Your photos are the one lasting memory of your wedding day. You spend a great deal of time and energy picking the venue, your dress, the flowers and food, and yet when it comes time to choosing someone to record this most important day, too many folks regard this as a minor decision, and too many more leave this task to Uncle Harry (no disrespect to anyone's uncles) who just happened to buy an expensive digital camera just last week. I am thinking about changing that old drunk driving commercial to "Friends don't let their friends shoot their weddings" unless of course they are a professional.
This new world of digital cameras has spawned a whole new breed of faux photogs. Don't get me wrong - I encourage everyone to take photos . There is no greater joy than taking pictures. It is fun, it is therapy, it is art. But the art of shooting a wedding isn't just snapping off pictures. Unfortunately people think there is safety in numbers, and if you take 4000 pictures, something is bound to turn out great. Believe me, this is an instance when quality beats our quantity every time.
When you start looking for someone to shoot your wedding, don't start with Uncle Harry, start with the internet. Websites are a great way to see a sampling of your potential photographers work. But don't stop there. Most photographers have at least a handful of pictures that really hit the mark that they can post on their website. But I always tell my potential clients to go beyond the website galleries, and look at their online proofing gallery. This will give you a good chance to see their work from start to finish - not just the "award winning" stuff. I never password my galleries unless my client as asked me to. I invite people to go and see my work and exam it thoroughly. My online viewing site is a good way to see exactly what they will be getting from me. I want to make sure that my clients feel that we are a good fit and they would end up loving their wedding pictures. And bringing me more work, by recommending me to their friends.
When you go to your friends wedding, watch their photographer and see if you like their style and the way they are interacting with the bride, groom and the guests. Do they look confident that they know what they are doing? Do they have control of the situation - especially during the formal shots? Are they getting the shots or talking or texting on their Blackberry? Do they look like they are having fun, or does it look like it is merely a job to them? I promise you, if they look like they love what they are doing, it will show in your pictures. Make sure you go to their website and check out the pictures from that wedding. Seeing a photographer in action is the best way to get an idea of what you will get.
It is important to meet your potential photographer in a face to face meeting, not just on the phone. Make sure you see sample books that they have done. This is another good way to see their work of an entire wedding, and how they will tell your story. It is also a way to see if your personalities match. There is probably no one you will spend more time with on your wedding day than your photographer. It is paramount that your personalities mesh. I always include engagement pictures in my packages. I do this for a number of reasons. But most of all it gives my bride and groom and myself a chance to get to know each other, and to have them feel comfortable having their picture taken. It also gives them the confidence that, after they see their pictures, they have chosen the right person to record their wedding day.
Lastly, don't be afraid to ask questions. Find out if they belong to any professional organizations. That doesn't mean that they are the right photographer for you, but it does indicate that they take their work seriously. Make sure that you are both on the same page and you are getting the services you think you are getting. Make sure you have a contract, it protects both of you. Communication is paramount. And don't be afraid to ask for references.
There is a lot to think about and do in planning your wedding. If you choose your photographer carefully, you will have memories that will last a lifetime.
