For many people, starting a discussion is challenging, and when the talk is about something technical, it becomes even more arduous and uncomfortable.
When a couple contacts a photographer for the first time, they often feel nervous. It is good that they feel compelled to ask a few questions. Everybody wants to know more about what they want to spend their money on. However, asking incorrect questions can perplex the photographer and prevent you from receiving the wedding images you want. Throughout my career, most couples I've worked with knew what they wanted and they were able to explain their desired photo style. I have read a lot of online advice and suggested questions to ask a potential photographer. Some of the questions are valid, but some are neither useful nor relevant.
In this post, I'll discuss two incorrect questions that I've been asked in the past and offer advice on how to change them to more appropriate ones.
1- What is your camera brand?
It may look funny, but this is an actual question that many couples ask.
Without getting into the technical aspects of this question, I will tell you that this is one of the worst questions a couple could ask. If you are a professional photographer, you never ask this question. As soon as you ask this question, you reveal that you possibly don't know much about photography, and I think it goes against the purpose of the question. It is normal if you don't know much about photography or video production. We photographers don't know about your job and skills either.
We don't choose a restaurant because of the brand of its pots or oven. We go there because of the taste of the food. This is true about photos and videos also. Focus on what you like in the photographer's portfolio and verify that you get it. You may still want to ask about the quality of the cameras that the photographer uses. Then, you might ask questions like this: are your current cameras capable of taking photographs that we like in your portfolio? Or ask if the photographer or video-maker has backup cameras. It assures you that if one camera stops working, another good camera is available to continue taking photos.
2- Is your camera a full-frame?
It is another question that knowing its answer doesn't change anything for you. Even many new photographers care about this as a crucial factor. But to be honest, in most scenarios, it is not important at all. When I go to a wedding, I usually have 2-3 cameras with me, and many times I take my best photos with my cheapest cameras. I chose this photo to add to the article because I shot it with an old, not expensive camera and it still gets a lot of attention.
To summarize, you hire a photographer and their style, skill, and experience, not a camera. The brand of the camera and the fact that it is full-frame may determine one per cent of the outcome. The rest of %99 is related to the photographer or video maker. In future posts, I will talk about other common questions and what you should care about and ask about when you choose a wedding photographer or video maker.
To be fair most people who would ask these questions probably have an interest in photography and are just curious. Also, though I personally have never shot full frame it is quite often an indication of a working professional as opposed to someone who just bought their first DSLR and now thinks they are good enough to shoot weddings. Perhaps you could mention that the best question to ask is "Can I see a sample of a full wedding you have shot" because that is the greatest indicator of someone who can present a decent level of quality as opposed to someone who can show a few lucky shots from several occasions.