Answers to the Most Common Questions We Get Asked as Wedding Photographers

The photographs from your wedding will be one of the few long-lasting mementos from this special occasion. That’s why selecting a photographer for your wedding is one of the most important decisions you will make while planning your big day. You’ll want to be sure that your photographer is qualified, experienced, and most importantly is someone you and your significant other can feel comfortable around. After all, the photographer will largely be with you the majority of the day!

There are so many choices when it comes to photographers—so how do you chose? If you Google “how to pick a wedding photographer?” you’ll be met with countless wedding resources meant to help couples select the best photographer for their wedding. Many of these articles and blogs include a list of questions that can help you determine if a photographer is a good fit. One great resource comes from a popular wedding magazine, Brides, titled 36 Important Questions to Ask Your Wedding Photographer.

If you’re here—thank you so much for your interest in our work! Our goal is to help you make the best decision for your big day. To that end, we’ve answered all 36 questions from that Brides Magazine article. Lets get started!

Wedding Date Availability

Q: Is my wedding date available?
A: One of the first questions we ask on our inquiry form is the date of your wedding. Whether we are available for your date or not, you can expect a fast response from us. If we are not available, we are happy to recommend other talented and trusted colleagues with a similar aesthetic and quality of work.

Q: Will you be the one photographing my wedding? If not, can I meet the photographer who will be on-site?
A: Yes! We (Todd and Adam) always work together for all of our weddings. This has two major advantages: first we act as two lead photographers with equivalent creative input and ability; second, because we always work together, we have cultivated a natural, intuitive, and organic style that helps ensure all your most important moments, big and small, are documented.

Q: How many other weddings will you photograph that weekend?
A: We only take on a limited number of weddings per year to provide our couples with the highest quality experience. We generally only allow for one wedding per weekend.

Q: Will you have any assistants with you on our wedding day?
A: In our experience, two photographers is sufficient to beautifully document most weddings in their entirety. There are some rare circumstances in which we may require additional assistants (for example, if it is a very large wedding with >300 guests, for multi-day events, or for events with multiple locations).

Our Background

Q: How long have you been photographing weddings? How many weddings have you photographed?
A: Todd founded Todd Danforth Photography in 2009, and we’ve photographed hundreds of weddings, both in the United States and internationally.

Q: Do you often photograph weddings that have a similar size and style to the one we are planning?
A: With over a decade of experience, we have photographed weddings of all sizes and styles, anywhere from 4 guests up to 500 guests; from yachts to country clubs and everything in between!

Q: Can we see the full galleries of a few of your recent weddings?
A: Check out our gallery of recent work to get a feel for our style and what we deliver to our clients. We can share full wedding galleries, but we take the privacy of our clients and their guests very seriously.

Q: Have you ever photographed a wedding at our ceremony and reception venues? If not, do you plan to check the venues out in advance?
A: The most important component of a good photo is light, which changes constantly throughout the day, whether you’re indoors or outdoors, with the weather, and with the seasons. Unless we are location scouting on the same day of the year as your wedding and can guarantee the weather will be identical on your wedding day, the lighting conditions will certainly be different. Even wedding venues we return to over and over again give us new surprises each time we’re there. An experienced wedding photographer should be able to work under a variety of conditions and to think quickly on their feet, something we are expert in! Additionally, with our destination work, it is not always possible to do a site visit prior to the wedding day—this has never stopped us from making beautiful work with our couples!

Q: Have you ever worked with our planner? Videographer? Florist? DJ?
A: We have worked with many wedding professionals around the United States and around the world. We’ve worked in many different environments, under (at times) stressful conditions, and have always found a way to create fruitful working relationships with our vendor partners. In many cases, wedding professionals we meet on the job have become friends and trusted colleagues we refer again and again.

Photographic Style

Q: How would you describe your photography style? What would you compare your work to?
A: Some photographers use descriptions of their work like “light and airy,” or “dark and moody.” But to us, these are more editing styles than photography styles. Our photographic style doesn’t come from how we edit our photos, but through the organic emotion and authenticity we capture at every wedding. We don’t define it by a color, a mood, or a vibe. We specialize in illuminating that magical quality that makes your love story unique, in precisely the way you and your partner shine.

Q: How would you describe your working style? Do you prefer to blend into the background to capture candid moments, or do you like to be more visible and take charge to choreograph images?
A: Both, when appropriate. We have a naturally calm and present nature, and prefer to blend seamlessly into the days events in order to capture the raw and organic emotion as it unfolds. There are some moments, however, which require us to be more visible—like during family portraits. After more than a decade of photographing weddings, we have developed a streamlined process for family portraits you can read about here.

Q: Do you shoot digitally? With film? Or both?
A: Both! Todd’s photographic training began in the darkroom, where he honed his technical and artistic skills through the very deliberate process of photographing and printing with film. We are proud to offer hybrid photography (meaning film and digital coverage) for couples who are looking for a more unique, bespoke experience. You can read more about how we integrate film and digital photography for weddings here.

Wedding Photography Pricing

Q: What is included in your standard package? What add-ons do the more expensive packages include?
A: We prefer to keep things simple. Rather than offering complicated packages, our service is priced based upon the hours of photography coverage and tailored to your unique wedding. Always included in that service are the following: 2 lead photographers (Todd & Adam), timeline planning, three week turnaround for delivering the entire online wedding gallery and copyright permission to reprint images. We also offer curated optional services and products such as and engagement session, film photography, or albums to enhance your experience.

Q: Can I customize a package to fit my needs?
A: Our wedding photography service is completely tailored to your needs. We prefer to schedule a consultation with prospective clients to learn more about their wedding. Afterwards, we will present a custom photography proposal based upon on conversation.

Q: Do you include engagement photos in your packages? What about pre-wedding events like rehearsal dinners?
A: We do offer engagement session as well as pre-wedding and post-wedding coverage such as welcome dinners, wedding brunches, as well as special excursions for couples planning destination weddings.

Q: How many hours are included in each package? How much do extra hours cost?
A: The amount of coverage is entirely customizable and tailored to your wedding. We suggest nine hours as a good starting point; however, ten or more hours may be required for weddings with a high level of details, for multi-day events, or for weddings that incorporate multiple locations.

Q: Do you offer a photo booth?
A: We do not, but are happy to provide recommendations for wonderful photo booth options.

Q: Do you offer retouching, color adjustment, or other corrective services? Are those included or an additional charge?
A: Our editing technique is integral to what we do. After more than a decade, we have developed a finely-honed process that utilizes state-of-the-art technology including professional monitors regularly custom calibrated using a colorimeter. We individually edit every photograph from every wedding and do not outsource this important process. Edits include color correction, toning, and cropping/straightening. In some cases, we make additional minor edits including light retouching, removing stray hairs, etc. Our editing style is true-to-life, and we strive to honor our subjects with authenticity and integrity. If more intensive retouching is requested—which is quite rare—we offer this service at an additional charge per photo.

Q: Do you charge a travel fee? For what distance? What does that cover?
A: We charge a travel fee based on distance from our studios in Palm Springs, California and Boston, Massachusetts*. If a travel fee applies, we will provide a custom proposal that includes transportation and accommodation estimates for one night prior to the event and the night of the event. After this estimate is approved by you and added to your invoice and contract, any costs we incur above the flat travel fee are our responsibility.

*we do not charge a travel fee for the following service locations: Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Diego, New England & Cape Cod (including Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket).

Prints & Albums

Q: Can we order prints directly from you?
A: Yes! As artisans of our craft, we make Fine Art Archival Prints in-house, as well as offer a variety of sizes in both lustre and glossy finishes. Fine Art Archival Prints go through an extensive retouching process—learn more about how we make those prints here.

Q: What type of album do you offer? Do you provide assistance selecting images and designing the album?
A: We work with a small woman-owned bindery, operated by a master bookbinder and storyteller. We work directly with all of our clients to create a completely unique and custom album, from image selection to final design. Check out this resource which goes over our process for making custom wedding albums.

Q: Are albums or prints included in your packages? How many pages or prints are included, and what is the turnaround time?
A: Handmade wedding albums can be added to any photography package. These albums are entirely custom. You can read more about our albums and the turnaround time here.

Q: How long after the wedding will we receive the images? How will they be delivered?
A: We deliver all final wedding images within 3 weeks of the wedding date in a private password-protected online wedding gallery, which is available for viewing and ordering prints for six months after delivery. About 4 weeks after your wedding date, we mail a USB containing all of the final high-res and web-size wedding images.

Q: Will we have the rights to the images?
A: You will have copyright permission to reprint your images at any photo lab of your choosing. You are also free to share any images online—we just ask that you please credit us when doing so.

Q: Will we receive the negatives and/or high resolution digital images? Is there a fee for that?
A: You will receive high-resolution digital images capable of printing a wide range of formats: from 4x6 to 30x45, and even larger. We’ve never encountered an experience where a couple has needed a higher-resolution image, but we can always provide one if necessary. We do not deliver negatives or RAW files.

Q: Will the images be accessible online? For how long?
A: Yes, for 6 months after the date of delivery. We always recommend our clients backup their images.

Wedding Photography Logistics

Q: When will we receive the contract?
A: After reaching out to us, we will set up a meeting by phone or video call so we can learn more about you and your wedding plans. Based on that conversation, we will send you a custom wedding proposal by email. The electronic contract is sent by us shortly after you accept the proposal.

Q: How much of a deposit do you require? When is it due?
A: A 50% retainer is due within 7 days after signing the contract.

Q: Do you accept payments in installations?
A: We accept credit card, check, and e-check. After the 50% retainer, the remaining balance is due within 14 days of the wedding or event date.

Q: What is your refund or cancellation policy?
A: The 50% retainer is non-refundable. Cancellation 6 months or less from the wedding date will require 75% of the total contract amount. Cancellation in less than 3 months of the wedding date will require 100% of the contract amount.

Q: Do you have liability insurance? Does it cover your assistants, as well?
A: Yes, we have very comprehensive liability insurance which covers us and our assistants.

Q: Do you carry backup equipment?
A: Always!

Q: What is the backup plan if you are unable to shoot my wedding for an unexpected reason?
A: While this has never happened to us, should the event arise where we are rendered physically incapable of photographing your wedding, we have a very extensive network of trusted wedding professionals we are able call upon to photograph your wedding in our stead. In over a decade of photographing weddings, we have never had to utilize this option.

Q: How will you and your assistants be dressed?
A: We wear only professional all black attire: black dress shoes, black slacks, black button-ups, black jackets, and ties. For beach weddings, natural linen slacks, white linen button-ups, and brown leather shoes. Our goal is to blend in and allow the beauty of our clients, their guests, and their wedding decor shine.

Q: Can we request a list of specific photographs we would like?
A: We work with all of our clients to create a shot list for family photos and wedding party photos. We generally don’t work from Pinterest boards as re-creating specific poses or scenarios goes against our approach as documentarians. With that said, if there’s a special photo or pose you like, always feel free to share it with us and we’ll do our best to create magic together!

Q: Will you be posting about our wedding on your website and social media? Will you be submitting our photos to magazines or blogs?
A: We love to share the love! As photographers and visual storytellers, it is important for us to promote our work on the internet, social media, magazines, and blogs. After all, that’s probably how you found us! With that said, we take our clients’ privacy seriously and make exceptions when necessary to restrict promotion of certain weddings.

Interested in scheduling a consultation, or ready to book?

Palm Springs and Boston wedding photographer Todd Danforth Photography is an LGBTQ+ and POC-owned wedding photography team specializing in capturing joyful and candid moments. As storytellers and craftspeople, we believe in the power of visual narratives. Our mission is to create honest and authentic photographs you can share with your loved ones for generations to come.