Choosing the Best Wedding Photographer

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Choosing your wedding photographer is a task that should be undertaken with care. Given the time, effort and expense that goes into creating that perfect wedding, surely you want your wedding pictures to capture the essence of the day. You want more than just a run-of-the-mill, competent photographer—you want talent. And, if you take your time and know what to look for in a photographer, you can find it, ensuring that your wedding pictures will be just as perfect as your wedding.

Getting recommendations from friends and family is a good place to start your search. However, it is important to remember that no two brides have the same vision in mind when they picture the perfect wedding album. It is very much a matter of personal taste and style. The photographer your best friend used and loved may well be wonderful and talented, but his style may not suit you at all. So, be sure to ask those making recommendations for a peek at their pictures so that you can form your own opinion.

Do some online research on wedding photographers in your area. Many have websites or blogs that serve as easily accessible portfolios for prospective clients to peruse. Make a list of those who have work that catches your eye, then make appointments to see them in person.

Looking at few or even a lot of photos online isn’t enough. Even an amateur can have a few really good shots to display on a blog. What you want to see is a few complete wedding albums to see if the photographer in question will be able to produce great shots throughout your wedding and reception, handling differing lighting and spaces with skill.

Spend some time talking with each photographer you are considering. Ask him for references and find out how many weddings he’s done. Make sure you explain exactly what you want, whether it is traditional wedding portraits, candid shots, or some mixture of the two, and get a price list in writing. If there are particular moments of the ceremony or reception you want captured, be sure to make that clear.

Last but not least, personality matters. Pick a photographer that listens attentively to your opinions and concerns and explains things patiently when you ask questions. All the talent in the world won’t produce great wedding pictures if you don’t feel comfortable working with your photographer. You want your pictures to reflect the joy of the occasion, and that simply won’t happen if you don’t feel at ease in front of the camera.

Trendy Effects or Timeless Wedding Pictures?

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With so many edgy effects, trends and styles from which to choose in wedding photography today, deciding just what you want in your wedding pictures can be difficult, especially if photography is not your best subject. An important point to consider when weighing your options is that you will have those pictures a long time, well after many of those trendy looks have gone by the wayside.

Trends come and go in photography just as regularly as they do in the fashion world. What appears edgy, modern and attractive today might look dated and downright silly in twenty years. Remember the textured portraits that were all the rage or that soft focus trend? Probably not. Nobody does except those unfortunate people who have portraits done in these styles safely hidden away in the attic.

How many of us cringe when we look back at photos of ourselves from high school or college, decked out in clothes or hair styles that were the must haves of the day. Well, the same thing can happen with your wedding pictures if you don’t take a minute to seriously consider how those trendy new effects will look in twenty years.

On the other hand, simple, straightforward wedding photography is timeless. Much like classic clothing styles, they will look as good in twenty years as they do today. There will be no fear of the children or grandchildren asking why your hair is florescent or your skin is that sickly tone of green. Nor will you find yourself shaking your head and wondering what in the world you were thinking when you had those photos done.

So, if you decide to go with one or several of those trendy effects, like sepia, toning, color selecting or vignetting, you might not want to have your entire wedding album treated that way. Unless you really love the look and are sure you will think just as much of it in 20 years, you might be wise to leave a good selection of those wedding memories just as your wedding photographer saw them as he composed his shot. Hedging your bets may leave you with some wedding pictures you will still enjoy if your love of those effects fades over the long haul.