Let’s face it, there are thousands of wedding photographers in any given city, and the number just keeps growing.  So how do you make the big decision?

#1: The basics are a must. Your photographer should have professional equipment AND know how to use it. If you’re relying on uncle Bob’s new Point & Shoot with pop up flash, you’re in for some devilish-looking red eyes and vampire-white faces.  

Questions to ask: What equipment do you take with you to a wedding?  Best professional DSLR cameras according to CNET.com.  What kind of lighting do you use?         Ask to see examples of an ambiance-lit reception hall.  The image should make you want to dance there all night.

#2: Personality.  Just like your soon-to-be spouse, you should be compatible with your photographer too.   Do you want a Type A- take control- we have to get this done- no messing around- personality managing your photos. Or would you rather have a more laid back- capture unplanned moments- go with the flow personality for your day. Or how about a fun- creative-artistic- try new things and get crazy photographer.

There’s no right or wrong answer here. Just make sure you find a good match to your expectations. At Aly.C.Photography, we love to capture unplanned moments AND make  sure you have fun with your photos.  We believe your images should represent your ‘couple personality’ in the most creative way possible.

#3: Delivering a finished professional product. Have you ever seen a 20 hour long blockbuster movie?  If Hollywood showed consumers every scene recorded with no edits, we would never watch movies unless we had a spare week to watch it.  And none of us have that kind of time or patience.  Photography is the same deal.  A professional wedding photographer should edit out the misfires, retakes and non-inspiring photos.  We all take them.  We’re human.  What matters is the way we present your final proof gallery.

Questions to ask: How many images will you get?  With two photographers, we shoot about 2000 images.  We typically deliver between 500 and 800 final images depending on the length of the day and number of locations.  Are they edited? Aly.C.Photography does one basic round of edits on every images in your final gallery.  This constitutes color correction, lightness/darkness and sharpening.  Are digitals included and how are they delivered? Most of our packages do include high resolution images in jpeg format. This year, our couples have a choice of a DVD or flash drive and both have an awesome presentation.

#4: Look for a consistent style in portfolios, and make sure it’s a style you LOVE. I don’t get many inquiries asking for traditional church poses….that’s because there are none in my portfolio.  I take them when I have to, but It’s not what I focus on. My shooting style is natural, simple and artistic.  It has evolved and improved over time, but the basic style is consistent. Here are some examples from the past 7 years.