The Internet is full of resources for brides and grooms on how to hire vendors, but these resources aren’t always based on expert advice. As a photographer, I’ve read those “30+ questions to ask your photographer” posts and many of them make me shudder. Often, these posts focus on the wrong things or they suggest couples ask questions whose answers the couple wouldn’t understand or care about anyway (like what specific kind of camera the photographer uses). In this post, you’ll learn 8 questions to ask your wedding photographer that are actually important and helpful for hiring the right person. Forget the 30+ questions that’ll take two hours to ask and focus on these simple 8 instead!
1. Can We See a Full Wedding Gallery?
When I went through my own search for a wedding photographer, I was shocked to see that many photographers whose Instagram accounts were perfectly curated had very lackluster full wedding galleries. If I had not asked to see full albums ahead of time, I could have ended up very disappointed with my photos.
I’d honestly consider this the most important question you could ask as once you see the full gallery, you’ll know exactly what to expect for your own photos and if they’re a good fit for you! For example, if candid moments are a priority for you, make sure you hire a photographer whose galleries show tons of images of laughter, happy tears, and fun moments from the wedding day.
2. Do you shoot film, digital or a mix of both and how will you approach my wedding?
Lauren of Lauren Fair Photography says, “We love when our couples recognize that we’re film + hybrid photographers and connect with our look + style specifically! It’s wonderful for couples to know in which scenarios your photographer will shoot film vs. digital! Some film photographers only capture black + white film during later portions of receptions, while some supplement with color film and digital images, so it’s helpful to know your photographer’s approach so you can fully trust in their artistic vision!”
3. Can You Describe Your Posing Process?
Rather than asking about their posing style, which you could see for yourself on their website, ask what their posing process is like. This open-ended question will help you understand how much posing and direction they give and whether or not it sounds like a good fit for you. If they indicate that they leave a lot of the legwork up to the couple but you know you prefer a lot of guidance, then move on to a photographer who says they give tons of direction.
4. Do You Offer Albums?
If you’re like me, you love the feeling of tangible images in your hands and cannot wait to have a gorgeous photo album filled with your wedding photos. You’d be surprised to learn that not every photographer offers albums, so if they’re important to you then make sure to ask photographers if they offer albums. If so, you can ask to see a sample album and cover material options. That way you know exactly what style of album you could expect to receive for your own wedding!
5. What Vendors Do You Recommend?
Planners aren’t the only vendors who can share great recommendations for you to hire. Photographers spend hours looking at photos and that’s where they really see how good someone’s work is. For example, I look at a bride’s skin and hair very closely in my editing, so I know which hair and makeup artists do excellent work and which do a lackluster job of covering blemishes, blending foundation and eye shadow, and hiding bobby pins.
The same goes for flowers – I notice very quickly when a florist’s centerpieces have unsightly holes, flowers die too early, or they’ve skimped where they shouldn’t. Photographers notice these little details and will be able to give you excellent recommendations for vendors whose work photographs beautifully, so it’s absolutely worth getting their two cents even if you already have a planner!
6. How Can We Help You?
As a true believer in clients collaborating with their photographer, I love that Marlene of Koman Photography suggests, “Ask your photographer how you can help them create beautiful imagery throughout your wedding day. For example, having a space with beautiful light and neutral colored walls for your getting ready photos makes for stunning photos. Your photographer will go above and beyond to get the special shot of mom helping you into the dress without distracting background objects. Having a clean open space with abundant natural light will save your photographer from spending time to arrange the shot (moving furniture, moving distracting objects, etc.) and give them more time to focus on capturing special moments of you and your loved ones. Putting on the dress marks such an important moment during your wedding day and as photographers, we want to make sure it is captured in the best way possible.”
7. What Would You Like to Know About Us?
You don’t necessarily have to ask this question if the photographer has already asked a lot about the two of you, but it’s something to keep in mind. During my own photographer search, I appreciated when potential photographers made an effort to get to know us. Doing so shows that they care about who you are and want to form a great relationship.
It’s important that your photographer is just as interested in you as you are in them so that your personalities mesh well and you feel comfortable with them on the wedding day. You’ll be spending eight or more hours with them on the wedding day and having a great connection will make it so much more comfortable!
8. How Do We Book You?
This might seem simple, but knowing what it takes to secure a photographer for your date is important. Especially if you love them, you’ll want to book them before another couple snatches away the date. On the end of your phone call, ask what they would need from you (i.e. signed contract and retainer) in order to complete the booking process.
Cavin Elizabeth is a wedding film photographer based in San Diego, California. Her wedding work has taken her all over the United States and abroad. In addition to being a photographer, Cavin is an educator and an avid blogger of wedding planning tips for brides and grooms. She authored the book A Bride’s Guide to a Picture Perfect Wedding, which teaches couples how to make wedding plans that are best for photography.
