Questions to ask before booking your photographer!

In today's day and age, everyone who owns some form of camera thinks they are or can be a professional photographer. And while there are loads of amazing artists out there including beginners, there are unfortunately a lot of people that do not know what they are doing who like to label themselves as professional to make some extra cash. And do not get me wrong we have all been there just starting out; however, there are some key things that even newbies should be following and you should be questioning before hiring them. Asking these questions is super important in helping you to be happy with your outcome. So while that super cheap price sounds amazing you may end up being very unhappy with your results or left with nothing due to loss of files. Here are the top questions you should ALWAYS ask when researching photographers before booking.

1. Ask what their backup process is and I cannot stress this enough ESPECIALLY if you are booking a wedding or birth session. These are moments that CANNOT be recreated. How is the photographer keeping your images safe?  
2. Are you insured and a legal business? This is also a very important question to ask when booking because like stated above everyone thinks they can be a photographer and again protects you from being scammed out of money by people claiming to be a photographer. Despite popular belief, you do need to be licensed and insured to be a legal photographer. These licensed professionals will also research if a location requires permits before you have a session to avoid fines and or having the police called on you!  
3. Ask for their turnaround time! If you need images back by a certain time frame (IE, you have announcements to print, invitations, etc) make sure you bring up these dates BEFORE you book to ensure the photographer can meet that timeframe.  
4. If you have had a bad experience in the past, do not be afraid to let the new photographer know. Let them know things that you are nervous about because keeping silent will only make you more stressed when it comes time for your session.
5. ALWAYS ask to see sample galleries and their portfolio. Their work should be pretty consistent and should give you an idea of what to expect when you receive your gallery! Do not book a photographer with bright true-to-life tones if you want dark, or muted tones to your images. Every photographer is different and it is critical you find a photographer whose work you love and could imagine having on your walls. If you cannot imagine having their work on your walls then you should keep searching.
6. Lastly, ask if they have a contract in place. If they do not have a contract, find a different photographer. This contract protects you as the client as well as the photographer. The contract should outline the photographer's entire workflow process, re-outline pricing/ payments, and what-if situations. A contract is legally binding and shows that the photographer is willing to be upheld to legal standards.