YOU’RE GETTING MARRIED!!!! Chances are, you’ve never done this before and have no idea where to start when it comes to a wedding photographer! After the cake has been eaten and the dance floor is empty, at the end of the day all you’ll have left are your wedding photos to remember the day from. Finding the right wedding photographer to trust to capture your memories is SO important and I want to help you make the best decision for you and your wedding!

I’m sure you’ve seen those lists floating around online that are “100 questions to ask your wedding photographer”. I’m here to give you the REAL list of what you should ask your photographer, from the perspective of…well…a wedding photographer!

Want to know the biggest secret of how to have the best photos ever?

Ask yourself these questions first BEFORE you start looking at photographers, and definitely before you start asking them any questions!

What style of editing do I like this most? (Tip: Browse Pinterest and start pinning the photos that you’re drawn to the most. Chances are, you’ll start to notice a trend across them all! Do you prefer photos with a warm or cool tint? Dark, light, or true to life tones?)
Do I like more posed classic photos or more candid photos filled with emotion?
I’m going to be with my photographer ALL DAY. What personality type do I vibe with the most? Who do I want by my side? (Do I want someone who is quiet who sits back and captures things as they happen? Do I want someone more fun and outgoing who can break down our walls and make us feel comfortable in front of the camera?)
What are my non-negotiables when it comes to photography? What can I NOT live without? (Is it a second photographer? Engagement session? The photographer’s personality? What can I not live without?)
Fast forward to 30 years from now - I’m looking through my wedding photo album. What do I need to see in these pages to feel super happy with #noregrets?
What’s my initial budget? Am I willing to be flexible if the right photographer comes along or do I have a hard cap?

Once you answer these questions, you’ll have much more clarity on what you’re looking for and what is most important to you! Sifting through the sea of wedding photographers will be so much easier.

Now that that’s all squared away, here are the most important questions to ask your wedding photographer:

What’s your photography style?
How many weddings have you photographed / how long have you been doing this for?
How do you decide what to focus on on the wedding day?
What will our communication be leading up to the wedding?
What are your back-up systems like? How do you ensure nothing happens to our photos? What if something happens to you and you can’t photograph our wedding?
Who do you hire as your second photographer?
How do you decide which photos to deliver? (Do you cap it at a certain #?)
What is included in your wedding photography packages?
When do we get our photos?
What are the next steps if we choose to move forward?

Hopefully this is helpful to you as you begin your wedding planning journey! I wholeheartedly believe that your wedding photographer is the most important booking you will make for your wedding day. Your photos are your legacy - it’s all you’ll have to look back on after everything is over. These are the photos you’ll pass down to your children, grandchildren, and beyond!