ten_profotog

   Imagine yourself in the future, a few months after your wedding. Your gown is cleaned and stored. Your flowers have long since wilted and the only part left of your cake is the piece in your freezer waiting ‘til your first anniversary to be eaten. (ugh) Okay, so your mind’s eye picture isn’t quite like that, but you get the idea.
   What you do have are your photos of that special day of days. You’re looking at them in your lap and you’re remembering. (Was it a dream?) But what are you remembering? And how are you feeling about that collection of photos? That’s the biggie. These questions aren’t nearly as important as your answers because “for better or for worse” they’re yours. After putting so much time and energy - and, yes, money - into your wedding you want the best memories you can get.
   Now let's do a fast rewind to the present. You’ve had a glimpse of 20/20 hindsight in an imaginary future. You are now at a point where you’re about to visit some photographers. I'm here to help you choose wisely.

   Keep in mind that since the better photographers spend a lot of time at a wedding, can book fewer weddings per day than the florist or baker, and the better ones get hired months in advance, you need to choose your photographer as soon as possible after setting the date.

   I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard brides say they wish they’d shopped harder and smarter for their photographer. So much regret. So many wedding photos stored in a closet instead of displayed with joy. So much for the down side.
   Now let’s look at what could have been done by a well-informed bride. And it’s easier than you might think. You’re looking for just three main things and maybe a few minor ones.

ATTITUDE
You want someone you can relate to well. There’s a well-worn saying that’s been around for decades. “The photographer can make or break your wedding.” It’s true. I’ve heard it dozens of times in my immodest 20+ year career.    And that attitude will color your day for better or worse.
   So, how do you find out now, before your wedding day has even arrived, how he is going to handle himself then?   When you meet with photographers and ask them if they would be willing to take certain photos that have special meaning for you, note their response. Positive? Neutral? Negative? Do they write them down agreeably and ask you for more detail, giving you the impression they welcome such requests?
   Watch their body language: posture, tone, facial expressions, level of interest in what interests you! Does he or she have innovative ideas and seem to be keeping up-to-date? These are important clues about ATTITUDE.
   Too many wedding photographers have the attitude that “it’s just another wedding.” I want you to be able to sense that. Make sure you will be interviewing the photographer. Virtually all of the photographers I know, who truly care about the people they serve make it a point to get to know them, their expectations and wants. Some outfits have a clause in their contract that allows them to send anyone.

STYLE
   This is what decides whether your photos end up on the coffee table or the closet shelf, whether you’re proud to show them off or too disgusted and embarrassed.
   “Pictures is pictures,” right? Well, the way some folks shop - or don’t - you’d think they thought a business card and a camera was all the qualification a shutterbug needs to go out and shoot weddings. However, those who do some basic shopping - like you - soon find out that when it comes to wedding photography “there’s flowers and then there’s weeds.”

   How do you evaluate STYLE? What does good style or talent look like? That’s pretty abstract and subjective but there are a few concrete things you can look for. Look for photos with obvious, distracting shadows cast behind the subjects. This is an indication of posing people too close to a background &/or having the flash mounted in the wrong place. This also causes the “red-eye” phenomenon.
   Look for the quality of lighting in ceremony shots. Do they look like they were taken with flash or did the photographer use the available light of the building? Flash is distracting to everyone when it’s used during a ceremony and obliterates the beauty of the ambient light the architect designed. Using flash during the ceremony is typical of the un-trained amateur because they don’t know any better. Pros want to capture the beauty of the ambient lighting and not use flash. Professionals also know how to deal with the various types of lighting sources that may give off undesirable color.
   Are the sample photos being shown in sharp focus except for those that may have a deliberate softening for artistic effect? Are the photos you’re shown too dark or too light without good artistic reason?   Do the photos you’re shown reveal creativity or do they look ordinary - like so many others you’ve seen? Are they imaginative or so-so? Do you get excited about the ideas the photographer has? After you’ve seen a few different photographers’ works, you will develop a keener sense of good, better and best. You have to shop, look and listen to develop that sense.

CONTENT
What you see and what you don’t see in the photographer’s samples
At least one complete wedding, not just “the best of”
The Best of” several different weddings
Variety (whatever that means to you)
BTW: It doesn’t matter whether a photographer has worked at your location before. A pro can size the place up in minutes and know where to do which photos.

ORGANIZATION
   Look for evidence of them having their business act together. If the photographer is organized, she’ll have an information form to note every detail she’ll need about your wedding. A contract shows that she wants to be sure you and she both have a clear understanding of each party’s responsibilities.

ATTITUDE, STYLE (or TALENT) and ORGANIZATION - in that order. But Attitude and Talent are nearly co-equal.

BASE OF OPERATIONS
   There are other, lesser, things to consider, too. One of them is to not judge a photographer on externalities. It’s the old book and its cover thing. The most talented, reasonable and enthusiastic photographer may not have yet carved his or her niche in the local market and may be the one in the humble abode. Meanwhile, the polished pro might be in the nice studio. Those are just two extremes, to get you thinking, but with infinite variations in between. It really doesn't matter. Dont let it matter to you.
(If you’re not planning on getting married at their place then it doesn’t matter where they work from.)

PROFESSIONAL APPEARANCE
   Speaking of externalities… and at the risk of sounding hypocritical…. Imagine your photographer showing up in coat, tie and, well… sneakers. Honest, it happens. If this matters to you, bring it up at the initial interview.

REFERENCES
   It’s always a good idea to get references. That means the source has had a good experience. But don’t let the reference be your only guide. How many times have you tried a restaurant or a movie that someone else thought was fantastico, but you thought was a waste?