really want all those fingers pointing at you? Unless you choose someone who has shot at least more than one wedding, that person is NOT qualified to be trusted with your once in a lifetime photography, no matter how good their intentions.
When choosing a wedding photographer, there are some key points to keep in mind and questions to ask. How long has the photographer been shooting weddings? How many weddings have they shot? Do they carry backup equipment in case of camera failure? Extra batteries? Extra flash? Do they have a hard copy or web portfolio in which you can view their work? Are they easy to get along with and will they honor any special requests you have during the shoot and throughout the day? Are they flexible in their shooting schedule? Do they use an assistant or go it alone? Do they have reliable transportation? Are they willing to travel any? Will they leave at a pre-set time, or hang around to make sure they don’t miss anything? Do you get original files? How many? Do they archive them and if so, how long? Do they offer prints, albums, etc.? Do they attend the rehearsal? Will they send a replacement photographer in the event they get hurt or are too sick to make the day? The list goes on. Don't just ask for a price and availability.
Wedding photographers come in all price ranges as well. When planning a wedding, a budget of some kind has to be set aside for decent photos. I have seen prices ranging from $500 to $5000, so there is no reason not to find and hire someone with the ability to make sure your day is covered and within your budget. You want to be sure to look at their samples, talk with the person who will be doing the actual shooting, and only then can you be assured, confident, and relieved that the photos will be satisfactory and to your liking when you receive them. You also want to be sure when looking over samples that whoever you choose has a proven track record of getting all the must have shots, such as the bride coming down the aisle, the ring exchange, the kiss, cutting of the cake, the first dance and so forth. There are many more, but by now I'm sure you are getting the idea. All of the photos are important in my opinion, but there are definitely must have shots that simply cannot be missed.
The point in all this is, it really doesn't matter who you hire. Just make sure that you hire someone that is right for you and will work to meet your expectations. Make sure you shop around and look over more than one photographer. Never just look at one photographer and then settle to make it easy on yourself. Make sure you make a list of questions to ask and make your decision based on good research and information. Make sure you get someone who will make certain the photography goes smoothly, who has experience and will make sure you get decent quality, clear photos of the big day. This will be one less worry for you and give you confidence that things will go as planned. After it's all said and done, that's all there will be left to see, so make sure the photos are good ones! You will be glad you did, and so will anyone viewing the photos.
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The author, Lee Mandrell, is the owner and operator of LeMans Studios, an Indianapolis, Indiana based photography company. He can be contacted at [email protected] or you may visit him at http://www.lemansstudios.com/