Finding a Wedding Photographer

Finding a Wedding Photographer

It might seem tempting to let your uncle photograph your wedding — after all, he's family and he's willing to do it for free. The only problem is, Uncle Rick has never photographed a wedding before ... but does that really matter?

The answer is a resounding YES. In 20 years, the wedding flowers will have wilted, the cake will have been eaten and the only items you'll have to remember your wedding by is the photographs. Because of this, you don't want the pictures to be anything other than spectacular.

But spectacular photos come at a price, which is why it's tempting to let your amateur photographer cousin get the entire day on film for half the cost. Take it from us, the savings aren't worth it. Unless you're lucky enough to have a professional wedding photographer as a friend or family member, do the research and find a quality, professional wedding photographer.

So where to start? The Internet really is your best friend when it comes to finding wedding vendors — what did brides do before its invention, for goodness sake? — so hop online and start Googling.

Start by determining what style of photography you're interested in. Categories include photojournalism, which means the photographer will do less posing and more of capturing the moments as they happen, or traditional, which leans toward classic, formal poses of everyone at the wedding. To see samples of each type of photography, Google "wedding photojournalism" or "traditional wedding photography." You might also be interested in viewing samples of artistic wedding photography, which includes using digital manipulation after the photos have been taken to enhance them.

Once you have a handle on the different styles, start searching for a photographer. You can do this one of two ways — if you're interested in photojournalists, the Wedding Photojournalist Association (www.wpja.com) will offer contact information for the top photojournalists in your area. You can also find specific photographers in your area by searching "wedding photojournalists" (or "traditional wedding photographers") AND "your location."

Another third option to find a wedding photographer is to visit your local wedding message board (most areas have their own space on www.theknot.com), and ask for recommendations. Most brides are happy to offer advice on why and how they chose their specific photographer. (These boards are also helpful once you've narrowed down your choices to a couple photographers and need help making a decision).

In the age of the Internet, most photographers have a gallery online of wedding images. (In fact, be leery of any photographer that doesn't have a professional-looking website with a sample gallery). Take some time to browse through them to get a feel for which photographer's work you like. Once you've narrowed it down a little, send each photographer an e-mail or give them a call to start a dialogue between you and him/her. Some important questions to ask:

What type of packages do you offer?

How many hours of coverage does a bride typically order?

Will you be the photographer the day of my wedding?

Is an assistant included?

Who owns the rights to the photos?

How long will the images be available for viewing online?

Do you have any specialties such as black and white photos or hand-coloring?

You can also just set up a time for a meeting and save these questions for that time. You should meet your photographer face to face before signing a contract because you want to make sure you click with the photographer. He or she will around for some very important, emotional times, therefore you want to be comfortable with their presence. Someone who rubs you the wrong way will just detract from your happiness.

At that same meeting, ask to a proof book from a wedding. These books show all the shots taken at one wedding, rather than the photographer's favorites. This can be a telling sign and ensure you've chosen the right photographer.

When signing the contract, make sure everything is spelled out (this is a good tip for all vendors, not just photographers). Having everything in writing — from price to delivery time — makes sure that the photographer can skip out or change something you've agreed to.

A final word on price: First, it's naturally going to a factor in your final decision — most brides these days are trying to cut corners — but don't let it be the only factor. Choose a price point you're comfortable with, then do research within those parameters to find the highest-quality photographer possible. Second, don't select a photographer way out of your budget and expect to haggle them down. While you might be able to negotiate a small dollar amount or ask for an extra service for the same price, don't expect them to knock $1,000 off the price just because you "really, really want them." Photographers have expenses to pay, and the good ones are charging for the quality of their work, the price of their equipment and, often, an extra photographer the day of the wedding.