normal, has both indoor and outdoor spaces available, and overlooks a small orchard making it the perfect setting for any outdoor wedding day!
And there you have it! 5 of my favorite wedding venues in Central Illinois, and a little tidbit about what makes each of them so great! As I mentioned earlier, there are a TON more incredible venues out there than just these 5, so if one of these didn’t speak to you don’t worry. Keep those points in mind as you search for your ideal wedding venue and you’re sure to find one that fits your vision! For more wedding planning tips be sure to check out my blog, and if you’re ready to book me to document your day you can head over to my contact page to send me an inquiry!
Restaurant Wedding at FitzGerald's in Berwyn, IL | Megan + Patrick
FitzGerald’s / Berwyn, IL
Megan + Patrick had a pure vision for their wedding day. A focus on fun, friends, family, and of course the deep love these two hold for one another. Not to spoil the whole blog for you, but I can safely say these two pulled their vision off with flying colors! Come with me as I relive one of my favorite wedding days at FitzGerald’s restaurant in Berwyn, Illinois.
Portraits and Private Vows
Their wedding day started on the more intimate side, with Megan + Patrick getting ready separately from one another in the company of their friends and family. Soon after they had their first look in Megan’s parent’s backyard. This also gave them a moment to read their private vows to one another, all under the spectacular fall colors of the massive tree behind them. Having their first look done, Megan + Patrick were able to have their wedding party photos as well as a majority of their couples portraits done early in the day. These were taken at the beautiful St James Farm nearby, and the fall vibes were immaculate here as well. Before long though it was time to hop aboard the trolley with their wedding party members and head to FitzGerald’s for the remainder of their restaurant wedding festivities!
Their Outdoor Ceremony at FitzGerald’s
FitzGerald’s is a restaurant and live music bar in Berwyn, Illinois, and was THE perfect choice for Megan + Patrick’s wedding venue. There’s such a fun atmosphere to the space both inside and out that really fed into the joy these two and their guests felt throughout the day. With a slight chance of rain we chose to have their ceremony underneath the outdoor tent. Not a soul let this dampen the mood though, as everyone was so happy to be celebrating the love between these two beautiful humans.
One of my favorite highlights of the day came shortly after as during cocktail hour Megan + Patrick were able to enjoy oysters off the grill. Not only were these delicious, but it was so fun seeing these two have this time to mingle and be present with their guests! This was only possible thanks to us getting taking their portraits early, and was a priority of Megan + Patrick. We did of course snag a few more portraits of just the two of them before making our way inside for their reception.
Indoor Wedding Reception at FitzGerald’s Restaurant
As far as restaurant wedding venues go, FitzGerald’s is in a league of its own when it comes to atmosphere. Between the warm vintage aesthetic, and the incredible live music the space is famous for, I can’t imagine a better space that Megan + Patrick could have chosen for their wedding. Each moment of their reception felt like a scene from a movie. Like the speeches that brought out the deep belly laughs, or the epic dance floor that was filled to the BRIM the entire night. The night was an unforgettable experience from start to finish, and I’m so glad I was able to document it!
I can’t thank Megan + Patrick enough for choosing me to photograph their restaurant wedding at FitzGerald’s. I’m still obsessing over their day, and honestly probably will be for years to come! If you’d like to see more love stories like theirs be sure to check out some of my other blogs. For those looking to book me as their wedding photographer I’d love to hear from you! Head to my contact page to send me an inquiry so we can get the ball rolling on planning your one of a kind wedding day!
Wedding at the Bottom Lounge in Chicago, IL | Allison + Adam
Bottom Lounge / Chicago, IL
If I had to pick a wedding that really captured the essence of Chicago, Allison and Adam’s wedding at the Bottom Lounge would easily be one of my top picks! From the stellar portraits taking advantage of some of Chicago's classic architecture, to their venue in the iconic West Loop, there’s so much to love about this wedding day. I can’t wait to share with you the story of their day, but first are some truly kind words from Allison!
“From the moment we met her, we knew we had found the perfect wedding photographer. Sara's calm and friendly nature immediately put us at ease, and we felt like we had known her for years. On the day of the wedding, she was ever-present, but never intrusive….We love how her photos are both timeless and unique, and really reflect our personalities and style. We were referred to Sara by other well-respected photographers in the industry, and it's easy to see why. She is incredibly talented, professional, and passionate about her work. We are so grateful to have had her as our photographer and will treasure the beautiful images she captured for the rest of our lives.”
Getting Ready and Portraits in Chicago
To kick off their wedding day Allison + Adam both got ready at an Airbnb in Chicago with the company of their loved ones. The two were careful not to cross paths though as they wanted to have their first look on the roof of the Airbnb. The Windy City really lived up to its name for the first look, but that didn’t stop Allison + Adam from having an amazing moment for just the two of them! They were able to read private letters they had written for one another which was such an emotional moment to start the day on.
Outside of the wind, the weather was perfect for their day. It was so nice out that we decided to walk around for some photos in downtown Chicago. Even with full sun, we were able to use the buildings of the city to create some pockets of perfect lighting! Finally it was time to make our way to the Bottom Lounge for some final outdoor portraits before their wedding ceremony began.
Their Wedding Ceremony and Cocktail Hour at the Bottom Lounge
While the Bottom Lounge may be known mostly as a music venue in Chicago, the space is actually massively underrated as a wedding venue! Part of that is thanks to the Lounge’s upstairs level, which Allison + Adam rented out for their wedding day. The natural lighting and classic brick walls work to create a space perfect for any style of wedding. This space works for both ceremonies and receptions as you’ll see from Allison + Adam’s wedding day. For their ceremony, these two made it a priority to add some personal touches into the day. Adam’s father was their officiant which was incredibly sweet, and they even had some close friends of theirs sing for the ceremony as well.
Immediately after their ceremony was their cocktail hour which took place on the connected back balcony of the Bottom Lounge, yet another reason to love this space as a venue! The back deck gave Allison + Adam a chance to enjoy some time with their guests while the indoor space was converted for their reception. The view here was beautiful, and with the perfect weather we lucked out as everyone was having the best time before the party really started.
Dancing the Night Away at Their Reception
The indoor space of the Bottom Lounge had a completely different feel to it in the afternoon, partly due to the reception set up and partly due to the sun setting. It made Allison + Adam’s reception feel so intimate and personal, yet they had ALL of their favorite humans there celebrating with them! The dance floor was consistently packed throughout the entire evening which was so fun. Allison even had an epic dress change later on in the evening, and as if the two didn’t already have enough to celebrate it was also Allison’s birthday weekend! Everyone was able to sing to her to celebrate, really just one of many highlights from their night that I cannot get over!
I’m still in awe over Allison + Adam’s wedding at the Bottom Lounge in Chicago! I had such a great time documenting their day, and I can’t wait for you to look through ALL of my favorite photos from their day below. Be sure to keep an eye out on my blog for more love stories and resources, and if you’re looking to book me as your wedding photographer be sure to send me an inquiry through my contact page!
Vendors
Venue - Bottom Lounge
Planner - Greater Joy Events
Video - Mike Rundle
DJ - Toast and Jam
Hair and Makeup - Pin Me Up Chicago
Florist - Garden of Grace
Dress- BHLDN
Suits - JA Bank, Generation Tux
Brooke + Michael
Salvage One / Chicago, IL
Venue - Salvage One
Coordinator - Greater Joy Events
Makeup - Leiana Marie
Dress - Honey Bridal
Florist - Garden of Grace
Andrea + Tommy
Pear Tree Estate / Champaign, IL
Venue - Pear Tree Estate
Getting Ready - iHotel
Makeup - Timothy John Salon
Cake - Chicago Pastry
Dress - Maggie Sottero
Steve + John
Museum Of Surgical Science / Chicago, IL
Venue - International Museum of Surgical Science
Florals - Branches Floral Design
DJ - Fig Media
Cake - Vanilla Patisserie
