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Happy April 1st! I can't believe how fast the year is flying. Winter is finally over and the weather is starting to warm up. Today, while it was sunny (before a windstorm blew threw and took out our power) we were outside getting our yard cleaned up and prepping the pool for summer. With Easter Sunday a week away, we still have a lot of work to do to get everything ready for our family coming to visit, and our house could still use a good deep cleaning, but for now, we're taking a break to enjoy our Saturday. For Easter, we always celebrate with worship at church, a big egg hunt in our yard for the kids, and a holiday dinner. This year we're looking at doing something different from the typical Easter ham...we're thinking apricot glazed pork chops. What are some of your family traditions?

Today being April Fools Day, I thought it would be fitting to stay on the topic of scammers in the wedding industry. Every day I see posts of couples distressed over being scammed. It breaks my heart for them and it makes me so angry that there are people out there taking advantage of couples on one of the most important days of their lives. What is a couple to do to avoid being fooled? In last month's newsletter, we talked about the red flags that can help you avoid being scammed as well as some questions to ask potential photographers to ensure they are the right fit for you. Today, I want to revisit those questions and add a few more that will help you in your search. You can ask all these questions through email, which is helpful for a reference to go back to and compare, but it is also a great idea to have either a face-to-face meeting or a phone consultation so that you can get a feel for the photographer's personality. If you want to hear more on this topic, I have videos posted on TikTok in which I go further into the reasons why you want to ask these questions and some of our answers to them. Be sure to follow us for more informational and behind-the-scenes content as well as some other fun stuff. @cyn.davis.photo

Things to ask your photographer:

Are you a registered tax-paying business owner?

Your photographer should be able to give you their EIN or even their tax number. You can also look up their business through the secretary of state's website.

Do you have insurance?

Photographers running legal businesses should have insurance. It's becoming common practice for venues to request proof of insurance before they allow vendors to work there. It's very easy to send proof of insurance to those who ask and vendors should have no problem doing so.

How do you accept payments?

Most legit businesses should be able to accept all major credit cards through the use of a card processing company like Strip or Square. Many websites allow the use of invoicing systems to make payment plans easy.

What happens if you can't attend my wedding?

The photographer should have a backup plan in place in case something happens that prevents them from being able to fulfill their contractual duties to the client. Whether that's having an associate shooter go in their place or refunding all payments, the client should feel as though the photographer will ensure their wedding day is covered.

When will I get my deliverables?

While this can range from anywhere between 24 hours to 16 weeks or more, the average delivery time is between 4 to 8 weeks. However, none of this matters if it isn't clearly stated and put in the contract.

Can I view a full wedding gallery?

As stated above, a photographer should be willing able to show a few different wedding galleries that have consistent work.

What is your photography experience?

Knowing how your photographer got started and how long they've been doing photography can be a major deciding factor when choosing your vendors. Are you okay with someone just starting out, or would you prefer someone who has years under their belt and personal experience at your venue? Everyone is different, but it's still important to ask.

*NEW* How do you store and back up my images?

You want to make sure your images make it to the computer to be edited and then to you. Professional photographers should have systems in place to make sure they're using good cards, that the cards and images won't get lost, and that ensure all images are uploaded and backed up.

*NEW* What kind of equipment do you use?

Even if you don't know much about the equipment, it's important to know if the photographer you're considering uses professional-grade equipment. They should be using full-frame camera bodies.

*NEW* Do you use flash?

It's important to know if your photographer is a natural-light specialist, an added-light specialist, or someone who uses a mix of natural light and added light. This might not seem important, but depending on your wedding style, venue, or the time of year, it can make a huge difference. If you're having a wedding on a beach with a lot of natural bright light, a natural-light specialist would be wonderful. If you're having a winter wedding in a dark venue you'll want someone who has flash knowledge.

*NEW* What is your editing process?

Going beyond the color and toning aesthetic of the photographer, you'll want to know how in-depth your photographer is with photo manipulation. Do they do skin retouching to remove acne? Do they do full skin smoothing and body alterations? Do they remove background distractions? Or are they more natural and don't do any photo editing beyond aesthetic editing? You'll want to make sure that their editing process aligns with what you want out of your photos.

These are just a few things that will help you in your search for the perfect wedding photographer. And if you're not sure, there's no shame in asking others about their experiences with the vendors you're considering. Client reviews and referrals are a great way to determine whether a vendor is legit. If you have questions about how we operate at Cyn Davis Photography, check out the FAQ on our Investment Page, or you can get in touch with us directly using the form at the bottom of this post.

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