Why Choose a Professional Wedding Photographer?

By: Mike Guilbault, LPPO PHOTOGENICS, The Art of Photography

Your wedding portraits are the most important photographs you will have taken in your life. When choosing your photographer you have to be very careful. Improvements in camera technology has made it virtually impossible to take a bad picture. Many amateurs, equipped with sophisticated equipment, are capable of taking decent photographs. However, there is much more to Wedding Photography than knowing how to operate a camera. Wedding photography is about seizing moments, capturing emotion and creating memories. The technical skills required to do this are essential, but it doesn't stop there.

The renowned French photographer, Henri Cartier-Bresson, termed it "the decisive moment", when the photographer releases the shutter to capture an image on film. Professional wedding photographers do this for a living. They photograph people every day and not only have the necessary photographic skills, but are adept at handling people. How do you find a professional wedding photographer?

First, you must ask if photography is their full time profession. Although you are not required to be a member of a professional organization to become a professional photographer, membership is a good indication that your photographer is very serious about his craft. Membership in the Professional Photographers of Ontario (P.P.O.), for example, requires that you are an active, full-time photographer. Another indication of your photographer's proficiency is the equipment they use. Although 35mm equipment and film have improved over the years, it still cannot hold a candle to the larger negative that professionals use. The equipment is called "medium format" and produces a much higher quality photograph than 35mm. Some popular names of medium format equipment include Bronica, Mamiya and of course, Hasselblad - the industry standard.

OK - your photographer is a member of a professional photographic association and has medium format equipment. What else do you look for in a wedding photographer? First and foremost, you must view the photographer's work. Not only should your photographer show you a variety from different weddings, but should also show you a sample of one entire wedding. This way you can see if your photographer can produce quality throughout the event, not just a lucky shot from different weddings. Don't be afraid to ask questions about how they would handle different situations, such as crying children, obnoxious relatives or fainting bridesmaids. If you are not comfortable with their answer, maybe you should look elsewhere. There are many types of professional photographers covering a vast spectrum of classifications. Although your photographer may be a skilled nature, commercial, baby or pet photographer, it takes a different skill set to photograph weddings.

A big advantage of choosing a photographer that is a member of a professional photographer's association is that they have the opportunity to become qualified and accredited. As a member of the Professional Photographers of Ontario, the photographer must qualify, within two years of joining, to retain membership. The letters displayed after a photographer's name, FPPO, APPO and LPPO indicate that the photographer has passed specific levels of the qualification program. Accreditation, a national designation from the Professional Photographers of Canada (P.P.O.C.), proves that the photographer is capable of delivering above average quality in a given category, such as wedding photography. It also means that the photographer books up pretty fast, sometimes up to a year in advance.

When booking your wedding photographer, put your trust in a professional. Look for membership in a professional organization such as the Professional Photographers of Canada. Ask about accreditation and qualification. Look at the work of the photographer actually shooting your wedding. Ask questions, lots of them. Remember - you get what you pay for. -Mike Guilbault, L.P.P.O.