Today I’m going to walk you through the top 3 questions you should ask before you book a wedding photographer because finding the right fit for your wedding goes SO much deeper than pricing! So for the sake of this blog, let’s assume that you’ve already asked about their pricing and know that they fit your budget. Now, it’s time to make sure that you find a photographer that you vibe with, trust, and are excited to work with! 

Can I see a full wedding gallery?

I absolutely encourage you to ask any wedding photographer that you’re chatting with if you can see a full wedding gallery! It’s not enough to just have pretty photos on Instagram. A wedding day is a whole other ball game from an engagement session or styled shoot. While those beautiful images were created by the photographer, a real wedding gallery will showcase what a photographer can do in ALL situations. 

For example, the getting ready shots in a hotel room will look different than glowy golden hour photos. A dark reception hall will look different than mid-afternoon ceremony light. You want to make sure that you see what a full wedding gallery looks like from the photographer you’re chatting with because it will give you a good idea of what you can expect your own photos will look like!

What is your editing and shooting style?

Editing in photography is so, so, SO personal to each photographer! In the photography world, we often refer to photographers as “light and airy”, “dark and moody”, “warm”, “clean and natural”, etc. That’s why it’s important to know what style your photographer views themselves as! 

If your Pinterest board is full of very warm vintage style photos, then you likely won’t be super happy with a light and airy photographer because the way they edit won’t match what you find yourself drawn to! Now this isn’t always the case, but it’s important to be up front and know what their editing style is. 

The same with their shooting style. The way a photographer guides you from behind the scenes and how they photograph you is their shooting style. For example, a photographer who views themselves having a “classic portrait style” will likely give you a lot of beautiful and posed images. Think up close shots, smiling at the camera, etc. On the other hand, a photographer may have more of a “documentary style” which means they’re going to have a lot of movement and interaction in your gallery. Majority of photographers will give you a little of each type of style, but you will want to know what they lean towards so you know what to expect when you receive your gallery! 

What is your back up plan?

You’ll want to ask any wedding photographer what their back up plans are for situations like…

• What happens if you’re sick on my wedding day?
• How do you back up my wedding images?
• What if you have an emergency the week of my wedding?

A great photographer will have back up plans in place for all of these scenarios and more! You want to hear from the photographer yourself though so that you can rest assured that your wedding day is being taken care of.

In my case, my husband Josh shoots with me so we always have a built in backup system as far as shooting goes! 

BONUS: Make sure you vibe with the photographer 

This isn’t necessarily a question, but something I do think you should consider when selecting your wedding photographer:

• Do you guys get along?
• Would you want to have this person with you while you read your vows to your partner?
• Do you have an ease between you and will be happy to have them there on your wedding day?

Ask yourself these questions and be honest with the answers! Because your photographer will be with you your entire wedding day, so it’s important that you vibe with them! 

If you are looking into wedding photographers yourself, I would love to chat with you and answer all these questions for you! You can head to my contact page to get started today. I can’t wait to talk with you!!

Much Love Always,
Syl Santos