Top Questions to Ask Photographers Before Booking Their Services

When you’re looking for a photographer for your needs, you want to be sure that you’re getting a great photographer and that you’re paying a fair price. And that’s not always easy to figure out. So here are our top questions to ask a photographer.

1. Are you full-time? Are you available to shoot for my business?

Full-time photographers work exclusively for one client. They spend all their time on weddings. They need to be flexible, because their clients can be last minute.

Ask a potential photographer to be available to shoot for you. It’s hard to tell if a photographer is full-time just by looking at their portfolio. A good photographer will be able to explain their process.

2. How many photography sessions do you shoot each year?

This is a good question to ask a prospective photographer. A full-time photographer needs to have time to manage their business and take on new clients. A part-time photographer may be available for a few photo sessions a month.

3. How long has your business been around?

This is a good question to ask if you’re thinking about hiring a photographer for the first time. You want to make sure that the photographer has been in business for a while, and that they’ve handled other types of events.

A small business may have only been around for a short time, while a larger agency may have been in business for a decade or more. This will give you a better idea of what to expect from them.

4. How many clients do you work with?

Another good question to ask is “how many clients do you typically work with at a time?”

This gives you a sense of whether the photographer is working on multiple clients at once, or on a smaller number of clients.

5. Do you use assistants? If you hire an assistant, how much do they charge?

If a photographer does work with a personal assistant, it’s worth knowing how much they cost. They’re there to help with the day of the shooting, and it may be a good idea to ask them how much they charge.

6. How long have you been shooting?

Another question that can help you determine the quality of a photographer is, “how long have you been shooting?”

You want to know how long the photographer has been taking photographs. It’s possible that the photographer is still learning, and it’s also possible that they’ve been taking photographs for years.

7. Can I see examples of your work?

This can help you to understand what kind of photos you’ll be getting.

8. What do you think of my budget?

Photographers often have an opinion on how much you should spend on a photoshoot. If you want to know what they think of your budget, it’s a good idea to get their input.

 Other questions you may ask your photographer:

  • What drew you to photography?
  • What drives your passion for photography?
  • What was your first photography experience?
  • Who are some of your photography influences?
  • What challenges have you faced as a photographer?
  • What inspired you when you started photographing?
  • What motivates you when you photograph?
  • What do you hope people take away from your work?
  • What type of photography do you specialize in?
  • How do you approach photographing a subject?