Three months after the wedding, a couple in Vadodara asks their photographer for the album. He says the editor is busy. At six months, they learn the "two photographers" in the package meant one photographer and his nephew with a phone gimbal. At nine months, a link arrives with 400 photos, and almost none from the bride's pithi.
Nothing in that story was a scam. It was a set of questions nobody asked at the first meeting, and promises nobody wrote down.
If you already know whose style you like, this list is for the next step: the meeting before you pay. (If you are still comparing portfolios, start with how to shortlist photographers.) Take these 20 questions with you, and ask for the answers in writing.
The team and the date
- Will you shoot our wedding yourself? Many studios send whoever is free that day. If someone else will lead, ask for that person's name and a full gallery of their work, not the studio's best reel.
- How many people will cover each function, and who does what? A second shooter means a second photographer at the same function, so you get the groom's side and the bride's side at once. Ask how many photographers and how many videographers come to each event.
- What happens if you fall ill or have an emergency? A good answer names a real backup person and says the replacement will be of the same level. "Don't worry, it never happens" is not an answer.
- Have you shot at our venue before? Party plots, samaj wadis and banquet halls each have their own light and crowd problems. Someone who knows your venue will know where to stand for the varmala and the pheras.
Coverage on the day
- Which functions are included, and for how many hours each? A Gujarati wedding can run from mandvo and pithi to a garba night, the lagna and the reception. Write down every function with start and end times.
- What do you charge if the function runs late? The muhurat does not move, but everything around it often does. Agree on an overtime rate per hour now, not at 11 at night.
- Who pays for travel, stay and food for your team? This matters most for a wedding in another city or a farmhouse outside town. Ask how many people need rooms and meals.
What you will actually receive
- How many edited photos will we get, per function? "Unlimited" or "around 500" is too vague. Ask for a minimum number for each event.
- When will each deliverable arrive? Get separate dates for the teaser, the edited gallery, the film and the album. Ask that the clock start from the last function, not from "after the season".
- Do we get the raw files? Raw files are the unedited photos straight from the camera. Many photographers do not hand them over, or charge extra. Either is fine, as long as you know before you sign.
- How will you send the files, and how long will you keep a copy? Ask whether you get a download link, a pen drive or both, and how many months the studio archives your wedding in case a drive fails.
- What exactly is in the album? Ask how many albums, how many pages or sheets, who designs it, and how many rounds of changes you get. Parents often want a smaller second album, so price it now.
- What will the video look like? Ask the length of the short highlight film and the full-length film, and whether you can ask for changes to the edit.
- Is the drone included, and who flies it? Drones in India need registration, and airspace near airports needs permission. Ask whether the operator handles this and what happens if the venue or the weather says no.
- Is a pre-wedding shoot part of the package? Check how many hours, how many locations, outfit changes, and who pays location entry fees and travel.
Money and the contract
- What is the full price, and what is not included? Ask whether GST, travel, extra album copies and drone are inside the quote or added later.
- What is the payment schedule? In 2025–26, many photographers ask for roughly 25–40% as a booking advance. Try to keep a part of the balance until the album and film are delivered.
- What if we postpone or cancel, or you do? Your contract should say what you get back and when, for both sides.
- How do you protect our photos from a failed card? Look for cameras that record to two memory cards at once and a backup copy made the same night.
- Will all of this go into a written contract? Include your names, dates, functions, hours, team, deliverables, deadlines, price and payment dates. Also note whether the studio can post your photos on social media.
Red flags
- They will not name who will actually shoot your wedding.
- They want the full amount up front.
- Delivery is "as soon as possible" with no date.
- They only show reels and short highlights, never a full wedding.
- The package sounds big but every item has "approx." next to it.
- They get annoyed by questions. If they are short with you now, think about how they will reply in month six.
Before you pay the advance
- Read the written contract or quotation, not just a WhatsApp message.
- Check your functions, dates and hours are listed one by one.
- Check the number of edited photos, album details and delivery dates.
- Confirm the lead photographer's name.
- Pay through a traceable method and keep the receipt.
- Add the payment dates to your wedding budget so the balance does not surprise you.
Common questions
Should we ask for the raw photos?
Only if you want them. Raw files are large and unedited, and most couples never open them. They are useful if you want every frame, including the ones the photographer left out. If you want them, agree on the price and format before you sign.
How long do wedding photos take in India?
It varies a lot by studio and season. Edited photos often take one to two months, and longer in peak wedding season. Albums usually come later because you have to choose photos and approve the design. Whatever the number, get it in writing for each item.
How much advance should we pay a wedding photographer?
There is no fixed rule. Many photographers in 2025–26 ask for roughly a quarter to a little over a third of the price to block your date. Avoid paying everything before the wedding, and link the last payment to delivery.
What can we do if the photographer does not deliver?
First, send a written message listing what was promised, what is pending and a final date. If that fails, you can file a complaint with the district consumer commission. Commissions have ordered refunds and compensation in such cases, and a written contract and payment receipts make your case much stronger.
Do we need a separate videographer?
Not always. Many studios offer photo and video together, which makes planning easier. Just make sure the video team is not the same person switching cameras between shots.
When you are ready to meet a few people, browse wedding photographers on LagnaPrasang, shortlist three, and take this list to each meeting. The one who answers clearly, and puts it in writing without fuss, is usually the one to book.
