I get this question a lot, usually in the first email a couple sends me: "How many wedding photographers should I reach out to before I decide?" It's a smart thing to ask, because the answer changes how much of your engagement you spend buried in your inbox versus actually enjoying it. So here's my honest take after 17 years of shooting weddings across Los Angeles: reach out to about five to seven photographers, then narrow to three real conversations, then book. That's it. Anything past that and you're not researching anymore — you're procrastinating.

Let me explain how I got to that number, and how I'd run the process if it were my own wedding.

The blunt version: three to seven, not fifteen

I'll be direct because most people won't. Contacting fifteen photographers doesn't get you a better photographer. It gets you fifteen slightly different price sheets, decision fatigue, and a stack of emails you stop answering by week two. I've watched couples do this. They come to their consultation with me already exhausted, half of them can't even remember whose work was whose anymore.

Here's the rough shape I recommend:

  • Initial inquiries: 5 to 7. These are quick emails or DMs. You're checking availability, ballpark pricing, and vibe.
  • Real conversations: 3. A call, a video chat, or coffee. This is where you actually feel someone out.
  • Final decision: 1. You book, you sign, you exhale.

Five to seven at the top is enough variety to compare style and price without drowning. Three deeper conversations is enough to feel a genuine difference in how people communicate. Because I promise you — the photographer you'll love isn't just the one with the prettiest gallery. It's the one who answers your questions like a human and makes you feel calm.

Why not just one?

Because you don't know what you don't know yet. When you talk to your first photographer, you have no baseline. Everything sounds reasonable. It's the second and third conversation where you start noticing the differences that matter — who includes an engagement session, who charges extra for a second shooter, who delivers in six weeks versus who quietly takes four months.

If you only reach out to one and it clicks, great, but you'll always have that itch of "was there someone better?" A small, deliberate comparison kills that doubt. That's really the whole point of reaching out to more than one — not to find the cheapest, but to feel confident you chose well.

Why not fifteen?

Two reasons. First, the best photographers in LA book up fast. If your date is a Saturday in September or October — peak season here — the people you actually want are gone six to twelve months out. I turn away couples every year who reached out too late because they spent three months "comparing." If you want the timing math, I broke it down in my guide on how far in advance you should book a wedding photographer.

Second, past a certain point every extra inquiry lowers the quality of your decision, not raises it. You start comparing on price alone because that's the only thing that's easy to line up in a spreadsheet. And price is a terrible way to pick the person documenting the most emotional day of your life. If you're wondering what the numbers should even look like, I wrote honestly about what a normal amount to spend on a wedding photographer in Los Angeles actually is.

How to pick your five to seven so you don't waste inquiries

The trick is filtering before you email, not after. Do a little homework so your shortlist is already strong. Here's what I tell couples at consultations:

  • Match style first. Do you want candid and documentary, or polished and posed? Light and airy, or moody and rich? Don't email someone whose work looks nothing like what you love. I get into this in my post on how to choose a wedding photography style, and it saves you from inquiries that were never going to work.
  • Look at full galleries, not just highlights. Instagram is a greatest-hits reel. Ask to see a full wedding start to finish before you get attached.
  • Check they've shot your kind of venue. A photographer who nails a dim ballroom in Beverly Hills might struggle with harsh noon light on a Malibu bluff. LA light is not one thing. A 4pm ceremony at a Palos Verdes estate in June behaves completely differently than a 6pm rooftop in DTLA in October.
  • Read reviews for patterns, not perfection. One grumpy review means nothing. Three reviews mentioning "slow to respond" means everything.

Do that filtering and your five to seven will already be people you'd genuinely be happy to hire. Now the comparison is about fit, not damage control.

What I'd actually do if it were my wedding

Honestly? I'd reach out to five. I'd send the exact same short message to all of them: our date, our venue, roughly how many hours we think we need, and one specific question about their style. Then I'd see who responds thoughtfully and who sends a copy-paste PDF.

From those five, two or three will stand out immediately — by how they write, how fast they reply, how they talk about the day. Those are your three real conversations. Get on a call. Ask about the messy stuff: what happens if their gear fails, whether they bring a backup shooter, when you get your gallery. If you want a cheat sheet, I keep a running list of questions to ask a wedding photographer before booking.

Then I'd book the one who felt like a person I'd want standing next to me at 11pm when my feet hurt and I'm sweaty and happy. Because that's who they'll be on your wedding day.

One thing that shrinks your list fast: photo and video together

Here's something worth knowing before you start emailing. If you want both photography and video — and most of my couples do — hiring two separate companies means you're running two of these searches at once. Two rounds of inquiries, two contracts, two teams who've never met bumping elbows during your first look.

At ConneryFilm we shoot photography and film under one roof, one team, one seamless experience. I mention it here not as a pitch but as practical advice: booking a single studio for both can cut your whole vendor search roughly in half, and on the day itself, a photo and video team that already works together doesn't fight over the same three feet of good light during your Griffith Park golden hour. If you're weighing whether film is even worth it, I gave my honest take on whether wedding videographers are actually worth it.

Frequently asked questions

Is it rude to contact multiple photographers at once?

Not at all. We expect it. Every good photographer in LA knows you're comparing a few of us, and any pro who acts offended by that is telling you something about how they'll handle other things. Reaching out to several at once is normal and smart.

Should I tell them I'm talking to other photographers?

You don't have to volunteer it, but you don't need to hide it either. If someone asks, just be honest. It won't hurt your pricing, and frankly it keeps everyone respectful of your time.

How long should this whole process take?

Two to three weeks, tops. Inquire in week one, have your calls in week two, decide by week three. Drag it longer than a month and you risk losing your favorites to your date. In peak LA season, move even faster.

What if none of my five feel right?

Then your filtering was probably too loose. Go back to style and full galleries, tighten your criteria, and send three or four more targeted inquiries. That's rare, though — if you did the homework first, usually at least two of your five will click.

Does reaching out to more photographers get me a better price?

A little, but less than you'd think. Good photographers price where they price. Chasing quotes across a dozen studios mostly gets you cheaper work, not better value. Pick fit and reliability first, and you'll spend your money once instead of twice.

If you're planning a wedding anywhere around Los Angeles and you'd rather have one honest conversation than fifteen exhausting ones, I'd love to be on your shortlist. Reach out and tell me about your day — Call or text 818.749.7039 or see our photo and film work over at ConneryFilm.com. I'll give you a straight answer either way.

Meet the Author: Connery Davoodian Hello, I'm Connery Davoodian, the visionary behind ConneryFilm, and I'm thrilled to share insights from my 17-year journey through the world of wedding photography and videography. My passion extends beyond simply capturing images; it's about artfully weaving your unique love story into a timeless, cinematic masterpiece. My artistic path began long before I ever picked up a camera, deeply rooted in music as a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. This diverse background in directing, producing, and editing has cultivated a unique perspective, allowing me to approach each wedding not just as an event, but as a dynamic narrative waiting to be beautifully told. This blend of technical mastery and creative storytelling is the heartbeat of ConneryFilm, ensuring that every frame, every shot, and every film is infused with depth, emotion, and unparalleled artistic integrity. At ConneryFilm, we believe your wedding memories deserve nothing less than bespoke luxury. My philosophy centers on capturing the authentic, unscripted moments – the genuine smiles, the tender glances, the joyful laughter – that truly define your day. While we obsess over exquisite details and sophisticated aesthetics, our true joy comes from making you feel completely at ease, like a "friendor" who genuinely celebrates alongside you. This calm, organized presence allows your true personalities to shine, resulting in images and films that are as real and vibrant as your love itself. Based in the heart of Los Angeles, California, my team and I are privileged to serve couples across the globe, bringing our signature high-end wedding photography and videography to destination weddings worldwide. Through these blog posts, I aim to share invaluable insights, luxurious inspiration, and practical, fun advice to guide you through your wedding planning journey, helping you make informed decisions about preserving your most cherished moments. Thank you for trusting ConneryFilm to be a part of your extraordinary adventure. I'm excited to share my knowledge and passion with you, helping you create memories that will last forever.