Style, Scope and Appearance
Choose a photographer who can shoot well in the style(s) that you would like e.g. traditional or reportage. Make sure they can produce a good selection of photos within the chosen style e.g. portraits, groups, formal, close up, mid distance, full length etc. If you require any effects e.g. sepia, make sure the photographer can accommodate your requests.

The Quality
Find out if the prospective photographer is a member of a society / association e.g. the Guild of Wedding Photographers, if they have a professional qualification, any photographic awards or special recognition (particularly for wedding photography) - these are good signs. Also, find out what if any guarantee they can offer on their work.

The Evidence
Seek physical evidence to help back up any claims. Ultimately though, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Their photographs will speak a thousand words. Look a selection of their wedding photos. Make sure they can offer a selection from more than one wedding, and make sure you can see photos from a single wedding too i.e. make sure your chosen photographer can tell the ‘story’ of your day in pictures.

Check whether the people in the photos are smiling, look happy and relaxed. Make sure the people are very much in the foreground of the photos where they need to be.

The Backup
Is there any? Does the photographer intend to use an assistant? What if somebody needs to cancel? What are the insurance arrangements if something goes wrong with the pictures? You may not want to think of these things but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

The Viewing & Choosing
Check what the arrangements are once the pictures have been taken. You are bound to want to view them soon after the wedding so check how will you be able to do this e.g. will they be on a website in an online gallery, will they be on contact sheets? How easily can the viewing and choosing be done? Will they help you to choose?

Pricing, Ordering and What You Actually Get
Find out exactly what you are getting - what is the ‘contract’ likely to cover? Agree on the package e.g. the number of photos and the album they’ll be presented in. Find out if there are any extra fees e.g. travel fees, overtime fees. Make sure you’re familiar with the payment policy, arrangement and timescales.

Find out the arrangements and prices for re-ordering, duplicate prints, albums, photos, enlargements etc.

Contact and meet more than one photographer if you can, and make sure you’re matching like with like when looking at the quotes.

In Conclusion
It’s worth spending the time now being thorough and asking the right questions when it comes to finding the person to record the ‘story’ of your wedding day in the way you’d like to remember it. If your selection process is good enough to find someone with the right balance of personality, the ability to work with people, a caring attitude, experience and technical skill, you’ll be more able to relax and enjoy your day, safe in the knowledge that you're happy memories will be beautifully represented and enhanced by your wedding photographs.

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