Finding a Photographer: Part II

The interview

So, you have made a list of all of your favorite photographers who could immortalize your wedding in film stills. Furthermore, you've by now called them and made an appointment to meet with them at their office. You have called them and set that up, haven't you? That was what the list was for in the first place!

You absolutely must set up that meeting appointment. The interview is the single best opportunity for you to learn everything you can about your potential wedding photographer, so that you can make the best and most informed final decision possible.

When you arrive at the home or office of the photographer, take note of your surroundings.

• Does the place look old and run down?
• Is there strange looking writing on any of the walls?
• Did you think that you heard what might have been faint screaming in the distance?
• Is it suddenly nightfall outside?

If you find that two or more of the above happen to be the case for you: Stop where you are! You have wandered into a horror movie, and are in grave and immediate danger.

Conversely, if you find that the place is:

• Brightly lit and inviting.
• Well kept.
• Smelling sweetly of flowers or fresh cookies.

If any of these are the case, feel free to let your guard down and proceed on to your appointment and interview with the photographer.

At the photographer's office, you should be able to get an even better sense of exactly what they offer and whether or not that is to your taste. To do this, you need to ask some important questions.

Basic things to ask

• How many hours will you stay at the reception?
• How would you describe your style of photography?
• How many cameramen will there be to take pictures of the wedding?
• Will you be coming to the rehearsal?
• Will you personally be the one taking the photos?
• Do you have any reference clients that I can hear from?

Use these questions and more to figure out just what kind of levels of commitment and professionalism the photographer brings to his jobs, and whether that matches with what you need and expect for your wedding.

Of course, it is also important to find out what kind of packages and prices the photographer offers. As much as they have to fit your expectations as a photographer, they also have to fit the needs and constraints of your budget.

Post interview

So, you have met your photographer and had your questions answered. All that remains now is for you to ask yourself whether the photographer fulfills all of your needs. Does he/she seem experienced in shooting weddings like yours? Are they capable of giving you exactly what you expect? If they gave you any references during the interview, go ahead and contact them to help you figure out if the photographer is right for you.

The right wedding photographer can give you images that not only can depict the events of the day as they happened, but can capture forever all of the ephemeral beauty of the emotions and senses that occurred in those brief moments. Choose wisely.

Do you have any: Comments? Suggestions? Veiled insults towards the author? Please post in the comments sections below and we'll continue the conversation. If you enjoyed reading this, found it to be especially useful or are just feeling charitable, then please Follow this blog by clicking the "Follow" button on the right side of this page.

How to find a wedding photographer: Part 1

The Big Question.

The absolute first question that you must answer when setting out to get yourself a wedding photographer is this: Do I want a professional wedding photographer?

Maybe you don't want traditional wedding photos. Maybe you just haven't made up your mind. Or maybe you have another idea on how to preserve your wedding memories.

What a great idea...

We've all seen "Wedding Crashers", so we all know just how great and cute of an idea it is to give out disposable cameras at a wedding reception and let the guests take the priceless candid shots that you know they will. In reality, however, your priceless shots will probably consist of captures of such great moments as your college room mate Ron downing his third whiskey sour, Aunt Ethel stashing food in her purse, and another shot of Ron from later in the night dancing with his pants around his ankles. In short, unless a lot of your close friends are professional photographers, the only memories you are going to capture are the ones you would much rather forget.

No, that won't do. So what if you still aren't sure if you want a photographer at your wedding? Well then this is your lucky day, because I am here to set you right. Provided below is a handy flow chart (made by yours truly using wondrous Paint.net technology) that can walk you through the entire wedding photography decision making process in an easy to follow, step-by-step fashion.

So, now that you have decided that you do indeed want a professional wedding photographer (or if you don't, you have vacated the premises as instructed), how do you go about securing the camera person that is right for you?

The interview phases.

Finding the right wedding photographer is really a three phase process:

1. Pre-Interview.


2. Interview.


3. Post Interview.

For now we will stick to covering phase one: The pre-interview. During the pre-interview phase you want to compile a list of all of the wedding photographers that you can find that you seem to like, or have heard good things about. The list itself is easy enough to make once you know where to find the information.

Making your list: Referrals.

The first and best place to find the name of a good wedding photographer is through referrals. Your recently married friends are always going to be the most reliable source when it comes to who is a good photographer (and who should be avoided at all costs). Likewise, your other vendors, having been to countless weddings themselves, can tip you off to their favorite camera person.

Photographer associations: Very helpful.

Another great way to find potential photographer candidates is through the DPPA web page. The DPPA, or the Detroit Professional Photographer's Association, is a place for the best pro shutterbugs in Michigan to network and grow their businesses. The website offers links and information for many of the members, and is a great way to help pad your list of potential candidates.

What's next?

So, now that you've completed your list of potential photographer candidates, how do you find the one that is right for you? Wouldn't you like to know... And you will, but in the next installment. Until then, remember that you need to compile your list of photographers, the easiest way to do that being:

1. Through referrals from friends and other vendors.


2. By checking out different photographers in business organizations like the DPPA.

As always, you are welcomed, nay encouraged, to continue the discussion in the comments section.

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