How to Choose Your Wedding Photographer: 10 Questions to Ask Before Booking

Choosing your wedding photographer can be super overwhelming. There are so many photographers to look at, different styles, different packages and a fairly wide range of prices, so it can be difficult to know what you should actually be comparing.

Of course, you need to love their work. You’re going to look at those images for years, after all! But there’s lots more to choosing your photographer than finding someone whose Instagram feed you find to be ‘aesthetic’.

Your wedding photographer will be around for a big part of your wedding day, so how they work, how they handle the unexpected and how comfortable you feel around them are all worth considering too.

If you’re currently looking for a wedding photographer in Aberdeenshire, these are the key questions I’d recommend asking before you book! And don’t worry about trying to get answers to all of these questions in your first enquiry email – these are much better questions to chat through properly on a call or over a coffee, when you can get a proper feel for how they work and what they’re like to have around on the day.

These days, it’s easy to look at a photographer’s Instagram and see lots of beautiful portraits, golden hour shots and lovely wedding day details. What you don’t see as often are the rest of the wedding photographs.

Ask to see a FULL gallery from a real wedding and look at how they photograph the entire day. Have a look at the getting ready photographs, the ceremony, family photos, guest shots, drinks reception, speeches and evening celebration photos.

You want to get a feel for how they tell the story of a wedding, rather than just how good they are at taking one particular type of shot.

It can also be worth asking to see a wedding at a similar venue or in a similar style to what you’re after. If you’re getting married in a country house in Aberdeenshire, for example, seeing how they work with indoor spaces, gardens and Scottish weather can give you a much better idea of what your own gallery might look like.

This is much more important than couples realise. Two photographers can produce photographs you both love but have completely different ways of working. One might spend a lot of the day directing you, while another takes a much more hands-off approach and lets things happen without getting too involved.

Think about which sounds more comfortable for you…if you’re worried about feeling awkward in front of the camera, ask how your photographer approaches couple portraits. Will they give you direction? Do they have a particular way of helping couples relax? How much time do they normally spend taking portraits?

There isn’t a right answer here, but it is important to find someone whose way of working sounds like it will suit you both.

When comparing wedding photography packages, it’s worth thinking about how much of your wedding day you’d like documented. Some photographers offer full-day and half-day packages, so consider which parts of the day are most important to you before deciding how much coverage you need.

If you’d like photographs of your morning preparations, you’ll need enough coverage for your photographer to arrive while you’re getting ready. It’s also worth considering the parts of the day in between the main events. Your drinks reception, for example, can be a lovely opportunity for photographs of your guests, candid moments and the atmosphere of the day, even though it isn’t a formal part of your timeline.

Have a look at your plans as a whole and think about which parts you’d really like documented. This should give you a clearer idea of whether a half-day or full-day package would suit your wedding, rather than choosing based purely on the number of hours.

If you’re getting married in Aberdeenshire, this is definitely worth asking. You might have your heart set on an outdoor ceremony, photographs in the grounds or a particular sunset portrait, but there’s no guarantee the Scottish weather will agree with you.

Ask your photographer how they approach rain, wind, bright sunshine or a complete change of plans. You want to know they’re comfortable adapting rather than becoming stressed when things don’t go exactly as planned.

I’ve photographed weddings in all sorts of weather, and some of the most memorable photographs have come when the original plan had to change, and with the addition of my trusty umberella! Your photographer should be able to work with what the day gives you rather than relying on perfect conditions.

If you know you want photographs with parents, grandparents, siblings or your wider family, ask your photographer how they normally organise these.

Family photographs can quickly become one of the more time-consuming parts of a wedding day if nobody knows what is happening. A good photographer should have a clear way of organising these photographs without making the whole thing feel like a big operation!

It’s also worth asking how many group photographs they recommend. You can absolutely have the combinations that matter to you, but trying to photograph every possible family grouping can eat into the time you could otherwise spend enjoying your drinks reception and guests.

Your photographer should be interested in how your wedding day is going to work too, not just what time they need to arrive.

Ask if they’ll help you work out when photographs would fit naturally into your plans. This can be particularly useful if you’re trying to fit family photographs and couple portraits around your ceremony, drinks reception, dinner or speeches.

For example, if you’re getting married at a venue where everything happens in the same place, you may have plenty of flexibility. If guests need to move between different parts of the venue, or you’re travelling somewhere for photographs, your timeline might need a bit more thought.

You don’t need to plan every minute around your photographer. I’d much rather your photography fits around the wedding you actually want to have.

This is the less exciting question, but definitely one you want answered before booking!

Ask exactly what is included in the package you’re considering. How many hours of coverage are there? How many photographers? Are there any travel costs? How will your photographs be delivered? Are albums or prints included, or are they an additional cost?

It’s also worth asking if there are any extra charges you might not have considered. When you’re comparing photographers, try to compare like for like. A photographer who initially looks more expensive may actually include things that another photographer charges separately for, so looking only at the headline price doesn’t always give you the full picture.

Nobody particularly wants to think about their photographer being ill on their wedding day, but it’s a sensible question to ask.

Find out what their backup arrangements are if they’re unexpectedly unable to attend. An experienced photographer should have a plan for this and be able to explain it without making you feel awkward for asking. It’s one of those questions you hope you’ll never need the answer to, but knowing there is a plan in place gives you one less thing to worry about.

It’s very easy to get caught up in the excitement of booking and forget to ask what happens after the wedding. Ask your photographer how long galleries usually take, if they offer sneak peeks and how you’ll receive the finished photographs.

There can be a big difference between photographers when it comes to turnaround times, so it’s worth knowing what to expect rather than assuming your gallery will arrive within a certain timeframe.

If you’re planning to order albums or prints after the wedding, you can ask about those at the same time. It’s useful to know how the whole process works before you book.

To be honest, I think this is one of the most important questions you can ask! You’re going to spend a lot of time with your wedding photographer. They’ll be there during some of the most emotional parts of the day, while you’re having photographs taken and around your friends and family during the celebrations.

So, yes, you need to love their work. But you also need to feel comfortable with them.

Have a chat before you book if you can. Ask questions, tell them about your plans and see how the conversation feels. You should be able to talk openly about what you want, what you’re worried about and anything you’re unsure about. You’ll also usually get a much better sense of whether someone is right for you after meeting them over a call or a coffee!

There’s no single “best” wedding photographer. The right photographer for you is someone whose work you love and whose approach fits the kind of wedding day you’re planning.

Take your time, ask questions and look beyond the Instagram highlights. A full gallery and a proper conversation will tell you much more about what it’s actually like to have someone photograph your wedding!

And if you’re currently planning your wedding and looking for a photographer who takes a fun and relaxed approach while still giving you plenty of guidance when you need it, I’d love to hear what you’ve got planned.

Get in touch to chat about your wedding day and find out more about working together!