You are planning your wedding, and choosing the right photographer for you is so very important. How can you tell how passionate a photographer is about their art? You know you need to ask questions to make an educated decision, so you search the bridal magazines and websites and sure enough you find a list of questions to ask.
Before you bring that list with you to the photographer’s studio (assuming they have a studio), you might want to visit their website and look for a FAQs page. Most of the questions you have found in that magazine will more than likely be answered there. The more simple questions you can answer before hand, the better.
So what should you ask?
- Do you belong to any local professional organizations?
- Do you, or have you, ever sat on the board of directors of this organization?
- Do you compete reguarly with your photography?
- What awards have you won?
- Which award are you most proud of?
- What is the most frequent complaint you receive from your customers?
- Are you insured?
- Who is your mentor?
- Who are your three favorite photographers?
- What have you done for continuing education in the past three years?
- What do you plan on doing for continuing education this year?
- If you could have any camera in the world, what would it be?
- Out of all the photographs you have taken, which one is your favorite and why?
Now, don’t you think that the above questions will be more likely to start a real discussion? The stories that the photographer tells should allow their true passion for their craft to be seen. Questions like “Do you take back up equipment?” are a waste of time. You can probably find that answer on the photographer’s FAQ page, because I can all but guarantee they are tired of answering it.
Aric C. Hoek BFA, CPPProfessional Photographer
2012 President PPGH
