Selecting a Professional Wedding Photographer

Your professional wedding photographer is a keyparticular wedding studio that may be involved in
member of your wedding team. You have put largeyour day.
quantities of time and money into choosing a dress,3. What is your experience with my preferred style
picking a cake, designing the menu and writing theof photography?
vows and your professional wedding photographer isEngaged couples today have more choices than ever
the one who will document all the small details for allbefore. Digital wedding photography is increasingly
time.common and photojournalistic wedding photography
Therefore, it is important to screen prospectivehas become a hot new trend.
wedding photographers very carefully to find the oneIf you want something other than traditional posed
that is best for you.photography on film, make sure that you choose a
You may well never have hired a professionalprofessional wedding photographer who is
photographer before. Therefore, it can be difficult toexperienced in the style that you desire.
know what questions to ask. Yet it is crucial that you4. What possible additional fees might I incur?
conduct a careful interview process in order to findTravel fees, hourly fees if your wedding runs long,
the best professional wedding photographer for yoursetup fees and fees for additional rolls of film are all
needs.fairly common but not necessarily standard.
Here is a short list of important questions that applyWhile price should not be your only consideration, try
to all circumstances. You may have additionalto find a photographer flexible and willing to work
questions based on your individual needs.with you should unexpected circumstances arise.
1. Will you be the actual photographer for myAlso, inquire about charges for converting photos to
wedding?black and white or sepia tones, digitizing film photos
It would make sense that the person you areand printing out digital photos.
interviewing is the professional wedding photographer.Some wedding photography packages cover some
However, some companies employ a sales staff thator all of these fees, so inquire about package rates.
is good at closing deals.5. May I have a list of references from previous
A scrupulous salesperson will let you know what hiswedding clients?
or her role is in the company. Unfortunately, notNo matter how good a photographer's pictures are, it
every wedding photography studio is reputable. Theis also important that you click with his or her
salesperson might not let it slip that he or she is notpersonality. The interview will give you a basic idea of
actually a photographer unless you ask.personality, but remember that a wedding is stressful
Alternatively, the person with whom you speak mayfor everyone involved.
be the company owner. He or she may employ aSpeak with former clients to learn how the
staff of trusted photographers in whom he or shephotographer behaves under the real life pressure of
has complete confidence. Nevertheless, if the personthe wedding.
you interview will not be your actual photographer,A wedding day is an event each couple hopes to
you may want to speak to that person as well.cherish for the rest of their lives. It is the job of the
2. Do you have any samples of your work?professional wedding photographer to capture the
Any professional wedding photographer who hashighlights of the day on film, and there are no second
experience knows how important it is to have achances if the shots aren't perfect.
portfolio of his or her best work.Don't rush trying to find a wedding photography
Ask to see samples, not only of the seniorstudio to do your photos. Take your time to find the
photographer's work, but the work of all the otherright one.
photographers who might be working for that