If you’re in the middle of wedding planning, you’ve probably realized just how many decisions you have to make. Your venue, your dress, your flowers…and of course, your photographer. But here’s the thing: your wedding photographer isn’t just another box to check. They’re the person who will be with you more than anyone else on your wedding day (yes, even more than your fiancé). The right fit matters. That’s why knowing the right questions to ask your wedding photographer – and yourself – before you book is so important.

As an Austin wedding photographer who has photographed hundreds of weddings over the past decade, I can tell you that asking the right questions before you book can make ALL the difference in how you feel on your wedding day and how much you love your photos afterwards.

That’s why this guide covers the ten most important questions to ask your wedding photographer and yourself before you book. Plus the green flags to look for, the red flags to avoid, and the little details that will help you feel confident you’ve found the one.

We’re going to cover:

• How to tell if a photographer is overbooked
• The must-ask “Plan B” and gear questions
• Tips for choosing the perfect ceremony time
• Green flags (and red flags) to watch for
• What to know about pricing, editing style, and turnaround

1. How many weddings do you photograph each year?

Anything over 25 and you’re likely not getting the personalized service you deserve – seriously. If your photographer is shooting 4 weddings in one weekend, they’re probably exhausted, burnt out, and not able to focus on the little details that make your wedding day unique. Worse? Overbooked photographers often rely on AI to cull and edit, which means important moments can get missed entirely. You want someone who’s invested in your story, not just in survival mode and pushing a button. Trust me – I’ve heard the stories!

2. What happens if your gear breaks on my wedding day?

It might surprise you, but some photographers show up with only one camera and one lens. If that gear malfunctions, you lose your wedding memories. I always bring multiple professional cameras, lenses, and backups of my backups so that nothing – not even a technical glitch – stands between you and your photos.

3. Can you show me a wedding that had to use a “Plan B”?

We live in Texas. Rain happens. If a photographer can’t show you a full indoor wedding (or if all of the indoor images are in black and white), that’s a red flag – run. You want to know they can handle any lighting, location, or weather curveball while still giving you gorgeous, consistent images.  Here are some examples of rainy day weddings you’d never know were a Plan B.

Here is what Jackie said about having me as her wedding photographer on a rainy day: “Mylah was reliable and professional from start to finish, and it was a relief during the planning process to not have to worry about the photos because we knew that Mylah would get all of the right shots and we would love them. It ended up raining on our wedding day, and Mylah still managed to get lots of outdoor photos by quickly getting us outside whenever the rain was light and finding covered outdoor spaces at our venue – and you can’t even tell that it’s raining in the photos. I would highly encourage anyone considering hiring Mylah to do it!”

4. What’s the best time to start the ceremony for the best light?

Light determines so much about how your photos turn out for all the photos you’re hoping for. So much goes into this answer! The perfect timing depends on whether you’re doing a first look, how large your wedding party is, and how many family photos you want before or after the ceremony. As a general rule: plan to start your outdoor ceremony about 1.5 hours before sunset if you’re doing a first look, or 2 hours before if you’re not.

5. What “green flags” should I look for in a photographer?

• Glowing 5-star reviews! Most people don’t take the time to leave reviews.  When they leave a 5-star review, that means the photographer went above and beyond and the client had an amazing experience. They took time out of their day, post-wedding, to leave a glowing review.  Green Flag!  Spoiler: I have 140 (and counting) 5-star reviews on The Knot.
• Fast, professional communication. If they take more than 48 hours to respond without an out-of-office note, move on.
• Consistency across weddings. Their portfolio across platforms and weddings should feel cohesive in style, even with different venues, lighting, and weather. Not all weddings look the same, but your photographer’s portfolio (website and social media) should look like the same person photographed it.
• Full-day coverage. Look for images from every part of the day – getting ready, portraits, ceremony, reception. Your wedding will likely include some natural light portraits outside, some portraits with window light inside, and some flash images after dark.  Are you seeing this full range of imagery in your wedding photographer’s portfolio?  If parts of the day are consistently missing (like you can’t find any reception images), pass.  If they *only* share outdoor portraits in perfect light, pass.  Check for this on their blog, where more of the day is shown.
• A contract. This protects you, the client, just as much as the photographer.  Does the contract specify how many images you get and when you get them? A contract likely means a more professional photographer.  If there isn’t a contract, pass.

If you’re checking off these green flags as you go through your questions to ask your wedding photographer, you’re likely on the right track.

6. How should I talk about pricing without feeling awkward?

A reputable photographer will list starting prices or average spend on their website so you have a ballpark before reaching out. If you don’t see investment prices on their website (typically on the information or pricing page), skip them. They’re likely not worth your time if they’re not willing to share pricing before you reach out. Photographers should be able to at least give you a range of pricing when you reach out, if not the full pricing break down.  Some photographers will make custom proposals (aka: give you a discount) for slow season or off-wedding dates (like a Tuesday Wedding) or if they have been really wanting to work at the venue you’ve booked or with the planner you’ve hired.

Once you have the numbers, schedule a call. You’ll be spending more time with your photographer on your wedding day than with your fiancé, so you need to like them! Read that again. 😅 Hopping on a call will tell you if you can have them around all day or if they give you the ick.

And if their rates are outside your budget? Let them know.  If you love their work and want a smaller custom collection/package that is within your budget, ask.  Photographers are people, too.  We’re artists and sometimes certain work will appeal to us more if we feel connected to it.

7. What should I know about editing style?

Instead of asking about editing, look at full galleries and ask yourself: do I love how these photos look? It’s not always about the editing, sometimes it’s in the way the image was taken (the light direction and color and background choice).  If you don’t like the final result of the combination of editing style and photography/shooting style, keep searching.

My style is more true to life, so that the images look like the day as you remember it, not a filter that looks like 2025.  Do you remember the orange filter from the 2018/2019 weddings?  That was a trend (that hopefully never comes back) and those couples are stuck with that color cast on their images forever now.  That’s why I edit in a timeless, true to color way, so your wedding images are still treasured keepsakes on your 50th anniversary.

8. What’s your turnaround time?

Many photographers promise 6-12 weeks (or longer during peak season). Always check your photography agreement.  If you see “or longer during peak season”, run. This is likely a sign that your photographer is overbooked and will not be as intentional or caring with your images.

I have the fastest turn around time in the Austin area.  I always deliver images within 4 weeks or less.  I’ve been doing this for over ten years full time and have always hit that goal, with most being in that “or less” category.  This means couples have their images to enjoy by their one month anniversary. My couples have told me they got their images back faster than their friend who got married months before them and were still waiting. I’m excited about the couples I get to photograph, I’m excited about the images we create together, and I’m excited to share those photos with my amazing clients!  When you love what you do and love who you serve, you love the job you get to show up for. 🫶

9. What should I know about photo rights and delivery?

It’s so important to understand what you’ll be receiving! Some photographers deliver images that you can only print a 4×6, so you’ll have to purchase more from them later on if you want a large print.  Some photographers only put the images into a gallery that you have to purchase digitals or prints from, so you actually don’t get anything except for a viewing gallery. 

I include full resolution images delivered in jpeg form that clients can download as many times as they want and share them with their friends and family. This means, your friends can be fully present on your wedding day because they’ll have access to the images, if you share them.  Less cell phone selfies, more presence. 😁

Images are delivered via an online gallery, so anyone who has access to that gallery can view/download those images.  You can share your entire gallery by simply forwarding an email – so much easier than making a USB for your mom that she may lose or for a computer that doesn’t even have a USB port anymore. I even create a photo app for your phone, so you can access your images on the go from anywhere with an internet connection!

10. What personality traits matter most in a wedding photographer?

Your photographer should make you feel calm, confident, and comfortable while also keeping things organized and listening to your wants/wishes. This should be someone you’d trust not to embarrass you in front of your grandma, while still being direct enough to handle rowdy groomsmen one minute, and melt into the background for intimate moments the next. Your photographer needs to be able to read the room, direct the room, and be a fly on the wall during different times of the day.

Couples need to hire a Type A photographer who can keep everyone super organized (good for both Type A clients who demand organization and Type B clients who may need more help in that department on the day of), but can still go with the flow on the day of, when things change on the fly.  Someone who can read your energy (if you need a break or quiet moment), but also remind you of what you said was important to you so you don’t have regrets or feel pressure from others to do something you don’t want.

The right fit will feel like a trusted friend and a take-charge pro all in one.

Wrapping Up: The Most Important Questions to Ask Your Wedding Photographer

Choosing your wedding photographer isn’t just about finding someone with a nice camera – it’s about trusting them with one of the most important days of your life. Knowing the right questions to ask your wedding photographer and how to interpret the answers is vital. Ask these questions, pay attention to how they answer, and choose someone whose work you love and whose presence makes you feel at ease.

If you’re looking for an Austin wedding photographer who will treat your wedding like it’s the only one on the calendar, I’d love to connect! See more of my work here, and let’s talk about your vision for the day.