Tip No. # 1: knowledge is key
Arm yourself with industry terminology and learn the differences in various image styles. Research photography in advance. Know the difference between a candid shot and an inn. Know what photojournalism is. Know what you like and what you don't like, and don't be afraid to tell your prospective photographers. Make this statement: "We want a photographer who knows how to control depth of field." If he looks at you with a quizzical look that says "I have no idea what you're talking about," it might be time to consider ending your meeting early.
Tip No. # 2: ask the right questions
I can't begin to tell you how many times you have asked me questions that must have been taken from outdated sources.
Here are some good questions to ask:
How long have you been filming weddings? I would not have a photographer at my wedding who has been photographing weddings for less than 5 years. The reasons are many, but the bottom line is that you want someone who really knows what he's doing, who has an "eye" and technical knowledge to make things happen.
Have you worked in our premises before? If the photographer is local and your wedding venue is local, they have likely worked at your venue beforehand. Ask to see those photos. If you haven't worked there before, ask if he's willing to go ahead to explore the location.
Our commitment to miami wedding photographer is X hours ... do you have a plan that adapts to that? Are your pricing plans negotiable? Most photographers have 3-4 plans to choose from (I personally have more than that) because I still haven't found a set of packages that will suit all of them. I've also learned that versatility is key.
Do you bring an assistant? Usually I bring an assistant to help with the lighting, etc. My assistant can also function as a second photographer for a small fee. Check with your photographer ... this is a very valuable asset.
What kind of equipment do you have? Professional photographers must have high-end SLR cameras. At Nikon, those cameras include: the D3, D2X, D2XS, and D2H. At Canon, those cameras include: EOS1D, 1DS, 5D, and 5DS. Of course, there are other brands and levels of quality, but these cameras make up the bulk of the lineup of professional wedding photographers on the market today. Please note: photographers who proudly say they shoot with the Nikon D200 or Canon 10d or 20d are not at the professional level. Those cameras are designed to be sold to consumers, not professionals, and while they are good cameras in their own right, they do not possess the characteristics of professional grade camera bodies.
Do you have backup equipment? Every now and then a camera goes off and without a backup, the perfect wedding can be ruined. Don't leave your precious wedding favors in the hands of someone with low-end, consumer-grade gear and no backup. It is the recipe for disaster. Most professionals carry at least 1 backup unit of the same quality as their main unit.
Do you have any professional affiliation? Most professional photographers with more than 5 years of experience will have some type of professional affiliation. Those affiliations may include, but are not limited to: the Association of Professional Photographers (national, state, and perhaps even county-level memberships are available), BBB (Better Business Bureau), Rotary clubs, the Association of Photojournalists wedding and others. Membership in any of these affiliations is not mandatory, but it does say something positive about the photographer.
Tip No. # 3: Warning Signs Whenever I meet potential clients, I give them some warning signs to watch out for. Be on the lookout for any photographer who says "we'll shoot some in black and white, some in color, and some in sepia." That's a big mistake. Same for "We will shoot some with a tight focus and some with a soft focus." The main reason for this is that most professional photographers use Adobe Photoshop to edit their images. It is much better to shoot everything in color and switch to black and white, rather than shooting in black and white. Once you shoot it without color information (black and white), you can't convert it to color ... no matter how good your Photoshop skills are. The same goes for focus. Look for a photographer who shoots everything in good focus and then can selectively "blur" your image to get the desired effect. If the image is taken with a soft focus (blurry), it cannot be cleaned very easily, and may not be able to be cleaned at all.
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