Most photography questions and answers pages read similar, book early, look at reviews, ask questions about the contract. That's all correct, but it's not what actually goes wrong during an Asian wedding, a day that is often three events in three days, and a hundred people or more attending, and where one missed ritual can't be repeated. These are the 10 questions to ask that truly distinguish a photographer who comprehends the format from a photographer who is new to it.

1. How many Asian weddings have you actually photographed, not just attended?

The difference between a photographer who has taken some pictures of South Asian weddings as an add on to his Western work and one who takes weddings as a regular part of his business is very much real. Do not ask whether they are willing to shoot your multicultural wedding, but instead, ask them outright, how many multicultural weddings do you shoot in a year? A photographer who has attended dozens of Baraats knows where to position himself before the groom's procession even reaches. One shooting that has been shot for the first time will be learning that positioning in real time, and in the only part of the day that doesn't get repeated.

2. Do you already understand the specific rituals in our ceremony?

Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, and Bengali weddings each have their own order of events, and you don't want to mix and match a wedding. If they are aware of the difference between a Hindu Saat Phere and a Bengali Saat Paak, or what occurs in Sindoor Daan as compared to Sindoor application in other faiths, ask them.If they know the difference between a Hindu Saat Phere and a Bengali Saat Paak, or what happens in Sindoor Daan compared to Sindoor application in other faiths, ask them. A photographer who requires you to tell them about the ceremony from the start does not mean he or she is not qualified, but that you are helping to prepare them.

3. How do you handle segregated seating or modesty requirements?

A number of Nikkah ceremonies, and portions of other South Asian weddings, require the separation of seating for men and women or certain modesty concerns regarding the people who take the pictures of the men and women's seating. Inquire about their plans for this ahead of time instead of winging it on the day. If a photographer has been in the field, he will have a tried and tested method for this, which could be hiring a second photographer, a female photographer for a specific section or simply asking the right questions at the planning call, rather than during the ceremony.

4. Will one photographer be enough, or do we need two?

It's hard to cover adequately with one person a three-hundred guest reception, a dance floor and family members throughout a large hall. Do not assume that the more they cover the more they will upsell you, ask them to be honest. If a photographer says that he'll need only one shooter for an eight hundred guest Baraat and reception, he is either undercutting or overpricing his services.

5. How do you plan coverage across a multi day wedding?

If your wedding has a Mehndi, a main ceremony, a Walima and reception on different days, know how they manage to create a schedule around these, instead of booking each individually as a singular event. If you have to travel from one venue to another, give them a specific time for that, if a long shooting day will be followed by a resting period, ask them for a specific time, and if the style in which your story is edited will be consistent across all the events, let them know. That is all the elements that constitute a proper multi-day wedding photography timeline and that will impact the price and the quality of what you end up with.

6. What happens if you are unwell or unable to attend on the day?

That's the one question couples don't think of and then worry about after they make their booking. This should be obvious to a professional photographer, especially one who is not working alone, but rather as part of a team, or who has a policy for photographers to cancel and has insurance to cover that. If the response is not specific or defensive, consider it as valuable feedback on its own.

7. What is actually included in the price, and what counts as an extra?

Since you are inquiring, please get a detailed explanation before you sign anything. The number of hours, the number of photographers, whether the editing is being included or is an additional charge, how many images will be delivered, and the default output (printed album or online gallery) all vary significantly across different photographers who are quoting the same headline price. Let's take a look at our Asian wedding photography price guide so you can understand what those price tags typically cover and don't. It might seem less expensive in the quote, but in reality may be just about the same due to all additional fees.

8. How quickly will we receive our photographs, and in what format?

The turnaround time will range from days for a small preview setup to months for a complete edit of an album and should be clearly stated and not left open ended. If you're looking to share with family members in a hurry, ask exactly how the preview gallery works and be sure that the final product is an online gallery or physical prints or both.

9. Can we see a full gallery from one complete wedding, not just highlights?

All photographers have a portfolio of their best work. Request a complete set of galleries from an ACTUAL wedding, not just what they have posted on their website, and preferably one that is similar in scale and type of wedding. This is a much better indicator of the quality of service you'll get over the course of the day than any individual picture, and is the same benchmark you should use if you're using our guide to help you pick a wedding photographer in London!

10. How do you handle large extended family group photographs?

One of the biggest problems on wedding days in Asia is having lots of family members to take group photos, as they can take hours if you don't plan it. Ask them if they have a predetermined shot list and if so, what it is; if one of the family members is not present when they are called, how do they proceed; and how long do they spend on this section of the day? If you have a system in place here, you'll save some time that you will notice on the day!

The Question Behind All the Others

All these questions are essentially asking the same question. Is this photographer familiar with the outlines of the Asian wedding or is he/she learning by doing it with yours? An honest conversation typically reveals the answer, usually before any contract is signed, the first few minutes of it. The same questions apply to a videographer as well.

Khurram Iftikhar has photographed Asian weddings across London for over twenty five years, and was named Best Photographer and Videographer of the Year at the 2024 Pakistan Achievement Awards International. Memory Filming has fielded most of these questions directly from couples during the planning call, long before either side has agreed to work together.