Photo Love

BRIDE AND GROOM Stacee & Tyler WEDDING DATE Jan. 8, 2010
PHOTO BY Jessie Alexis Photography (www.jessiealexisphotography.com)

Jessie Evans, of Jessie Alexis Photography fame, graciously offered to divulge three picture perfect pointers that will help you "click" with your wedding photographer. Take it away Jessie!

With the vast number of photographers available today, choosing one to document your wedding day can be the most overwhelming planning decision. By using these three steps, you'll be able to avoid the pitfall of pitiful wedding photos.

1. STYLE Start by visiting numerous photography Web sites, blogs and even wedding planning Web sites to figure out which style of photography most appeals to you. Be it photojournalist, traditional, vintage or classic, make sure you've done your research and know what it is you like. Once you have it narrowed down to a few photographers whose photographic style appeals to you, move on to step two.

2. PERSONALITY Before signing a contract and putting down money, set up meetings with potential photographers. Remember, this is the person that is going to be by your side on one of the most important days of your life. If they take amazing pictures but annoy you to no end, that is going to translate into your photographs. If you don't feel like you can be yourself around them, or they just can't quite catch the vision of your wedding, you're going to end up with a stack of photographs you hate, no matter how well composed they might be. Once you've found a photographer you love, move on to step three.

3. COST Again, before you sign that contract, make sure you're aware of what you're getting. While it is nice to have your photos on a disk, a lot of times those photos never make it off the computer and onto the walls of your home. Does the photographer offer prints or albums with your package? Or are you just paying a lot of money for the photographer to show up? Or, on the flip side, are you just getting a great deal because the photographer is inexperienced and wanting to use your wedding to build their portfolio? Either way, make sure you're comfortable with what you're paying for.