The holidays are over, which means it’s bridal show season! Why? Because the holidays are a popular time for guys to (finally) get down on one knee and propose. If all went according to plan, that means a lot of newly engaged couples are about to descend upon their local bridal show to check out their local vendors, including wedding photographers.

There’s no shortage of advice online that give you the questions you need to ask your wedding photographer. Many of these types of articles give good advice on what to ask at a formal consultation, but not many are specific to what to ask at a bridal show.

Bridal shows can be loud, chaotic, rushed, and provide sensory and information overload so you may not have time for a long interview with each photographer. You might leave the show with your head spinning with no progress to show for hiring your wedding vendors. Don’t let that happen!

Here’s how to get the most out of your time at the Bridal Show when looking for a wedding photographer:

Do Your Research Before You Go
Search through online wedding photographer directories to check out some photographers in your area before you go to the show. Of course not all photographers attend bridal shows, but it will give you some idea of who’s in your area, and if they happen to be at the show then you’ll already be familiar with their work.

Get a feel for the different kinds of photography styles by viewing a number of galleries. You may also get some ideas of price ranges and packages, but not all photographers provide complete details on their website.

Stop and Talk
You can easily scan through many photographers’ websites, but what you can’t do online is spend time talking with each one face-to-face. Take advantage of that at the bridal show. Don’t just run by each booth and pick up a brochure and business card and scurry off to the next booth, hoping to evaluate all of your options later.

If you’re interested in a photographer take the time to talk to them. They certainly would love to talk with you! Get a feeling for their personality and how compatible you think they would be with your family and friends.

Getting to know the photographer’s personality and communication style is important because he/she will be with you and your family for most of your wedding day.

Ask About Pricing Details
Look at their brochure or price list. Is it easy to understand or does it resemble a calculus exam? Some photographers may assume you know certain terminology such as “Flush Albums” or “RAW Files.” Have them explain any items that are unclear to you.

Ask detailed questions about their packages, services, and products so you know exactly what they are providing and at what cost. Without a clear understanding of what’s included in the various packages it will be hard to compare one photographer to another when you return home.

Look At Complete Wedding Samples
Are they showing a portfolio of only their best shots from a few weddings? Experienced and reputable photographers will usually have a number of complete wedding albums that the would be proud to show.

Ask to see complete wedding albums so you can see how they photographed the whole wedding from start to finish. See if you like how they photographed the getting ready time before the wedding, the ceremony, the formals and portraits, AND the reception.

Many of our ISPWP members agree:
“This is important because it can let you see what kind of coverage to expect.  Portfolios and blog posts only show the best of the best and are often not a good representation of what to expect from an entire event.” Mike Peyzner | Choco Studio | San Francisco, California

“Ask to see a whole wedding – including ceremony and formals – from start to finish. Not just the album  and not just the blog images. Any weekend warrior can shoot and make 10 killer images for their blog. But it’s the coverage of a whole wedding that makes the difference between ‘Uncle Bob’ and a professional photographer.” John Lyons Weddings | Windsor, Ontario

“Hire a photographer you trust, who will show you an entire wedding and not just a few dozen of “best photos” from each wedding. Look at all the images to get an idea of the level of expertise and talent.” Marcin Rusinowski | 5fourths | Poland

Make Notes
Chances are you’ll return home from the bridal show with a bag full of brochures, business cards, pricing sheets and it might be hard to remember particular photographers. As you leave each booth jot down a few brief notes about the photographer while things are still fresh in your mind.

For example your notes could be as simple as this: Rachel Smith, Smith Photography, beautiful pictures, in budget, easy to talk to, loves doing bride and groom portraits, will do engagement pictures, has shot weddings at our venue, etc.

One of our ISPWP members, Richard Esposito, covers a lot of these points on a TV interview he did recently. See the whole video.
Richard Esposito | Photographer RE | New Haven, Connecticut

Have fun at the bridal shows! And if you’re looking to do some preliminary research before you go, check out the ISPWP Wedding Photographer Directory for the best wedding photographers in your area.

Have other tips for getting the most out of bridal shows?
Post your ideas in the comments. I’d love to hear from photographers who attend a lot of bridal shows and brides who have survived bridal shows!