As a wedding photographer, I'm accustomed to receiving a vast array of questions from potential clients. Often, the questions come pre-manufactured from one of the nationally distributed wedding magazines.

One thing that I've noticed about many of those lists is that they are either arranged by someone that is not a professional photographer, or arranged by a professional photographer that is using the article to sway potential customers toward his approach to business. This article represents a good faith attempt to give you the tools for choosing the right wedding photographer for you, hopefully in an objective manner.

Relationships, Relationships

The most important factor in determining who should photograph your wedding is NOT the quality of the images, or what kind of special effects they can do with your images. Price is the very last consideration. I've heard from many brides that they loved the images of their wedding, but would not provide a referral to potential clients because the photographer lacked people skills. Above all of the vendors that you will work with on your wedding day, your wedding photographer will be the closest to you, both physically and emotionally. You have to be comfortable with your photographer. When you giggle, cry or even get angry over something, your photographer will bare witness to it. If you are agitated or uncomfortable because of your photographer, your wedding imagery will reflect it. The photographer may be a very nice person, but there could simply be something "missing" between the two of you. Your relationship should be a "click", not a "clunk." If, during your initial consultation, it's a "clunk", it's ok to simply say: "Your work is wonderful and I'm sure you would be great to work with, but I feel that we should explore other options." You would be doing you, and the photographer, a big favor.

After your wedding, if you had a bad experience, with any vendor, let them know, professionally, and in writing. Give them specifics and suggest how they could improve. It will be up to the vendor to either take your advice, or shrug it off. Nevertheless, if the vendor is customer focused, your feedback will help them better serve their next customer. And, of course, if your vendor did a great job, let them know, in writing, and give them permission to use your comments when booking future clients. Remember: your photographer makes a living from his or her trade, and needs all the help he/she can get in a very competitive market.

Bottom line: You must be able to maintain an excellent short and long term relationship with your photographer. The typical length of that relationship is anywhere from twelve to twenty-four months. If things do not "click" between the two of you, kindly excuse the photographer from your list of potential vendors.

Image Quality and Style

While not the most important reason for choosing your photographer, it comes in a very close second -- photo finish.

Be aware that photography is a unique skill. Understanding optics, light, camera mechanics, composition, etc. is both an art and a science.

Before the digital photography revolution, all the special effects you see today were done either by the photographer "in the camera" or at their professional lab, usually by hand, in a darkroom. Remember your parent’s photos of their wedding, where they had two images superimposed: the top image had them looking down on the bottom image, which was a photo of their ceremony. I remember my mentor showing me how to do that same double exposure technique, in the camera, at the wedding. He was a master at that effect, and many other things, which I so gratefully learned from him. Nevertheless, that once popular image, twenty years ago, is now a focus for giggling from this generation.

Images, like that double exposure, while technically and mechanically very challenging, are also fads. I'd like to suggest to you (and I could be wrong) that your kids will one day giggle and crack jokes about those "colored flowers on a black and white picture", just as you do about your parent’s double exposure. Don't get me wrong: that image can be pretty, but...

Bottom line: do not get caught up in fads, special effects, or novelties. An excellent quality photo, today, will be a heirloom photo in 50 years. And, as I said earlier, you can do anything with a good image.

Digital versus Film

Ok, the seemingly age old question: "Do you shoot digital or film?"

The last information I've heard was that over 90% of wedding photographers are photographing weddings digitally. Many professional photo labs have junked their optical printing machines all together. Do you know when you take your 35mm disposable camera to the local 1 hour lab, your film is scanned and printed digitally? Film is a wonderful media that, along with a professional level camera, takes fantastic images, but even traditional film processes have become adulterated by digital technology.

Regardless of format/medium, the main thing to consider is archival storage. Most of the time, professional labs will scan the images from film, creating: a digital image. This often eliminates the need for the negative, once scanned, to create prints. Digital images, either from digital cameras or from film scans, can be copied infinitely, and stored in multiple locations to avoid disaster. If your professional photographer keeps one or more copies at the studio (on hard drive or archival DVD), and another copy off site (either in a bank vault or home), your images are much safer than exclusively on film negatives.

Nothing is ever 100% guaranteed in this world, but a solid process for archiving and storage will safeguard your images, as well as reduce the probability of image degradation.

Bottom line: Don't even ask the "digital or film" question. Be more concerned with "how do you store wedding images and how long do you keep them?"

"What kind of camera do you use?"

The correct answer, even though I'd never say it like this, is "who cares!" Canon and Nikon are the current kings of the digital SLR wedding photography market. Both companies manufacture fantastic equipment that possess tremendous. A $1,000 digital camera in the right hands is a wonderful tool. On the other hand, a $20,000 digital camera in the wrong hands is a bowling ball -- worthless.

It's not the camera, folks; it's the photographer. Some of the most famous photographs in history were taken with cameras absent computers, automatic settings and auto focus.

Bottom line: If your photographer can show you a 24x30 enlargement, of an image they captured, that looks beautiful, don't bother asking what kind of camera they use. In my opinion (and in the opinions of many nationally known, highly respected photographers) it doesn't matter.

Professional versus Amateur

Almost every single photographer you meet started as an amateur by either shooting backup images, holding a light or carrying someone else's equipment around for them at a wedding. Almost every photographer you meet has, more than likely, photographed a wedding for free, or at a very discounted rate, often for friends or family, when getting started. Therefore, it is hypocritical for any professional photographer to criticize amateurs that photograph weddings. We all started there.

Nevertheless, professionals and amateurs will handle different situations using different approaches. For example: a bride and groom cutting their cake in front of a very bright window will put your photographer's skills to the test. Often, no automatic setting will get the light on the bride and groom exactly to match the light coming in through the windows. Unlike a studio where the photographer has total control, a wedding photographer has to think on his feet, and come up with a solution… fast! A professional possesses the skills and tools that raise the probability of correctly capturing that illusive image. An amateur or unskilled photographer might also capture that image correctly, but has a higher probability of getting a great picture of the outside, with
a wonderful, dark silhouette of the bride and groom, instead of brightly lit faces and expressions.

Hopefully, there is a correlation between experience and image quality.
Hopefully, a well-trained photographer will create better imagery than a poorly trained or untrained photographer. There is nothing wrong with hiring an amateur to photograph your wedding a long as you take all of the factors into consideration, besides saving you a few dollars. When you hire someone to photograph your wedding, you are not hiring someone to "take pictures." All of the photographer's cumulative experience, skill, training and technical equipment muscle used to create high quality imagery will be put to the test for eight hours at your wedding. The time spent by a photographer at your wedding will then be applied to better serve the photographer's future customers.

Bottom line: Professional photographers are in the business to create great images, while making it look easy. They do this because they are good at what they do. That proficiency did not occur by sleeping on a photography book one night. It takes years. You have to make the decision as to what level of photographic quality you want in your wedding imagery, and be willing to live with that decision, forever. Your wedding photos are your family's first future heirlooms.

Albums

I won't spend too much time on albums. There are dozens of album companies, hundreds of styles, and a graphic designer on every corner capable of creating those page layouts. They are splendid, peripheral products that require skill and time to create. They are worth every penny and designed to, once again, be an heirloom.

Bottom line: The old saying of "you can never judge a book by its cover" applies to albums. If you don't like your images, who cares about that fancy leather cover. "You can do anything with a good image...."

Must Ask Questions:

Do they have back up equipment? If their one-and-only camera hits the floor, how will they continue to photograph your wedding?

How will you dress for my wedding? You can even make them stipulate in the contract. Professional attire is a must!

Do they carry liability insurance? You can ask for proof.

Do they possess a sales tax number? For legal reasons, I'll let the
Kentucky and Indiana Departments of Revenue elaborate.

How will you safeguard my wedding images? Have the photographer explain his/her processes to safeguard your wedding day images.

How long do you stay at my wedding? Never sell yourself short on time. Overtime charges can be more expensive than paying for all day coverage.

May I see an entire wedding portfolio? Ask to see an entire wedding, as in exactly what the bride received. Decide if you would be happy if it was your wedding.

May I call previous customers? Only ask this question if (and only if) you are willing to be a phone reference for your photographer after your wedding. That's only fair.

Who will photograph my wedding? Great question, considering it goes back to the main reason for selection: relationships.

What will happen if you can not photograph my wedding? If the photographer has an emergency, what will happen? Spell that out in advance.

Bottom line: Ask the difficult questions and get answers, up front. There aren't any definitive right or wrong answers to the questions above; you need to decide that for yourself.

Price:

Bottom line:
If you don't like the photographer's disposition or don't like the photographer's previous work, it doesn't matter how much, or little, they charge for services. Would you buy an automobile that you disliked, from a salesperson that you disliked even more?

I hope you've found this article helpful, and objective. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me.