Choosing a Wedding Photographer

Every bride (and groom) knows how important your photographs are and will be. And every bride today knows how confusing it is to try to choose among the hundreds of photographers out there. Here are a few point that may help.

First, full disclosure: I am a wedding photographer (www.joelsimpsonphoto.com). Of course, I welcome new clients, but I also believe that a better informed bride will be a happier bride, more satisfied with her photographs, and more able to avoid the heartbreaking disappointments caused by the recent scandal of a wedding photography company disappearing with all the images of many couples, leaving them with nothing and taking their money.
So first you want to avoid being victimized; second, you want to be happy with your photographs; third, you want to be thrilled and overjoyed by them—while staying within your budget. How do you do it with the least toil and pain?

1. Find someone reliable, someone you can work with.
So ask your friend, or your sister, or whoever just got married in the last year or so and got good results from her photographer. Still, you’ll want to see if you like working with her/him, and if you could be happy with the work she/he does. When you contact the studio, you still need to ask for referrals, people you can call and speak to one-on-one (over the phone is fine). You want to have more than one testimonial for anyone you’re considering plunking down your (or your parents’) hard-earned cash for.

2. Find someone you really, really like.
But you want to be overjoyed with your photographs, not just satisfied. And there might be techniques, approaches, items out there that you would really love if you just knew about them! You might want your album to be better than your sister’s or your friend’s—a lot better. So where do you go, and how do you minimize the risk of working with a completely new studio?
First look through the bridal magazines. They are the quickest way to find out about new ideas and techniques in the field. Check out the websites of studios profiled in the articles and the ones in the ads. See if their quality holds up; see what strikes you, what’s innovative, if you’re open to that.
Then go to the web, armed with better ideas of what you’re looking for. There are many more photographers on the web, since it’s much cheaper to advertise there. So your chances of getting more of what you want within your price range are often better.
Here are some websites to check out: TheKnot.com, OneWed.com, AllWedding.com, OurWeddingDay.com, and Respond.com. You’ll see a small selection of images (or only one) and a short description of services. Many will be very similar. Look for things that stand out: creativity, originality, sensitivity, stunning beauty, humor. Check out their websites, and call 5 to 10 of them in your price range.

3. How to choose one among many.
Then ask questions, and trust your gut. You’ll be working with the person very closely, relying on him/her. Is he supportive, understanding, flexible, competent, able to handle new situations that might come up? Can he give you the precise things you want? Does she have items, approaches or techniques that strike your fancy? Will he put together a custom package for you? Does she have any specials going on? Can you order other items at a later date without penalty? Can you spread out payments, if you need to?
Then get referrals. Check everyone out, preferably with three (or more) past clients. Of course, he is going to give you his best ones, but ask the bride what particularly delighted her, how she liked her album, how her parents liked working with the photographer, how quickly things were done, and thank them for their time.

If you do these things you will avoid heartbreak and get very good results. Remember that a few hundred dollars one way or another won’t make much difference in the long run, and you’ll be very glad you got something that dazzled and delighted you.

These are the main things to ask about when choosing a photographer (or any other service provider). There are other things to ask about (like backup cameras, number of assistants, etc.), and you’ll find them on my website under Wedding Photography Guide on the left side of the home page.

Let me know if this helps, and please share any of your tips for brides.