A professional will remember your requests, catch unique moments and be a friendly face throughout the day. Plus, they won’t be distracted by Uncle Joe chatting up Cousin Emily during the cake cutting!

To help you find your perfect wedding photographer, Bailey recommends asking questions to gauge their style. Below are a few she suggests:

They’re Experts

A professional photographer has the skills and experience to make sure your day goes perfectly. They know how to capture the moment, but also have a creative eye that can bring photos to life in a way that you and your family will cherish forever.

An expert wedding photographer will have a contract that will outline the services they offer, pricing, deliverables and more. This will help you avoid any surprises on your wedding day that may lead to hiccups.

Professional photographers rely on their clients for their livelihood, so they have a strong incentive to provide you with an exceptional experience. This includes ensuring their equipment works properly and avoiding technical errors on your big day. Check out their portfolio for consistency—signs that they might not be experts include applying filters to some photos and not others, or skin tones looking different in each photo.

They’ll Remember Your Requests

A professional photographer will remember all the unique moments you ask them to capture and will also be able to anticipate any other unplanned situations that might arise. This is why it’s important to ask how they handle unforeseen circumstances on wedding days – it will give you a sense of their problem-solving skills and ability to think on their feet.

A well meaning friend might be great at taking photos for fun but when it comes to your wedding day they’ll likely have other commitments, full-time jobs, family, and their own lives that may keep them from putting in the time and effort it takes to edit those images. A professional has a system for editing and will be able to deliver consistently.

They’ll Capture Unrepeatable Moments

There are some moments that just can’t be redone — your walk down the aisle, your first kiss as a married couple, your cake cutting. Professional photographers understand that capturing these unrepeatable moments is the foundation of their craft.

The value of a pro goes far beyond just their skill with the camera. They also understand lighting, posing, editing and more. That’s why they are able to create high-quality photos with consistency.

Even well-meaning friends probably have full-time jobs, family commitments or simply have no experience shooting weddings. Plus they’ll likely have a very high volume of images to cull and edit, which requires time and attention to detail. This is why professionals are able to create consistent galleries that tell a beautiful story.

They’ll Make You Feel At Ease

Having a wedding photographer present for the day will allow you to relax and take in the experience. They’ll know how to pose you and your family for great photos, but they also understand the beauty of candid moments.

Professional photographers are constantly looking for ways to improve their skills and offer the best service to their clients. They want to be sure they’re capturing everything you wanted from close ups to epic landscape shots.

The most important thing to consider is the vibe you get when talking to your potential photographer. Hire someone that you can relate to, who makes you feel at ease and whose work you admire. Then, you can trust that they’ll capture all of the memorable and unrepeatable moments from your day.

They’ll Make You Look Your Best

You’re putting a lot of trust in your photographer, they need to understand you and jive with your personality. They’re the one who will be with you all day and night on your wedding, so find a professional that makes you feel like they’re more than just another vendor.

The best wedding photographers are able to capture moments you’ll look back on and remember. You want to be able to relive the moment your groom made you laugh so hard that you doubled over, or that feeling of elation when your favorite song came on the dance floor.

A pro will make you look and feel your absolute best without having to tell you to pose a certain way or get in the right spot.