How do you choose your photographer?

[KennedyPhotography]

Hello Ladies,
I was wondering, When you are looking through the cornicopia of photographers out there to choose from. What things are you looking for, and what things help you to make your final decision.
I hear different things, but I would like to get the answers from actual brides or past brides. I would like to know what you are looking for and what directed you to your final decision.

[usahgrad]

While I'm not sure if this belongs under "Bride Chat," I will reply anyways. I chose my photographer for a couple of reasons.

One, I wanted a complete set of my negatives and they gave me an extremely reasonable rate for that. Two, I got along REALLY well with them (our initial meeting lasted a couple of hours). Three, my mother, who was paying for the photographer, liked them. And four, free is an incentive; we got our engagement shots for free.

However, the biggest thing that really got me was the relationship. Had they had all the other three things but were awful mean people, there would be no way I would have hired them. If I can't have a good relationship with my photographer then I am not sure if they are going to be able to capture the memories I am going to want.

[Jenn060306]

I wanted someone who understands what I want. Who will listen to me. It was important to me that we got digital copies of all the photos that did not have water markings on them. I wanted to be able to pick and choose what prints i had made. We wanted someone who was affordable and who was understanding of what our needs are. We have a huge family that includes step-parents and step-sibblings so the photographer needs to be pacient.
Obviously have a good portfolio that fits with my FH and i's style.
What really sold me on my photographer was her offer to do free engagement shots if we booked her by a particular day. This way she gets to know us better and see how we are in photos. I have a bad tendency to blink alot in photos so many of them i end up having my eyes closed.

[andysgirl07]

I wanted someone who got along well with me and my FH. The sample pics we saw were a big factor too (our photographer's samples were so good), and the price of course factored in - ours were a little cheaper because he doesn't put together the album. Some photographers won't even give you the option of putting together the album yourself (which I didn't like, because that way the pics will be in the order I want them). I also talked to some people I knew who had used him at their weddings and they were very pleased with his work. I also like that he gives his proofs on a c.d. (with no time frame of when they have to be ordered) - I definitely wanted someone who did digital photography.

[rainbowtreat]

I didn't have that many to choose from. I am getting married back home in Maine. I have a friend who is paying for the photos as a gift or I wouldn't even be able to have them. That set aside my friend and I searched and searched over every posibality for photographers in Maine. The one I found had great prices for what my freind was willing to pay. Her site was very easy to look through and offerend alot of photos to look at. When we talked on the phone and in e-mail she was very helpful and was willing to travel over 4 hours to get to my wedding. She is very friendly and I got that just by talking to her on the phone. She was very willing to accomidate me to meet with her in person. I met her out side of home depot actualy and followed her to her office. And it was a wait and see kidna of thing as I as traveling back from home with kids in the car and a sick FH. She is very patience and very kind. And I love her photos.

As for the package that go tme was .... I get a copy of all 400+ proofs, I get copy rights to all photos and the disc of all of them to make any copies any time I want. This was a big deal to me. I want pictues to make bigger and put them on my wall and give as gifts. This way I can do them when I want. I also get a coffee table book which I absolutlely love.

[KennedyPhotography]

Sorry, if I posted this in a wrong spot. But I am truly thankful for all your comments. It helps me to be a better Photographer.

[Kacie_bride]

I picked mine because I happen to be friends with a photographer. She is not a professional photographer though. She does photography on the side. She is a teacher full time. Obviously her rates are much cheaper, but in my opinion her pictuers look just as good. She did my brother's senior pictures and I had mine done by a professional photographer when I graduated and I actually like his better!

[countrygirl]

I saw some photo's that my coworker brought in from her wedding. THough they weren't the hoity toity ones you would see in magazines, I really likes them as they were somewhat candid, and I like that style. The price helped a bit too!!