Questions to ask before booking a photographer, most don’t think of.

Here is a list of smart questions for your next photographer.

These aren’t the obvious ones — they’re tailored to clarify your expectations. Asking them shows you’re well prepared and respectful of the photographer’s craft. Photographers appreciate when you’ve truly thought through these details.

• What style of portraits do you advise for our website?

• Do you have a permanent entry card for this venue like a press card? (European Parliament/ Commission)

• Have you photographed at this venue before?

• Do you have insurance?

• Are you an independent photographer, or do you work through SMART?

• Will you be the one photographing the event? Or, will you send an associate?

• If the event goes overtime, will you stay longer? Will you charge extra?

• How will you present the final product? What are my options?

• The event starts at 9 AM. When will you arrive?

• We need images for social media during the event. Can you deliver?

• We organise a very short meeting of 1 hour but we need professional shots. Do you do this?

• We have high level guests, during a secret and sensitive meeting, we rely on you to never share the images.

• We don’t want a photographer wearing jeans with sweaty armpits. Can you deliver?

• How many cameras do you take to the event? Do you have back up?

• Do you use full frame cameras ?

• Do you use flash?

• Do you shoot in RAW?

• Do your cameras have two card slots?

• What is the biggest aperture of your lenses?

• Do you deliver full IPTC data of the speakers ?

• Do we pay in advance?

• How would you describe your visual style in three words, and which single image of yours best represents it?

• What’s your process for translating a brief into a shot list and final deliverables?

• How do you decide which moments are candid and which should be directed during a shoot?

• Which technical constraints (lenses, lighting, location limits) should we know about up front?

• How do you handle permissions, model releases and image rights for commercial versus editorial use?

• What is included in your retouching? Can we see before/after examples?

• What file formats and resolutions will you deliver, and do you provide both web and print-ready files?

• How many final images can we expect, and how do you determine which images make the cut?

• How do you manage backup and data security during and after the shoot?

• What’s your policy on reshoots or revisions if the final images don’t meet the agreed brief?

• What would be your one creative suggestion that could elevate this shoot beyond the brief?

• Are there any hidden costs (travel, permits, overtime, special equipment) we should budget for?

• Can you provide references from clients who had a similar brief or industry to ours?

• What’s the best way to present brand guidelines to you so they actually inform the creative choices?

• How do you make subjects feel comfortable and natural in front of the camera, especially those who are camera-shy?

Use this list as a checklist before booking.

Pick the questions that matter most to your project, and don’t be afraid to follow up — a good photographer will appreciate the thoughtful conversation.

Do you have more questions that could be useful? Just write them in the comments and maybe I will put them in the list too.