Wedding photographer websites: what couples want to know first

Engaged couples come to a wedding photographer website with a short list of practical questions, usually the same ones in the same order: can I see a whole wedding, how many hours are covered, are you free on our date, what does it cost, and how do we book. A site that answers those plainly, without making couples email to find out, gets better inquiries from couples who already feel like a fit.

"Can we see a whole wedding?"

Highlight reels make every photographer look good. Couples who have been planning for a while know this, and they want to see a full or near-full gallery from one wedding to judge consistency: do the dim reception photos hold up, are the family formals sharp, did the photographer catch the speeches.

Ways to show it:

• A few full galleries on the site, each labeled with the venue, season and time of day, so couples can find one like theirs.
• A "Full galleries on request" line if you prefer to keep them private, with a promise to send two or three similar to their venue when they inquire.
• A gallery per venue type: barn, church, hotel ballroom, backyard, courthouse elopement.

Name the venues. A couple married at the same country club next spring will look at that gallery first.

"How many hours do we need?"

Coverage is the most confusing part of wedding photography for couples, and the most useful thing you can explain. Most have no idea how long a wedding day takes to photograph.

Lay it out as a simple guide:

• Short coverage, a few hours: ceremony, family photos, couple portraits, a little of the reception. Suits small weddings and elopements.
• Mid-length coverage: from the last part of getting ready through the first dance and toasts. Suits most weddings.
• Full-day coverage: from getting ready to the send-off.

Then a sample timeline helps couples picture it:

• 2:00 pm: getting ready, details, dress
• 3:30 pm: first look and couple portraits (if they choose one)
• 4:30 pm: ceremony
• 5:00 pm: family photos
• 5:45 pm: reception entrance, dinner, toasts
• 7:30 pm: first dance, cake, open dancing
• 8:30 pm: coverage ends

Explain whether a second photographer is included or extra, and what difference it makes (one on each side of the aisle, getting ready shots of both partners). Say if extra hours can be added on the day, and how that works.

"Are you free on our date?"

Couples often book a venue first and then race to find a photographer for that date. Make the date question easy to ask and fast to answer:

• A big "Check your date" button on every page
• A form that asks for the date first, with "not set yet" as an option
• A line saying how fast you answer, and keep to it
• If your popular Saturdays fill early, say so honestly: "Fall Saturdays usually book a year or more ahead; weekday and winter dates often have more room."

Some photographers publish a calendar of open dates. It can work, but only if you keep it current every week; a calendar showing a date open that you booked last month causes more trouble than no calendar.

"What will it cost us?"

Couples want a number, or at least a range, before they spend time on a call. Approaches that work for wedding photographers:

• Collections with starting prices, each listing hours, second shooter yes or no, engagement session yes or no, album yes or no
• "Most couples invest between X and Y", with a full price guide sent on inquiry
• A starting price with a list of what moves it (hours, travel, album, second shooter)

Whatever you choose, list what every collection includes: an online gallery, the number of photos to expect as a range, delivery time, and print rights in plain words ("you can print anywhere"). Should you list prices on your website covers the general trade-off.

"Will you travel to us?"

Say plainly where you work without extra fees ("anywhere within 60 miles of Denver"), how travel beyond that is charged (mileage, a flat fee, flights and a hotel for destination weddings), and whether you have shot at their kind of destination. If you love certain venues or areas, list them; couples planning there will feel at home.

"What happens after we book?"

Couples who have never hired a photographer appreciate seeing the whole process. A short numbered list:

1. Inquiry and a reply with availability and the price guide
2. A call or video chat to meet
3. Contract and retainer to hold the date
4. Engagement session, if included
5. A timeline planning call a few weeks before
6. The wedding day
7. A sneak peek within a few days
8. The full gallery within a stated number of weeks
9. Album design, if ordered

This list answers a dozen emails before they are sent, and it shows you are organized. For the general skill of laying out a process, see how to describe your process on your website.

"What if something goes wrong?"

Couples rarely ask this out loud, but they think it. A short, calm paragraph helps: you shoot with two cameras and back up to two cards, you have backup equipment, and you have a network of photographers who can step in if you are ever sick. Only say what is true.

For the core pages and photos a wedding photographer site needs to start with, see what a wedding photographer website needs.

Answer these on your site this month

• Can couples see at least one full wedding, labeled by venue?
• Is there a coverage guide with a sample timeline?
• Does every page have a "Check your date" button?
• Do couples know how a date is held?
• Is there at least a starting price or range?
• Is travel explained?
• Is the process after booking written as steps?

If your current site leaves these answers buried and you would rather not rebuild it yourself, you can see your site rebuilt first and decide once you have seen it.