Or: how not to get scammed by your wedding photographer.
Your wedding day is one of the most special days of your life, and choosing the right photographer to capture those fleeting, all-important moments is crucial. As I often hear people say - when the day is over, the cake is eaten, and the guests have gone home, the photos are the only thing that remains.
However, for better for worse, the photography industry has one of the lowest barriers of entry -- more and more so as cameras get more beginner friendly and social media makes it easy to start building your business.
Even worse, there are some people who are wholesale fabricating their portfolios or booking weddings with no intention to show up at all, disappearing with your deposit and leaving you scrambling to find someone reputable to capture your day last minute.
As a wedding photographer with over 10 years of experience, I’ve seen it all — and I want to help you avoid common pitfalls when selecting your photographer. Here are some red flags to watch out for, along with tips to ensure you’re making the best choice for your big day.
1. Portfolio Problems
When reviewing a photographer’s portfolio, pay close attention to the depth and consistency of their work. Here are some warning signs:
Only one or two weddings showcased: This could indicate a lack of experience or that they’re just starting out. It's okay to see multiple photos from one wedding -- I certainly have weddings that are my favorites and end up all over my portfolio -- but make sure you see more than just a handful of different events showcased. Checking photographers' blogs on their website can be another helpful insight.
Wildly varying styles: If the photos look like they were taken by different photographers, it might mean they’re using other people’s work or haven’t yet developed their own style. If you're suspicious, you can always do a reverse image search on a couple of images to make sure they haven't lifted these photos from other artists.
Styled shoots only: Many wedding photographers pad their portfolio with styled shoots, which are "content days" set up with a model couple, beautiful and perfectly arranged details, and all the time in the world to get your shot compared to the reality of an actual event. Often, the model couple is even posed by the shoot leader and the photographers getting the portfolio content just have to show up and click.
While styled shoots can be beautiful, they’re highly controlled and don’t reflect a photographer’s ability to handle the unpredictability of a real wedding day.
How can you spot styled shoots in a portfolio? Look for solo photos with extremely beautiful and elevated details, extravagant florals or beautiful tablescapes, perhaps that don't seem to line up with the price point of the photographer's offerings. Lots of photos of the same beautiful couple with a lack of wedding party, guests, etc, are also a telltale sign.
I am not anti-styled shoots entirely, but prospective clients deserve to know that the photos produced in them are not representative of a photographer's real wedding day skills.
The Solution: Always ask to see full wedding day galleries. This will give you a better sense of how the photographer captures the entire day, from getting ready to the final dance. I’m always happy to share complete galleries with potential clients so they can see my work in real-world scenarios -- sometimes even being able to show them a gallery from their exact venue for the best idea of how I'll work in that space.
Real couple - real shoot - but not a real wedding day. (The only one in my portfolio!)
2. A Lack of Reviews
In today’s digital age, it’s unusual for a professional photographer not to have at least a few online reviews. If you can’t find any testimonials or feedback about the photographer, it could be a red flag. They may have no real experience or even lots of negative feedback they are trying to hide by disabling their reviews.
The Solution: Google the photographer’s name and business. Check platforms like Google Reviews, Facebook, or wedding-specific sites like The Knot or WeddingWire. No news is not good news in this case!
3. Poor Communication or Awkward People Skills
Your wedding photographer will be by your side for most of your big day, so it’s essential that you feel comfortable with them. If they’re slow to respond to emails, give vague answers, or seem difficult to communicate with during the initial stages, it’s unlikely to improve as you move forward.
The Solution: Book a phone call or Zoom meeting with your potential photographer. This will give you a chance to see if your personalities mesh and if they truly understand your vision.
4. Contract Red Flags
A professional photographer should always provide a clear, detailed contract. Be wary of contracts that are vague or leave out important details. Key questions to ask include:
-Who will actually shoot the wedding? (Is it the photographer you’re speaking with, or an associate?)
-What precautions does your photographer take to ensure your photos are safe (backup equipment, dual card slots, etc?)
-How many photos can you expect to receive?
-What is the maximum turnaround time for receiving your photos?
The Solution: Read the contract carefully and don’t be afraid to ask questions. A trustworthy photographer will be transparent about their process and deliverables. I always provide my clients with a detailed contract that outlines exactly what they can expect, so there are no surprises down the road.
5. Less Money, Mo Problems?
Okay, it's time to talk about the awkward truth. If your wedding photographer's price seems too good to be true, it probably is.
I completely understand that everyone has their own budget, and a truly experienced, professional photographer may be out of reach for some.
That's 100% fine, but if you are assuming you're trying to hire a full time professional, consider this:
Most weddings require between 20-40 hours of dedicated work from your photographer between shooting time, travel, editing, and client communication. That means that generally, at most, they're shooting 30-50 weddings per year. Many photographers cap their weddings at 10-20 per year so they can deliver the best art and experience for their clients rather than focusing on volume and churning out wedding after wedding (that's what I personally aim for!)
On top of that, professional photographers have the expenses of staying properly insured, maintaining a unfailingly reliable set of expensive camera equipment and backups, and paying hefty self employment taxes -- and that's all before paying for any marketing, website maintenance, professional development, etc.
If you are hiring someone to shoot your full wedding day for less than $2000, you're likely employing a hobbyist, someone just starting out, or someone who is not running their business like a business -- and that often means less than professional behavior and product. (That number may be higher in high cost of living areas.)
But what to do if you simply don't have the budget? This is not meant to shame anyone -- I'm truly trying to help you get the best possible result for whatever investment you may make.
The Solutions:
- You can go the route of hiring a newbie or hobbyist, but know that it's potentially a risk -- you really need to do your due diligence to avoid disappointment in your final product. Pay extra attention to items 1-4 above! Ideally, newer photographers should be honest about their experience level and abilities - much less of a red flag than trying to hide their relative inexperience.
- Getting married in the off-season may help you find photographers who are willing to discount their rates, as wedding work is so seasonal and some of what drives rates up is competition for popular dates.
- Or - the option I recommend: hire an established, reputable photographer who offers a partial day package for the parts of the day you care about most (maybe ceremony and couple's portraits, the reception, etc.) Then ask friends and family to tag in to cover the rest.
In conclusion...
Your wedding photos are an investment, and it’s worth taking the time to find a photographer who is experienced, reliable, and easy to work with.
By being aware of these red flags and knowing what to look for, you can feel confident in your choice of wedding photographer. Here's wishing you an amazing wedding day and photos that bring you back to it, every time, with no regrets!
