Questions to Ask Your Wedding Photographer in 2026 (Especially for Intimate & NYC Weddings)

You've done your research and you've found a few photographers whose style and vibe feel like you. Now, it's time to interview them and pick the one.

Booking your wedding photographer is more than hiring someone with a camera. You’re choosing the person who will document your memories, give you space during emotional moments, and help your day feel calm, fun, and intentional.

If you’re planning an intimate City Hall Wedding or a multi-day wedding celebration, it's helpful to know how to approach a photography consultation when interviewing your photographer.

As a photographer who attends several consultations a month, I understand wanting to make sure you're a good fit with your photographer. I want to make sure I'm a good fit for my couples.

As an art-forward photographer, I find it really important for potential clients to understand what that means. I also want my clients to feel like choosing me is an easy decision because I really want them to know I'm thinking through all their fears and expectations already. While I've got questions I'm asking during a consultation, I have several questions below I recommend reading through that might give you an idea of what you could be asking based on your values and expectations for your own wedding photography.

Here are the most important questions to ask your wedding photographer in 2026 — and a few answers based off of my own decade of knowledge.

1. What’s Included in Your Wedding Photography Packages?

• How many hours of coverage are included

• Whether a second shooter is included (or needed)

• If engagement sessions, videography, film, or albums are part of the collection

• How images are delivered (industry standard is an online gallery)

2. How Many Hours Do We Actually Need?

This is one of the most common questions couples ask — especially those planning smaller weddings.

For intimate weddings, 4–6 hours is often perfect if you’re focusing on:

• Quick Getting Ready photos

• Ceremony

• Portraits

• A short reception or dinner (rarely do we need to photograph the entire reception to get great photos)

For NYC weddings, consider travel time between locations. A ceremony at City Hall and portraits in SoHo or Central Park may require more thoughtful planning than you expect due to traffic or city events. The right photographer won’t oversell you on hours — they’ll guide you based on your timeline.

3. How Would You Describe Your Photography Style?

Style really matters to some couples. It's helpful to know what style you're both interested in before you jump on call with a photographer.

Do you want:

• Editorial and cinematic?

• Documentary and candid?

• Bright and airy? (If you want bright and airy, I immediately know I'm not the photographer for you)

• Dark and romantic?

  
  

If you’re planning a New York City wedding, style becomes even more important. NYC backdrops — brownstones, rooftops, candlelit restaurants — require a photographer who understands light, movement, and how to create images that both feel timeless and trendy. Personally, I always like to emphasize to my couples that I know how to photograph a traditional feeling wedding. But my style allows me to create moodier photos that feel funky or like film, and couples hire me because I can deliver both timeless and funky.

4. We’re Awkward in Front of the Camera — Is That Okay?

Almost every couple says this.

The real question isn’t whether you’re awkward. It’s whether your photographer knows how to guide you and get you out of your head... and moreso bring you into the present moment.

For intimate weddings especially, your photographer may be one of the only vendors present. You want someone who can:

• Give gentle direction

• Create natural movement

• Help you feel grounded and relaxed

You should never feel stiff or overly posed, unless you are absolutely going for overly posed in style and direction.

5. How Do You Handle Dark Venues or Candlelit Receptions?

This question is increasingly important in 2026. More couples are choosing:

• Restaurant weddings

• Rooftop dinners

• Candlelit receptions

• Winter weddings

Low light requires skill. Ask how your photographer handles flash, natural light, and low-lit venues — especially in NYC where venues often have dramatic or very yellow lighting.

6. What Happens If It Rains?

You planned your Central Park wedding six months ago, but now that it's here, the weather is calling for a downpour. Weather backup plans are essential.

A seasoned photographer will:

• Have creative indoor alternatives

• Know how to work with overcast skies

• Feel confident pivoting the timeline if needed

Rain can actually create some of the most romantic imagery — if your photographer knows how to use it.

7. How Many Photos Will We Receive?

Instead of focusing only on quantity, look for clarity around:

• Whether images are fully edited

• Whether there’s a minimum or maximum

• How they select and curate your gallery

For intimate weddings, quality storytelling matters more than delivering thousands of repetitive images.

8. Do You Help With the Wedding Timeline?

This is especially important for short weddings and if you're a couple who isn't located in NYC.

When you have fewer hours, every minute counts and when you plan well, travel time doesn't eat into half of your scheduled time.

A great wedding photographer will help you:

• Plan buffer time

• Choose the best time for portraits (especially in NYC where light shifts quickly between buildings)

• Build a flow that feels calm, not rushed.

  
  

9. Do You Deliver Sneak Peeks?

While I do offer sneak peaks. I ask for 5-7 business days before sending them. I want you to LOVE them, and in order for you to LOVE them, I have to really spend time looking through your album. That takes time.

You could also ask:

• Full gallery delivery timeline

• Whether you’re allowed to post immediately

If social sharing matters to you, this is an important conversation. Some photographers might charge an extra fee to deliver your wedding photos to you within 12-24 hours.

Questions Specifically for Intimate & Short Weddings

If you’re planning a courthouse wedding, micro-wedding, or small gathering, also ask:

• Can you help with location scouting for portraits?

• Do you photograph weekday weddings?

Intimate weddings often require more flexibility — and a photographer who values emotional depth over spectacle.

Questions Specifically for NYC Wedding Couples

New York weddings come with their own logistics.

Be sure to ask:

• Have you photographed in NYC before?

• Are you comfortable navigating tight timelines and multiple locations?

• Do you account for traffic and travel time?

• Are you insured for NYC venues?

• Do you have experience shooting in low light restaurants and rooftop spaces?

NYC weddings are sometimes fast-paced. You want someone who can move confidently and creatively in that environment.

How to Prepare for Your Wedding Photography Consultation

The biggest spoiler is.... A wedding photography consultation shouldn’t feel like an interview. It should feel like a conversation — one where you leave feeling clearer, calmer, and more excited about your day. Connected to the photographer you just talked to.

I would even dare to say-- did you connect with them on a relational level? Did you find out information about who they are as a person and what they're into? Are there any hobbies, books, movies, or pop culture things you connect on? Sometimes those small connections can lead to feeling more at ease in front of the camera.

If you’re preparing for a wedding photography consultation (especially for an intimate wedding or NYC wedding), here’s how to make the most of it.

What You Can Expect During the Consultation

Most consultations last about 20–40 minutes and typically cover:

• Your wedding date, venue, and overall timeline

• The size and style of your celebration

• What matters most to you visually and emotionally

• Any concerns or hesitations you have

• Coverage options and next steps

A great photographer won’t just talk about packages. They’ll ask about your story, what you’re nervous about, and how you want the day to feel.

The consultation should leave you feeling supported — not pressured.

What You can Bring to Your Consultation if you think it will help it go better:

You don’t need a fully designed wedding plan to hop on a call, but a little preparation helps.

Here’s what’s useful:

1. Your Venue (If You Have It)

If you’ve already booked your venue, share it. Location impacts lighting, timeline, and how many hours you’ll realistically need — especially in New York City where logistics matter.

If you haven’t booked a venue yet, that’s okay. Just share what you’re envisioning (restaurant dinner, rooftop, courthouse, backyard, etc.).

2. A General Timeline Idea

You don’t need exact times. But think about:

• Are you doing a first look?

• Are you planning sunset portraits?

• Is this a 4-hour intimate wedding or a full-day celebration?

For short weddings, knowing your ceremony time is particularly helpful when determining coverage.

3. A Pinterest Board (Optional — But Helpful)

Yes, you can bring a Pinterest board.

But here’s how to use it wisely:

Instead of collecting 300 random wedding photos, focus on:

• The lighting you’re drawn to

• The mood (bright, dark, editorial, playful)

• Specific moments you care about (quiet portraits, reception dancing, etc.)

Your photographer doesn’t need to copy your board — but understanding what you’re visually attracted to helps align expectations and let them know if they think you're a good fit.

For NYC weddings especially, Pinterest can help clarify whether you’re drawn to:

• Classic brownstone elegance

• Cinematic city-at-night portraits

• Editorial rooftop vibes

• Minimal courthouse simplicity

4. Your Honest Concerns

This might be the most important thing to bring.

Are you worried about:

• Feeling awkward?

• Family tension?

• A tight timeline?

• Bad weather?

Say it out loud during your consultation.

The right photographer won’t dismiss your concerns. They’ll address them calmly and confidently.

How to Know If the Consultation Went Well

After your call, ask yourselves:

• Did we feel heard?

• Did we feel rushed or pressured?

• Did they answer questions clearly?

• Did we feel calmer after talking to them?

The right wedding photography consultation should make you feel more grounded — not more overwhelmed.

Many happy consultations, friends! And if you're getting married in New York City and want a photographer who is already SO in love with photographing NYC weddings, I'd love to chat about your wedding photography needs, you can inquire here.