Undoubtedly, the best way to initially judge the competency of a wedding photographer is to have a recommendation from someone whose opinion you trust. If you receive more than one recommendation for the same photography studio, that’ s even better...especially if the same name comes from different sources.

Next, a phone call to the photographer would be appropriate. The conversation should begin by checking the availability of the studio to ensure they’ re available to cover the wedding on the specific date. You should also inquire the name of the photographer who would be taking the actual pictures, and at least a rough estimate of the costs involved.

Then, an appointment should be made to meet with the photographer who will be assigned to your wedding, view samples of his work and discuss the details. Without doubt, this meeting should include the bride and groom as well as the bride’ s parents.

At the meeting, the first assessment you should make is whether you feel comfortable in the presence of the wedding photographer. You are going to spend a good part of the most important day of your life with this person, therefore, you’ ll want to make sure that they are someone with whom you know you will enjoy sharing that time.

Then, you should request to view some of the wedding photographer’ s work. If you see a picture, or a series of pictures, that you really like, you should ask:

Who are these people?
Did you, personally, take these photographs?
May I call these people for a personal reference?

After all, it is one thing to see some beautiful pictures, but it is equally important to find out if the bride and groom enjoyed working with this wedding photographer. It is also a way of knowing that the wedding photographs you are being shown were actually taken by the person you are speaking to. You want to be sure that the work you are admiring was actually created by the same photographer who will be shooting your wedding.

Another result of this meeting is that it allows you and your wedding photographer to begin a one-on-one relationship. In that way, neither of you would be strangers to each other on the day of the wedding, and you will be more relaxed in front of the camera.

For the most part, when prospective clients come to my studio, their questions pertain to prices, sizes and numbers. I have often felt that the reason for this is that they have never thought to consider some of the more important questions, such as:

How do you feel about the bride and groom not wanting to see each other before the ceremony?

• What are the alternatives?
• How will the various plans affect us on the day of the wedding?
  
• Do you have any goals for approaching each wedding?
  
• What are your long-term goals for yourself as a person and as a wedding photographer?
  
• How long do you expect to be with us on the day of the wedding? Beginning at what time?
• Until when?
  
• Is there an extra charge if the wedding runs a little overtime?
  
• Whom would you include in the wedding photographs?
  
• Where and when would they be taken?
  
• What can I do to help you perform your duties to the best of your ability?
  

If you are still interested in the wedding photographer’ s services at this point, I would ask for the opportunity to see the complete coverage of a single wedding. That would be much more helpful than seeing a selection of beautiful highlights from many different weddings. When looking through the album, evaluate the work by placing yourself in the position that this could have been your wedding coverage. Ask yourself if the wedding photographer has actually considered the individual characteristics and personality of each of the persons in the photographs to come up with these pictures. Then, you might follow up with some of the following questions:

• Considering my facial features and physical attributes in general, what angles of my face would you consider better than others?
  
• Have you noticed any expressions or mannerisms of mine that you might want to try to capture or avoid?
  
• How did you get qualified to take professional wedding photographs?
  
• What kind of educational background and/or experience have you had in developing your techniques?

Now, let’ s get down to the nitty-gritty. Too often important details that you had never before considered come back to haunt you later. Make sure to ask your photographer these questions:

• How will you be showing me the wedding photographs for selection?
  
• Will you be helping me in the selection of the final pictures?
  
• How can people who live out of town be accommodated with ordering, paying and delivering?
  
• What are the costs of the various styles of coverage? Are there different degrees of coverage? What is included in each?
  
• How much for the extras or duplicates?
  
• Ask to see the specific style of album you will be receiving. Are alternate choices available? Is there an extra cost?
  
• What kind of time frame are you looking at for preparing the pictures for my selection?
  
• Are you providing me with proofs, slides or what?
  
• How much time do I have to make up my mind as to which pictures I want and how many?
  
• Are the “ proofs” for sale?

Ask these questions to make sure you’ re getting your money’ s worth:

• How much money would you expect me to eventually spend before you think I would be completely happy with my Wedding Photography coverage?
  
• How much money would you want me to spend in order for me to make it worthwhile for you to give me your full attention on my wedding day?
  
• How long have you been in business? How long do you plan on staying in the business? In other words, what kind of guarantee comes with my hiring you and/or your studio?

Finally, consider a few of the following conversation topics that can help you make a decision on a photographer:

• Do you have any particular philosophy about your approach to Wedding Photography?
  
• What would you plan to do at my wedding that would make my photographs unique and personal to me?
  
• Can I tell you whom I want in my pictures? How will you find them?
  
• How can I be certain that you will be taking the pictures?
  
• Whom will I be dealing with after the wedding?
  
• What is your payment policy?
  
• What happens if the wedding date changes and you’ re no longer available for the new date?

By now, you have probably spent a good deal of time with the wedding photographer. Their time is money, just the same as is yours. Realize that in the long run, someone has to pay for the hours each wedding photographer spends as a consultant. Keep their (and your own) expenses to a minimum by going to the meeting with the wedding photographer prepared to leave a deposit to confirm the date.

The wedding day can be quite hectic, and while it’s the photographer’s job to capture all the cherished moments of the day, with a little bit of planning, you can help ensure your wedding photographer gets all the right shots.

Create a Wedding “Shot List”
Think ahead about the wedding shots that you might like the photographer to capture and compile a shot list so that they can use. This is particularly helpful in the family shots. There’ s nothing worse than getting the photos back and realizing you didn’ t photograph the happy couple with Grandma!

Family Wedding Photo Coordinator
The family photo part of the day can be quite stressful. People are going everywhere, there are different family dynamics at play and people are in a “ festive spirit” (and have often been drinking a few spirits) to the point where it can be quite chaotic. Nominate a family member (or one for each side of the family) who can be the “ director” of the shoot. They can round everyone up, help get them in the shot and keep things moving so that you can get back to the wedding party.

Have the Photographer Scout the Locations
Ask the photographer to visit the locations of the different venues that you’ ll be using before the big event. While I’ m sure most pros don’ t do this, I find it really helpful to know where we’ re going, have an idea of a few positions for shots and to know how the light might come into play. On one or two weddings I’ ve photographed, I’ ve even visited the locations with the bride and groom to take a few test shots (these made nice engagement photos).

Preparation is Key
So much can go wrong on the wedding day, so you need to be well prepared. The photographer should have a backup plan (in case of bad weather), think about routes and times to get to places and get an itinerary of the full day so they know what’ s happening next. If possible, have the photographer attend the wedding rehearsal so they can gather a lot of great information about possible positions to shoot from, the lighting, the order of the ceremony etc.

Group Wedding Shots
One thing that I’ ve done at every wedding and event that I’ ve photographed is attempt to photograph everyone who is in attendance in the one wedding or event shot. The way I’ ve done this is to arrange for a place that I can get up high above everyone straight after the ceremony. This might entail using a tall ladder, a balcony or even climbing on a roof. The beauty of getting up high is that you get everyone’ s face in the picture and can fit a lot of people in the one shot. The key is to be able to get everyone to the place you want them to stand quickly and to be ready to get the shot without having everyone stand around for
too long. I found the best way to get everyone to the spot is to get the bride and groom there and to have a team of helpers to herd everyone in that direction.