Why You Should Use a Questionnaire

Establish a Flow

Whether you’re a new photographer gaining experience in the wedding industry or a seasoned professional, there are a few practices you should enact in your business, regardless of your tenure. One of these practices is developing and sending a wedding photography questionnaire.

These simple questionnaires should be a vital part of your process, allowing you to gain a better understanding of the couple, the event, and your client’s expectations. By having your clients complete a wedding photography questionnaire, you can view their dream wedding through their eyes, learning what’s most important and what should top your must-photograph list.

Once you’ve established what the flow of the wedding will be like and what your clients prioritize, you can also use the wedding photography questionnaire to help you build a shooting schedule. Instead of operating reactively, the questionnaire can guide you in flowing seamlessly along with the wedding events as they unfold.

Sounds good? We think so, too. However, making a wedding photography questionnaire (or refreshing your existing one) can feel overwhelming at times. Are you asking the right questions? How do you ensure your clients complete the wedding photography questionnaire in a timely fashion and with accurate representations? What answers should alert you to potential red flags?

The top 10 questions you should be asking your wedding couples before the big day:

1. Where are the bride and groom getting ready? (include addresses)
2. Is hair and makeup team coming to you or are you going to a salon?
3. What time is the bride's hair and makeup scheduled to start?
4. Do you plan on doing a first look?
5. If so, do you know where would like that to happen?
6. Do you have any spots in mind where you would like to do wedding party and bride and groom photos?
7. How many people are in your wedding party?
8. Do you have any "must-have" photographs? (Specific poses beyond what is typically captured on a wedding day. We do not guarantee any photographs, but we will make it a priority to capture the shots listed.)
9. Where is your ceremony taking place? (include address)
10. What time will your ceremony start time and how long do you expect it to last?

Want the other 20 crucial questions to ask your couples? These ten questions are a great starting point - but given how many details go into a wedding, you'll need more than that. Keep reading (or just scroll on down) to get 20 additional crucial questions for your couples!

By using these questions, you can easily gather all of their information for the couple's wedding day from start to finish. As is usually the case, the photographer plays a big role in putting together the timeline for the wedding day. Having this information in one place will make your life a whole lot easier!

Asking the right questions saves you time for you and your clients. It also demonstrates professionalism, commitment, and attention to detail. When you gather the right information, you also set expectations and inform the clients what they are getting. Some clients think you can read their minds and expect you to capture specific scenes you haven’t discussed. Planning a wedding is stressful, and it can be even more tedious with unforeseen events, wrong expectations, and last-minute changes.

As you want to prioritize your customers’ needs and make them feel extraordinary during their big day, gathering all important information is essential. It’s best that you know everything there is to learn to avoid surprises and awkward moments on the big day.

Besides knowing and understanding your clients’ preferences, wedding questionnaires can help you plan and prepare the shots, equipment needed, and other logistics to ensure a smooth and successful shoot.

By documenting the couple’s preferences and needs, you can refer to the questionnaire throughout the shoot to ensure you meet their expectations. You can go the extra mile knowing the couples’ exact needs and preferences. Wedding questionnaires allow you to capture the couples’ personalities, dynamics, and relationships. Personalizing their wedding photos and making them special enables you to provide a better experience for the couple and deliver more meaningful and intimate photos.