If you’ve been to a wedding show you KNOW that you can easily be overwhelmed with information from every vendor trying to gain your favor. If you haven’t been to one, GET READY to be overwhelmed by the free swag, friendly faces, and hard choices from all the amazing vendors.

From a photographer’s perspective, I’m going to give you some key questions to think about or ask when you’re going around a Wedding show choosing a photographer.

NOTE: Keep in mind that this blog will be advice from the context of a Wedding Show specifically hosted in a Venue that people typically book, so most vendors will be properly branded to the type of couples who would want to book this venue.

1. What’s your style of photography?

This is one of the most important, and also the most obvious question to ask. This question is also the easiest to see when visiting a Photographers’s booth or Social Media and Website since you can see what type of style they are developing their photos in. Are they more photojournalistic or portraiture focused? Do they edit more of a Matte or Contrasted style? Are they light and Airy or Dark and Moody? Are they able to do both even if they are marketing it to one style?

2. Do you come with a 2nd Photographer?

Photographers who involve 2nd photographers or who are able to provide a 2nd photographer in their packages are part of a community of other Professionals. Having a 2nd Photographer helps the Prime Photographer Tremendously in helping capturing the day, especially if the lead photographer is more Photojournalistic. This means the Photographer can almost be in two places at once capturing multiple points of candids! This also means that at any point, there’s another professional available if anything were to go awry

3. Are you Type A or Type B?

This question might be important to you and your significant other because this could provide you with a level of comfort on the day. Are YOU personally someone who feels better when someone is on top of things and is emotionally taking care of things OR are you the type to feel the most at ease when the energy of the room is lower key? This could be important to your perception of professionalism, but also to ease your mind that things are going the way they should be! You may find that most photographers are a little bit of both after having been in the industry long enough!

4. Worst Case Scenario Question – How do you handle it?

We hate to say it, but Shit Happens. Life Happens without discrimination and without consideration to personal life events. With that said, A Photographer with a Plan B,C,D,E could potentially put you at ease since its also something they have thought about. Weddings only happen on one day (for the most part) So ALL Wedding Vendors who are sensitive to this idea are also sensitive to the fact that The Show, MUST go on! These answers may vary, so listening to a person’s approach may give you insight on what they value most.

5. Do you have Multiple Payment Options?

Payment options are important! Especially when you have both Liquid funds and Credit Funds available and keeping your interest rates down and scheduling certain payments to a schedule that works for you! If people are offering Multiple Payment options, this should give you the flexibility you need for hiring a Photographer that you love.

BONUS 6. Other Ethically Relevant Questions: Race, Gender, Sexual Orientation, Environmental, Representation etc.

Some of you may notice that Photographers will market their work towards a market that they best cater to. Keep an eye out for this especially if this is important to you. If REPRESENTATION MATTERS, Then make sure they are displaying this for you.

Key thing to note when choosing a photographer - do you feel good when choosing this photographer in guiding you through the day and will this Photographer capture amazing photos for you? Whoever the vendor you choose must be the right choice for YOU! Hope this helps!