The Essential Guide to Gay and Lesbian Weddings (102 page)

With so many wonderful things happening during the course of a wedding day, I'm always surprised at how much wedding photography is staged or manipulated. The moments you'll end up remembering won't include thirty-seven permutations of your posed family photos (sorry, Mom), but rather that quick glance at each other during the toast. Enjoy your day and let the photography follow rather than lead.

—Matt Mendelsohn, Photography, Washington, D.C.

So how do you go about choosing a photographer? You should interview several, and discuss philosophy, lenses, and lifestyles. Try and get a sense of the photographer's dedication to wedding photography. Is this a sideline hobby, or is she or he really into building a reputation? Is she blasé about her job? Does he appear to be excited about photographing a same-sex union? Make sure to cover the following:

Look at their online portfolios or other samples. Is there emotion in the photographs? Is the technical quality good? Are colors crisp, and is there a sharp contrast in black-and-white photographs?

When you're examining the photographer's work, notice how many portraits versus candids make up the albums. What style does he or she favor?

What is the photographer's background in the profession? Many photographers
have years of photojournalism experience before moving on to wedding or event photography.

How many hours of coverage are included? (A package will generally guarantee at least eight hours.) Will she cover you before the ceremony, getting ready; will he remain at the reception until you leave? Are there overtime costs?

Are there any additional charges for visiting the location ahead of time, traveling fees, or assistants?

What is the payment schedule?

How long will the proofs stay up on their website? Will you be given a DVD of the initial JPEGs as well as one of the finished high-resolution images?

How soon after the wedding will the image gallery be posted? What is the timing of the consultation to create a finished album?

Say you've found the photographer of your dreams and you're ready to sign a contract. Go over the following checklist to ensure that what you see is what you'll really get.

Is he or she familiar with the locations? This is most important in terms of the ceremony site, since lighting is likely to be tricky there. Ask if the photographer can visit the ceremony site during the rehearsal. This will give her or him a chance to scope out the room and meet some of your key players.

Does your ceremony site have any restrictions concerning where photographers can stand or what kind of equipment they can use?

If you're hiring through a photography studio, make sure the contract has the name of the photographer on it; some unscrupulous studios pitch their best players to you and then send in the second string at the last minute.

Give the photographer a written list of any special people you want shots of. (You might want to assign a friend who knows everyone to be a liaison here.) Also supply a written list of the general schedule of events.