Hey Ohio brides! I’m the photographer at Sheldon James Photography and I want to spread some awareness about how you should be vetting photographers to hire for your wedding day. This list can mean the difference between professional, reliable coverage for your wedding vs being ghosted/ losing your most important images. Since Covid, the photography community has seen its share of scammers and I want to help you avoid that at all cost! We are also the ones spending the most time with you on this day (sometimes more than your bridal party. Be sure to meet up with them in person during a consult to see if you click!

Ask your prospective photographer these questions

• Is your business registered with the state? (Look their business name up on the Ohio sec. State business search. Red flag if it doesn’t show up.) Moreover any certificates, awards, and BBB accreditation, this is how all business register with the state of Ohio for tax and good lawful standing.

•do you offer a complimentary 30 minute engagement session with your wedding packages? ( this really helps you get acquainted with your photographer! I’m so glad I chose to offer this to my clients. It really helps break the ice)

•Do you have a contract?

•Does your contract cover my wedding with another photographer if you end up not being able to attend and are you the main photographer that represents your business? There are some companies that have many photographers under one umbrella so what in turn happens is, you book a photography company and the person you initially spoke with is not the photographer who shows up to shoot your wedding on your wedding day

•if I want to add on time to my package, how much does an extra hour cost?

•what are your travel fees? All weddings booked with us do not require travel fees unless there is 1+ hour of travel time.

•do I receive all finalized (based on their discretion) digital images with each package?

•what is your payment method? (Invoicing service should be an option)

•what is your contractual turn around time vs your actual turn around time

•how many weddings have you done before

•are you experienced in flash photography

•does your contract require a seat at a table and a plate of food?( ALWAYS feed your vendors especially your photogs. We run around more than anyone else! )

•be sure they offer in person consults for weddings

•a second photographer isn’t as important a many think it is, it just makes the photographers job a bit easier. If they offer a second shooter, that means they will be trusting them with specific moments to capture while they’re capturing something else, so, be sure to ask how experienced that photographer is. If they’re trusted with a special moment and they don’t understand how their camera/flash works you might have just lost that moment forever. If they DONT offer a second shooter that is their professional decision and only effects the photographer.

•always ask to see full galleries of past weddings so you can see their work in all light conditions

•how the images are delivered (digital files on an online gallery is the norm, most offer prints and album’s for extra costs!)

•ask how many pictures per hour they average. (50-100 per hour is generally what you’ll find!)

Dayton Ohio wedding photographer Sheldon James photography