There are TONS of planning resources for brides out there on the market.  When I got married almost two years ago, I bought a HUGE notebook full of information…probably ten times the information that I needed for planning my day.  One thing that was included in this notebook was a list of questions to ask every vendor.  I had a list of things to ask the florist, the DJ, the cake baker, the officiate, and of course, the photographer.

I went to meet wedding photographers, armed with my notebook full of questions, only to discover I really didn’t need it. Meeting each photographer was about meeting her, not about learning what type of flash she used and what her background photography training entailed. If her photos were as beautiful as they were, obviously she knew what she was doing with a camera and editing software. I needed to make sure her personality type would match up with mine because I would be spending quite a bit of time with her on my wedding day.

When it came down to it, the photographers’ images on their websites and blogs spoke for themselves.  Obviously I wasn’t going to go meet a photographer whose photos didn’t grab me.  When you look at someone’s photos online, you either like them or you don’t.  They style either fits you or it doesn’t.  Just be sure there are plenty of photo samples to look at that you like, not just one or two beautiful photos.

I chose which photographers to meet based on how their photos appealed to me.  Then I went to meet the contenders.

Based on my personality and needs for the day, I was able to choose a wedding photographer.  My decision was not based on who could better answer why she was the best photographer in Savannah.  It was not based on who had more equipment or more formal training.  It was based on who gave me the better feeling.  It was based on whose personality meshed better with mine.  For the record, I chose the photographer with less equipment and less formal training.

Even though your wedding notebooks will have you ask about what type of equipment your photographer uses, or what their photographic style is (this should be obvious from looking at the photos online before you even meet your potential photographer!), or “why should I choose you instead of someone else?”, don’t stress over these questions.  The bottom line is, you should choose someone who you can work with and who you will be excited to work with.

Here is what I would look for in a wedding photographer (or other vendor for that matter):

*Does his/her personality mesh well with mine?  Can he/she relate to me?  Will I enjoy working with him/her or will I be rolling my eyes at him/her all day long?

*Does this photographer have good customer service? – do I feel I can reach out to him/her at any time with questions (either photography related or not?). 

*Does this photographer have a genuine interest in my wedding?

*What is included in the wedding photography package? (if you want the photos on a disc, for example, be sure it’s included). How soon can I see and have my photos? And how many photos will I get? If the package doesn’t fit my needs perfectly, will the vendor work with me (within reason) to make it fit my needs?

And that is it.  I wouldn’t get bogged down with every single tiny detail out there.  Be sure you understand the packages and the contract – and then if you love the photos and you love the person behind the lens, go for it!  And if you are not getting a good vibe from the photographer, look elsewhere.  Planning a wedding should lead you to fun vendors who you look forward to working with, not to a stressed out process of interviewing vendors about every little detail.