Every photographer has 30 extraordinary photos on their site. The question is what the other 1,470 from an ordinary wedding look like, in the rain, in a hall with yellow light. Five questions that bring that out:

1. “Can you show me a whole wedding?”

Not a showcase album: a complete gallery delivered to a couple, table photos included. If the photographer hesitates, so should you.

2. “Who actually comes on the wedding day?”

At large studios, the person in the portfolio is not necessarily the one photographing you. Ask for the name in the contract.

3. “How many weddings do you shoot in a weekend?”

One a day is the good answer. Two means they arrive tired at the second, or someone else arrives.

4. “When and how do we get the photos?”

Ask for a written deadline and a delivery sample: password-protected online gallery, high-resolution files, print rights. “I'll give you a USB stick” is not an answer in 2026.

5. “What happens if it rains / you fall ill / a camera breaks?”

The good answer includes: an indoor plan seen in advance, a backup colleague under a written agreement, two cameras and dual cards in each.

Only after the five questions look at the photos again. And choose someone you would have a coffee with: they will be next to you for twelve hours.