Meeting with a photographer?

Most importantly, be honest! Let them know what is most important to you. Good and bad! Sometimes what you do not want is even more important but may not be brought up!

If you start and set the tone with honesty like that, you will have a better chance at honest answers in return. You’ll set the stage for more of an honest evaluation and conversation and less of a salesmanship show. You don’t want to be charmed, sold or convinced. You want to get the right information to know if this photographer is going to be the best fit for your wedding!

Another good tip is to then wait and see if they ask you what is important to you. Did they consider your timeline? If they start with their sales pitch on whey are the best photographer and convince you their ideas are the best. That is probably a red flag that they are not interested in what you really want or need.

Have they been to your locations before? Do they have insight on what works well or not so well there? Use their knowledge if they have experience there! If not ask if they have done something similar and LISTEN to their answer.

If you really want the light and airy style let them know that. And why you want that. There are positives and negatives to every style and every photographer! You may be better served with some portraits being light and airy and other times other techniques. Does that photographer know other techniques? Do they know when to recommend what style. There may be similar options that better fit your actual desire, after they know what that is. It may be something you never thought of or even heard of.

If you like dramatic images with cool skies, precise poses, clean backgrounds, etc. Those can also be great but they require a great deal more planning and lots of time. If you have the time and your bridal party is into it. Buckle up, you will have some really cool images! If you don’t have the time, locations or willing bridal party discuss other options. Don’t set yourself up for a disappointment!

If you have kids coming, does that photographer have plans or the skills working with really young people? How about really old people? That photographer will require patience and a certain skill set to help everyone be at ease and look their best!

Low cost photographers. If a photographer really emphasized how cheap they are. They already know the value of their work. If that is how they feel about it. Should you value it more? Especially if they are hiring other photographers to keep up with their “volume”! If they are discounted already and hire out photographers, how much is that person getting paid? Are they really working that hard for you? Getting paid and recognized so little, that’s the effort you may expect. How confident are you in the photographer that shows up? If they show up!

Be honest with what you really want and why. Wait and listen to what they ask you. Are they trying to understand your actual wants and needs? Are they recommending the best options for your actual situation? They should be interested in and fit well with what styles you like, your timeline, locations, personality, and the unique things that come up in your conversation.

Are they interested in you or selling you? There is a big difference.