7 Best Questions to ask a Wedding Photographer

May 25, 2022

When choosing the vendors for your wedding day, it’s essential to find people you feel comfortable with and trust. And it’s especially important when it comes to choosing a wedding photographer! One of the the best ways to get comfortable is to meet and talk with them, so here’s the 7 Best Questions to ask a Wedding Photographer.

Unlike the rest of your vendors, your photographer will be with you all day during intimate times, capturing personal memories you’ll look back on for the rest of your life. Your photos will be more meaningful if you feel comfortable with and trust that person.

As you’re interviewing potential wedding photographers, consider more than your budget. Talk about their philosophy, their style and the quality of their images and whether their personality would be a good fit for you and your wedding day. Not sure what to ask? Check out 7 Best Questions to ask a Wedding Photographer to help get you started!

1. Questions for your wedding photographer… How would you describe your photography style?

Every wedding photographer has a different style for their photos. Some like to observe and take documentary-style photos of the day, while others specialize in carefully choreographed images. Ask your photographer not only to describe their style but also to show examples from previous weddings they’ve shot to give you a better idea of what to expect.

2. Have you shot a wedding at our venue before?

It can sometimes be helpful to have a photographer who is familiar with your venue and knows the best spots nearby for photos. However, a seasoned professional wedding photographer will take the time to location scout before your wedding, and likely be inspired to be in a new venue. If they’ve never shot a wedding at your venue before, that absolutely should not be a deal-breaker. Experienced wedding photographers can shoot in any location and will be well prepared for you!

3. What’s included in your wedding package?

Most wedding photographers have standard packages as well as extras you can add on for an additional fee. Others have special collections designed to best fit your wedding. Either way, talk with your photographer about everything you’d like, and let them share with you everything that is possible and what they need to create the photographs you see on their website and social media. After all, wedding photographers have been to a lot of weddings, and we’re more than happy to share all the creative ways to design your dream wedding day–but trusting the artist in us ensures your wedding photography will be full of your genuine vibe. Creating the perfect collection is about more than the number of hours and prints or digital files–it’s about having the perfect experience so you can remember exactly how your wedding day felt!

PS – Make sure they share any stipulations around copyright, as well as fees for travel or other costs, too.

4. What happens in the event of an emergency?

If COVID taught us anything, it’s to have a Plan B. Be sure to ask your wedding photographer about their backup plan in case they’re ill or unable to photograph your wedding because of an emergency. This may feel like an awkward question, but it’s important to know there’s a solid Plan B in place so you’ll get the wedding photos you want, regardless of unexpected circumstances.

5. Questions for your wedding photographer… Can we view full galleries of your recent weddings?

You might have fallen in love with a wedding photographer’s work when you saw it on their website, but a full gallery from a previous wedding can give you a better idea of the photographer’s style and skill in all types of lighting and scenarios. We usually give you just the highlights on our website but a complete gallery will also help you see if the photographer is consistent with the quality of their images.

6. How long have you been photographing weddings, and how many weddings have you shot?

Weddings are one of the most challenging events of all time, ever, anywhere. Light is constantly changing, clients are mostly not professional models, and nothing is predictable. Your wedding photographer has to be skilled at portraits, photojournalism, event photography and hundreds of varieties of light–much less the vast array of people and personalities and pressure that every wedding bring.

That’s what I love most about being a wedding photographer–I never know what I’m going to get, and that spurs inspiration and creativity. This feeling has evolved over my 12+ years and hundreds of weddings…. newbies likely don’t have the same perspective.

Always, always, always ask about your potential photographer’s experience level! I promise, you do not want to hire someone who’s never photographed a wedding, or shot very few, to be responsible for your memories your big day. Your wedding photographs will be the only thing you have left… so no matter how tempting it is to get your hobby photographer friend to shoot your wedding, you will never, ever regret investing in an experienced wedding photographer.

7. What do you love about photographing weddings?

This question may sound like small talk, but it’s an excellent way to get a better understanding of a photographer’s personality and how they’ll approach your wedding day, as well as how they’ll connect with you. After all, you want a photographer who’s (almost) as excited about your wedding as you are! If your wedding photographer is truly interested in you as people, your photos will reflect that. If your wedding photographer feels like they’re just punching the clock, your images will lack the emotion you will most definitely be feeling. Connecting with your wedding photographer will undoubtedly make your photos better!

Taking time to think about questions for your wedding photographer will help you consider what you want out of your wedding photography, and gives you a chance to ask all these important questions and address any concerns you have about your wedding day. Before speaking with a photographer, be sure to write down a list of questions you have and any other details you want to know, to ensure that you’re prepared. 

I hope these 7 Best Questions to ask a Wedding Photographer has helped you! If you have more questions for me, You can contact me here. I’d love to talk all things wedding with you!

Being a wedding photographer is incredibly fulfilling, and I am constantly inspired by my clients’ relationships not only with each other, but all the people they want to share their wedding experience with. Human beings are absolutely fascinating and documenting their uniqueness and their shared features fills my heart with deep joy and gratitude. Thank you so much for reading this.

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