Again, good photographers are booked for Saturdays almost a year in advance. As with caterers, venues and DJ-hosts, you might have to wonder about any that are available 2 months before for a Saturday event. Book the photographer early and choose carefully.

How to find one?
Start with recommendations when sourcing a photographer.  Usually those in the business know the reputation of various photographics. Ask your venue manager, the caterer, the DJ, etc.

Compare, compare, compare. Looking at portfolios is fun, and a great way to get ideas for the photographs you want like taken. Have a list of photos you want beforehand. As you interview photographers and get ideas from their books, add those ideas (on the form below). Give the photographer you hire a master list of photos you want to be sure he gets.

Look at his work carefully. Do the subjects seem relaxed and having fun?

Are you having fun in the initial interview, at ease?  Like DJ's, a photographers personality and ability to relax people who just meet him is half the game.

Does he have a back-up camera and lighting? If not, have a friend bring a high-end 35mm camera and film, in case your photographer has equipment failure. Remember: Details are nice… but AVOID DISASTERS is our motto.

True high-end photographers will probably use a big, heavy camera called  Hasselblad. Many also bring a lighter 35mm camera for quick, unstaged shots.

There is debate about photographers "keeping the negatives". Hire a professional and let him keep the negatives and let him take them to HIS lab. You don't want to mess with the negatives, there's a lot of things you can do that can destroy, damage or scratch them. If there is a problem with the end result, you also want to know who to blame. If you never touched the negatives, it's not you.

Have a friend who is willing to be the photographer? It's a good way to make them a "former friend". Like caterers, most photographers have horror stories of weddings they have practically destroyed in the early days. An inexperienced photographer might just have YOU as one of his future horror stories.
However, a friend might be a great back-up photographer, catching little moments the primary one might miss.

In general, it's better to get the best photographer and settle for less prints.

Put disposable cameras on all the tables. 20 years later you'll have a few hundred pictures that cost relatively little. It's worth it.

If you have someone who will do it, you can have someone take pictures of guest as they enter the receiving line (when they're looking their best). These are great for the album and make great additions to the thank you notes.

A couple weeks before the wedding, check back with the photographer and verify details, venue, date. Make sure he's still around and in good standing.

By the way, no drinking by photographers, assistants, DJ's etc.

Photographer Checklist

Does he have a back-up camera and lighting?

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Does the photographer do both indoor and outdoor work?  Can he provide a good studio?

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How does he charge. Usually it's one of 3 ways: By the hour, by the number of photos or by the package (and he'll have various packages to lay out before you.

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If it's a package, how much variation are choice do you have to choose the good pictures you want.

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Does the package include all the individual prints? How many?

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What kind of camera does he use? Hasselblad?

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Is the wedding album part of the package?

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Does the photographer have an assistant?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------List/describe the shots you really like from this photographers portfolio:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Photographers contract should contain:
1) Specified arrival and departure time
2) Price
3) Number of pictures taken color, number of pictures black and white
4) Number of proofs to choose from
5) Number of prints in the package
6) Special instructions section
7) List of must-have action photos
8) List of must have staged photos
9) Deposit receipt acknowledgement
10)Deposit refund policy if wedding is cancelled or postponed
11) Kind of album that comes with the package
12) Quality assurance of film and camera

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Notes: