Questions For Your Photographer
Most bridal magazines publish lists of questions you're supposed to ask a potential photographer. This is nothing new. In fact I've chuckled at these lists for many years.
Very few of the questions seem to be valid criteria for choosing a photographer in my opinion. Additionally they don't publish the correct or acceptable answers for these questions.
I thought it might be fun to take a examine one of these lists.
1: How many years of experience do you have as a professional wedding photographer?
A: Thirty
I think this is a reasonable question provided it's qualified to a certain degree. Experience counts, especially when things are moving quickly and plans suddenly change. However, if a photographer has been doing things poorly for a long time do those years actually count?
2: What percentage of your business is weddings?
A: Roughly 80%
Is there a right answer?
3: Approximately how many weddings have you photographed in the last year?
A: Approximately 30.
It's still only about numbers? Not about the overall experience provided? Not about image quality?
4: Can you supply me with references?
A: Yes. How many would you like?
Finally! A question that warrants an answer about customer satisfaction. Something actually important.
5: Are you the person that will photograph my wedding.
A: Possibly. I have a personally trained and equally qualified associate that may shoot your wedding if I'm previously booked. But you'll know this information from the very start. You won't need to ask.
6: What will your attire be for the wedding?
A: Something appropriate. And, when possible, something that blends with the color scheme of the wedding.
This question made the top ten? Honestly?
7: What type of equipment do you use?
A: Primarily Canon DSLR cameras and lenses.
This is my personal favorite. What would a lengthy list of manufacturers and model numbers mean to the average bride? When did skill become associated to the tools a craftsman uses anyway? Does it matter to you which brand of stethoscope your doctor or what brand of wrenches your mechanic uses?
8: Is it professional equipment?
A: Yes. I think so.
This seems like an unnecessary extension of the previous question. What exactly defines professional equipment? I wonder if the writer was using a professional computer when formulating this list?
9. Do you bring backup equipment with you to a wedding.
A: Yes. Plenty of it.
This is the only equipment related question worthy of a top ten list in my opinion.
10. Do you have liability insurance?
A: Yes
A reasonable question perhaps. But isn't liability insurance designed to protect the photographer? I'd suggest that hiring the right photographer is a much better insurance policy.
You may want to formulate your own list that concentrates on why you should invite the photographer to be part of such a significant day. What he or she is going to do to make your day special for you. And what the photographer's previous customers think about the overall experience and imagery he or she produced.
