AT THE TOP OF THE LIST!!!

Photography will undoubtedly be at the top of your budget when it comes to it's importance and the role it will play in your overall wedding. And of course, the actual wedding day photography needs are top priority, but don't forget about the other photography related issues such as E-pics (engagement pictures), which are often used for save the date announcements and just married announcements in your local newspaper. E-pics are also great to have because you can frame large or small photos and display them at the entrance of your wedding reception!

PHOTO BOOTHS AND ON-SITE PRINTING

Another great use for photography (whether it is done by your hired photographer, or a different vendor) are the use of photo booths and on-site printing. Photo booths can be rented from various outlets. The vendor would deliver it to your wedding reception so your guests can take photos of themselves as keepsakes for the couple.

Another great way to get your guests in the game is to have a photographer set up a photo-station with on-site printing. Each of your guests would have a pictures taken with him or her significant other, and the picture would be printed on the spot and slipped into some sort of cardboard or plastic folio. Prices ranges vary, so please check with your local vendors for quotes.

WOULD THE REAL PHOTOGRAPHER PLEASE STAND UP!

Ok, now on to the real deal of finding a professional photographer for your wedding. To keep in-line with what we have discussed in our budget recommendations, do not shop on price just yet! Rather, see many samples online and in person either by visiting the studio or going to a bridal show. Once you determine what quality will satisfy you, then you go onto the difficult task of finding a photographer that delivers what you want, within the budget that is comfortable with you. There are TONS! of photographers out there! And just because they are advertising doesn't mean they are all professional. You have to be careful of weekenders and amateurs. Many photographers who start out have a decent portfolio because they have shot it over the shoulder of who trained them, or shot it in conjunction under the tutelage of their trainer, so be careful of that! Make sure to get a photographer who is tried and proven! Someone who can deliver each time and every time!

FILM OR DIGITAL?

This is equivalent to asking a question like Red or White? The answer is going to depend on who you ask and if what their preference is. Just a few years ago, the answer for many would still be film because digital was up and coming. But today, the technology of digital is equal to, if not greater than the small (35mm) and medium format (6x6 or 6x7) film cameras wedding photographers would use anyway. So it really boils down to what you like! This goes back to shopping around and seeing many samples in person! Many photographers who shoot digital do so because it streamlines the process of creating the magazine style photo album. Traditional photographer who still shoot film are most likely still using the old fashion slip in type wedding albums, or are having their film negatives scanned to digital upon processing. In some cases, film shooters charge more because of the inherent cost of the film and subsequent processing. But this is not always the case. As with all your wedding planning, prices will vary depending upon the situation the vendor you are looking at is in.

STYLE, JOURNALISTIC AND/OR FORMAL

Most professional photographers shoot a combination of journalistic and formal, with the latter being the traditional posed shots that were once the common thing to do. Back in the day, it was the studio photographer who would come out to shoot a wedding. Not the photographer who was shooting rock bands or working for the press. As videography became more prevalent 15 years ago, photographers saw a need for journalistic coverage of the real time action of the wedding. Today, it is common for photographers to be versed in both styles. Some studios have two shooters with one doing journalistic and the other doing posed. But in many cases, you don't need both at the same time since the posed shots happen at a particular, pre determined time, and the journalistic covers the realtime events of the day. Beware of photographers who shoot only journalistic. This could be a sign that the photographer is not experienced enough in the lighting to achieve professional posed pictures and also of the laziness in not wanting to be responsible for any pre determined shots. Even if you think you may not want any posed, once the wedding is underway, you certainly will want some as the day passes by.

WEDDING ALBUMS

Todays high end studios offer something called a magazine style wedding album. This is basically a graphic design in the determined print size of multiple images on that page. So, if your album was a print size of 10x10, then you could have from 3 to 5 images on that page that tell the story of the wedding day. You would think that this would be a cost cutting issue, because now you don't have to make as many prints to show as many images. However, there is the cost of the design itself that now plays a part of the overall price. Whereas before, if you had 50 images to print that would mean 50 prints. Today, you can fit 50 images into a 24 page design. These magazine style designed pages also look great in the 'flush mount' page album and have been instrumental in making the flush mount album a huge success. With a flush mount album, a print is mounted on a backing board, and then cut flush so that there is no matting. Despite the rise in popularity, the traditional matted album is still very popular among today's brides!

QUESTIONS TO ASK POTENTIAL VENDORS.

The following questions are actually trick questions, because the answers will give you some insight into the persons abilities and overall attitude with respect to how they approach the wedding. And because none of the questions are specific to pricing, film or digital or albums, you can ask them regardless.

1]. Do you do table shots?

You'll be surprised at how many photographers do not do table shots! The short reason is that if they say no, then they are lazy! After all, they are there on your nickel, why don't they just do what you want? Some photographers will give the excuse that the bride never orders them or puts them in the album..which is a crock!

2]. Do you accept a list of shots we want?

If the answer is no, then beware! This goes along the same concept as above. But basically, there are many photographers who want zero accountability. They do not want to be bothered by getting shots that you want! They just want to show up and do what they want! But in a world where you are spending thousands for them to be there...this just doesn't fly!

3]. Do you allow family/friends and guests to take pictures while you are working?

Once again, if the answer is no...beware! This question and the answer they give will shed some insight to how they will act on the wedding day. A relaxed photographer with nothing to fear will not have any problem with family and friends shooting. After all, everybody has a digital camera now! Plus, Uncle George has seen you grow up and has waited along time for you to get married. It just isn't fair if you get a photographer who will not allow your Uncle to take your picture on your most special day! Many photographer don't take into account how much you mean to these family and friends. The other thing is this, weddings are inherently stressful. The photographer must be able to work around obstacles and distractions. If they can't take the distraction of guests taking pictures, how will they react to other distractions that will take place?

4]. Do you need to attend the rehearsal? If the answer is yes, then your photographer may not be as experienced as they let on or is not experienced in the wedding of your ethnicity/tradition. The fact is, weddings are very dynamic and everchanging. So even if they go to the rehearsal, the lighting will change, the people will be in a different spot and things will be different. Now, we are not knocking photographers who go to rehearsals, but much of the reason has to do with what we explained above.

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