Looking for reputable and talented vendors can take up much of your time during wedding planning, so make sure you are looking for the right things!  When it comes to photography, you definitely don't want to take any chances, you will be living with these photos for a lifetime so its important to hire someone that you love and that you can be assured will do an excellent job at your wedding.  Here are 5 things that as professional planners, we look for in a great photographer:

Photo by: Elizabeth Messina

1. Experience

There is no substitute for experience, period!  Photography is more than just picking up a camera, pointing, aiming, and shooting.  Hours upon hours, years of training, and trial-and-error and perfection are all so important in building a photographer's reputation, confidence, and ability to shoot.  A seasoned photographer will be not only just be able to capture images, but they will be able to evaluate every scenario, make you feel comfortable, and know the best lighting/techniques to make you look amazing.

2. Equipment

A professional photographer should show up to every event prepared for every case and scenario that may come up.  They should never show up with anything less than one or two backup cameras and lenses, as well as flashes and memory cards.  Don't run the risk of hiring someone who isn't prepared!  Make sure they bring an additional assistant as well to help capture photos.

3. Portfolio

When first meeting with a photographer, always look at their portfolio.  This not only ensures that they fit your style, but also shows how experienced they are.  It is always helpful to ask to see a wedding shot from start to finish and not just their portfolio.  Any photographer can pick their top 10-20 shots to make a book that is excellent, but when you see a wedding shot from start to finish, you can get a better idea of the overall style and story of the wedding.

4. Standards

Your wedding photographer has standards to uphold.  This means they should be versed in proper etiquette, attire, and know how to interact with you and your guests in a professional manner.  This also means answering e-mails and phone calls in a timely manner as well!

5. Post-Production

Wedding day photos and shooting is important, but the post-production is just as important!  What format does your photographer shoot in? Film? Digital?  Find out what programs they use to edit photos and create albums.  Will they be able to give you a digital copy of all of your photos?  Choose a photographer who will take great care in editing your photos to ensure the most beautiful pictures possible, and also someone who uses top of the line programs to fix and edit your photos.

We hope these tips will help you in your search for a photographer, happy shooting and wedding planning!