Planning your wedding in 2025 is incredible! Amidst all the excitement, choosing the right vendors, especially your photographer, is key. They capture the moments that become your lasting memories—the laughter, the happy tears, the epic dance moves, and the quiet loving glances.
But how do you find your perfect match among so many talented photographers? It’s more than just liking their photos; it’s about connecting with their approach, ensuring they understand your vision, and feeling comfortable with them.
As Ishan & Preeti, a husband-and-wife photography team based near NJ/NYC with over a decade of capturing diverse love stories worldwide, we know how important this decision is. To help you navigate your consultations with confidence, here are 10 updated questions reflecting what couples are focusing on right now:
1. Beyond labels like ‘photojournalistic’ or ‘fine art,’ how do you approach capturing a wedding day’s feeling and authentic moments? Style is important, but how does the photographer capture genuine emotion and tell the story?
- Our Approach (Preeti & Ishan): Your photos should feel like you. Our style blends cinematic artistry with authentic, moment-driven storytelling. This means we’re constantly observing—capturing the real smiles, the unexpected interactions, and the energy of the room. We focus on genuine emotion first. Then, for portraits, we create space for beautiful, artful images that feel natural and reflect your connection, incorporating the stunning backdrop of your chosen location. It’s about capturing both the epic and the intimate.
2. May we please see 2-3 full wedding galleries from recent weddings similar in style or setting to ours? It’s still essential! Highlights look great, but full galleries show consistency in various lighting conditions throughout the entire day.
- Our Approach: Absolutely! Transparency is key. We readily share full galleries so you can experience how we document the wedding narrative – from the quiet getting-ready moments to the energy on the dance floor late into the night. This gives you the best sense of our consistency and storytelling.
3. What’s your experience with our specific venue (or similar venues) and our type of wedding (e.g., cultural traditions, fusion elements)? Experience matters with locations (lighting, best spots) and specific cultural nuances.
- Our Approach: We’ve photographed hundreds of weddings over 12+ years, from grand multi-day Indian and South Asian celebrations (our specialty, rooted in our own Gujarati/Rajasthani heritage!) to Catholic ceremonies, Jewish weddings, and beautiful fusion events across various venues – ballrooms, estates, vineyards, beaches, mountains, internationally. If we haven’t shot at your exact venue, we research it thoroughly and often do a walkthrough. Our deep cultural expertise means we understand the flow and significance of diverse traditions, capturing them respectfully and beautifully.
4. How do you handle tricky lighting (dark venues, harsh sun) or unexpected weather? Can you show examples? Adaptability is crucial. You want proof that they can create beautiful images no matter the conditions.
- Our Approach: We thrive on creative challenges! We’re masters of light—skilled with natural light and experienced with flash and artificial lighting to create mood and beauty even in dark churches or reception halls. We see tricky weather (hello, potential rain or fog!) as an opportunity for unique, atmospheric photos. We always come prepared with the right gear and techniques to handle whatever the day throws at us, ensuring stunning results.
5. How do you help couples feel comfortable and relaxed in front of the camera, especially if we’re camera-shy? The “vibe” and connection are huge! How do they create a cozy atmosphere?
- Our Approach: This is HUGE for us! We believe the best photos happen when you feel genuinely comfortable and connected. As a husband-and-wife team, we bring a relaxed, warm energy. We focus on building rapport (our engagement sessions are great for this!). During portraits, we use gentle prompts that encourage natural interaction and emotion, rather than stiff posing. We blend in most of the day, letting you enjoy the moments while we capture them unobtrusively. Our goal is for it to feel effortless and fun!
6. What exactly is included in your packages? (Hours, deliverables, digital file rights, sneak peeks, albums?) What’s the typical investment & payment schedule? Get clarity on what you receive, when, usage rights, and all costs involved, including travel if applicable.
- Our Approach: We offer comprehensive collections often including two lead photographers (us!), an engagement session, specific hours of coverage, and high-resolution digital files delivered via online gallery with full personal usage rights (meaning you can print and share!). We also offer gorgeous heirloom albums and wall art. We prioritize transparency in our pricing, detail everything in our proposals, discuss potential travel fees upfront for destination weddings, and offer flexible payment schedules. Sneak peeks? Always within a week!
7. What’s your backup plan for equipment failure or emergencies (like illness)? Are you insured? Insurance is essential for peace of mind. Professionals are prepared.
- Our Approach: Your memories are priceless, and we protect them! We shoot with multiple professional camera bodies, lenses, and lighting setups, and always bring backups for everything. We are fully insured with liability coverage. In the improbable event of a significant emergency preventing us from being there, we have a network of trusted, high-caliber professional photographers we can call upon as replacements, ensuring your day is covered.
8. Can you walk us through the entire process, from booking to final photo delivery? How do you typically communicate, and do you help with timeline planning? Understanding the workflow and communication style ensures a smooth experience.
- Our Approach: We see ourselves as partners throughout your journey! The process starts with a consultation (like this!). If we’re a great fit, booking involves a contract and retainer. We then collaborate on timeline planning (often with your planner) to ensure ample time for photos without rushing you. We check in before the wedding and are available to answer questions anytime. After the wedding, you get sneak peeks quickly, followed by your full online gallery delivery within 4-8 weeks. Communication is open, prompt, and tailored to your preference (email, calls).
9. What’s your approach on the wedding day? What makes working with you unique? This gets to the heart of the experience – their personality, working style, and what sets them apart.
- Our Approach: On the day, we bring calm, positive energy. We balance being unobtrusive observers, capturing candid moments, with providing clear, gentle direction when needed for portraits and group shots. We work seamlessly as a team (the benefit of being married!) and collaborate well with other vendors. What makes us unique? We believe it’s our combination of artistic vision, technical reliability, deep cultural sensitivity, and genuine passion for connecting with our couples and telling their unique stories with heart and beauty. We’re not just vendors; we’re invested in your experience.
10. How will you use our images (social media, portfolio, etc.), and what are our options if we prefer privacy? This is an increasingly important question in the digital age.
- Our Approach: We adore sharing the beautiful stories we capture on our website, blog, and social media – it inspires other couples! However, your comfort and privacy are paramount. This is always discussed upfront and detailed in our contract. We respect requests for privacy and offer options, including NDAs (Non-Disclosure Agreements), if you prefer your images not be shared publicly. Just let us know!
Choosing your wedding photographer is about finding skilled artists who you trust and connect with. We hope these questions empower you to find the perfect team to preserve the incredible memories of your wedding adventure.
Ready to see if Preeti & Ishan are the right fit for your story?
Let’s Chat! Contact us today for a complimentary consultation.
We’d love to hear about your plans and discuss capturing your dream wedding.
Warmly,
Ishan & Preeti
