Hiring a photographer is a big deal, and hiring a wedding photographer is one of the biggest decisions you will make when planning your wedding! You could ask a friend for tips or even do a Google search to find a list of questions to ask your photographer, but I have an even better solution. How about reading all about what a team of seasoned wedding photographers thinks you should look for? That’s what I’m sharing today!

There are three main things to look for that I think are the very most important when deciding on your wedding photographer, and they might not be what you expect. These are questions that you can’t ask directly. They have to be felt. You have to ask yourself afterwards – did this photographer make a positive impression in these three ways, or not?

Keep reading to learn more about the three questions and what to look for as you have a conversation with your potential wedding photographer!

1. Do they value you as an individual?

Your wedding photographer should value the fact that you are an individual with unique preferences, style and desires. Your thoughts, opinions and questions should matter to them! Pay attention to the way they talk to you. Do they ask good questions and seem to genuinely want to understand your priorities, or do they jump to wanting to talk about themselves and the way they like to do things?

A photographer who welcomes your questions, wants to hear all about your wedding day plans, and spends time getting to know you as an individual is a photographer who will actually deliver on what you’re hoping for. To

2. Are they an expert?

First, let’s talk about what it means to be an expert at wedding photography. Being an expert cannot be determined simply by looking at a portfolio or scrolling through social media and seeing how many followers someone has. Expert wedding photographers also aren’t just good at the photography-art side of things.

An expert wedding photographer is a professional who understands how to created their couple’s desired gallery of images in a way that allows the couple to fully enjoy their engagement and wedding day, free from managing photography expectations. This is done through getting to know their couple really well, doing lots of planning and preparation before the wedding day and then expertly executing on the wedding day in a smooth, seamless way.

So, how can you tell if a wedding photographer is an expert? Here are a few ways.

First, think back to #1. Do they value you? Are they asking you good questions, and are they answering your questions? An expert photographer should reassure you that you may not know everything since you’ve never planned a wedding before, and that they will help guide you through the process of what to expect. They are the professional and don’t expect you to do any of the work, yet they want to know what is important to you.

Have they answered all questions you have and given clear, direct responses? Have they given you a thorough understanding of what it looks like to work with them from the beginning of planning to after the final gallery is sent to you?

Ultimately: are they acting as your guide and making you feel secure in your decision, or are they making you do the work?

3. Do you like their photography style?

This is probably the one you thought of first (but as you can see . . . it’s not the only factor!). Understanding a photographer’s style is absolutely an important question to ask yourself before booking your photographer!

To start out, do you like their portfolio? Do some research beforehand and familiarize yourself with their editing styles to learn what you like! Don’t hesitate to ask to see galleries from your venue or a venue similar. Consistency is also something to look for. Are their website and social media images all cohesive? A portfolio that is consistent helps you know that what you see is also what you’ll get!

Ok . . . so typically, this is a question that you’ve already kind of answered before you even reach out to your photographer. The above info might only be helpful in retrospect, because the portfolio is probably what drew you in in the first place. Let’s talk also about to go a little deeper.

It’s worth taking a closer look at their portfolio after you’ve had a conversation with them to make sure that what you’re seeing on their website and social media actually matches the depth of their portfolio. Ask to see a full gallery from a wedding they have photographed and follow up with questions if you see work that isn’t consistent with what you see online. If the gallery they send you doesn’t look anything like the type of wedding you are hosting, ask to see a gallery that they feel more closely resembles your style. If they claim that they can totally change their style just for you? Red flag! Look for a specialist in the kind of style you’re hoping for. And if you don’t see any photos that match what you’re hoping for, then it’s probably not a good fit!

If it’s not obvious by now, it’s really important that you have a conversation with your potential wedding photographer before booking them. Phone calls, zoom calls or even an in-person meeting are essential to actually getting to know your photographer and ensuring they are going to do a great job for you. If a photographer doesn’t immediately suggest hopping on a call or meeting up, then this is a sign that they probably don’t know what they’re doing! Prioritize the conversation and look for these three things when you chat!