It is vitally important that you select the correct wedding photographers for your day. Wedding photographers vary as much as weddings themselves do- so getting the mix right is crucial.
No doubt you have already pondered considerations such as price, style and inclusions. It doesn't end there. Even beyond the criteria of personality and how well you get along with the photographer, is the question of whether you are both on the same team or not.
Ask yourself (before asking your shortlisted photographers) what you hope to accomplish photographically from the day. Do you want a simple record, seen through an unobtrusive lens- or are you after something that makes a stunning visual statement about the day and gives you artistic images to cherish for a lifetime? Photojournalistic Wedding Photography is a buzz term of the moment- it's the terms everyone seems to be using. It is important to be aware that true photojournalism offers little if any staged photography, so think carefully before selecting a photographer specializing in this kind of work. The obvious comeback to you, when you express your dissatisfaction at receiving "happy snaps" from the photographer will be "I told you I just take natural wedding photos".
The wedding photographer with whom you had the instant rapport may not be your newest best friend any more, when you realize that all you have are happy snaps- from some random wedding happy snapper who operates out of his car. It doesn't take genius or rocket science to be a simple snap shooter and the output reflects this.
The photographer you select to cover the important occasion of your wedding should be able to demonstrate to you how they can make an ordinary location look stunning. They need to be able to achieve this objective in record time, and under any conditions imaginable. Wild weather doesn't just turn up when we are all "somewhere else"- many a storm has unleashed her fury on unprepared wedding couples wreaking havoc on the best and worse made plans. Often the couple turn to the photographer for the answer to "what do we do now?"- do you get the feeling that the person you are considering can not only bring the images home but make them rise above it all and provide you with results you will cherish forever, while quickly adapting the running and dynamic of your wedding day to bring home those gorgeous images?
There's no chance for a reshoot.
Your wedding photography lives on, long after the day is forgotten. Look long and hard at the role of photography in your day before you engage a professional photographer. You need results that will make you smile in the years ahead.