Top Questions Couples Ask Their Massachusetts Wedding Photographer

Planning a wedding in Massachusetts or Rhode Island comes with a thousand decisions — and choosing the right photographer is one of the biggest. Couples across Cape Cod, Plymouth, and Boston often ask the same questions: When should we book? What happens if it rains? How many photos will we receive? To make things easier, I’ve pulled together answers to the most common questions I hear as a New England wedding photographer.

Q: How far in advance should we book a wedding photographer in Massachusetts or Rhode Island?

A: For in-demand photographers in New England, it’s not unusual to be fully booked more than a year in advance. Each photographer has a unique vision and will capture your wedding in a different way, so the earlier you start looking for someone that aligns with your approach and aesthetics the more choice you’ll have. I recommend you start looking in earnest for a photographer as soon as you’ve booked your wedding venue.

Q: What’s included in your wedding photography packages for New England weddings?

A: It starts with the digital gallery - couples want the flexibility to share and print their wedding photographs how they choose. From there I take an a la carte approach, guiding couples to something that fits right for their wedding day whether that’s a few hours for a micro-wedding on Cape Cod or a full day for a glamorous wedding in Boston with an assistant and second photographer to keep everything running smoothly.

Q: Do you travel for weddings across Cape Cod, Boston, and Rhode Island?

A: There are so many beautiful places to photograph spread all across New England and it’s always a thrill to fall in love with a new setting. I work primarily on Cape Cod and in Southeastern Massachusetts but with a bit more planning I’ve worked as far away as Southern New Jersey and Northern Vermont, I think it would be fun to shoot at least one wedding in every state.

Q: How much does a New England wedding photographer usually cost?

A: On average a client will spend $3,000 with Ryan Richardson Photography - I’ve tried to make flexible packages so I can enjoy everything from intimate elopements on Cape Cod to blow-out parties in Providence. Coverage starts at $1,200 for in-season events.

Q: Do you photograph LGBTQ+ weddings in Massachusetts and Rhode Island?

A: I am always honored when a couple chooses me to capture their wedding; love is such a wonderful force in the world and it’s such a thrill to be able to crystalize it in just a few simple pictures on such a meaningful day.

Q: What happens if it rains on our Cape Cod or Boston wedding day?

A: We always recommend that couples have a rain plan in case things don’t work out on your wedding day. I’m happy to help couples find an alternative if that’s not something their venue offers (or if what the venue has doesn’t quite fit their vision) - worst case scenario I always have some umbrellas in the back of my car.

Q: Do you include engagement sessions with your wedding photography packages?

A: An engagement session can be a great ice-breaker and boot camp to get you ready to work with your photographer, but I don’t include them with every wedding package since it doesn’t always work for couples planning a micro-wedding or a destination event on Cape Cod.

Q: How many photos will we receive, and how long does delivery take?

A: How many moments are in a day? As a rule I try to avoid giving couples a specific number of photos from their wedding day - it’s a live event and a lot can happen. With that said typical delivery is about 50 images per hour ready four to six weeks after the event.

Q: Have you photographed at our wedding venue in Boston, Cape Cod, or Rhode Island?

A: Probably not! There are hundreds of wedding venues throughout New England and while there are a few places I’ve been to more than once, I often find some place new. As an experienced photographer it’s a little easier to roll with the punches but for some weddings I’m happy to do a walkthrough with a couple or a lot of cyberstalking of the venue’s instagram to get the inside scoop.

Q: What is your wedding photography style (candid, editorial, traditional, or a mix)?

A: I like to think of myself as a documentarian - I love a real moment but I’m not afraid to stage a reenactment if that’s what the story calls for to get at those emotional truths. As an editor I try to keep a light hand staying close to true color (after all, you probably agonized for a month over the shade of the bridesmaids’ dresses) with a bit of dreaminess whisked in.