Yana Skakun
A Practical Checklist
Twelve practical questions to ask any wedding photographer before booking — written by one who shoots in Cambridge.
There are dozens of capable wedding photographers in Cambridge. The difference between them is rarely about price or equipment — it's about working style, reliability, and whether the person behind the camera actually understands the day you're building. This checklist gives you twelve questions to ask. It's not designed to send you to me; it's designed to help you choose the photographer who's right for you, whether that's me or not.
Question 01
Anyone can put together a beautiful highlights reel. The real question is what a full gallery looks like — 300 to 800 images from a single day. Look for consistency. Does every image feel like it belongs in the same story? Are the group photos as good as the portraits? Is the evening dance floor coverage strong? Most photographers will share at least one full gallery on request. If they refuse, that's information.
Question 02
Cambridge has highly specific photographic challenges — chapel light, college courts, the Backs at golden hour, the river. A photographer who has shot at King's, Clare, Trinity, Christ's, Hatfield, Madingley or Ely Cathedral will know things you don't need to teach them on the day. Ask for sample images from your specific venue, or from a comparable one.
Question 03
Trends in wedding photography shift every two or three years — orange-and-teal, dark moody, bright airy, true-to-life. The right question is whether the photographer's style is consistent and whether you actually like it. Look at their galleries from this year and three years ago. Has the style evolved or has it whiplashed?
Question 04
Two cameras (or more) with two card slots each. A backup photographer arrangement in case of illness or accident. Equipment insurance. Public liability insurance (most venues require this — £2 million is standard). Backup storage on at least two physical drives plus cloud. If a photographer can't answer this clearly, they're operating on hope.
Question 05
Group photos are the single biggest source of wedding-day delay and frustration. A good photographer will: ask for the list in advance, structure the order to keep grandparents seated and tired toddlers brief, work with a family member as a 'caller', and limit the list to 8–12 essential groupings unless you specifically want more. Twenty-plus groupings on the day will eat 45 minutes of your golden hour.
Question 06
Standard delivery in the UK is 4–8 weeks for weddings. Anything under four weeks should make you suspicious of the editing depth. Anything over eight weeks suggests the photographer is overbooked. If they offer 'rush delivery' as a paid add-on, ask what the normal turnaround actually is — sometimes 'standard' means 12 weeks and the upsell is to get back to industry norm.
Question 07
Most experienced photographers will not provide RAW files because RAWs are unfinished work — like sending out a manuscript before edits. This is normal and not a red flag. What you should expect is the full edited gallery in high resolution, with personal print rights. Some photographers also include a low-resolution social-media set.
Question 08
Ask for the rain plan. A photographer who has shot in Cambridge for any length of time will have backup locations for every venue — chapel interiors, college cloisters, the Botanic Garden glasshouses. Day-running-over: ask whether overtime is hourly and what it costs. Standard is £150–£250 per additional hour, decided in real time.
Question 09
The honest test is whether the photographer talks about people warmly. A good wedding photographer makes elderly grandparents feel seen, chases toddlers patiently, and knows that the family dog often becomes the favourite image of the day. If the photographer's portfolio doesn't include real moments with real ages and real family configurations, that's information too.
Question 10
Some Cambridge photography businesses are a brand with multiple shooting photographers under one name. This isn't necessarily bad, but you need to know: will you actually meet (and be photographed by) the person whose portfolio you saw? If not, ask to see the specific photographer's recent work. Personal connection matters on the day.
Question 11
Coverage hours, number of edited images, online gallery, digital download, print rights, second photographer, engagement session, albums, prints, travel costs. Ask for a complete written breakdown. Common surprise charges: travel beyond a certain radius, additional edits, additional album spreads, accommodation if the wedding ends late.
Question 12
This is the most important question and the least answered by checklists. Your photographer will spend more time with you on the wedding day than almost any other guest. They'll be in the bridal prep room, at the altar, behind you during the speeches, on the dance floor. If you don't feel comfortable in the consultation call, you won't feel comfortable on the day. Trust this instinct.
I'm happy to walk you through every question above in our consultation call. No pressure to book — the right photographer for your day might be me, and might not be. Let's find out.
Quick answers from me, for the record:
Send me anything — even the questions above. I'd rather you have full information before booking.
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