"A bride's foremost concern is often price, but it's more important to focus on personality."

Picture This
By Catherine Parmelee

What to consider when choosing your wedding photographer

Selecting a photographer to document your day of days is possibly the most important hire you'll make. How do you choose one that captures your style, ideas and expectations?

Choosing a wedding photographer should be no snap decision, so begin the process shortly after booking your ceremony and reception sites. But before you pick up the phone to schedule interviews, take the time to think about what you want.Your desires don't need to be engraved in stone prior to interviewing, but possibilities are vast, so it's a good idea to have some direction.

Many brides and grooms are choosing to mix black and white photographs in with color photos to create a wedding album with an artistic flair. Black and white can capture emotion; color images help set the scene. Photojournalism also is gaining in popularity. This approach catches the emotion as it happens without posing it or asking for it. Most couples still want the standard shots of the wedding party, the cake and their families, they just want them posed in a more natural way with several candid shots mixed into the album.

Tasha Grossl of Grossl Photography in Soldotna suggests looking through magazines to decide on your favorite takes. Study the real-life weddings featured in each issue of Alaska Bride & Groom magazine for ideas on superb wedding photography. Later on, when you are checking out photographers' work, you can see if it reflects your desires. "They probably won't change their shooting style," she said.

Most professional wedding photographers offer a variety of packages, so having a sense of what you want will help you wade through the choices.

Next, select a few photographers and schedule consultations. Don't know who to call? Check out our Resource Directory. Other ideas include flipping through your friends' wedding albums and checking out photographers' Web sites since many of them post photos from recent weddings.

There's only one opportunity to get the best shots on your wedding day, so make sure you find a professional with loads of experience in wedding photography. Experts say a wedding neophyte is a risk. You want someone who's experienced with wedding mechanics and won't miss key moments.

According to photographer Danny Daniels of Anchorage, a good professional plans well in advance and is ready for wedding day surprises. "Anything and everything does happen at weddings," he said. "The professional needs to be able to concentrate on photos."

Another important factor is the photographer's attitude towards your wedding. Make sure they seem genuinely interested in your event, and that they care about the details, noted photographer Marlea Lipka of Anchorage.

"The key is looking at it as a joyous opportunity," said photographer Lisa J. Seifert of Anchorage, "not a job."

Most importantly, do you click?

Personality is paramount, so don't underestimate the importance of liking, if not bonding, with your photographer. Some of the best shots of your main event will be those taken behind the scenes, and you need to be comfortable about inviting him or her backstage.

"A bride's foremost concern is often price, but it's more important to focus on personality," Grossl said. "You will be stuck with that person all day."

Trust your gut: If anything about the photographer you're meeting with rubs you the wrong way, keep looking.

See beautiful examples of wedding photography in Alaska Bride & Groom magazine, on newsstands now. Alaska Bride & Groom is your complete Alaska wedding guide.