DeLong Photography Blog

Photographers providing authentic photographs, modern heirloom albums, and more for those who value a comfortable and fun experience 
Based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Available for travel.

How to Pick a Great DJ in 3 Easy Steps

grayscale image of male hands on DJ controller implying wedding DJ

Finding a Great DJ

Choosing a DJ is a little more intensive than just finding someone with a playlist and a good set of speakers. A professional DJ appropriately sets the tone of the event, but isn’t the party. Not sure what we mean? Read on to find out our 3 recommendations when it comes to finding the DJ for your big day.

1) Check Their Attitude

A DJ’s job may be to get the party started when the dance floor opens up. However, it’s not their job to take over the party. This concept often goes over the heads of non-professional DJ’s. Look for someone who asks questions about you, what you’re looking for, and your story as a couple. They should be interested in your music vibe and “your song” etc.

Above all, if they do most of the talking, and they say they perform events one way, keep searching. A great DJ will want to compliment your story and your vision, not do the same performance at every event. This day is not about them, it’s about you – remember that!

2) Spot the Fakes

Fakes are everywhere! These are the kind of DJ’s that post on Craigslist, or reply to your post on Facebook with an unbelievably how-can-this-be low price. Trust us, there’s a reason the price is in fact, so low. In this instance, the old saying stays true – you get what you pay for. For instance, if a piece of equipment fails or gets damaged, they won’t have a team to assist them through an emergency. Therefore, you’re most likely just out of luck at that point.

A professional DJ will have insurance, a long list of positive reviews, and a website or Facebook page displaying recent images. If you can spot their equipment in the images, check that their setup is neatly organized. Pros don’t have hanging wires everywhere, stacks of CD’s, or older equipment in use.

3) Ask Questions

You may recall from some of our previous interviews to ask questions. For instance, asking a hair and make-up artist what their sanitation routine is. Similarly, you should ask questions when choosing your DJ. Not sure what to ask? Here are a few examples:

  1. What makes you different from other DJ’s around here?
  2. What do they think about the flow of dance time?
  3. How can you customize your offerings to fit our needs?
  4. Can you tell us a story about one of your couples?
  5. What is a time that an issue arose, and how did you solve it?
  6. What do you wear to a wedding day event?
  7. Do you have any education/training in this field? Do you/have you attended any conferences?

Above all, getting answers that you care about from someone you authentically connect with will let you know you’ve found a real candidate! Asking engaging questions instead of just going down a list recommended in a bridal magazine helps you really get to know the person/company and how they run business.


I hope you found this post helpful, and if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out! Happy planning!

Black and white image of Tim and Shannon DeLong of DeLong Photography in Riverfront Park park smiling at the camera

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