How to Choose Your Wedding Photographer: Top Tips and Questions to Ask
Your wedding day is full of moments you can't recreate. The laughter during the speeches, the quiet seconds before the ceremony, your nan on the dance floor. Choosing who captures them is one of the biggest decisions you'll make.
I'm Nick, a documentary wedding photographer based in Stockton on Tees. I've photographed over 250 weddings across the North East, North Yorkshire and beyond over more than 10 years. This guide brings together everything I'd want to know if I was booking a photographer myself: what to look for, the questions worth asking, and a quick checklist at the end.
What to look for in a wedding photographer
1. Find a style that feels like you
Every photographer has a style. Some lean traditional and posed, others are documentary and natural. Think about the photos you keep coming back to. Do you want real, candid moments, or more formal portraits? My work is documentary, so I capture your day as it happens, with a few relaxed couple photos along the way.
2. Look at full wedding galleries
Highlights on a website always look good. What matters is consistency across a whole day, from the morning prep in a dark hotel room to the evening dancing. A full gallery tells you far more than a portfolio ever can.
3. Make sure you feel comfortable with them
You'll spend more of your wedding day with your photographer than with almost anyone else. If you feel at ease with them, you'll relax, and that shows in your photos. A quick video call is a great way to find out.
4. Ask about your venue
A photographer who knows your venue knows where the light is best, where to go if it rains and how the day usually flows. If they haven't been before, ask how they'd approach it.
5. Understand how they work
Ask how they spend the day, how long delivery takes and what's included. Knowing all this up front means there are no surprises later.
6. Look for real moments
The best photos are often the ones nobody planned. Laughter during the speeches, a quiet look between you, your friends losing it on the dance floor. These are the photos couples tell me they treasure most.
7. Read reviews from real couples
Past couples can tell you how a photographer fits into the day and what the photos were like. I've got over 100 five star Google reviews, and you can read some of them on my testimonials page.
8. Trust your gut
In the end, it's about how they make you feel. Choose someone you trust, feel comfortable with and whose work you genuinely love.
Questions to ask your wedding photographer before you book
Here are the questions I'd ask, along with my own answers so you know where I stand.
Are you free on our date?
Always ask this first. Summer Saturdays at popular venues can book up well over a year ahead, so if you have a date in mind, it's worth checking early.
Can we see a full wedding gallery?
Yes, just ask and I'll send you one. A full gallery shows you how I capture a whole day, from getting ready to the last dance, not just the highlights.
Have you worked at our venue before?
I've photographed at lots of venues across County Durham, Newcastle, Northumberland and North Yorkshire, and you can see many of them on my venues page. If your venue is new to me, I'll do my homework on it before the day.
What's included and how much does it cost?
My half day package covers up to 4 hours and starts from £1,195. My full day package covers up to 10 hours and starts from £1,795. Travel is included for County Durham, Newcastle and North Yorkshire, and for Northumberland it's included with full day coverage. You can see everything on my wedding packages page.
How many photos will we get?
It depends on your day and how much is going on. For a half day you can expect around 300 to 700 photos, and for a full day around 700 to 1,100.
How long until we get our photos?
You'll get a few highlights within 48 hours. Your full gallery is usually ready in 3 to 4 weeks in the quieter months, and 4 to 10 weeks in the busy wedding season. I'll always aim to get them to you as soon as I can.
Do you have backup equipment?
Yes. I bring spare cameras, lenses, flashes, batteries and memory cards to every wedding, so I'm covered if anything goes wrong on the day.
Are you insured?
Yes, I have business insurance which includes public liability. Some venues ask to see this, and I'm happy to send it over.
Do you offer video?
I'm mainly a photographer, but I do offer basic video coverage as an add on. For a full wedding film, I can point you towards videographers I've worked alongside.
How do we book?
A £300 booking fee secures your date, and the final payment is due 30 days before your wedding. You'll also get a contract, so everything we've agreed is written down.
Your quick checklist
- You love their style and have seen a full gallery
- They're free on your date
- You feel comfortable with them
- They know your venue, or have a plan for it
- You know what's included, how many photos to expect and when they'll arrive
- They have backup equipment and insurance
- You've read reviews from real couples
- You have a contract and know when payments are due
Want to chat about your wedding?
If you've got a date in mind, drop me a message and I'll check if I'm free. You can also find more answers on my FAQ page, and if you're planning the day itself, my wedding day timeline guide is a good place to start.
