In a society that has become saturated with creatives, it is SO important to be thorough when picking the person that holds the honor of documenting your wedding day. Wedding photography is so much more than snapping a few photos and editing them.

It’s spending countless hours and dollars on education to make sure you can work with ANY and EVERY lighting situation. It’s having the skill, knowledge, and poise to pose a family photo that includes a family member in a wheelchair. It’s consultations, mood boards, gear prep, having the PROPER gear, knowing how to develop a timeline, good time management and so much more.

When picking a photographer that you trust to capture your day, here are some questions to consider asking in your initial email or phone consultation:

1. Can we view 1-2 full wedding galleries? (Remember, their website and instagram serve as highlight reels. It is important to see their ability to shoot the whole day)!
2. Do you have a backup camera body and lens? (The sad truth is, gear fails us. It is crucial to have a backup in place).
3. Have you shot at our venue before? (While it isn’t a big deal if they haven’t, it may be good to schedule a day prior to the wedding to walk them through the venue and show them some of your favorite photo spots).
4. Are you insured? (Liability insurance is a MUST and is required by most venues).
5. Can you explain your shooting style to me in a few words and walk me through your work flow? (Usually amateurs can’t answer this question very well)…
6. Are you able to offer input on our timeline as we get closer to the big day?
7. What is your emergency plan if you can’t shoot our wedding for reasons out of your control?

Although I’m sure theres a million more questions you could ask, these to me, are the most important. If you feel confident in the answers provided to these questions, I think you are in very safe, capable hands!

Cheers! Emilee Onorato

(These images were second shot for my lovely friend: https://maddiesullivanphoto.com/)