I’ll be honest.

I’m not coming at this from an entirely unbiased perspective.

I am a portrait and wedding photographer, and I think, a good one.  My partner and daughter Mindy Porter and I have been blessed to photograph the weddings of some of the nicest and most genuine couples in the Northeast. Based on feedback from them and some of our experiences, I’ll let you  know what is important to look for in a wedding photographer. As these articles progress, we will be expanding our scope to include wedding planners, caterers, florists (especially florists), jewelers and almost any other contractor you might need for this most special day.

Each contractor needs to be dealt with in their own way. Your relationships with these people will make or break your wedding day.

So this is item #1, and applies particularly to photographers, but is critically important to dealing with all of your contractors.

Relationships.

The relationship you have with your wedding photographer is probably one of the most important things – other than, of course, choosing your mate – to get absolutely right in preparation for your wedding.

If you have a photographer that you don’t feel comfortable around, no matter how technically competent he is, no matter what wonderful work he’s shown you, the images he gets of your wedding will look contrived or just plain false. That is because you will not be able to relax and be yourself around him.

When you first meet the photographer, does he show you his photos first, or does he ask about you? Does he ask about what is important to you about your wedding? Does he ask how you met? Does he ask what you like to do when you’re not at work?

Is he interested in you, or is he just interested in making a sale?

If he is just interested in making a sale, look at all of the nice photos he shows you, and let him go. Say 'Thank you very much, we’ll be in touch.'

If you find someone that you “click” with – someone you feel comfortable around, That is the first step.

I don’t like to say this, being a photographer, the photography is important, but it is not THE most important thing about your photographer. The most important thing is how you get along with him.

My daughter Mindy and I are partners, and we have a great deal of fun photographing weddings. We start out with clients, and end up with friends, which is how it should be.

We go out of our way to develop a relationship with our prospective clients. If, in the initial interview, we sense that there is no chemistry between us, we will happily refer the couple to another photographer who we feel more closely fits their personality and needs.

Our reputation is based on having delighted clients who then become friends. It doesn’t help us, and it doesn’t help you to try to work with somebody that we just don’t get along with.

So look for the relationship first. If you can be at ease with your photographer, the images will have a magical quality that is just indescribable!

Next week, we’ll talk about passion!

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