5 Key Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Wedding Photographer

You may be searching Google for “wedding photography packages”, Pinterest for “bride and groom poses”, or Instagram for “wedding photography inspiration”. I get it. It’s hard to find what you’re looking for when you don’t really even know what you want! You know what you like when you see it, but how do you find someone who offers all those things — and more?

Here are all the right questions that lead to finding the perfect wedding photographer:

No 1. What do I want as a final product?

When it comes to thinking back on the best day of your life, how do you want to bring back those memories? Will it be in the form of digital images? Prints? A large canvas? A wedding album? Whatever your answers are, these will be the types of packages you want to find. You can always ask a photographer how these items can be made available if they aren’t directly offered with their rates.

No 2. What style of photography do I like most?

Photographers undoubtedly have a certain style in their approach to a wedding day. Understanding what you’re drawn to will help you determine who to reach out to:

Classic

This style tends to lean heavily on poses and timelessness. Reflective of your grandparent’s wedding photographs, they’ll be cherished for years to come.

Lifestyle

This style uses an editorial approach. If you like images that require a bit of curation, you’ll feel like a model gracing the pages of your wedding album.

Documentary (my style!)

This style allows your day to take place as it naturally unfolds. If you thrive on genuine expressions and organic moments, you’ll easily relive your wedding memories.

Artistic

This style focuses on the creativity of the image and is lead by the photographer. If you appreciate art, you’ll have signature pieces to admire on your walls.

Dramatic

This style leads heavily on lighting and crafted poses. Just like movie covers and perfect romance novels, you’ll have your own love story to visually display.

No 3. How much coverage do I want on my wedding day?

You may be a little unsure of how much time you need, but you can certainly get a feel for what moments you want to be covered. The goal isn’t so much about documenting every single minute, but more about preserving the story of your day. Most photographers are pros at knowing when these moments unfold, so ask them when their coverage typically begins and ends!

No 4. What is my “Wedding Theme”?

I always like to ask my brides to describe their theme in adjectives: earthy, beautiful, romantic, etc. Knowing the theme will help you discover the right photographer because, like your wedding, their personal brand also has a theme. The goal is to match your wedding’s theme to a photographer with the same feel.

No 5. Is there a natural connection with this photographer?

This one is probably one of the most important questions of all. I want you to see your future wedding photographer as a friend or an extra bridesmaid/groomsman. They will be practically third-wheeling it with you and your new spouse for a good portion of your day, so you better make sure a positive connection is blooming! The best advice that will help you determine this is to meet with him or her before signing their contract. Whether that is in-person, over the phone, or through Facetime, you’ll want to have an actual conversation to find out if this person is a true contender. Listen to your inner gut…it’s the most reliable thing when it comes to finding the right fit for your day.

No 6. Bonus* How much should I budget for wedding photography?

I love unexpected bonuses, so here you are!

You may be thinking, “my photography budget can’t account for too much, I have a lot more things to pay for!” So hear me when I say: ask past brides this very question. I promise they will share with you how your wedding images will mean so much more as you walk through life. These images will be the ones you’ll look back at on each anniversary, the ones you’ll share at your son or daughter’s wedding, and yes, the ones you’ll go to when a beloved family member passes away. These images hold an irreplaceable moment in your life. So, when you budget for a wedding photographer, do your best to prioritize it for your future self. Choose someone who serves well and loves even greater. I promise, their gift will end up becoming one of the greatest gifts of all.

Did you find this helpful? Let me know! Leave a comment if you want more content like this!

Sometimes photos can look too edited so I wanted to be confident in who I hired as the photographer. At first, I purely looked at cost of photographers, but photos are the only thing from the wedding that will last forever. My fears did not come true and I am so glad that I went with Ashley Ray Photography! Taking photos was easy and relaxed and you can feel the emotion of the moment in every photo.

Tori Carroll, ARP Bride