Of all the relationships with your wedding vendors the one you have with your photographer is one of the most important. In many, many years of being a wedding photographer I’ve heard so many complaints from couples that were unhappy with their photographer. I believe a lot of problems can be avoided by going into the client/photographer relationship by simply having all the information up front. But how do you know what to ask when there are so many photographers with lovely work? I’ve come up with a list of “must ask” questions when interviewing wedding photographers.

1. Can I see a wedding start to finish?

  The truth is everyone is a photographer these days. That can be good for a bride because that gives her a lot of options. On the other hand, that can also be a problem because anyone can shoot a few models, set up a website, and call themselves a wedding photographer. You should be able to see multiple albums or galleries that show pictures throughout a wedding day. If you’re having a church ceremony and a country club reception make sure you’re seeing weddings in those type of venues. If the only images they are displaying are outdoor weddings and receptions it could be because they don’t have experience photographing indoors. When you’re viewing the albums take note of a few things: are the photos in focus? Can you see detail on the bride’s dress? Are the indoor photos well lit or are they overly shadowy and grainy?

     2)    How soon after the wedding will I see my images?

  This is going to vary all over the board with photographers and it’s important to know what to expect. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard that so and so photographer took months to get the photos back. Well, that’s just the turnaround for some photographers, but that’s something that you must know going into your contract. You may receive your photos in a week, maybe it will be 60 days. Beyond that, find out how long it will take to receive the printed album. I have a friend (who is now retired from weddings) but she’d tell her clients upfront “You’ll get to enjoy your wedding album on your first anniversary!” That may seem like a long time to some people, but her clients knew that walking into it and didn’t have expectations otherwise.

    3)    At how many weddings have you been the lead photographer?

  Now, this may not need to be a question you ask a photographer that’s been established for years and years. But with new photographers cropping up every day this question is incredibly important. If you simply ask “How many weddings have you shot?” you may not be getting the complete picture. Being a lead photographer there is much more expected of you and it’s important that the photographer has a significant amount of experience being the main shooter.

   4)   What will you wear to my wedding?

  Okay, at the risk of sounding like an old lady I’m going to say that I’m seeing a good percentage of photographers and videographers showing up at weddings in tennis shoes, t-shirts, jeans, etc and I just don’t think that’s acceptable (note: I do realize that there are weddings where jeans might be appropriate. But I’m speaking about the type of wedding where your guests will be dressed up). I’ve heard the argument that the way they dress is part of their branding and I just can’t with that. Dress how you like day to day but I believe your wedding vendors should be dressed professionally and in line with the atmosphere of the wedding. Okay, I guess I really do sound like an old lady.

   5)    How do you handle awkward family situations if they arise?

  I don’t believe there’s a wrong or right answer to this question, but I think it’s important to hear how they answer. A seasoned professional is accustom to these type of situations and will be able to give you a truthful and helpful answer. It should set your mind at ease though and give you an insight into their personality.

  Other than your wedding planner the only vendors that spend the entire day with you are the ones that are recording your memories and it’s important that you have a connection and total trust with them. Going into the relationship with clear expectations will set you up for a fantastic wedding day!

For more information about weddings, check out our wedding gallery here.