Nail down your budget. How much are you willing to spend? If you don't have much of a budget, that is fine, you can still find a photographer that meets your needs. First thing you can do is ask your friends and family. You will be quite surprised at how many budding photographers there are out there and how amazing their work really is. The plus point is that the cost wont be as high as professionals and willing to do a bit more and give you a bit more bang for your buck since they are trying to build a portfolio. This is a wise choice regardless of your budget, you never know what you might find. If you like their work, you will like what they do for you. Don't worry if you find a photographer this route that you LOVE but see they haven't done a wedding. Check and see if they are willing to do a wedding. They might be looking for such an opportunity. Keep in mind that weddings don't happen everyday for an up and coming photographer so it's a bit hard for a budding photographer to getting weddings into their portfolio. At a bare minimum you might get an amazing bridal portrait!
If you have no luck that route, the next step you can do is look for local photographers in your area. This might raise the cost a bit, it might not. The plus point on this is they know the area and quite possibly might have shot at the location of your wedding. The more prepared your photographer is the better your shots will be. A photographer who's never been to the location can be just as prepared by simply checking out the location and finding out how the ceremony will be set up. Shopping locally may still bring you some up and coming artist that that might have decent prices and you might find some professional that is very familiar with wedding photography. The prices will vary greatly.
Then if you have a budget that you can spend more freely than others you might be able to fly in a photographer if you know of one or find one from LA or New York.
Key points to look for:
1. Look through a lot of their work, don't just pick ones you like. If you find that the style you like is consistent throughout their photos chances are, you are going to get the shots you need and want from the photographer. Picking a photographer because he gets great beach shots but mediocre shots in places similar to your location, might not prove to be the best choice. Look for what would be similar to your wedding. See if he is consistently getting the shots you like and the detail shots you like. Don't waste your time on a photographer that gets shots of things you won't care about.
2. What does the photographer offer. There are many ways of operation. A photographer can just go and shoot and offer no prints of any kind. There could be extra charges for prints. There could be extra charges for editing. Look through the packages and see what the wedding photographer offers. Be sure to pay attention to time as well. Some will only do 3-5 hours and ask for extra beyond that and some will have packages for the whole day.
3. Is their communication prompt? When you find the top three picks and you are writing for your estimates or bids, do they reply to you within 24 hours? Are they courteous? Do they ask detailed questions? If they are slow to get to you or when they do are brief, I, myself, would take that as a red flag. It's a business and you are a customer. To me, it's very important to show that the bride/groom is important. A wedding is one of the biggest days of one's life and it just shows lack of professionalism to not show you care about their business. Sure, there are unique situations but if it's consistent realize that might echo through out their service including delivery of the product.
4. When you choose a photographer make sure they find out all that is needed and wanted. Get out all your expectations out bar none. If there is no effort to find out who the Brides Maids are or if it's indoor or outdoor or if you'd prefer certain angles of the ceremony you chances are you are going to be dissatisfied with your photos.
There are some basic tips to help start you off with your wedding photography. Good luck! If you have any additional questions feel free to ask! www.toyelephantphotography.com
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