I just returned from exhibiting at last weekend’s big Anchorage Wedding Fair, an exceptionally popular event that attracts hundreds of brides-to-be, along with smaller numbers of husbands-to-be. This year’s event, held at the beautiful Dena’ina Civic & Convention Center, was packed with wedding vendors—from DJs and florists to caterers and officiants. Did I mention photographers? More than 40 wedding photographers exhibited at Alaska’s premier bridal show, providing an overwhelming choice of options and prices. How do you find the right photographer when inundated with so many options? Here are some factors to consider:

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar . . . .

Experience and Style
I’ve worked as a professional photographer for more than 20 years, have a dozen books in print, and exhibit my photos in galleries across Alaska. It takes a lot of time to learn how to capture the beauty of a wedding, to anticipate events, and to look for special moments that show the unique aspects of each wedding. Still, you never stop learning.

It’s vital to find a photographer who stays on top of the latest techniques and styles. You’re certainly acquainted with traditional wedding photography: lots of forced smiles, stiffly posed photos, frilly album designs, and cutesy heart-shaped cutouts. Wedding photography has changed markedly in recent years, driven in part by technological innovations—particularly the move to digital images and revolutionary photo software—but also by increased competition from talented photographers. My work is constantly evolving as I learn new techniques, as tastes change, and as brides and grooms increasingly look to the internet to show off their wedding photos. My background is in photojournalism, but I use a mix of journalistic styles, semi-traditional groups, artsy imagery, and playfulness. The operative terms are creativity and fun. After all, if you aren’t having fun on your wedding day, why bother?

Professional membership is also a recognition of experience; I’m a member of Wedding & Portrait Photographers International (WPPI), the world’s premier wedding photography organization.

Watch out Mary Poppins!

Personality
This is probably one of the most overlooked aspects when choosing a wedding photographer. Over the years I’ve heard horror stories about wedding photographers who acted like prima donnas, physically pushed people around, got angry at guests, or simply “went through the motions” at a wedding. When photographing a wedding I always try to keep two ideas in mind: 1) This is the bride and groom’s big day, not mine. They’re the real stars and heroes. I’m just present to record their wonderful day and to capture great images from this once-in-a-lifetime event. 2) Weddings are fun, and the images should be equally fun. If the couple has a great idea I’m happy to work with them to create a unique and passionate image.

When to Book?
Many couples book their wedding photographer early in the year for a summer wedding. Saturdays in June and July fill the quickest, and I always hate having to tell someone that I’m not available because they waited too long. If you aren’t sure, I can sometimes provide a tentative booking for your wedding date.

Budget
Pricing is often the first question asked of a wedding photographer. Every prospective bride and groom has a wedding budget, and if the money isn’t there it doesn’t matter how much you love a photographer’s work. My rates start at $2,000 for a full 12 hours of wedding photography, with 400 color-corrected images provided on a DVD, online hosting of your photos, and a slideshow. A wide range of other options—including beautiful leather-bound wedding albums, proof books, and large gallery wrap prints—are also available. You can certainly find photographers willing to work for less; I’ve seen prices under $800 for a bare-bones operation where they just dump 100 images on a CD and hand it to you as they run out the door after the wedding. If price completely dictates your decision, be sure to at least talk with previous clients about the photographer in question. In general, if a wedding photographer has low prices he or she is just starting out and may or may not know what they’re doing. You usually get what you pay for, and your wedding day cannot be “done over.”

More Information
As a professional wedding photographer, I have my own biases, so it’s always a good idea to check out other photographers’ websites, ask your friends for referrals, and to meet with a variety of photographers to find one who works best with your needs and within your budget. Looking for more details on my work? Please contact me by phone at 907/235-4949 if you want more information, or send an email to don@donpitcher.com. See more examples of my wedding images by heading to www.weddingsinhomer.com and clicking on the “Wedding Links” tab. Several of my most recent weddings are also posted on this blog; just scroll down to check them out.

A multitude of wedding planning websites are available, many of which provide the chance to create your own wedding website (highly recommended) and to search for wedding photographers and other vendors. Several good ones are:

WeddingWire.com
Brides.com
OurWeddingDay.com
TheKnot.com
WeddingChannel.com
MarthaStewartWeddings.com
MyWedding.com
ProjectWedding.com
TheWeddingTracker.com
WeddingWindow.com
WedShare.com
BravoBride.com

You may also want to check out The Bride’s Guide to Wedding Photography by Kathleen Hawkins, a fine small book (though a bit out of date) with helpful advise on choosing a photographer. Click the link below for links to Amazon, or visit your local bookstore. Two similar titles are also linked below.

All text and photographs © 2010 Don Pitcher

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