Cont. Planning Your "Picture Perfect" Wedding CALENDAR: The first thing you should inquire about is availabilityto be sure the photographer has your wedding date available. If the dateis open, ask who will be physically taking the pictures. If it is not goingto be the person to whom you are speaking, ask to review actual photographstaken by the staff member who will be taking your photographs and requestto meet that person before you make a decision. Some studios, but not all,use "contract labor" to cover weddings on popular dates. Associatephotographers (sometimes contract labor) are perfectly permissible, butyou need to see exactly what you are getting. Do not look at one photographer'swork and hire another. You could be disappointed.

CREDENTIALS: When meeting with your perspective photographer, inquireabout experience, degrees, awards, etc. Find out how long this prospectivewedding photographer has been in the photography business, and how longhe/she has been "shooting" weddings" and taking bridal portraits.This is important! If a studio has been in business for 20 years, it isnot likely it will go out of business before you get married. Additionally,wedding photos hold special memories for a bride and groom.; and for many,it is a once in a lifetime event. You want the best your money can buy tocapture this special time in your life. Photographers are not required bylaw to have a degree or any type of experience. Anyone can buy a camera,place an ad in the phone book, and call themselves a "professionalphotographer." Ask if the studio belongs to any professional organizationsat the local, state and national levels. Membership in such organizationsis a good indication that this studio uses the latest techniques in thephotographic industry. Look on the photographer's walls to see if he/shehas won any special awards, ribbons or trophies for photography. Look atthe photographs on display. Ask if this person has ever had a wedding atyour church. If so, ask to see any examples of pictures taken there. Alsoask to see examples of photographs taken at your reception location.

COMPETENCY: When visiting with your perspective photographer,look at as many photographic samples as are available. How do the photographslook? Although you are probably not a judge of fine quality photographicmasterpieces, you do have a sense of quality and know what you like anddo not like. Are the photographs properly exposed (don't look green or faded),and well composed? Do all the subjects look good? Are the photographs sensitiveand romantic.Are the formals taken at the alter well arranged? Are the backgroundsin the photographs well lit or, for example, are the alters too dark todetect any details? Are all phases of the wedding covered - before, duringand after the ceremony? Are all phases of the reception captured- cake cutting,toasting, eating, partying, dancing, bouquet/garter tossing, and leaving? It is very important that your photographer have at least a few samplealbums that cover a wedding from beginning to end, and not just an assortmentof different weddings. Any one can get a good image now and then, but whatyou want is someone who gets good, consistent results time after time. Thesecomplete wedding albums should tell the wedding story of those clients.You want professionalism. You may want to ask what kind of camera your photographerwill be using. Most good photographers will boast that, "It is notthe camera, but the photographer that takes the photograph." Withinreason, this is true. Some bridal guides suggest that a professional shoulduse a "medium format" camera, which produces a larger negative.But both medium format and 35mm cameras are acceptable for quality photographs.Today, you can get beautiful, big enlargements from 35mm film which wasnot possible just a few years ago. So, with the many recent improvementsin lenses and films, 35mm is just as accepted and successful in weddingphotography and fine portraiture as larger sizes. Do not get hung up onformat. It is only a measurement. A really competent photographer can verysuccessfully use either format, or both at the same time, for a combinationalbum. Remember, the photographer's ability is much more important thanthe size of the film used.

CREATIVITY: Some photographers are just born with creativity andothers work at it. Look at the sample albums. Does this person know howto pose subjects and make them look good? Are the poses many from the backof the church. Are you interested in double exposures, selective focus and/orsoft focus ? Ask if you are. Does this professional know how to capturethose "Special Moments" and the spontaneity of all the excitement?Creativity should also be considered when inquiring about a pre-weddingbridal portrait. This formal bridal portrait is important to many brides.This is a very special time in their lives, and for most, it is when theyare the most beautiful. Look at the bridal portrait samples. Are they takeninside the studio, outdoors and/or at other locations? A competent photographercan take your portrait anywhere you so desire, although indoor and outdoorphotography require different types of techniques and skills. If MotherNature cooperates, a full-length portrait taken outside at a location ofyour choice can be breath-taking. However, if you are not willing to contendwith the possible elements (heat, wind, humidity, grass stains, etc.), youmay opt for a more classical studio-type portrait. Many professionals cancreate beautiful images equally well using studio lights or using God'slight outdoors. Some specialize in either one or the other. You choose.

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