Experts Say These Are the 16 Questions to Ask a Wedding Photographer Before Booking

Choosing your wedding photographer is one of the most meaningful decisions in your wedding planning journey. These aren’t just photos—they’re the tangible memories you’ll revisit on anniversaries, share with children and grandchildren, and use to transport yourself back to that perfect day decades from now. 

Finding a photographer whose artistic vision aligns with yours means entrusting someone to capture not just images, but the authentic emotions, unexpected moments, and unique atmosphere that made your celebration distinctly yours. With the right questions, you’ll discover a creative partner who can transform fleeting moments into lasting treasures.

Meet the experts

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Table of contents

• What to ask potential photographers
• Questions to ask before booking
• In-depth questions for photographer
• Questions on timeline and final images
• How to avoid a mismatch
• A venue’s role in great photography

Why is asking a wedding photographer questions so important?

Your wedding photos (and videos) are the main way you’ll revisit this once-in-a-lifetime moment for decades to come. The wedding photographer should be a great fit for your vision of the day. Their style, ability to work with your shot list, and use of second shooters are a few things to ask wedding photographers about when considering their services. 

Good questions can ease anxieties about wedding planning. Experienced photographers have seen hundreds of weddings, and they (should) have the answers you need. They may even offer tips that you might not have considered! And if they don’t have the answers you’re looking for, it’ll be an easy decision to weed them out of your vendor list.

What to ask your wedding photographer

In the early stages of planning, when you’re feeling out possible matches, these are the best questions to ask potential wedding photographers.

1. Are you available on my wedding date?

The conversation starts (and sometimes ends) here. If they don’t have availability, then it’s time to continue your search. Also ask how many weddings they usually shoot around that time. You may prefer a photographer with less work around your date, as that may translate to a faster photo turnaround.

2. Can I see a full wedding gallery?

While a wedding photographer’s portfolio provides a good sense of their overall style, ask to see a full wedding gallery as well. This is the entire story of a couple’s wedding, as told by the photographer. 

As you browse, think about how well-documented the day is. How well do you sense the emotions of each moment? Can you imagine your wedding captured in this way? 

Colorado wedding photographer Elizabeth Ann has more to share on how professionals approach this topic:

“If I was asked to see a full wedding gallery (which I am quite frequently) I always say yes. It’s not only an opportunity to share more of your work at their chosen venue, but for the client to see how you handle the different parts of a wedding day.  

Also, getting to see a full gallery demonstrates how your photographer shoots different lighting situations. A full wedding day will give indoor and outdoor examples and how your photographer approaches the different challenges of really bright or low light. Not to mention how they handle details, big moments, and the candid will be a huge help in figuring out if your client connects well with their photographer’s work.

…Honestly, it’s to everyone’s benefit to see full galleries. I want my client to have a full grasp on the artist they are hiring and it also instills trust from the beginning as they know how I will photograph a full wedding.” 

3. How would you describe your style?

Professional wedding photographers have a distinct style that’s as important as their ability to document the day. Be sure to ask potential photographers for a brief description of their style. Here are some commonly used terms to describe wedding photography:

• Journalistic or documentary: Implies a focus on candid moments rather than staged shots. Some wedding photographers also shoot or process images in black and white for a more photojournalistic style.
• Natural light: Less reliance on flash and a preference for ambient light
• Airy and uplifting: Refers to both joyful expressions and color choices, like bright whites and pastels
• Timeless or classic: Traditional wedding photography, with posed moments of the couple and family members in a line
• Moody: Images with darker colors and shadows for a distinctive, less traditional flavor
• Filmic: The wedding photographer may use film color profiles to emphasize the feeling of nostalgia as you look back on the images. Or they may use actual film alongside digital media.

4. Will you be the one photographing my wedding? If not, can I meet the photographer who will be there on my date?

This might seem like a strange question. But some wedding photographers work as part of a collective. You might meet a representative from the group, but a different wedding photographer could show up on the big day. 

Wedding photographers have distinctive styles, even as part of a collective. So ask to meet with the photographer who will be there on the actual day.

5. Where can I see your references and reviews?

Reviews are a great place to find the answers to questions you didn’t even think to ask. Other couples love sharing their thoughts on the photographer’s energy, style, turnaround time, and other key points. Start with social media, Google, and the wedding photographer’s own portfolio for references.

6. Why did you get into wedding photography?

The range of answers you’ll get to this question is surprising! Some wedding photographers went to art college with a dream of documenting weddings. Others shot a wedding for a friend and fell in love with the moments of connection and nostalgia. 

Wedding photographers are as diverse as the couples they serve. Asking why they got into it also fosters a connection with someone who will soon spend several hours, or days, alongside you.

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Pro tip: Elizabeth Ann suggests reading the blog posts of wedding photographers to better understand their process: “Another step I take at the first inquiry with my clients is sharing blog posts of weddings I’ve photographed from the client’s venue they are getting married at. Right off the bat you are helping them see more of your work without them requesting it.” 

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Questions to ask before booking

Wedding photographers are always open to questions after booking. But there are some topics that are best brought up beforehand, like financial matters.

7. What is your rate?

A wedding photographer’s rate is rarely listed on their website. Even though it would save a hunk of time if it were, there is a good reason it isn’t. From event length, to the need for second shooters, to the option to add videography, every wedding is different. So, a single rate would be misleading for inquirers.

When discussing their rate, start with questions about the number of hours included in a full day’s coverage. That might be a standard package of six, eight, or 10 hours. Or you may have to book them by the hour.

8. How much do you charge for extra time?

Once you know the standard rate, ask how much they charge for extra time. You may want them to stay on if the ceremony or afterparty goes longer than expected. Ask this question in advance to avoid sticker shock when you’re caught up in the moment of the day. And also to ensure their availability in the event they book a second event on the day of yours.

9. What is your backup plan if you are sick or have an emergency?

Experienced wedding photographers always have a plan to address unforeseen emergencies. Knowing about their backup plans provides you with peace of mind as the big day approaches. 

Here are a few things to ask wedding photographers about their contingencies:

• Do they have a second shooter to call on?
• Are they a member of a wedding collective, with another pro photographer in reserve?
• Do they have plenty of backup gear in case of an equipment failure?
• How will they get in contact with you in case of an emergency?

10. What happens if I need to cancel the contract? Do I lose my deposit?

You really want to know the answer to these questions before booking. Among other matters, cancelling the contract will likely affect any deposit paid to the photographer. A discussion with the photographer will clear up any confusion. Afterwards, you can sign with confidence, knowing there are no surprises in the future.

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Pro tip:  Your wedding contract should specify what happens if the photographer can’t make it. That could include not only a backup photographer, but also a refund or credit of some form.

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In-depth questions to ask your wedding photographer

As you finalize your plans and prepare to book, send these questions to your photographer.

11. Do you have assistants working with you?

Assistants are an important consideration. Your rate will change if the main photographer needs a second or third shooter for the day. Some photographers always choose to work with an assistant. 

If you have some specific shots in mind, an assistant provides flexibility to ensure everything is captured. The main photographer can be shooting an essential moment while the assistant focuses on other aspects of your wedding.

12. Do you create wedding videos as well?

Some wedding photographers are also talented videographers. Others prefer to focus just on the photography. If you want wedding films to go with your images, see what kind of resources your wedding photographer has to offer. Their assistant(s) may shoot video while they focus on the photos, making it easier on everyone. 

13. Can I share a photography shot list with you?

A wedding photo shot list includes your must-have moments of the big day. These may include detail shots of the ring or a full-length shot of the bride in her dress. Wedding photographers are flexible where a shot list is concerned. A list of specific moments is helpful, but a full-day shot list isn’t needed. 

Denver-based wedding photographers Savannah and Greg Herr agree with this approach: “We highly recommend providing a shot list for the formal family and wedding party combinations you’d like taken. Having this organized ahead of time helps everything run smoothly. Additionally, if you have a couple specific creative shots you’ve been dreaming of like a veil moment or popping champagne, definitely let us know!  

That said, we don’t need a full-day shot list. As seasoned photographers, we know how to anticipate and capture meaningful moments as they unfold. This allows us to stay present, focus on genuine emotion, and tell the full story of your day without being tied to a checklist.”

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Pro tip: If a shot list is important to you, plan it alongside your wedding photographers. They are not only open to your ideas, but they may even have extra suggestions that you might not have considered.

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Questions on the timeline and final images

Once your wedding is over, you’ll be eager to see the images. Ask the right questions ahead of time so you know what to expect.

14. How do you deliver the final images?

Wedding photographers can deliver the final images several different ways. Here are the most common methods for delivery:

• A digital gallery where you can download images directly from their portfolio website
• Downloads available from a separate website, like Dropbox
• A USB flash drive loaded with your wedding photos, mailed to you
• Physical prints mailed to you or available for pickup from the photographer’s studio

15. How long will it take to receive the final images?

This is one of the top questions to ask a wedding photographer. Their timeline is an estimate based on how busy they are, and your wedding needs. 

The average timeframe is four to 12 weeks, from the end of the wedding to receiving the final images. A smaller wedding where you only want a few hundred shots will have a faster turnaround time. Whereas a wedding with a thousand images plus a wedding film to edit will need more time for delivery.  

16. Can I have your RAW files afterward?

Some couples want the digital negatives (RAW files) to edit themselves, or to keep as a secondary backup of the event. Wedding photographers vary in how they handle accessing their RAW files. Some are happy to provide them, while others prefer to protect their digital negatives. 

Remember that you’re paying for not only the photographer’s documentation of the day, but also their creative vision. The RAW files often need a lot of editing work and are not representative of how the final images look. If RAW images are edited by the client, but attributed to the photographer, it can affect how people view the photographer’s brand. You are free to ask if you can have the RAW files, but there’s no clear answer here.  

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Pro tip: One way to secure the RAW files is to offer to pay extra for them. You’re asking for full rights to the files, so payment is usually a good exchange for the photographer releasing them to you.

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How to avoid a mismatch

Sometimes a wedding photographer isn’t the right fit for your special day. Here are some questions and scenarios to help you decide if you should keep searching.

• Are the responses to your questions brief or unclear?
• Is the wedding photographer slow to respond to your inquiries? Keep in mind that the photographer is working while also valuing your time.
• Does the contract not cover everything you expect?
• Is the photographer not willing to work with your shot list or preferred style?
• Have more than a few couples received images later than expected, as reported in any online reviews?

How venues enhance your wedding photography

The backdrop for your wedding photos is just as important as who’s behind the camera. 

Sun-drenched lofts with industrial elements provide dramatic contrast for documentary-style shooters. Intimate garden spaces with lush greenery create the perfect setting for airy, natural-light portraits. Modern studios with clean lines and minimalist design complement photographers who favor a timeless, classic approach.

When interviewing photographers, share details about your venue—many experienced photographers will immediately envision creative possibilities unique to the space. Better yet, choose a photographer who’s worked at your venue before, or arrange a pre-wedding visit together to scout perfect photo locations within the space. The architectural details, natural lighting conditions, and unique character of your wedding location become powerful tools in your photographer’s creative arsenal.

Next up: Find the perfect venue

Finding your ideal wedding photographer through thoughtful questions brings you one step closer to bringing your vision to life. Now, it’s time to discover the perfect backdrop for those once-in-a-lifetime images. Peerspace offers a curated collection of extraordinary venues that photographers love to work with—from sun-soaked rooftops with skyline views to enchanting historic spaces with character impossible to replicate.

Many Peerspace spaces even offer suggestions for specific photo locations within the space, or can connect you with photographers who know the venue intimately. Start exploring Peerspace’s unique wedding venues today and find the perfect match for both your photographer’s vision and your special day.