Choosing a Wedding Photographer

First and foremost, no matter how tempting it might be to let your best friend photograph your wedding, I must urge you to consider hiring a professional.

As with any investment or venture that will cost you a decent amount of money, it's good to do some research. Ask around and find out about local photographers. Ask your married friends and acquaintances who they used as a photographer and if they were happy with whom they chose. Most importantly, find out what they liked and didn't like about their experience with their wedding photographer.

The best way to ensure that you'll be happy with your wedding photographer is to make sure to meet with him or her before the wedding. Ask for samples and discuss options. Quite often, a bride and groom have a location or theme in mind for their photographs, and also quite often, they don't even meet the photographer until the day of the wedding!

Researching a photographer should include checking with the Better Business Bureau, and asking the photographer for a list of previous customers. As long as the previous customers were satisfied, the photographer should have no problem wanting to share the previous work with you.

Of course, it's also a good idea to meet with several photographers to see which is right for you. Compare styles, portfolios and prices. A photographer who has been in business for a number of years can be a sign that they have provided excellent service to keep themselves in business, though new photographers shouldn't be overlooked, as well. Newer photographers may have more creative styles as well as lower prices.

It is vital to meet with the photographer and plan ahead of time what you are expecting. That way there can be no miscommunication or misunderstanding, and thus a drastically reduced chance of being disappointed by the end product.