However, I do feel strongly that your wedding day should not be about how much you spend despite the fact that this site’s very existence is due to our paying advertisers. What’s often bothered me about the wedding business is the way magazines present an unrealistic fantasy world, one that will require you to imagine that weddings just magically pay for themselves. Either that or you’ll need to imagine having the bank account of some famous celebrity couple to pay for the pricey dream-like scenarios presented in print or online.

So in the real world, how does this fantasy-land discrepancy between your budget and your dream wedding apply to this website and choosing a photographer? First and foremost, AtlanticCityWeddings.com works hard to provide a medium where local couples can find wedding professionals for a wide range of styles, tastes and budgets, from no frills to crème de la crème. Second, this article combines personal opinions, research and a lot of input from photographers on this site in addition to overall industry recommendations to provide something more than a mere checklist. Third, instead of trying to steer couples to overspend or underspend in any category, we try to provide you with the information and knowledge to make an informed choice and a decision you will be happy with. One that fits your style, your taste and your budget.

One of the first things you want to do is work on a wedding budget. Whatever you’ve set as your total budget, before you even start allocating certain dollar amounts to various items, move $500-$1,000 (or more) into what I call a buffer account. It’s money you plan to spend, but how you spend it is up to you. You can move it around among categories from shoes to flowers to photography to honeymoon – anywhere. By having an incidental/buffer amount already budgeted you also won’t have to get stressed out if something costs more than you anticipated. And, if you don’t need to use your buffer account money at all, or only use part of it, you'll feel even better!

I would recommend that you visit at least 3 three photographers and be sure to visit one who is priced a little more than your allotted budget for photography. Remember, I’m not too subjective on the issue AND you have that buffer account to play with that you can move from one category to another. Choosing your photographer should be about a whole lot more than "price-shopping" and seeing if your personality melds with the photographer’s. After the wedding is over your photos are one of the few things you’ll have to remember the whole event by because chances are you won’t remember what you had to eat.

While quality isn’t always determined by price, we all know that a Kobe beef burger in a fancy restaurant will cost a lot more than a burger at a fast food chain such as McDonald’s. Also keep in mind that many people would be a lot happier with a McDonald’s burger than a Kobe beef burger served with a sprig of parsley on a fancy plate in a casino. Generally speaking a higher priced photographer is akin to that kind of difference. So instead of higher quality beef or organic fruits and vegetables vs. canned green beans, what are some of the differences when it comes to wedding photography?

Instead of higher quality beef, high-end wedding photographers will use more expensive camera equipment that produces images with a finer grain and much higher quality. This can make a huge difference on the crispness and clarity in an enlargement. For digital wedding photography, 8-megapixels or higher is recommended, 16 mega-pixels or higher is much better. While most photographers have gone digital, if the photographer is using film, do they shoot with a 35mm camera or a medium format camera such as a Hasselblad? Do they use professional grade film or purchase rolls of Fuji at CVS? The equipment, of course, is secondary to the person behind the camera. Without the skill, the camera is pretty much worthless. A great photographer is like a master painter creating priceless artwork that will be enjoyed for generations.

When you’re choosing a photographer it is important to consider the expertise of the photographer. How many years have they been photographing weddings, not just their dogs, cats and best friends? How many weddings have they shot? Is this their full-time profession or a side hobby? Do they have any professional affiliations or awards?

The Professional Photographers of America is a group of photographers that meets and holds seminars throughout the year for professional photographers to exchange ideas and learn new photography techniques providing continuing education for photographers. Within that group, there is an even higher certification level which is a Certified Professional Photographer. An insider’s tip to consider - only about 5% of all photographers are in this level.

Everyone is jabbering about the same thing – capturing all the emotions of your wedding day. Not to poke fun at this but imagine your emotions if your photos don’t capture any of it or if in every shot your eyes are closed or your husband is posed in front of a lampost or a tree so it looks like a spear is being driven through his head? And that’s the shot you look the best in too! The emotion that might pop into my head might include a few expletives like dag nab it or worse! (Is "dag nab it" even an expletive? I think it is in some cartoon but the expletives I was thinking aren’t really re-printable here especially since I have NO PHOTOS) but I think we all want to look better than some cartoon character with a spear through our head on our wedding day. Other days it might be okay to look like that, or in the morning, but not in your wedding photos. Are you feeling my non-objective emotions?

What’s more important than capturing your emotions is capturing the right photographer. This is a decision, like the choice of your spouse, that you’re going to live with the rest of your life. You can have all the wedding photo checklists in the world but that won’t make the photos good, the photographer does that. You might not remember what you had to eat, or if you had the time to eat it, but don’t you want to remember what it looked like with that sprig of parsley on that fancy plate? All the money you spent on that gown? Don’t you want more than one photo of it? Really, when I’m looking at wedding photos displayed in gorgeous albums at bridal shows, it’s hard for me to keep from drooling, but all drooling and envy aside, what are some things to look for beyond pricing or a checklist of poses?

These tips on what to look for include personal opinion and tips from professional photographers from this site.

• Is there something about the quality of this photographer’s work that makes them unique?

Even if you can’t put your finger on it, if you absolutely love someone’s work, check them out. Some photographers, for example, I think have an artistic ability that transcends simple photography, a certain something that makes every couple (not just people who look like movie stars) look phenomenal. We all know people who don’t photograph well – one eye opened, the other closed, yadda, yadda. A great photographer somehow finds the right angle, the right moment, the right something to make the people who usually don’t photograph well, look great! Or, they take enough shots so that you get lots of really great photos to choose from, not just one or two where your eyes are open.

• How are the photos framed?
  Look for distractions and artistic elements
  A couple’s first kiss as husband and wife…the photo looks great on first inspection, but wait, what’s that popping up in between them? It’s Uncle Bob’s left nostril and what else is that, gray matter? Are the bride and groom posed so that electrical lines or tree branches sprout from either ear? Are there elements in the photograph distracting from the bride and groom or lessening the beauty of the photo? Alternately, are there artistic elements in the photograph adding to its beauty? A gorgeous snow-covered tree in the background? A subtle angling of the photograph? The subtle variations in color and texture in a cloud at sunset? When you look at the photo do you like it or love it or say, "oh, wow I would give my left ear to have a wedding photo like that!!!"
  
  

• Consistent Quality?
  With the advent of the internet, these days it’s very easy to view a lot of a photographers work and proofs from an entire wedding, all online. At a bridal show or in advertisements often you’ll see just a small sampling of someone’s work and often a compilation of their very best stuff. So visiting a studio and going online is definitely to your advantage with any photographer you’re considering hiring. Viewing the proofs from one person’s wedding is a great way to check out a photographer’s work and to look for a consistency of quality. Don’t go, "oh here’s a shot with someone’s eyes closed" and think that stinks. One of the many reasons photographers take so many pictures is to get the really great ones because guests can, and often do, cause interference. Instead, do try to look for an overall consistency of quality throughout the photos.
  
  

• Skill and Timing
  A good photographer will help you plan your photos and may even help you plan the timing of your wedding day so you won’t miss important photos or time with your guests at the reception. For example, you want enough time in between the church and the reception site for photos and if you want to have beach shots, (big around here), plan even extra time. Your photographer may also discuss taking some photos before the wedding and this can help save time but if you’re superstitious, make sure you’ve given thought to timing your wedding day for photographs.
  
  

• Another thing that distinguishes a photographer when it comes to years of experience is the way a photographer can anticipate the flow of your wedding day and what’s going to happen next. This allows them to anticipate their next shot even before it happens so they get the photo at that perfect split-second that really does capture your emotions. If you’ve photographed 25 weddings at a certain reception hall or location you’re also going to be so familiar with the site that you can plan where to stand to take the best shots and where to pose the couple and bridal party for the most artistic shots.
  
  

• Lighting / Posing / Photojournalism 
  A lot of emphasis lately has been on a more candid style of wedding photography called photojournalism. Instead of having a lot of traditional, posed photos, the photographer works unobstrusively to just snaps candids. My personal suggestions would be to consider a combination of both posed and candid shots and I am one who really didn’t want any posed shots of hands and rings. While I still don’t want, even if I could go back and get it, a posed shot of my hands, one of the insider secrets I learned is that some of the best wedding photographs, even though they look candid, were posed and often these posed shots incorporate additional lighting beyond just a flash. And you wondered how some people’s photos were so good.
  
  

"What makes you better or different than XYZ photo? Why should I hire you?"  When you’re looking for your photographer we know the question comes up. A really good photographer will play up their skill and equipment and what makes them unique without necessarily criticizing another photographer’s work. However, we all know this is America and competition is what it is. Keep in mind though that some of the best photographer’s refer work to each other, share knowledge with each other and really are only competing with themselves to create something better and more artistic than the last wedding they photographed. But they also would like your business, too!

Some wedding professionals have been known to freak out a bride or two by using high pressure sales tactics that make you feel like you’re dealing with a used car salesman. If a wedding professional says "I’ll probably be booked if you don’t give me a deposit today," how do you know if it’s a high pressure sales tactic or the truth? You won’t know for sure, but if your wedding is a Sunday in November, it will be a lot easier getting a wedding professional you want than on a Saturday in June. Top wedding professionals do book fast for Saturday weddings, especially during the summer, so you might not get a chance to second-guess yourself or book that professional later. Whoever you do choose and regardless of any sales pitches, it helps if you can say you like both the person and their work.

Okay, so your first wedding didn’t work out. You spent thousands on the photos the first time and this time you just want a couple shots. Maybe a photographer for 2 hours or a half-day package. It is available but not all photographers offer half-day packages or hourly rates. Also keep in mind that some photographers actually prefer the half-day or hourly rates because it’s less work all around, both the day of your wedding and processing your prints later.

If it is a second wedding however, do keep these things in mind:

• I, the editor, would rather have all the great photos this time because I got the right guy this time.
  

• Age – okay, if it’s your second wedding and you’re 28 or 35 you will most likely want a lot more photos than if you’re remarrying at 65.
  

• As one bride on our site once said, "It may be your second wedding, but it’s your first wedding with him."
  

• If you do want just a half-day package, think about what shots you really want to have. This is where those photo checklists can come in handy. If either of you have children you might want to consider some photos of your new family at an attractive location at your reception site or on the beach.

Okay, so you don’t have the budget for any high-end anything but you’re marrying the right person. So are photo mills that combine photo and video or other services a bad thing? No, but do your homework first so you understand what you’re getting.

Sometimes an all-in-one shop can include individuals within the same family - one does photo, one does video. And if they're both talented, an added bonus because an all-in-one shop often can save you hundreds of dollars.  But if you are considering a one-stop shop, ask which photographer you will be getting. Can you see their work? Same thing if it’s a videographer. Get testimonials and references and call them. Ask the same thing for a nationally advertised chain which will most likely use a pool of photographers. Within that pool of photographers, some will be better than others. Or, as Forest Gump once said, "Life is like a box of chocolates, you don’t always know what you’re gonna get." To take it a step further, yes, sometimes you luck out with that caramel nut chew and other times you get the one with that hideous jelly stuff inside. What is that jelly stuff anyway?

Everybody knows someone who says they lucked out and found a really great photographer – for cheap. In fact, sometimes you can find a bargain in a creative and talented photographer that is just starting out. Because they lack experience or have only shot a few weddings they offer discount pricing. Sometimes even under $1,000. And you may love your photos and find in two years time that photographer charges big bucks. Just a word to the wise – if you’re not happy with your wedding photos, you can’t go back and reshoot your wedding and this is in no means meant to criticize those starting out. The very best photographers honed their skills over time and most will tell you that their passion and eye for photography began as a hobby.

As a general rule (and there are always exceptions), among the highest priced wedding photographers, you generally don’t find someone who isn’t extremely talented with years of expertise and professional affiliations to back that up. Photography is an art form on that level; usually not a part-time hobby but a full-time profession for photographers at this level.

At the low and mid-range you sometimes find wildly fluctuating pricing, that doesn’t always have to do with a photographer’s expertise or skill. Sometimes a photographer’s pricing can be based on something as simple as what will this geographical region of the country command for wedding photography? Or, what can I charge so I’m booked every weekend of the year or to get a lot of experience under my belt? Don’t get me wrong, there are some photographers who are just starting out who have stunning work or photographers with experience who either over-value or under-value their work, but if you’re going to price-shop you need to be aware and educated so that you’re making an informed decision.

• Are you the photographer who will be shooting my wedding?

• Do you work with an assistant?

• Do you have backup equipment with you?

• How long have you been working as a photographer?

• How many weddings have you photographed?

• Can you give me a few references?

• Are you insured or do you have double indemnity insurance? What if your camera was stolen or your memory card destroyed?

• How many locations are included with my package?

• Is travel included?

• Do I own the negatives and/or proofs?

• Do I have to order each reprint individually or are a certain number included with the package?

• Is the photo album included?

• Is there a set time-limit on how many hours of coverage is included?

• Make sure you review your contract carefully so that what is discussed is covered in your contract.

There’s an awful lot of hype behind "capturing the emotion" of your wedding day and a lot of it is about "capturing your wedding dollars" but a great deal isn’t always based on price – high, low or in between. Instead of getting caught up in the once-in-a-lifetime hype and stressing about your choices, with the information presented here, in addition to any of your own research, you can be an educated consumer. While that doesn’t insure you’ll make the perfect choices, be it spouse, wedding photographer or bobby pin color, having a little knowledge will in most cases help you make a more informed decision, a choice that best fits your style and budget, but most importantly, a choice you can live with and be happy about for the rest of your life.

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