The Full 12-Question Checklist

1. 1. Is my wedding date available?

   Why it matters: Obvious but essential — photographers book one wedding per date. Ask this first before falling in love with a portfolio you can't book.

2. 2. How many Twin Cities weddings do you shoot per year?

   Why it matters: 10–25/year suggests a full-time working professional. Under 5 usually means a hobbyist. Over 40 can mean burnout and volume-over-quality.

3. 3. Can I see one full wedding gallery start-to-finish?

   Why it matters: Instagram is curated — a full 600–900 image gallery shows how the photographer handles boring moments (dinner, transitions, difficult light).

4. 4. What happens if you're sick or in an accident on my wedding day?

   Why it matters: A real Minneapolis pro has a written backup-photographer clause. If they can't answer this cleanly, walk away.

5. 5. What backup gear do you carry?

   Why it matters: Correct answer: dual camera bodies with dual card slots, 2+ backup lenses, spare batteries and cards. This is basic wedding-photographer insurance.

6. 6. How long until we get our photos back?

   Why it matters: 4–6 weeks is standard for Twin Cities wedding delivery. Over 8 weeks is a red flag; over 12 weeks suggests they're overbooked or disorganized.

7. 7. Do we get a sneak peek before the full gallery?

   Why it matters: Standard is 20–30 favorites within 48 hours so you have something to share on social media in the first week.

8. 8. Are we getting print rights?

   Why it matters: Personal print rights should be standard on every Minneapolis wedding package. If the photographer holds print rights or forces you into their print catalogue, budget an extra $500–$2,000.

9. 9. How many edited images will we receive?

   Why it matters: 75–100 hand-edited images per hour of coverage is the Twin Cities standard. 200+/hour usually means over-shooting and thin editing.

10. 10. Do you carry liability insurance?

    Why it matters: Most Minneapolis venues (Aster, Mill City, Nicollet Island, A'BULAE) require a certificate of insurance. If the photographer can't produce one, your venue can bar them from the day-of.

11. 11. What's your editing style — will my gallery match what I see on your site?

    Why it matters: Ask specifically about skin tone, color grading, and whether they run AI presets or hand-edit. Consistency matters — your gallery should look like their portfolio.

12. 12. What's the payment schedule and cancellation policy?

    Why it matters: Twin Cities standard: 25% retainer to book, balance in 1–3 installments, final payment 2 weeks before the wedding. Cancellation clauses vary — read them.

How I Answer These

Every question on this list has a clean, specific answer at Honey Deww Photography: dual camera bodies with dual card slots, a written backup-photographer clause in every contract, 4–6 week delivery, 48-hour sneak peek, print rights included, liability insurance every Twin Cities venue accepts, and hand-edited galleries (no AI presets). Read my full Minneapolis wedding photographer page or the full 8-step booking guide.