How to Choose a Wedding Photographer

✅ Question to ask: Can I see your wedding contract in advance so my lawyer can look at it?

🚩 Red flag: "I don't see a need for a contract."

Written Contract: You wouldn't buy a car without a contract, so why hire a photographer without one? A written contract is like a guarantee – it ensures you're protected and you know exactly what you're getting. It lays out all the details, from shoot timings to deliverables. So, if a photographer becomes all mysterious on you and doesn't offer a contract, that's your cue to exit stage left.

✅ Question to ask: Who is your liability insurance company? Can I see your insurance policy before booking?

🚩Red flag: "I need a month to get a copy of the certificate. I can show you another time."

Liability Insurance: Imagine this: A light stand topples over and crashes into Aunt Karen's prized vase. Yikes! That's where liability insurance comes in. It's the photographer's way of saying, "I've got your back." It covers any accidental damages or injuries during the shoot. It also indicates your photographer is professional. So, if a photographer doesn't have this, it might be time to rethink your choice.

✅ Question to ask: What is your plan if you become gravely ill on my wedding day?

🚩Red flag: "I will photograph your wedding sick. I don't need a backup plan."

A backup photographer plan: Life can be unpredictable. Photographers can fall sick, get stuck in traffic, or face unexpected hiccups. But the show must go on! A backup photographer assures you that there's always someone ready to capture your big day, no matter what. It's like having an understudy waiting in the wings, ready to jump in and save the day.

✅ Question to ask: Does your camera have a dual card slot? How do you backup the files after the wedding?

🚩Red flag: "No, my camera doesn't have a dual card slot. I store them on one hard drive until I deliver them to you."

Dedicated Backup System: Your wedding photos are those epic encore moments you want to relive again and again. But what if the original files get lost or corrupted? Technology fails. A dedicated backup system is a photographer's way of ensuring your memories are safe and sound, ready for countless replays.

✅ Question to ask: What is your style? Can you show me how your photos showcase this style?

🚩Red flag: "I don't have a style. I photograph each wedding based on the mood or look of the day."

Consistency: When you're jotting down questions to ask a wedding photographer, inquire about their style's consistency. It's a subtle but telling detail. If a portfolio feels like a wild mix of different genres, it's a red flag. You want a consistent photographer, be it dreamy, bold, or artistic, so you know what you will get. So, if you're seeing a jumble of styles, it might be time to skip the photographer.

✅ Question to ask: Which of these couples are from real weddings? Can I see more candids from a real wedding day?

🚩Red flag: "Most of these are styled shoots. I don't show more photos than what is in my portfolio."

Candid Shots: Who doesn't love spontaneous, in-the-moment snaps? They're the heart and soul of any wedding album. But if a portfolio is all posed couple shots and styled shoots, hit the pause button. It could mean they're more comfortable staging moments than capturing wedding authenticity. A lack of candid shots can be a significant wedding photographer red flag. 

✅ Question to ask: Can you point out the photos in your portfolio utilizing off camera flash? 

🚩Red flag: "I'm a natural light photographer. However, I will put a flash on my camera. I don't use an off camera flash."

Off-Camera Flash: Ever been to a concert where the lighting was off? Similarly, when figuring out how to choose a wedding photographer, their mastery of lighting techniques, like an off-camera flash, can make all the difference. Photos with an off-camera flash showcase versatility, especially in tricky lighting situations. If they're missing this skill, they might not be able to adapt to your big day.

✅ Question to ask: How would you describe your style? Do you think this style is trendy or timeless?

🚩Red flag: "My style is light and airy/dark and moody [insert trendy style here]. This is a style that is trending and all my brides love having a popular style."

Trendy vs. Timeless: Trends come and leave, but classics? They're forever. When considering questions to ask a wedding photographer, delve into their perspective on trends vs. timeless shots. While it's cool to have some "on trend" shots, a portfolio all about the latest fad might not stand the test of time. While your wedding photos definitely need to be timeless! Look for a balance to ensure your memories remain evergreen.

✅ Question to ask: Can I see full wedding galleries? I'd like one from an outdoor wedding and one from an indoor wedding. Please include a wedding gallery from a rainy wedding day, if you have one.

🚩Red flag: "No. I don't share full wedding galleries to protect my clients' privacy."

Full Wedding Gallery:  Would you buy an album after hearing just one song? In the same vein, when you're on the journey of how to choose a wedding photographer, viewing a full wedding gallery can offer a comprehensive insight into their capabilities. Ask to see an entire wedding gallery. (Or better yet, ask to see several at different wedding venues). It gives you a comprehensive view of the photographer's skills, from start to finish. If they refuse to show you an entire wedding gallery, it might be a clue to run. 

✅ Question to ask: "Why don't you list the starting price on your website?"

🚩Red flag: "I do it for your benefit. So you can look at the quality of the photos without seeing dollar signs."

Openness about Pricing:  When considering questions to ask a wedding photographer, pricing transparency is a big one. Ever been to a store where price tags are missing? Frustrating, right? Photographers are no exception. If they're playing hide and seek with their prices or the numbers seem too good to be true, it might be a sign to tread carefully. Hiding prices is a sales tactic to encourage you to call so they can sell you at their high end price. 

✅ Question to ask: "Can I see reviews from past clients?"

🚩Red flag: "Yes! Here are the most positive ones I've curated for you."

Public Reviews: One of the top questions to ask a wedding photographer is about their reviews. In today's digital age, testimonials are golden. They give you a sneak peek at other couples' experiences. If a photographer has zero reviews or only ones from their second cousin twice removed, it's a red flag. Look for genuine feedback from real clients to get the full picture. Google and Facebook are the most popular places to start. Don't accept reviews from a photographer's own website.

✅ Question to ask: "Why haven't you responded within 48 hours?"

🚩Red flag: "I've been busy."

Communication Skills: When figuring out how to choose a wedding photographer, timely communication is a must. We've all been there – waiting for a reply that never comes. If a photographer takes ages to respond or always has an excuse about being "too busy," it's a sign. Timely communication is crucial, especially when planning something as significant as a wedding.

✅ Question to ask: "How do you capture those behind the scenes reels for IG on a wedding day?"

🚩Red flag: "I grab them myself or have my second shooter snap them for me."

Social Media Presence: Social media is a fantastic tool for showcasing work, but there's a balance. If a photographer's feed is flooded with reels or TikToks from weddings, it might mean they're more focused on their online presence than on capturing your authentic moments. You want someone present in the moment, not just for the 'gram.

✅ Question to ask: "You were featured in Vogue! Awesome! Can you tell me about the wedding featured? Can I see the article?"

🚩Red flag: "No, I lost the magazine."

Featured on Vogue: One of the wedding photographer red flags you might see is a paid feature on a prestigious platform like Vogue. Sounds impressive, right? But here's the scoop: some publications operate on a "pay-to-play" basis. This means photographers can pay a fee to be showcased, making it less about talent and more about the transaction. So, while it's a cool accolade, it's essential to look beyond the surface and evaluate a photographer's actual skills and experience.

✅ Question to ask: "Do you know how to measure light for proper exposure?"

🚩Red flag: "Ummmm...."

Natural Light Photographer: When considering questions to ask a wedding photographer, the term 'Natural Light Photographer' might pop up. Sounds dreamy and romantic, doesn't it? While natural light can produce stunning photos, relying solely on it can be limited. The real test of a photographer's mettle is technical know-how. If they can't handle situations that require more than just natural light or aren't familiar with techniques like metering light, it might be a sign that their skills are one-dimensional.

✅ Question to ask: "Why are you not delivering photo galleries within the time frame promised?"

🚩Red flag: "I've been busy with [insert a sob story here]."

Too Busy for Business? Some photographers wave the "I'm so busy" flag on social media as an excuse for their editing backlog. If a photographer is perpetually lagging in edits, they need to reassess their workflow. It's not the time to make excuses, especially without contacting clients individually. Posting a story on IG about being "swamped" and asking "clients to be patient" as they catch up is unprofessional and inconsiderate.