The One Non-Negotiable Test Your Wedding Photographer Must Pass: The Airport Test
Finding the right wedding photographer is crucial to capturing your special day. But beyond their technical skills and artistic vision, there is one non-negotiable factor that your photographer must have: the right personality. That’s why I tell every client I meet with to filter photographers via the “Airport Test.” AKA, if you were stuck in an airport with your photographer, would you two get along? Would the movie about your adventure have a happy ending? Or are you going to hate each other halfway through and never want to speak again?
On your wedding day, you will spend more time with your photographer than with almost anyone else. From getting ready in the morning to the final dance at the reception, your photographer will be with you every step of the way, capturing every special moment. And that's why it's so important to find a photographer with whom you get along and would be comfortable spending the entire day with them.
Imagine this: it's your wedding day, and you're not getting along with your photographer. They're not listening to your ideas, they're not capturing the shots that you want, and they're making the day more stressful instead of enjoyable. This is a recipe for disaster, and it's something that you want to avoid at all costs.
So when interviewing potential photographers, don't just focus on their portfolio and pricing. Take the time to get to know them and see if you have a good rapport. Ask yourself: would you be ok with spending the entire day with this person? If the answer is no, keep looking and find a photographer who you enjoy being around.
In the end, finding the right wedding photographer is not just about their technical skills and artistic vision. It's also about finding someone with whom you get along. So take the time to find the right photographer, and make sure that you're compatible and on the same page. Your wedding day will be more enjoyable, and your photos will be even better.
To help make this easier for you, I’ve included some topics/questions that I commonly ask my clients, to make sure that we’re the right fit for their day:
How would you describe what type of day you want to have?
How do you prefer your photographer to communicate with the wedding party and vendors during the day?
What makes you nervous about your day? What are you excited about?
And for you, as potential clients, here are some questions that you can ask photographers, to determine whether they’ll be a good fit for your day:
Can you tell me about a difficult situation you've encountered at a wedding, and how you handled it?
What do you do to make the wedding couple and guests feel comfortable and relaxed in front of the camera?
Can you provide references from past clients?
What sets you apart from other wedding photographers?
What do you love most about photographing weddings?
We hope this is helpful, and if you have any questions about photography for your big day, please don’t hesitate to reach out!