Your wedding day ranks up there as one of those all important milestones next to your First Communion, Baptism, Bar Mitzvah and Graduation.
Who you eventually entrust the responsibility of documenting your specialday will depend on your budget, your preference on the style i.
e.
traditional or the documentary style of wedding photography.
Chances are your search will start on the internet or through recommendationsor word-of-mouth.
Though the internet is a great place to beginyour search, you should resist the temptation to hire someone withoutmeeting them in person unless you are getting married in Hawaiior a location where it is impractical for you to meet with them.
Inthat instance, you might consider contacting a local photographerand asking them if they do "destination weddings.
" Iftime is on your side, then you should meet with all your prospectivephotographers.
I cannot emphasize enough how important this is because the best photographer in the world withthe worst attitude no matter how good a price, is a sure guaranteefor a super stressful wedding day for everyone.
Theinterview is important to both sides because it allows both sidesto gauge how they will get along.
That's why a contract that spellsout the details will prevent any misunderstanding.
So don't base your decision on a hiring a photographer on a pricequote over the phone .
Your initial phone call should just be tosee if they are available on your wedding date.
Once you've established that, you should keep an open mind and meetthem.
Most don't charge for that consultation so you have nothingto lose.
If you can't make the appointment, at least call the photographer to reschedule or tell them you changed your mind about meeting them.
They are after all extending you the courtesy of a free consultation.
By looking at the bride's pictures at the end of the evening, you should be able to see if she was a "trooper" or a "bride-zilla.
" It shouldn't matter if the wedding was at the Edwards Mansion, the Mission Inn or someone's backyard.
So there is no question your search should start online but you should be aware thatthe pictures on most photographer's website are not necessarily a good representationof their true abilities.
What you'll be seeing are their best images taken over mulitple weddings and over the length of time they've been in business.
Keep in mind, that your needs are different, you're hiring them to document your all-important dayfrom "startto finish.
" Soit is a good idea to ask to see pictures from several different weddings.
from start to finish or as a "whole.
" Whatyou are looking for is consistency in the imagery.
Don't confuseconsistency with repetition.
Thereshould be consistency in how the photographer handles the light.
Are the images well exposed? Is there a lot of variety in theirshots i.
e.
does it look like they moved around using different angles,lenses and shooting from different locations? The skillful photographers and truly professional ones doall this.
Some even set up lights of their own when the lightingconditions are bad.
Examine the pictures of the brides.
Are they all pretty, slim and slender? This is important because it is far easier for a photographer to make good pictures of great-looking people than ones who aren't so photogenic.
Similarly, it is easier for a photographer to make good picturesat a scenic place like the Ritz Carlton in Laguna Niguel or the Mission Inn in Riverside than the local park or theElks Lodge or just someone's backyard.
Good wedding photographytells a story of how that day went for the bride and groom.
By looking at the bride's pictures at the end of the evening you should be able to see if she was a "trooper" or a "bride-zilla.
" Itshouldn't matter if the wedding was at the Edwards Mansion, theMission Inn or someone's backyard.
The truly skillful photographermakes the most of the settings and makes the wedding couple looktheir best.
Also, the observant and creative wedding photographer recognizes little details like place settings, party favors and center pieces which you have painstakingly chosen.
If they have an appreciation for style, they will definitely include those pictures as backdrops or backgrounds for your photo albums or DVD menus.
Mostphotographers offer slideshows with music either on CDs or DVDs.
It might be a good idea to borrow one or two of these to view athome instead of during the interview.
Just be a good sport and returnthose when you're done.
DVD samples are expensive to produce.
Onthat subject, ask if they author those DVDs themselves or they outsourcethose.
Naturallythe photographer who does their own is more skillful and probablycares more about their work than one who outsources that work.
Besides,how can someone else who wasn't at the wedding do as good a job?Andfor all these reasons, in terms of cost, it is probably a good ideafor brides-to-be to realize that after the cost of food, drinksand the banquet hall, the photographers fee should be next higheston the list.
Whenyou consider all the vendors working on your big day, who will bethere the longest? Does the photographer get to kick back and relaxwhile everyone is having a good time? He/sheis charged with the responsibility of capturing and documenting the day.
If you asked for their presence when you were gettingready,they will be there when your bridesmaid and you aredressing up.
In between they have to sneak in some pictures of your groom aswell, not to mention the bantering before that stroll down the aislefor both of you as single people hopefully one last time.
Andafterwards when the party is over, the photographer's work is onlybeginning.
Hundreds of pictures have to be edited and fixed forvarious flaws in post production.
Portraits have to be re-touched,albums have to be designed, DVD slideshows have to be created andenlargements have to be ordered.
The list goes on.
The post production can take as much as 20 hours or more depending on how elaborate a package a bride wants.
Soremember the next time you get a quote from a wedding photographerand you think it is very high, consider what you're paying for.
Unlike the other vendors you hire for the day, the caterers, disc jockeys, florists and wedding planners, the wedding photographer is not done at the end of the evening.
In fact, depending on how many exposures they made at the wedding, their post production work can take as much as 30 hours or more.
Depending on their particular clients' needs, they may have to fix blemishes on images in photoshop, convert images to black and white , design albums or author slideshows with music.
They will probably have to meet with you, the client, to finalize layouts for albums and send your print orders out and deliver them whenready.
All in all, these hours need to be accounted for and included in their quote so that they can be profitable and remain in business.
In the end, like most things in life, the calibre of photographer you end up with depends on what you're willing to pay.
Just remember that the food and music is for your friends and family, but the pictures are for you.
After all, that's what you'll be looking at years after when you reminisce...