7 Important Questions to Ask Your Potential Wedding Photographer
If you’re in the depths of wedding vendor hunting (congratulations and good luck!) then you’re likely sifting through package offerings that all seem similar enough. I find this especially challenging in terms of booking a photographer. They all, you know, take photos — so who do you hire? If every wedding photographer is capable of doing that exact thing, how do you identify the stand-out person who will make all of your wedding photo dreams come true? Lucky for you, I have a list for that.
As the youngest of four girls, I’m sort of an accidental expert at wedding planning. By the time I got married in 2021, not only was it my fourth time navigating vendor conversations, but I also had a strong understanding of what I was looking for. That, paired with my former career as a magazine editor, I understand the importance of pre-production coordination for a photoshoot to be flawlessly executed. With a tight timeline, hair and makeup, a stunning wardrobe and outfit changes, your wedding day is actually not much different from any magazine shoot I’ve been on. With all of this in mind, I created the below list that I used when interviewing wedding photographers in 2019. Since then, this list of questions has been forwarded around my friend group and beyond, so I figured it was time to share it here.
Questions to Ask When When Speaking With a Potential Wedding Photographer
Do you have an example shot list you can share?
I’d love to understand how your team operates on the day of the wedding. Can you walk me through the day from your perspective?
2A. Follow up: Do you typically create a day-of schedule, and if so can you share an example of that?
Can you share a full wedding gallery with us so we can see an example of your work and what we’ll receive if we hire you? I’d like to see how you are capturing portraits, more candid moments, and day-of details.
Will you have any assistants with you? How many people on your team are capturing content alongside with you?
What would you say your specialty is when it comes to photography and capturing weddings?
Do you photograph on film, or only digital?
These questions aren’t too tough, and the right photographer will likely enjoy answering them. I’ve had friends use this list to eliminate photographers who, when asked these questions, became defensive because they are “experts” who have “done this one million times.” While this is likely your first wedding and not theirs, you should feel comfortable asking questions and getting answers from someone who you are about to invest time and money in.
What I’m saying is, if you want to hire someone that makes a shot list and the first person you speak to scoffs and tells you they don’t that, move on and hire someone else who does. Which, for the record, I highly recommend booking a photographer who creates a shot list. Your wedding is unique to you, and your photographer’s plan for capturing the day should be too. My photographer Jessa Schifilliti goes as far as setting up a call with her clients a few days out from the wedding (in addition to a separate call with your planner, if you have one) to discuss anything that should be captured outside of the obvious shots. She also sends out a questionnaire to collect the names of family and friends that you want to ensure you have photos with, that might not have a role in the wedding as a bridal party member.
I hope this list provides you with peace of mind. To me, it’s about knowing you are booking a photographer who is not only insanely talented but is organized, reliable, and listens. You will be spending a lot of time with your photographer as they capture intimate moments of you on such a special day. Working with someone who knows what’s important to you will only make you feel that more at ease and confident. Happy planning, and comment below for any additional questions you might have!
