It's very important that you and your fiance feel confident in the wedding photographer you hire. Your wedding photographer will work with you ahead of time to learn which shots are important to you and whether you want traditional photographs or more candid ones. To help you decide who to hire here are the answers to the most commonly asked photo questions.
Q. Color or black-and-white film -- which is considered best these days?
A. There's definitely a trend toward more black-and-white film at weddings. There's something dramatic about photographs in shades of black, white, and gray -- they tend to be very emotional and focus on the essence of the people portrayed in them. But color film will capture all the details you so painstakingly planned -- the peach roses, the intense coral of the bridesmaid dresses, even the blue of the bride's eyes. Your best bet is most likely a combination of both.
Q. Q. I'm concerned that my photographer won't get shots of all the important guests. How do I make sure this happens without being a total control freak?
A. You definitely don't want to be focused on your photographer on your wedding day -- your stress will show in the pictures! Take the responsibility off your shoulders by giving him a list of must-take photos in advance. Ask a relative or friend to be on call to point out specific people to the photographer. Another way to ensure that everyone is included is to have your photographer shoot a portion of your rehearsal dinner -- also a great opportunity for him to get familiar with some of your closest family and friends so that you can be sure he'll get shots of them on the wedding day.
Q. Q. We're on a really tight budget. Is it smart to hire a photography student or ask one of our guests who's an amateur photographer to take pictures?
A. This depends on what is important to you. For most couples, wedding photographs are a hugely important part of the day. But if you just aren't that excited about having a wedding album or if you won't be disappointed with merely a few good shots, you might consider this option. If you find a truly talented student, or you've always admired your cousin's skill as a shutterbug, you can take a chance. Just keep in mind that if the photographer doesn't have wedding experience, you are not likely to get great results, and it might not be worth the savings. You are probably better off trying to find a pro with wedding experience who will work for just a couple of hours, to shoot just the ceremony for example.
-- The Knot
Photo: Steve Lyons Wedding Photography/The Knot
RELATED LINK:
See couples' shots from real weddings
