Guest blogger John Davydov from Photography In Style gives you 12 key tips for picking a wedding photographer

Since most brides have never had to work with a wedding photographer before hiring one for their wedding, it's one of those situations where they have very little room to learn from mistakes.  It helps to get unbiased advice from people that have experience in the industry. Bride's Book has asked John Davydov from Photography In Style to put together a quick list of 12 key questions to make sure to ask your photographers before you hire them to preserve the memory of your wedding.  Print these out and take them with you! This list is based off of a more detailed discussion of these 12 points in John's free e-book. 

12 Important Questions To Ask A Photographer Before Hiring Them

1) What professional equipment do you use and do you bring backup equipment on every job?

It is very important that the photographer you hire has all state of the art equipment. A lot of photographers today use digital equipment vs. film to capture the event. Digital cameras today have paved the way to getting better results and seeing photos in the camera instantly. A photographer should always have two to three cameras as well as five to seven lenses with them at all times. If a camera or a lens fails, it is always important to have backup.

2) Do you or your company have insurance?

A characteristic that separates a professional photographer from an amateur photographer is the responsibility to acquire insurance for his or her equipment and for the company as well. If by any chance a photographer or a vendor you hire breaks something in the catering hall accidentally, the catering hall may want to make sure that the insurance company is ready to work out the damages.

3) Do you have three different weddings you can show in detail that you have personally shot?

A lot of photographers’ websites always contain the best photographs they have taken in their entire portfolio, without showing their “everyday” work. Furthermore, sometimes it’s difficult to differentiate between whether the photos that your photographer took are genuinely theirs or whether they have been copied from elsewhere and claimed as their own.  In ideal scenarios, a photographer will display a full wedding from start to finish on their website or in their meetings with you which truly displays their ability to shoot an entire wedding in high quality. 

 4) Do you re-touch all the photos that you take on the day of the wedding?

After the event is over a lot of photographers just store all the pictures to a computer and make an extra disc for the lab in order to print out the pictures.  Not every photographer wants to spend a lot of time retouching all the photos or paying someone else to retouch the photos for them, therefore it is for this reason that it is wise to ask if all the photos will be retouched.  Removing blemishes under the eyes, correcting image colors, and applying unique effects to photos really sets apart a professional photographer from an amateur photographer.  You want to make sure that the photographer will put a beautiful finishing touch on your photos after they take them.

5) What type of albums do you offer?

Traditional albums are a thing of the past.  Today because of advancements in technology, album companies can produce albums in many varieties. In the past an album consisted of one picture per page.  Today, the possibilities of designing an album with numerous pictures on a page are endless.  Additionally, when it comes to different types of papers or covers the possibilities are endless as well.

6) Do you offer a second photographer?

Having two photographers instead one is always better when it comes to capturing different angles and expressions.  Most of the time it is also beneficial if one photographer works with the bride and another photographers works with the groom on the day of the wedding so that the main photographer does not have to run back and forth and over occupy themselves with all the work.  Asking for a second photographer is especially beneficial when the event has over 150 people at the reception. 

7) How long does it take to see the photos?

Seeing life’s greatest moments in a photo is certainly amazing but not knowing when you will see those photos is frustrating.  In the film age, you had to wait for the lab to print out the photos which usually took about two to three months if you’re lucky.  Because of digital photography, today photographers can shoot events and should ideally upload them quickly to their website. 

8) Do you offer DVD slideshows?
A DVD slideshow is a great way to view the photos of your special event.  Many people also use the slideshow to invite their friends & family for a house warming and often play the slideshow to share their experience. The slideshow can consist of 50 to 100 photos that are set with your favorite music and it can also be displayed or sent to your loved ones via DVD or via internet. 

9) Do you offer engagement sessions?

An engagement session is really a great way to connect with your photographer and at the same time have fun taking photos.  An engagement session can be in one or more locations and it usually lasts about an hour.  It is best to talk with your photographer before the session so that you guys can plan everything out from start to finish.  Be mindful of the weather, it is best to pick two to three different dates for the shoot; if it rains on one day than you certainly have the option to fall back on the second day. 

10) Do you offer online galleries where guests can see the photos?

Seeing your photos online is great because it allows your friends and family to join in on the memories.  An online gallery is set up on the photographer’s website and it is password protected so no one besides your family & friends can view the event.  When viewing the event, you can pick your favorite photos for the album and order them with a click of a button. 

11) Do you offer images for social media?

Today everyone has a smart phone and everyone is connected to social media websites like Google Plus, Facebook, Twitter and so many others.  Family and friends can now see or speak to relatives that are overseas by just connecting to those sites.  Having the ability to upload photos online can be troubling at times because of the high-quality image size from the original files provided by a photographer.  It is best to ask the photographer to re-size original photos in addition to providing you with the originals so it will be easier to upload them to social media sites and the web. 

12) Do you help plan the wedding event with us?

No matter what you are planning, time management is key when it comes to getting the most out of your special day.  A lot of people tend to forget the little things that can make the day go by quicker and make it seem that you always have to be in a rush.  It is best to plan the event with the wedding coordinator or a photographer since they know best from experience how long each part of the session takes. 

To find out more about John and his team at Photography In Style please visit PhotographyInStyle.com or stop by and say hi at their Facebook fan page.