You are at your local bridal fair. You have tasted cakes, seen fashion shows and sat at lovely reception tables. You have started to narrow your focus as you decide on what theme and style of wedding you want. Then you come to the wedding photographers. Oh my! There are so many choices, prices and styles of photography for your wedding. Budget or budget-buster, traditional or photojournalistic, small or large studio, paper proofs or online proofs? The choices seem endless even in a relatively small wedding photography market. How can a bride determine which wedding photography studio might be right for her? The answer is- ask a lot of questions! Ask yourself what is important to you and find out from potential studios if their wedding photography services are right for you. Consider these important areas to ask questions about when choosing a wedding photographer:

1. The Studio. Are events photographed by a single photographer with full creative control or are there multiple associate photographers as well? Will you get to meet your photographer before your wedding? Who will handle your questions, problems or complaints? Is there an office manager who will return your e-mails or calls promptly? Can you get two photographers for your larger wedding?

2. The Equipment. Will your photographer be using state-of-the-art lenses, bodies and flashes? Digital equipment is updated fairly frequently. Will he or she come to your event with duplicates of gear in case of equipment failure? Will your photographer come to your event with a range of multiple lenses or just one or two?

3. Photography Coverage. Are you planning to have an engagement photo session? Would you like your photographer to cover your getting ready or after-party on your wedding day? Certain photographers offer full-day coverage of your wedding with no time limits. Some photographers charge by the hour and full-day coverage can seem pricey. Others charge in blocks of time. If you get a photographer who charges in blocks of time, when the time is up and you decide you would like more coverage would they be able/willing to stay longer?

4. Photography Style: Do you prefer more traditional posed portraits of your wedding day or more relaxed candid shots? Do you prefer mostly color, black and white or some of both? Do you want detail shots such as close-ups of your dress or bouquet?

5. Proofs and Prints. Would you like your family and friends to be able to order high-quality prints and gift items featuring your wedding photographs online? These prints may go directly to you or they may be sent to the photographer first. Would you like to be able to proof your wedding album online from the comfort of your home or office? Do you prefer paper proofs and traditional offline ordering?

6. Wedding Albums. Is a wedding album important to you and your family? Would you like a professional to design your wedding album ? Do you prefer a traditional album or a contemporary magazine-style or coffee-table book album? Is real leather important or is imitation fine? How much is each side (page side) in the album? Is the album custom-made or a template using all one size image (for instance an album with only 8"x10" prints versus an album with a variety of sizes, style and orientation of prints based on telling the story of your wedding day)? Would you like your photographer to pre-design your album for you to review to expedite the album-design process? Would you prefer to come in to the studio to design your own album or would you prefer to do it online?

7. Pricing. Are services and products priced separately or bundled? When is the money due for separate items? Are there any additional fees (such as those for travel)? How much of a deposit is required to save the date? Is it refundable? Typically, deposits are not refundable. When is the balance due? Is more money due at the receipt of the album?

Asking lots of informed questions of yourself and of your potential wedding photographer will set you the right path of choosing the very best wedding photographer- for YOU!

Victoria Carrington Sam Carrington Photography Serving Brides Nationwide http://www.SamCarrington.com

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