1)   Ask the photographer if he/she has a lot of professional experience.

Portfolios of images say a lot but don’t always give the full picture. A photographer who comes highly recommended or referred is one worth looking at but be sure to ask the following questions:

• Do you (the photographer) have professional training?
• Have you done consistently outstanding work outside of wedding photography?
• Have you worked in industries such as photojournalism, fashion, commercial, editorial or the arts?
• Do you "see well" in colour and black & white?
• What are your awards, accolades, publications and exhibition records?
• Can I see published material?

2)   Ask yourself if the photographer has the right mix of skills and personality?

A photographer’s personality may be difficult to assess through his or her portfolios alone. Be sure you talk to your photographer, either on the phone or in person. See if you are both on the same wavelength. Ask yourself:

• Does the photographer have positive energy – is he/she easy to talk to and enjoyable to be with?
• Can the photographer integrate your ideas with his/hers?
• Is he/she genuinely fun. If so, can he/she truthfully portray laughter and joy.
• Does the photographer "get you". Can he/she represent you for who you are? Can the photographer capture your true character.
• Can the photographer take control during group shots and be non-obtrusive during intimate moments?

3)   Ask the photographer about his/her style.

Not all photographers excel at all styles of shooting. Some have a flare for glamour and fashion while others take on a more gritty photojournalistic approach. Others have sensibilities leaning towards the fine arts and can reach into the subliminal, the abstract or the unconventional. Be clear on the photographer's strengths and decide if this is the style that suits you best. You can ask him/her:

• Whose work are you influenced by? (name historical and/or contemporary photographers, artists, etc.)
• Does your portfolio reflect sensibilities about light and design?
• Are you good at shooting action? - Can you capture "The Moment" without skipping a beat.
• Does your work show originality and is it non-formulaic?
• Do you strive to make each wedding portfolio unique?
• Can I see some of your work which would prove it to me?

4)   Ask yourself if the photographer has a sense of adventure?

Adventure doesn't always mean scaling cliffs or sailing around the world. But having a sense of curiosity and a zest for life will reflect in a photographer's work. I love creating images that are "Larger than Life". This takes vision and a deep appreciation of life itself. When Meeting a photographer and reviewing his/her work, you may wish to ask yourself:

• Can the photographer create wedding pictures that would be interesting, funny, evocative to anyone - even to people who were not at the wedding?
• Would the images be good enough to appear in other contexts ie. in a coffee table book about Canadian Life or in a fashion magazine or photographic exhibition?
• Do they take the necessary risks in order to make an ordinary image appear extraordinary?

  5) Ask yourself if the photographer understands the importance of shooting at inspiring locations?

To me, location shooting is a focal point of the wedding. I want my clients to have the memory of an adventure. With this in mind, I seek out places that may be "off the beaten track" - places like a trail through the desert, a pear orchard in bloom or an open grassland underneath an endless sky. After the wedding day, I often get comments like "Everything else was a blur, but I will always remember the photo shoot"

Where your wedding takes place can sometimes trump when it takes place. You’ve put a lot of time into planning these things. Why not engage your photographer to be part of the process. Be sure to consider the following and ask the photographer:

• Do you have the desire to make our day an exceptional experience, not just a series of pictures?
• Can you bring to life the locations we have chosen?
• Have you scouted those locations for lighting, obstacles, accessibility, parking?
• Are you willing to shoot in the rain?
• Can you keep a tight time line so we are not late for the wedding ceremony or reception?

A true story about a unique couple. . .

The most challenging interview I’ve had as a photographer was by an extremely energetic pair of triathletes who were planning to run Ironman Canada the day after their wedding. Andrea and Kirby wanted a photographer who could portray them for who they were as people - full of life, energy, goals and for their love of people. Their trademark was to "Jump" in all of their photos – in travel photos, in family photos, in pictures of everyday life. The first thing Andrea said to me when we met was "Let’s see you jump!". I put down my garden rake, kicked up my heels and reached for the sky. "Now make us jump!" Kirby demanded! The rest was history . . . Kirby and Andrea's portfolio was one-of-a-kind. Please "jump" into their wedding photography gallery to see the complete story.