Plan A Wedding: The Perfect Photographer... ?

One of the best advice from all the photographers I met was... Look at the photographers' pictures and imagine yourself in those pictures.  Are you happy?  For someone who's technical knowledge of photography is limited despite a father who loves it, this was very useful advice.

A photographer will not be able to change their style to give you the style of pictures you want.  Instead, you have to find the photographer with the style you like.  If you are like me and cannot classify your style as the journalistic, editorial, or vintage styles, then this is the best way to find the right photographer.

There are some other nontechnical considerations you can assess.

• Do you get the rights to the engagement and wedding pictures?  (If you do not have rights, then you cannot legally print it.  Even if you have the digital copy)
• Do you get the digital copy to your engagement and wedding pictures?  If so, what is the format?
• On average how many finished pictures do you get? (Most photographers will only give the edited pictures)
• How many photographers will be there?  An assistant gives the photographer the equipments s/he needs and sets up the lighting.  A second photographer will have a camera and take pictures to ensure more coverage.
• Is the photographer you are meeting, the one who will take your picture?  If so, are the pictures you saw online done by this photographer?
• Will the photographer be able to give you a sneak peek of the photographs during the wedding?
• Who will do the final edit for all the picture?  I preferred the lead photographer doing all the edit so there is a consistency.

You should like the photographer too.  During the meet and greet, if their personality does not work with yours then the sessions will be awkward.  Sometimes that time will not be enough, so the engagement session is the next best time.  Make sure you are clear about what the policy is if the engagement session does not work out.  All the photographers I met with said I would sacrifice the deposit.  

Two more financial consideration (beside your budget) are:

• What occurs if the photographer is unable to do your wedding?  I was informed they knew the other photographers in the city and would ensure it is someone with their style.
• Would they be willing to reschedule if the wedding is rescheduled assuming that date is not booked?  Since our wedding is in the "winter" season, we have been asking about that with everyone.